Lynna's Rogue (31 page)

             
A few hours later
,
Lynna was in the kitchen washing
breakfast dishes when, thankfully
, they heard a carriage approach. “
It is
Aunt Judith!” Lynna giggled. “Quick, Joshua, go out the back door before she catches you here!”

             
“
I will
return shortly, my love,” he whispered against her hair before placing a passionate kiss on her lips and closing the door behind him.

             
“Lynna!
I am
home. Darling, it was so horrible at the Morehead plantation
, you would not believe
…oh, dear God!” Judith cried, her hands going to her mouth in horror. “When was he here?”

             
“Who?” Lynna asked
,
shame faced
.
How did she know?

             
“Oh, you poor dear,” her aunt cried. “Let me look at your face.”

             
Good grief, her aunt was referring to her uncle, not Joshua. She had all but forgotten the incident with Tobias. “It isn’t that bad, Aunt Judith, honestly. It should heal quickly.”

             
“When was he here, Lynna?”

             
“He was here to greet me last night wh
en I came home from helping
in the infirmary. I volunteered to help, since so many of our slaves were sent to aid the burn victims. Now let
u
s change the subject, this one will only depress us. How are things over at the Morehead plantation?”

             
“Things are better now, but they lost seven slaves and nine were badly burned. Miss Fannie, the most knowledgeable healer in these parts, is tending them. We can only pray they
will
survive.”

             
“Yes,
Aunt Judith, we will certainly pray. Now sit down while I cook you some breakfast.”

             
“Thank you, darling. Now tell me about you. Why are you so cheerful, all things considered?” Judith inquired, nonplused. “Apparently you had a good night.”

Chapter Fourteen

             
L
ynna leaned over the steaming pot
,
stirring the grits in earnest and hiding her face. She would find it too difficult to explain why h
er aunt’s choice of words delighted
her so. “I have never rested better, Aunt Judith.” If only she could share her happiness with this woman whom she loved so much. But it would be best to wait until Joshua actually proposed
,
then they could all join in the celebration. “After breakfast
I am
going to work in my flower garden. The weeds have taken over lately. Then I will come inside to begin work on Suzanne’s new gown.” She smiled, humming gaily. “If anyone from the big house should see me,
I will
say I fell off
the porch. They will not doubt my words for a second
, since everyone knows
I am
eternally clumsy.”

             
J
udith was intrigued by her niece's ebullient
mood. Normally, after one of Tobias's visits
,
she would be in a state of depression that would last for days. Now here she stood
,
almost euphoric. Something out of the ordinary had happened during her absence. Of that she was certain.

             
Lynna turned to discover her aunt eying her curiously. “I know what
you are
thinking, and I have no words to explain it. Except that today I suddenly feel like a woman. Let me think of a comparison. Yesterday, I was a flower bud all closed up inside and protected by layers of darkness, whereas today I have blossomed and my petals have opened
,
showing the world my gay colors and hidden beauty.

             
“Your beauty has never been hidden, my dear.”

             
“This is an inner beauty, Aunt Judith. Perhaps it has always been there, just under the surface, waiting for me to set it free.”

             
Judith now understood completely what her niece was trying, in a round about fashion, to tell her. Lynna had been introduced
to the precious love that
a man and a woman can share. She wondered if it was Joshua. She kn
ew Lynna did not love Daniel and, therefore,
would never yield herself to him. It had to be Joshua. Judith was thrilled. She realized she should
not
be happy about the fact
that
her niece was no longer chaste. Nathan had placed his trust in her and would be furious to learn his daughter was no longer an ingénue, but that was of little importance now. What mattered was
that
Lynna was happy and could put the pain of the past behind her and begin to enjoy the life
she had
been born to live.

             
Cl
earing the table and washing dishes, Lynna gathered her gloves and garden tools, kissed her aunt’s cheek, and strolled to the garden.
After c
arefully weeding and loosening the dirt around her roses
,
she picked one ruby red rose and started toward the house.

             
“Good morning,
again,
my love.”

             
Turning, her heart skipped a full beat and she had to restrain herself from rushing headlong into his arms. “Good
morning, Joshua.” Wishing
her aunt had remained at t
he Morehead plantation, Lynna
scolded herself for the thought.

             
“You look exceptionally lovely this morning. I trust your night was satisfactory?”

             
“
I look hideous and you well know it. But, to answer your question,
I have no complaints, sir.”

             
“It you had, it would have indeed been a first.” When he smiled
,
his eyes shone and a dimple formed in his cheek.

             
“You sir, are outrageously conceited
.” She tried to sound convincing, but failed as she herself
could not
keep a straight face.

