Unspoken Love (8 page)

Chapter 8

Jenny went about her duties with diligence.

One evening, she sat at the dinner table and left her food untouched.

“You’re not eating,” Nicholas commented.

“My stomach is upset,” she replied, passing a biscuit to him. When Nicholas had finished eating, she stood to clear away the dishes. As she felt the room spin around her, she gripped the table for support.

In an instant, Nicholas was beside her. Lifting her into his arms, he carried her into the parlor and eased her onto the sofa. Jenny met his gaze and saw his brows furrow with concern.

“Don’t fret, Nicholas. I’m really fine. I’ve just felt a little out of sorts today.”

Nicholas gazed at her. “You’re an independent woman, but I’m here if you need me. Rest a bit, then I’ll help you to your room.”

“I’ll retire
now,
so that you can go to the study and log the day’s work.” She rose from the sofa and promptly swooned. Nicholas swept her limp form into his embrace and carried her to the bedroom. Jenny rested her head against his shoulder, acutely aware of his masculinity. She was ailing, but his striking appearance and manly scent tempted her to stay in his arms. She brushed aside the thought as he placed her on the bed. Sitting on his haunches, his eyes penetrated hers. His voice sounded tender to her ears. “Will you be all right, Jenny?”

“Yes,” she murmured, feeling an intimacy between them.

“Don’t concern yourself with rising early. Stay in bed tomorrow, and let’s hope your illness passes. I suspect you’ve been working too hard and you’re exhausted. I’ll have Hattie come to the house a few hours each day and relieve you of your chores.” He rose to his feet and exited the room.

Jenny gazed at the doorway where he had passed. She heard him go down to the study, then readied herself for bed. The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into an exhausted sleep.

The next morning Nicholas crept into Jenny’s room. Pensively, he studied her sleeping form. A surge of tenderness swept through him. With gentle fingers, he touched her silky hair and fought the urge to kiss her sweet lips. He placed his hand on her forehead. Confident she didn’t have a fever, he quietly left the room.

Jenny awakened to bright sunlight filtering into the room. She rolled over and gazed at the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly ten in the morning. She scampered out of bed, brushed her hair, and tied it at the nape with a blue velvet ribbon. Splashing tepid water over her face, she dabbed it dry with a towel and gazed into the mirror. She focused on her complexion and was pleased to see that her cheeks had regained their normal rosy color.

As she made her bed, she could smell the aroma of fresh coffee in the air. She smiled, knowing Nicholas had made it before going to the fields. Clad in her negligee, she walked to the kitchen. She felt the warmth of the sun while she gazed out the window at the vast plantation. She turned to remove a cup from the cabinet, then headed to the stove for some coffee. A movement caught her eye, and she spun around to find Nicholas standing in the doorway. “H-h-how long have you been here?”

“Long enough,” he replied, his eyes sweeping over her scanty attire. “I returned to see how you were feeling.”

“I’m much better, thank you,” Jenny mumbled. “I didn’t expect you until dinnertime.” Conscious of her thin gown, she hastened to say, “I need to get properly dressed.”

Nicholas blocked her way, his towering frame hovering over her.

Jenny saw passion in his eyes and heard his erratic breathing. No matter that she yearned for his touch, she refused to become his conquest.

Nicholas pulled her into his embrace. Hungrily, his mouth sought hers. He kissed her lips, sending fires of passion sweeping through her.

Regardless that her body begged to do otherwise, Jenny refused to succumb to his charm. Furious for weakening toward him, she shoved him away and stilled her wanton heart. She sent him a haughty stare. “Need I remind you, we have a marriage in name only? Forget any notions you might be entertaining.”

Nicholas glared at her. “Thank you for refreshing my memory, Jenny. I am only your husband on paper!” He stormed out the door, slamming it behind him.

