Lynna's Rogue (24 page)

             
While the men discussed the price of cotton and politics, the ladies chatted about the weather and fashion (Suzanne's favorite topic, but she chose to remain curiously silent). It would have been a pleasant conversation had Joshua's hand not rested so near. Lynna was noticeably ill at ease with his close proximity and went as rigid as Suzanne when his hand, hidden from the others, drifted down to finger a golden curl and lightly car
e
ss her back.

             
She blushed crimson as she leaned forward and brushed invisible lint from her skirt. Oh, how she longed to turn and land a resounding slap to his arrogant face, but she
did not
move or dare lean back and be p
awed by his roving hand again.

             
By the same token, Joshua's hand itched, almost ached, to travel down further to the swells of her creamy, fully rounded bosom displayed so enticingly from his vantage point. Again,
he had
been on the verge of throwing caution to the wind when the part he coveted was un
ceremoniously snatched from
view.

             
Lynna wondered how
this man's slightest touch
could
scorch her skin
,
when Daniel’s most ardent kisses failed to stir a quickening inside her? She could find no answer to this burning question and was more than relieved when the maid announced
that
dinner was served. As she stood, she turned to present him with a withering glare.

             
Chuckling to himself, Joshua ignored her temper and went to push his father's chair into the dining room.

             
Coming
to the conclusion
that
the fates were
definitely against her, Lynna
found herself seated next to the insolent rogue. But why blame the fates? After all, this was Joshua's home and she should have known he would have a hand in the seating arrangements.

             
The dining room was the same shade of light blue trimmed in dark blue. A table and twelve chairs carved from dark, rich cherry held th
e center of the room,
set with blue and white china and deep blue crystal
,
surround
ing
a centerpiece of ruby red roses. On one side stood a Hepplewhite sideboard displaying the family silver
,
and in the corner stood a handsome cabinet containing rare china and more intricately carved statuettes
, similar to the ones in his cabin
.

             
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the sumptuous meal and lively banter, but with Joshua so near
,
Lynna's appetite once again deserted her. While the others were involved in witty repartee among themselves
,
Joshua bent to whisper near her ear. “Is there something amiss with your food, my sweet? Or could there perchance be something about me that ruins your appetite? I fear if you and I were together for any great length of time you
would
simply waste away,” he purred as his gaze fell to her sensuous mouth. “And what a terrible loss that would be.”

             
Lynna could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. In barely more than a whisper, she grated, “Sir, you should learn to conduct yourself in a more gentlemanly fashion. I fear
I am
unaccustomed to your
brash remarks.”

             
“Lynna, my pet,
there is
little about me
that
you are unaccustomed to.” He grinned wickedly, passing her a napkin-
covered basket of steaming buttermilk biscuits
.

             
With a sharp intake of breath and
a definite tilt of her dainty chin
she took a biscuit and buttered a chunk, then put it on her plate
,
unsure if her queasy stomach could handle food at the moment. Taking a sip from her wine glass
,
she almost choked when Joshua's thigh brushed intimately against hers.

             
“Here, allow me.”
Innocently he patted
— a pat that was more like a caress —
her back. “Did your wine perhaps go down the wrong way
, my dear
?”

             
She longed to slap the smirk from h
is
smug face. How dare he make such brazen advances toward her, treat her like not
hing more than a common trollop
?
W
ould this night ever end?
She bestowed upon him an icy glare that would
have
put any other man in his place, but not so Joshua. He had the temerity to grin and wink slyly at her blazing face. The entire length of her body trembled with rage as she turned to him and whispered, “I
will not
sit still for your manhandling a second longer! If you so much as consider touching me again
,
you will
feel the blade of this butter knife beneath your skin!”

             
It was a harmless threat and she knew it, but she hoped it would be enough to scare him. She held the butter knife in her hand for added conviction. But the knife fell from her hand with a clatter as he threw back his head and laughed uproariously before continuing
,
undaunted
,
with his meal.

             
Beside her
,
Malinda giggled. “Pay him no mind, Lynna. He has forever been a tease, especially when a woman intrigues him.”

             
At that moment
,
Suzanne
,
who was aga
in listening to their conversation,
hated Lynna enough to have scratched out her eyes with great pleasure. Joshua had never once teased her!

             
With the meal finally at an end
,
they took their coffee and brandy into the parlor. But Suzanne
could not
suffer through watching Joshua lust after Lynna
for
another second. With exaggerated weakness
,
she mewled, “Father, I fear
I have
developed a simply monstrous headache and I must ask
that
we return home early.”

