Enemy of Mine (21 page)

Achingly he returned his hands to her waist and tried his damnedest to stop kissing her. Still, the pale skin of her neck beckoned, and he sucked a small mouthful, but then finally relented to telling her, “God, I know it’s only been a few hours, but I missed you.”

“I missed you.” Her voice was wispy.

“Did you sleep well, my darling?” He suckled another section of her throat.

“No. I should have stayed with you, slept with you.”

He bit her, feeling the twist of satisfaction and an odd sensation of...anger. Again, he admitted he was a tad put off by her rushing away from him. But he knew why she had. Oh, there were so many reasons why a woman might run from him, but he’d never told her what lay in his heart.

“I agree,” he said. “Tonight you’re going to sleep with me.” Lord, he sounded unbearably demanding. But the truth was, he was desperate for her. He couldn’t figure out the right words to convey if she slept on her own again, he wondered if his heart would shrivel and dry until it was nothing but dust. It was utterly melodramatic of him to think such, but that didn’t stop him from feeling it.

She pulled away enough to glance into his eyes. The skin around her mouth and down her neck blushed from his kiss. He’d been too rough with her again, and he chided himself for it.

“I—I want—” she began.

He cut her off, knowing it was time to act like a man. “I must apologize for never stating earlier...and with being a lady I know you need to know...I keep bungling things.”

“Being a lady?”

“Yes, my intentions, of course, are to marry you. Being a lady, I should have said something sooner. Forgive my rashness.”

She blinked several times, and it was then Will realized he’d left the carriage’s curtains up. Well, New York’s folks would positively had a show, if they had looked in. Lord, he was making a mess of things.

He pulled down the curtains, making the carriage instantly darker and somehow gloomy.

He settled beside Erva again, trying to take her waist in his hands, something he delighted in since her thin warm body under his hands sparked such feelings into his own. But she seemed to be a world away now.

“Being a lady?” she whispered again.

“Yes, I—I’m sorry for not saying anything sooner, but if you’ll have me, I will marry you.” Lord, why did that sound so completely lacking the romanticism of his heart, lacked his passion, and the fact that already he knew he loved her, even if it had only been a few days since he’d met her.

“Because I’m a lady, you’ll marry me?”

“Yes.”

“Because I’m a lady.”

Something about the way she kept repeating the word “lady” had Will’s internal warning bells ringing. He knew he was botching the proposal, but he could hear from her tone that she was drifting further and further away. If only he could think of the right words for once.

“I—I seem to be saying all the wrong things. No, that’s not quite right, for I do wish to marry you.”

“Because I’m a lady.”

“Yes. I—well, you know.”

She shifted away from him. It felt as if she’d jumped ship and sailed back to England.

“Erva, since I’ve met you—”

“What if I’m not a lady? What then? Would this be another of your liaisons?”

He couldn’t help but laugh. His lacking any kind of sexual promiscuity, he’d thought, had been apparent last night. He’d been guided by her moans to ensure what he was doing was right. Lord, thinking about it made him feel a bit too tight around his cock. Again. Would it ever settle down?

Erva turned completely from him then, wrapping her arms around herself.

“My darling, I’m—” he tried to pull one of her shoulders his direction, but she wouldn’t budge. He sighed. “What—what is that box that lights up?” Now was not the time for this, but suddenly his mind and mouth were no longer under his control.

She glanced at him over one of her slender yet strong shoulders, her eyes wide. “You saw that it lights up?”

He nodded. “It seemed to play some sort of Indian music for me. The drums were spectacular.”

She snorted a hard laugh and sat even further away from him, but had turned toward him in the process. “That’s not Native American music, you racist.”

Something struck him then, right through his heart and stomach. The pain was so real, he’d thought she’d somehow truly stabbed him. But it had been her tone and those words. “Racist? Native American?”

She rolled her eyes. “God, I’m an idiot.”

“No.”

“Yeah, I am, for thinking you were some enlightened...
man
.” She hurled that last word at his heart again, wounding him deeply.

“I—I—what is a racist?”

She pointed her pretty face toward the front of the carriage. “You.” She shook her head. “I—I don’t think you have a word for it, but maybe racialism? Is that a word you know?”

He shook his head. “I know race, of course.”

“Yes.” She huffed and turned back to him, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. It unfortunately gave her cleavage even more of a desirous look, and Will found it hard to concentrate when she said, “Race as in white, non-Hispanic; black; Native American; Asian; etcetera.”

“People. You’re talking about people. You think me some bigot?”

“Yes!” Her hands flew to the roof. “I know people of your time, people like you, thought slaves were acceptable and were complete racists. I don’t know why I thought you’d be any better.”

So many thoughts flew through his mind, but he finally had the clarity to say what needed to be said. “People like me, hmm?”