             
“Admitted.
” He took the red rose from her
fingers
and brought it to his lips, wishing it were some part of her anatomy instead. “Shall we take a walk…?” The slamming of the door halted him abruptly. He glanced up with an irritated frown to fi
nd
Judith approaching, bearing a tray.

             
“Joshua, I
did not
realize you were here.” So, it
was
Joshua! She could tell by the glazed look of lust in their eyes and the way Joshua’s lips were almost caressing Lynna’s rose. “Come join us for a glass of lemonade. I fear it will be another scorcher today.” Setting the tray on the porch rail
,
she returned to the house. “
I will
just get another
glass.”

             
“Any chance of your aunt being called away again
tonight
?”

             
“Joshua!” she chastised him. “Of all the nerve! You sir, are far too self-assured of your charm and good…” she stopped herself short.

             
“Go ahead and admit it,” he teased, “my dashing good looks.
I have
been told that once or twice in the past by members of the opposite sex.”

             
She was about to
berate the arrogant man
when her aunt returned. Lynna removed her gloves and sipped the lemonade as Joshua’s heated perusal caused a knot to steadily tighten in the pit of her stomach.

             
“How have you been, Joshua?’ Judith queried.

             
“Never better, I can assure you,” his answer was directed toward her, but his smile was solely for Lynna’s benefit. “As of this moment
,
Judith,
I am
the happiest man alive.”

             
Lynna blushed
and averted her head from the other two.

             
“Will you be staying with us for awhile?” Judith smiled, thinking that maybe if she kept talking
,
she might succeed in gaining a minute portion of his attention.

             
The smile left his face immediately as he looked at Lynna. She had succeeded in making
him forget his purpose again, for he had
wanted to be alone with her when he broke the news. “
Unfortunately, no. In fact,
I’m
afraid I must leave today.”

             
Lynna gasped as the glass she was holding slipped from her hand and she watched as the dry earth greedily absorbed the liquid. Of cour
se, he would eventually
return to Sea Grove, by why today? They
had just found each other
again. Bending to pick up the broken glass
,
her hands brushed Joshua’s as he bent to help her. They had only parted a few short hours ago, yet she pined for his touch. When their eyes met
,
their hunger for each other was clearly evident to Judith.

             
“How clumsy of me. My hands perspired in the gloves and the glass…slipped,” Lynna stammered, hoping she sounded convincing.

             
Judith took the broken pieces. “
I’ll
just take this broken glass inside before someone gets cut.”

             
Lynna waited until her aunt was safely in the house. “When are you leavin
g?” She could not bring herself to look at him. H
er eyes stared unseeing into the copse of trees behind the cottage as the thought of the lonely days and nights to come settled around her.

             
“Within the hour, I fear. I
could not
leave without seeing you. But it will
only be
a few short weeks until we can be together again at the Harvest Ball.
It is
my hope
that
this will be our last separation, Lynna.”

             
Tears formed behind her thick fringe of lashes. It wasn’t fair! She shouldn’t have to give him up so soon. But wait! The
ir
last separation? What did he mean? She was about to ask
,
when much to her dismay
,
Suzanne came waltzing toward them. She primly held her elegant gown, a gown that would have been more appropriate for a lavish ball, off the ground to keep the soil from staining the lacy white hem. She glanced at Lynna and cried, “Oh! Dear Lord! Lynna, your face! Whatever happened this time?”

             
“Another accident, as usual.”

             
“I see, well you have forever been exceedingly clumsy. Oh, Joshua, darli
ng, there you are.” Ignoring Lynna, she leaned
toward Joshua to brush nonexistent lint from his sleeve. “I have hardly had a moment alone with you and now I hear
you are
leaving us today. Why,” Suzanne continued her mewling drivel with a brilliant smile, “I must be losing my charm. Nonetheless, there will be sufficient time for us to get reacquainted during the journey.”

             
“What journey?” Lynna
could not
help but ask.

             
“Why, my journey with Joshua, of course. Father has granted permission for me to return to Charleston with him.”

             
“To do what
?
” Joshua’s tone was menacing as he glanced from Suzanne’s jubilant face to Lynna’s look of stunned shock.

             
“For me to accompany you to Charleston, silly. You
would not
mind dropping me off at Cedar Hill
,
would you? Father would be sorely disappointed if you refused, after he has extended you so much hospitality. The remainder of the family will be following later to attend the Harvest Ball, but as I explained to father, Beth certainly could use my help with that spoiled little Bethany
Breanne
as she prepares for the Ball. So, willing to help in any
way I can, I graciously volunteered to go on ahead and help with the plans. Surely you
do not
mind.” Tucking her arm in his
,
she maneuvered him away from Lynna.