             
Silas expressed his immediate concern for his daughter’s welfare
,
speaking to Patricia. “
It has
been a most enjoyable evening and we regret having to retire early, but under the circumstances I pray
you will
understand.”

             
“Of course, we do,” Patricia assured him. Then, turning to Suzanne
,
she added, “I only hope you feel better soon, darling.”

             
'Thank you,
I am
sure I will after some rest.”
Or when Lynna has returned to Georgia and
I can return without her
!

             
“If
you are
ever in Georgia
,
stop by Magnolia House for a visit,” Silas was saying to Jeremiah and Patricia. “
You are
always welcome.”

             
“That
i
s very kind of you and we just might take you up on your offer,” Jeremiah replied. “However
,
our son does the bulk of traveling in the family.”

             
Turning to Joshua, Silas repeated the invitation. “
You are
more than welcome to visit, anytime.”

             
“Thank you
, sir. I feel certain I can find time for a visit soon.” As his smiling eyes strayed toward Lynna
,
he
, and everyone else in the room,
knew the visit would be in the not too distant future.

             
Outside in the dark night
,
Joshua assisted the ladies into their carriage. With his hands on Lynna's waist
,
he could not resist the impulse to allow his hands to linger.

             
Lynna's body turned to a mass of quivering flesh and her heart threatened to leave her chest, but he must never know how much his touch affected her.

             
“What was that?” Mary questioned as a loud slapping sound rang out in the still night air.

             
“Darn mosquitoes!” Joshua chortled as he rubbed his stinging jaw. To be so peti
te, the little lady packed
a wallop. “They
a
re out for blood tonight.” It was too dark to see, but Joshua could imagine Lynna's enchanting face beaming triumphantly in the still night. And he was absolutely correct, as Lynna leaned back in her seat
,
feeling entirely vindicated.

             
Returning to Cedar Hill
,
they were greeted by a messenger from Magnolia House. Jopree had taken ill and Silas needed to return home. They
packed their bags that night
to be ready to leave with the first light of dawn. Suzanne and Lynna were the only ones pleased
that
the visit had been cut short.

Chapter Twelve

             
B
ack home
,
Judith and Lynna's lives returned to their normal routine. With Suzanne in residence, that meant sewing from dawn until dusk, grabbing a quick bite in between fittings, and falling into bed
,
exhausted
,
late into the night. Suzanne was demanding four new dresses and a pink satin ball gown before returning to Cedar Hill for Beth and Samuel’s annual Harvest Ball. Lynna would dearly love to stitch a new gown for the Ball herself, but when would she find time, even if they could afford the material?

             
One especially hot morning in late August, a wilted Suzanne a
ppeared at the door with beads of
perspiration dotting her brow. “Good morning, Judith. Is the pink satin almost complete?” She was rapidly fanning her flushed face against the intense summer heat and humidity.

             
“Almost, dear, you can try it on for the final fitting this afternoon.”

             
“Oh.”

             
They both glanced askance at Suzanne
,
whose tone lacked the usual exuberance when discussing new apparel. And what could have prompted her to venture out of the house in the steamy heat of mid
-
afternoon? Typically
,
she
would
be in a cushioned rocker on the verandah, sipping lem
onade as her ever-present
slave child vigorously fanned her.

             
“This heat is simply unbearable, Lynna. Let’s go down to the river for a swim to cool off.”

             
Suzanne hadn’t been overly friendly since their return home. In fact, they rarely ever saw each other anymore. Could it be she was trying to make amends for her outrageous behavior in Charleston? Lynna decided to give her the benefit of doubt. “It does sound tempting, but I really should help Aunt Judith if we are to finish your dresses and gown in time for the Ball.”

             
“Nonsense,” Judith piped in, “
you have
been laboring over this gown since sun up, practically around-the-clock.”

             
“No more than you, Aunt Judith.
I
a
m
surprised you have
no
t ruined your eyes, trying to sew by candlelight.
”

             
“Could the two of you please have
this debate later?”
Who cares how hard, or how late into the night either of you
have to
sew? Just get them finished before the ball!

             
“Then let us compromise and both take a respite,” Judith decided. “
I will
go visit with Mary for a spell, and you two go for a swim.” She hoped the two girls could put aside their differences and at least be civil.

             
“Agreed.”

             
“Thank goodness, that
i
s settled,” Suzanne whined, rolling her eyes. “I thought we might need the
services of a negotiator
to settle whether or not you could take a dip in the river.”