“Yes.”

“Now who’s the bigot?”

She glanced at him, her eyes wildly dark.

“I have single-handedly emancipated more than five thousand slaves.” His voice was a tad too low and threatening. “My first act as an officer in the Army was to destroy a slave port that my own government was bankrolling. I had to pay a heavy fine for that, I did. I know I don’t say enough in Parliament, but my vote has always been for emancipation. I—I find myself at a loss of words in public places, like Parliament. I don’t know why, for I can speak my mind in a war council, but not in politics. I wish I could change that, and I am trying. I know I don’t do enough, but I’m trying.

“I have Indians in my troops whom I have given high ranks and payment for their scouting abilities. I fight for them, for without my aid I fear they will lose all their land—”

Faster than he saw coming, Erva kissed him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, saying between kisses, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You’re such a good man.”

Instantly, he reacted by kissing her back, so happy she’d returned to him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered as she licked along his ear. “I’m acting nuts, and I’m sorry for that as well. But,” she leaned her forehead on his shoulder, “I keep looking for your faults. But you have none, do you?”

He silently chuckled. “I have plenty, my darling.” Smiling, he couldn’t help but think her words a good omen for his question. “I’m sorry too. I should have asked you to marry me the moment we met, for I knew it then...”

Suddenly, she stopped holding him, pulling away, staring at him a moment, her eyes too wide as if she were afraid. “Because I’m a lady? That’s why you feel the way you do?”

He shook his head. A pinch of anger rumbling through his veins. “Because you’re you, woman.”

She smiled at his incense. But slowly her smile crumbled. “I have so much I need to tell you.” Then something flashed through her eyes. “Is that why you fight against the Americans? Because you fear the Native Americans will lose their land?”

Lord, that would have been a descent reason why. It sounded chivalrous.

He wished he could nod his head, make himself sound like a knight of yore, like a man Erva would admire. But he couldn’t. The reason why he’d come here had been far too selfish and dark.

He squeezed her waist, feeling at once closer to her, but knowing he had so much to confess to her was almost as difficult as never touching her again. What if she did reject him? She hadn’t said yes to his blasted proposal. The horses’ trot slowed, and he knew they must be close to Lady Anne’s estate.

“I suppose we both have much to tell, hmm?”

She smiled almost a bit sheepishly, then blinked and looked down.

The carriage stopped, and he tried to retract himself from her, but she suddenly pulled him close. She kissed him furiously, pressing her lips and breasts against him almost painfully so. Suddenly stopping her kiss, she pulled away enough to say, “After tea? We’ll talk?”

He smiled and laughed. “I’m not sure I have the ability any longer.”

She giggled and pulled even further away, smoothing his red coat as she did so, turning his already sensitive skin on fire. God, he’d like nothing more than to tear off his clothes and hers and have her right there in the carriage. The thought did nothing to his already overactive cock.

He sipped in a large breath, trying to think of anything remotely not sensual as the carriage door opened. Immediately, he heard a high-pitched giggle. It sounded particularly vicious. Lovely, Miss Whinny was here. He hoped he could keep the pompous young miss away from his beautiful goddess who had just kissed him as if she would never see him again. Oh, the woman could kiss. And utterly confuse him. The whirlwind of a conversation they’d just shared was...damnation, he realized he still didn’t have any answers, and he’d gone and asked even more questions. One very deliberate question in particular. After tea he was determined to get an answer, if not many.

Chapter 20

M
aybe Erva was acting a bit like a teenager, but she’d had a feeling Winny would be attending tea. So she happened to extract herself from the carriage, Will right behind her, with her lips red and raw from making out with him who also happened to have a slightly swollen mouth. Miss Winny took one look at the two of them, her face turning fuchsia, then stormed off with her two little friends chattering behind her.

God, that felt ridiculously good.

Yeah, it had been very high school of her to do, and she had to remind herself that she was a college professor after all. Well, almost. She needed to have a serious talk with Dr. Peabody when she got back. She’d sit her down and let the bitch have it—all those years of working her ass off and she didn’t even have her PhD to show for it.

Erva tripped a little as she realized what she had been thinking. Will caught her immediately. They stood a tad outside the open doors of the largest mansion Erva had ever seen, with servants dressed better than most of the people on the streets. The manicured yard was amazing, of course, and the house itself was—well, it was fabulous with marble pillars and climbing green ivy and wide open windows letting the late summer’s heat infiltrate to all inside. She heard music and the rumbling of people talking and laughing. This was supposed to be tea, but it was more like a party.

“Are you all right, darling?” Will asked with his voice more rugged than usual. His blue eyes bore into hers with noticeable desire. She loved the way he held onto her, peeking down at her breasts.

