Restless Heart (24 page)

Sam reached between them and flicked her clit. She moaned and threw her head back, which put her breasts at nearly eye level. Her hair fanned out in the water behind her like a blond curtain.

His mouth closed around her nipple, tugging and lapping at her while he held on as long as he could. She tightened around him, and he knew she was coming. Sam bit her nipple and she shouted his name.

The walls of her passage clenched so tight, he came immediately, spilling his seed into her. Black spots danced behind his eyes as he roared her name.

His Angel, his wife, his love.

T
he trip out to Denver from Wyoming opened Angeline’s eyes to a great deal of experiences. While Sam had traveled on trains back East ten years earlier, she’d never set foot on a train before. The sounds, the smells, the rumble of the locomotive as it rolled out of the station, all seemed like a different world to her.

Sam smiled at her wide-eyed innocence, but he never made fun of her, which she appreciated. She truly felt like a smalltown girl suddenly thrown into a big city, and she hadn’t even gotten to Denver yet.

Unfortunately, the first hour on the train, Angeline discovered exactly what Alice was talking about when she’d called Sam a half-breed. A woman passing by with her daughter stared at him with a horrified expression. She pulled the little girl against her skirts.

“Oh, sweet Lord, it’s a savage. Don’t look, Laura Sue.” She hurried past, pale as milk, while everyone in the compartment turned to look at them.

“Why are they staring at us?” Angeline whispered to Sam. “It’s not as if we haven’t paid for our tickets.”

In fact, Mr. Bennington had paid for them, saying he would
be reimbursed from the company accounts when they arrived in Denver.

“I’m used to it, Angel. People are going to think whatever they want.” He looked out the window at the passing scenery.

It wasn’t the last time people treated them badly. By the time they pulled into Denver late that night, Angeline was so upset, she wanted to punch somebody. He’d been called a savage, an injun, a heathen, and a scalper. She’d never heard most of those words used before.

No matter what Sam said, he wasn’t used to being called names. People sneered, shouted, and even spit at them. She was also called names, but only because she sat with Sam. It was simply infuriating.

Angeline decided right then she would never live in Denver if that was the way people in Colorado behaved. No wonder Sam’s parents had left.

“Miss Jane is waiting for us at the house, along with some others,” Bennington said as he gave Angeline his hand to disembark the train. “They’re most anxious to meet you.”

“The house?”

“The Carver house. It’s housed each generation of Carvers until your father left.” The lawyer led them outside the train station while two porters trundled behind them with their bags.

A beautiful black coach sat outside; it had a driver perched on top with a nicer suit than anyone in Forestville. Angeline had a feeling she and Sam were about to embark on a rather uncomfortable day.

“Good evening, Chambers.” Mr. Bennington obviously knew the driver personally.

“Good evening, sir.” The young man could be no older than she was and his avid curiosity was plain. He stared at both of them, his gaze wide.

They all climbed in and Angeline sat on the softest cushion she’d ever felt. The coach was lined with blue satin and the
seats were obviously stuffed with feathers or something equally as soft. Her stomach flipped at the knowledge this was only the coach—what must the house be like?

They drove along smoothly, more smoothly than she thought a coach could. Sam sat beside her, his hand laced with hers. Mr. Bennington glanced at their joined hands and smiled.

“You two are a love match, that’s very evident.” He leaned forward and spoke softly. “I will warn you that some members of your family won’t be happy to have the heir apparent appear. They’ve grown comfortable assuming the fortune is theirs.”

Sam scowled. “That was something you could’ve shared in Wyoming.”

“I thought perhaps you wouldn’t come if I told you too much. I was your grandmother’s personal attorney and she so hoped your father and you would return. It was her fondest desire to see her grandson at the helm of the company.” He had affection in his voice when he spoke of Mary Carver. “She was a great lady, an amazing business leader. Hers are some rather large shoes to fill.”

“You’re not making me want to stay here, you know. I already feel like a fish out of water and I ain’t never sat on anything so soft before.” Sam’s grip on her hand tightened. “The first person that speaks rudely to Angeline gets tossed out of the house on their ass. I’m not a businessman or a great leader, but I’m smart enough to spot a snake.”