Jenny moved to the window and watched Nicholas ride away. She’d almost given in to him.
If he comes near me, my heart goes aflutter, and I have butterflies in the pit of my stomach! Still, I must be strong. I am nothing to him, and I refuse to succumb to him under these conditions! After the facade of a marriage he forced me into, I’ll not give in to him, ever!

She filled her cup with coffee, went to her room, and dressed.

She hummed as she began her chores. She grabbed a bucket from the porch and filled it with water from the well. A horse neighed in the distance, and she glanced past the willow tree. Had Nicholas returned? To her dismay, she saw Blake Preston riding toward her.

Blake dismounted and came to her aid. “Let me help you. You are doing servant’s work.” A smile lit his face as he took the pail of water from Jenny and placed it on the veranda.

Jenny studied her handsome friend in the bright sun. “I’m surprised to see you, Blake.”

He flashed her a grin and then his expression turned grim. “Your father told me you married Nicholas Grant. I could hardly believe it!”

“We married a few months ago.”

He grasped her hand. “Are you truly happy, Jennifer?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” she countered. She glanced away, praying he wouldn’t pick up on her troubled heart.

“I’m sorry, Jenny. Of course you’re happy. Why else would you marry? It’s just that—”

“What?”

“I got the notion we would someday marry.” He forced himself to be cheerful and glanced about
Small Timbers
. “It appears I waited too long to propose, and now you are mistress of a fine plantation.”

“I didn’t know you cared so deeply, Blake.”

“I would have spoken for you sooner, but business took me away from Greenville while I established a shipping trade. I couldn’t properly court you, so I didn’t express my feelings.”

“I see.” Steering the conversation away from intimate matters, she grabbed an empty pail from the veranda. “Walk with me to the raspberry patch,” she invited.

They strolled around the grounds, stopping when they came to bushes loaded with deep, red berries. Jenny carefully plucked the ripe fruit and dropped it into the bucket.

Leaning his large frame against the fence, Blake plopped a berry into his mouth and fondly recollected their childhood.

“Do you remember how you begged me to coach you when Thomas came to visit my parents. You’d sit on the veranda with me while I tutored you.”

Jenny smiled. “I do. Molly taught me housekeeping skills, to sew, and dance. She even instructed me how to speak delicately of some of the pleasant literature of the day. I was a farm girl at heart, but I craved a better education.”

“I remember when Thomas let me take you out riding. You rode as well as I did. We’d stop to rest and wrestle on the grass. You were a tomboy, daring to do what I did. Your sweet laughter filled the air and brightened my days. I hated leaving you behind when my parents transferred me to a private academy.”

Jenny recalled the palatial home outside the city where Blake lived. “The years have been good to you, Blake. Your parents worked their way into prosperity. They saw to your education and instilled the value of money at an early age.” A gleam came into her eyes. “You value the finer things in life, but you’re not the pompous lad many take you for.”

Blake grinned at her summation. “Thanks for the compliment.” He went on to explain, “I recently added several ships to my fleet and purchased some new properties. One is a lovely place in Natchez where I’m living now.”

“You’re wise and prosperous,” Jenny praised. “I’m happy for you.” With her bucket full of berries, she headed for the house.

“I still fondly remember my roots and divide my time between Natchez and Greenville. But most of all, I miss you, Jenny.”

“I am married now.” She saw the hurt in his eyes and amended her statement. “We will always be friends.”

“Friends forever,” Blake answered, hugging her gently. He held her at arms’ length. “You look like an angel the way the sun is beaming down upon your hair.”

Feeling a need to make a truce with Jenny, Nicholas started for the house. Coldness replaced his complaisant mood as he saw Jenny in the meadow, embracing a man. He watched the twosome as they laughed and frolicked, oblivious to their surroundings as Jenny knelt and put raspberries into a pail. A frown creased his brow as Jenny’s friend dropped beside her and helped fill the bucket. He rode toward them, fury pounding in his veins.

Taken unaware, Jenny and Blake looked up at Nicholas.

He stared at them with intensity as Blake cautiously helped Jenny to her feet.