Her body instantly rekindled the fire that had been lit in the carriage. Remembering what he’d done to her last night, instantly flashed through her mind. Her center stirred. Again. God, she seemed insatiable concerning him.

She nodded. But as much as her body ached for him, worry superseded. Did he think he
should
marry her, like an eighteenth-century gentleman would?

“Lady Ferguson, how nice to see you here,” the too high-pitched voice of Winny said.

She turned, surprised to see the girl and her two friends back so soon. Erva had to give Winny credit. The girl was tenacious, albeit in a nasty like a rabid
Chihuahua
way.

Erva curtsied toward Winny as she felt Will bow beside her.

“Thank you, Miss Winny. It’s nice to see you too.” The lie hadn’t been too hard to say. After all, even through her anxieties, when Evra was around Will it was difficult to not be chipper and probably unbearably happy.

Winny curtsied herself, then beamed at her, which was, of course, a bit disconcerting. “Won’t you come inside? Lady Anne has been talking about you all afternoon. She wants you to play more music. But she also wants you to meet some of her other guests.”

One of the girls behind Winny abruptly burst out in a nervous neigh that might have been a chuckle. Winny stared her down. Her eyes narrowed cruelly. Erva couldn’t help but feel sorry for the girl receiving the cold shoulder from Winny.

“Of course,” Erva said with a smile. “Thank you. Won’t you lead the way?”

Winny caught a fan strung around her wrist, then, with a too perfected move, fluttered the white feathered fan into a wide semicircle. She hid her mouth behind the fan, but said, “It would be my pleasure.”

As Winny wound her way through the house, she looked back at Will. “Oh, and good afternoon, General.”

“The same to you, Miss Winny, and to all your friends too.”

Winny’s cronies tittered as if Will had said he was naked.

Suddenly, Lady Anne appeared and rushed to Erva, hugging her as if she were a long lost daughter.

“My dear, I’m so delighted you have come,” Lady Anne said as she whirled Erva about and showed her into a room with a pianoforte and a few guests sitting on tiny chairs, sipping from teacups, although the room smelled strongly of whiskey.

“Thank you, my lady,” Erva said, wondering slightly about the vice grip Lady Anne had on her wrist.

“Sit with an old woman for a spell. I want to know everything about you.”

With more force than Erva thought the woman could muster, Lady Anne shoved her on a couch and sat beside her. Will stood before them, looking a little surprised, but then rocked back on the heels of his black boots with a small smile.

Erva couldn’t help but return a grin, then glanced back at her host. Oh God, what could she tell her?

“Well, what would you like to know, my lady?”

“Anne, call me Anne please. Unless you think it too informal, of course. I’m sorry for my impropriety, but your music has stirred my soul, my dear. I’m simply in love with you and your music.”

Erva giggled.

“Have you been composing very long?”

Erva sucked in a breath, thinking of the Beethoven melody she had played. She wished she could take credit for that. Shaking her head, she said, “No, none of the music I play is of my own making.”

“Wherever did you learn such music?”

“I was wondering the same thing,” Will chipped in.

Erva thought quickly. “Well, the music I first played I learned from an American by the name of Mr. Elfman.”

“I’ve never heard of him.”

Erva tried not to laugh. The lady wouldn’t have heard of him, since he lived more than two-hundred years in the future. “Oh, well, you might soon.” Erva folded her hands together, already feeling guilty as she told her lies. “And the other is from a composer. Prussian, I believe. Or is he Austrian? I always forget.”

“Ah,” Lady Anne’s eyes widened. “I’ve never been to the Prussian Empire. Is it lovely?”

Erva nodded, thinking of the modern day, federal parliamentary government of Germany. “There are no words to describe it.” At least none that she could share with Lady Anne, she thought.

Lady Anne nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, now I have to go. Will you go with me? Of course, we’ll take General Hill with us.”

Erva couldn’t help but giggle up at Will who smiled down at her. That grin, the way his eyes seemed to stare only into hers, his whole attention given to her, it was enough to think he was serious about wanting to marry her. Then again eighteenth-century rules practically dictated they were supposed to wed after what they’d done last night.

Unless it was just an affair.

As if attracted to Erva’s dark thought, Winny floated into the room. Lady Anne straightened and turned more pointedly to Erva.

“My lady—”

“Erva, please.”

Lady Anne smiled widely. “Erva, my dear, would—would you care for some tea?”

Iced tea sounded delightful, Erva thought, since the room was nearly a thousand degrees. However, there was something so genuine about Lady Anne that Erva couldn’t say no to such an eager face. “I’ll have some if you do.”

“Lovely. Now, help me up to see if I can find one of my maids.”

“I’ll get you the tea.” But the horrified look upon the elderly lady’s face let Erva know that wasn’t acceptable. “Er, I mean, I’ll go find a maid. Please, continue sitting.”