Angeline felt as if they were girding themselves for battle. Mr. Bennington made it sound as if there might be a battle waged over Carver Industries and the fortune it represented. Angeline was very afraid she and Sam would be woefully outgunned.

The coach stopped in front of the biggest house on the block, an enormous structure with columns in front and a rolling green yard on either side. A fountain splashed merrily as they circled round the horseshoe-shaped entrance.

“It looks like one of the mansions I saw out in Virginia.” Sam gaped just as much as she did.

“Well, truthfully, you could call it a mansion, but everyone in the family simply refers to it as the ‘House.’” Bennington looked uncomfortable.

Sam narrowed his gaze. “House, hmm? How many rooms does it have?”

“Forty-seven.”

Angeline gasped. She couldn’t even imagine the size—it made her mind spin.

“Jesus.” Sam turned to look at her. “Say the word and we’ll turn around and go back to Forestville. I’ll just give it to the greedy bastards waiting for us.”

She looked into his dark gaze, reached out and ran her hand through his silky black hair and smiled. “You are stronger than any one of those people in there. You’ve fought a war. You’ve survived things they can’t even fathom. There’s no way we’re going to let them run us out of here without a fight.”

Although her stomach actually quivered with fear, she kept her smile steady. He took her hand and kissed it.

“I love you, Angel.”

“I love you too, Sam. Now let’s show them what a real Carver can do.”

This time he smiled and she knew he was ready to face his family. She wished she was as ready. Angeline had never felt so intimidated in her life as they stepped out of the carriage and into the warm night air.

The front door was enormous, at least ten feet high, with a huge brass knocker. Mr. Bennington didn’t knock, however. He just opened the door and gestured for them to enter. An-geline and Sam stepped through together, hands tightly entwined.

The brightness of the crystal chandelier made everything
glow. Coming from the darkness of the evening, it was almost blinding.

There were at least thirty people in the entrance to the house. More than half were people dressed in black-and-white uniforms, lined up to the left. Angeline assumed they were the servants. In front of them were men, women, and children of various ages, sizes, shapes, and hair colors.

Angeline didn’t know whom to speak with first, so she looked to Mr. Bennington for help. He seemed to understand what he was doing because he bowed to the crowd.

“Everyone, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Carver.”

A few titters sounded from the center of the crowd. Someone else gasped, and more than a few murmurs echoed in the enormous entryway. No one, however, came forward to greet them. Sam’s hand tightened around hers and she knew he felt as awkward as she did.

“Where is Mrs. Archer?” Bennington apparently had had enough of the silence.

A servant on the left answered. “The Archers have not yet come downstairs.”

“Ah, then I will begin introductions.” The lawyer seemed to have a knack for names because he rattled off the names of the dozen or so people in front of them from the smallest to the tallest. It seemed there wasn’t one Carver in the bunch.

None of them offered to shake hands and none of them said hello. Angeline had a feeling they’d made an enormous mistake coming to Denver. If this was the way they would be treated, she would not be a part of it. It was hard enough to be without her sister every day—she could not endure being shunned and ridiculed again.

“Darlings, there you are.” A striking woman with silver hair and a slender build came down the stairs. She wore a dazzling green gown with gold ruching, topped by a glittering necklace and earrings. She made a beeline for Angeline.

Up close, the woman was just as beautiful as any young lady, with the deepest green eyes Angeline had ever seen. “You must be Angeline.” The woman kissed both of Ange-line’s cheeks. “I have heard countless wonderful things about you from dear Mr. Bennington. His description of your ethereal beauty does not do you justice.”

The woman turned to Sam. “Oh, my. He is devastatingly handsome, isn’t he? That dark hair is like a midnight waterfall, so like his mother’s, as are those lovely eyes.” She kissed his cheeks too. “I hope you don’t think me too forward, darlings, but I must talk to you in private.” She leveled a gaze at the various people waiting like a class of schoolchildren. “As for the rest of you, go home. You don’t need to gape at the Carvers any longer.”

The littlest one, Meredith, if Angeline remembered correctly, tugged at Angeline’s coat. “Are you really an angel? And is he a devil?”