Tension filled the sunny day as Jenny fixed her eyes on Nicholas. Wishing to be honest from the onset and refusing to be bullied by his stony glare, she introduced Blake to Nicholas.

Blake gave Nicholas a reproachful look. His voice dripped with animosity.

“So, you are the one who took my true love from me.”

“Blake!” Jenny reprimanded.

Nicholas sent Blake a hostile glare; his jawline tensed.

“Leave now, or pay the price,” he warned through clenched teeth.

“Yes, go,” Jenny encouraged, hoping to avoid an argument. Blake’s gaze riveted on her.

“If you insist,” he said with reluctance. He whistled for his horse and mounted. “I’ll be in town for a few days if you need me Jenny.” Slowly he rode down the lane.

Jenny cast her eyes downward to avoid Nicholas’s probing, angry eyes. Rushing down the path, she carried the berries into the house, then washed her stained hands.

Nicholas took Dexter to the stables, then followed Jenny into the house. He swung her around to face him. “Weren’t you a bit careless inviting your lover here?”

“How dare you accuse me of such nonsense?” Jenny shouted. “I really am trying to make this marriage work.”

“By letting another man kiss you?” he countered. “The same man that kissed you at the church.”

“You were watching me,” she accused.

He brushed off her comment. “We made a deal, and until the year is up, you are my wife. I will not have you seeing other men.”

“Blake only came here after visiting Father. I did not invite him!”

“I saw him embracing you. I can’t handle another man holding you.” He brought her face upwards and kissed her deeply. He ran his fingers over her shapely curves, massaging her smooth taut skin. With just a few strokes, he opened her blouse.

A mixture of anger and passion consumed Jenny. She wanted him, but she didn’t. Holding back her feelings, she refused to respond when he pressed his suit. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “Please, don’t.”

Nicholas swore under his breath. “You tempt me still, but I won’t force my attentions on you.” He sent her a regretful look. “Forgive me Jenny, I shouldn’t have—”

“You had no right to kiss me.”

Nicholas peered into Jenny’s eyes now wet with tears. Calmly, he replied, “You are my wife, I had every right.”

Smarting from his wayward thinking, she stated, “I can’t wait for the day I can be free of you and your inheritance!” Then she stormed from the room.

Nicholas watched her leave and fought the urge to follow. When he married Jenny, he thought the year would run smoothly and she would be out of his life soon enough, but he hadn’t counted on her determination, beauty, and wit. Mostly, he hadn’t expected these tortured emotions when other men tried to inch their way into her life. He straightened his clothes, then exited the room while Jenny continued to take precedence over his thoughts.

Jenny washed her face and slipped on fresh clothing. With nervous energy, she brushed her hair until it glistened. In spite of the sensations that engulfed her whenever Nicholas was near, she hadn’t expected him to kiss her with such passion and wondered if this was a portent of life to come. Bewildered and defenseless in the wake of what had happened, she wondered if she should take back her promise and leave the plantation before she lost all sense of dignity. She looked up to see Nicholas standing in the doorway.

“What happened is over, Jenny. Don’t leave should the notion strike you, or you may find I am not so willing to give you a divorce that you so badly seek.” Abruptly, he turned on his heel and strode from the room.

Jenny mulled over his words. Did Nicholas know her so well that he could read her mind? She took in a deep breath and then exhaled slowly to steady her nerves before returning to her chores.

Over the next several weeks, Nicholas kept his distance from Jenny. Still, he fought an inner battle. He dined with her, and although they were civil to one another, their relationship was strained.

Secretly, he agonized over their estranged marriage and often went to the study to ponder his predicament. He knew he’d been wrong to force Jenny into marriage but had not reckoned she would torture his thoughts day and night. He wanted to laugh with her, be her companion, and share intimacy. He recalled the thrill of passion he’d felt the last time he had kissed her and wanted to make love to her all hours of the day. He dreamt of feeling her response beneath him as he embraced her, but Jenny had built a wall between them, refusing him entrance.