“No, sweetheart, neither of us is an angel or a devil. We’re just people.”

The little girl nodded sagely, then was hauled off by a rather severe woman with a large nose and a face full of freckles.

“Please, come into the study. We can speak in private.” The older woman sashayed ahead in her sparkly green dress.

“Meet your Aunt Jane.” Ty raised both his brows.

“Who are all those people?” Sam whispered.

“Neighbors, distant cousins, and some of the grounds-keeping staff.”

“Bennington, be a dear and make sure they come to the study.” Jane’s voice echoed from down the hallway.

“I think she wants to talk to you.” He smiled and ushered them down a very long hallway into another room filled with ornate furniture, amazing rugs, and a collection of beautiful books lining the walls.

Angeline tried not to gape, she did, but she’d never seen so many books before.

“Do you like to read, Angeline dear?” Jane sat on a settee with cream-colored fabric and claw feet.

“I love to read. It’s my favorite thing to do.” She ran her finger along the spines, noting not a speck of dust. The books were simply gorgeous.

“Sit down please. I’ll get a crick in my neck trying to look up at Samuel. He’s tall like Michael was.” Jane’s gaze grew melancholy as she watched the two of them sit across from her on a loveseat of blue damask. “You’ve journeyed here to speak to me and to Dominic. I thought it prudent if we spoke alone first. Of course, I’d like to hear Samuel speak at least once tonight.”

“I didn’t have anything to say. Besides, you didn’t leave much room for anyone else’s words to fit in.” Sam’s impudent answer made Angeline pinch his hand.

Jane, however, laughed. “You’re absolutely right, of course. I plan it that way.” Her expression turned serious. “Mr. Bennington has told me there is a great deal of information your parents did not share with you. I’m sorry for that. Michael was a stubborn man, full of pride, but even more full of love for Sparrow. My father could not abide an Indian in his house. He was unmovable on the subject.”

Sam gazed at his aunt. “I didn’t really know what I missed out on. Maybe my parents did the right thing, keeping us together as a family of three.” His voice was low, thoughtful. “It wasn’t until my father died that I realized how important family was. Mr. Bennington handed me a treasure at the same time he cast shadows over my entire life.”

“Eloquently put. We do make many choices in life that define not only who we are but the paths we take. I think Michael deliberately chose the path that would bring him the most peace and love.” Jane smiled sadly. “I respected him for
that, but I’ve missed him. It’s difficult knowing he’s gone.” Her eyes grew suspiciously moist and she jumped off the settee. “Let’s have some coffee and get to know each other.”

With a twist of her hand, suddenly there were servants in the room with a tray of piping hot coffee in a shiny pot and the most delicate cups Angeline had ever seen. They poured the coffee and left the study as abruptly as they’d entered.

She stared at the cup and felt a bit dizzy. The travel, the stress, and the emotional strain were wearing on her. The room began to spin and all she saw was Jane frowning at her.

“I do believe your wife is about to faint, Samuel.”

Everything went black.

Sam carried Angeline up the stairs, right on his aunt’s heels. If he was any kind of husband, he would have noticed Angeline wasn’t feeling well. Now she was unconscious and he had no idea what was wrong.

Jane led him to a huge bedroom down the right-hand hallway. The carpet was so soft, his shoes practically sank into it. He laid her on the bed, which was as high as his waist, and starting removing her coat and shoes.

“Was she ill during your trip?” Jane watched with a worried gaze.

“Not at all. She was fine all day. I don’t know what happened.” Sam told himself that she was just tired and hungry, nothing more.

“Is she with child?”

Jane’s question knocked him completely sideways. He hadn’t considered the possibility yet. Their relationship had only been about them and the idea that they could have conceived a child already was amazing.

“I don’t know. It’s possible.” He looked at Angeline, searching for signs she might be pregnant, but if anything, she looked thinner and less healthy. Weren’t pregnant women supposed to glow?

“It would be early on if she is indeed with child. I wouldn’t take any chances. Let’s get her into bed, bundled up warmly. If she wakes, we should have her eat broth and drink some tea with honey.” Jane bustled off to the door. “I’ll return momentarily.”