Erva stood as Lady Anne smiled appreciatively. “You are an angel, my dear. And after we share our tea and talk more, I will, of course, insist that you play for me.”

Erva curtsied, something that was becoming easier and easier to do. “It would be my pleasure, Anne.”

Lady Anne giggled like a schoolgirl at the use of her Christian name, which made Erva grin again. She couldn’t help it. Even with Winny circling the room with her little minions behind, as if they were sharks in a tank, Erva couldn’t help but feel carefree and loved.

Whoa, where had that thought come from? Loved?

She glanced at Will, still smiling down at her.

“Would you care for some tea too, b—” She stopped herself from saying anything more, almost calling him baby. It was a term of endearment that she wasn’t sure would be in Will’s vocabulary. She hadn’t even realized it was in hers. Unsteadily, she said, “Would you care for tea, Will—the—er—General?”

Will noiselessly chuckled and nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Keep Lady Anne company for me, will you?”

Will looked down at Anne with an easy smile. “It would be my honor, darling.”

She blinked at the word, then peeked at Lady Anne who appeared to be bursting at the seams with a giant smile. The lady even clapped tiny, almost soundless applause, which made Erva chuckle all the more. Before she got too lost in the moment, Erva left to hunt down a maid.

The quest hadn’t lasted long because there was a maid a few paces from the entrance of room. Erva asked for some tea for herself, Lady Anne, and General Hill, and the maid bowed very low in her black and white uniform, never uttering a word, but turned quickly and returned with a silver tray full of little cakes, teacups, sugar, cream, a teapot, and a small pitcher filled with what mouth-wateringly looked like cool water.

Erva followed the maid back into the room, and saw Lady Anne still on the couch, but standing before her was Miss Winny and her friends. Glancing around the chamber, Erva wondered where Will had gone.

“My dear,” Lady Anne said, her voice lowered and wispy, almost nervous. “Erva, I believe you’ve made the acquaintance of Miss Winny. She is from the Devon’s family, arriving in the colony of New York more than a hundred years ago.”

Lady Anne reached out for Erva’s hands, and upon taking them pulled her back down on the couch forcefully. From her periphery Erva noticed the maid assembling the tea on a nearby table then leaving without so much as a word.

“Yes,” Winny said. “Lady Ferguson and I have known each other for eons, Lady Anne.”

Erva glanced up at Winny, feeling as if something was out of proportion and wondering about the odd exaggeration. Still, she tried to focus on the conversation Lady Anne had started. “Fascinating.” Then turning to Winny, Erva said, “Your family’s been here in New York for quite a while then.”

Winny nodded condescendingly. “Yes, we were one of the first families to live here, of course. The Devon’s are related to King Charles I, you know.”

Lady Anne laughed loudly. “Miss Winny, I never expected the likes of you to talk about the topic of bastards at tea.”

Winny’s face turned again an ugly color close to a bright flamingo. Erva could guess at how Lady Anne, whether intentionally or not, had just insulted her. At that Erva, for the first time, felt sorry for the girl who was trying so hard.

“Oh, who doesn’t have a few bastards in the family?” Erva said, hoping to relieve Winny from the intense color in her cheeks.

Lady Anne roared with another laugh. “Very true, Lady Ferguson. Very true.”

Winny turned toward Erva. Her eyes deviously dark and narrowed. That wasn’t the reaction Erva had hoped for.

“Lady Ferguson.” Winny arched a dark brow, then tried with her fingers to align it with the other. “I don’t think you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Miss Emma and Miss Lydia, have you?”

Erva felt her lips descend into a frown. She usually tried to censor her reactions, especially in front of someone like Winny. But when hearing those two names, she couldn’t hide from the pain and shock that tore through her.

“Miss Winny—” Lady Anne said reprovingly.

“Yes, I think it quite time you met them,” Winny said, ignoring the lady. “Don’t you,
my lady
?” She’d said Erva’s title as if she’d called her a bitch instead.

“You discourteous trollop,” Lady Anne hissed.

Winny glanced at Lady Anne, her eyes wide and shocked. It was an act. Winny was playing at some awful game. And winning.

“Why, Lady Anne, I am no such thing. I am a good and loyal friend to the pretty Lady Ferguson. I only wish to serve her. Would it be wrong of me to tell the lady that General Hill is in the room next to this with his two mistresses?”

“Churlish girl, shut your mouth.” Lady Anne’s voice dropped and hollowed, making her sound remarkably threatening.

Winny appeared unfazed. She kept her crocodile smile aimed right at Erva.

Standing, Erva stared at the doorway Winny had indicated. Lady Anne tugged at her hand, holding it tight.

“Dear, dear Lady Ferguson, don’t,” Lady Anne whispered.

Erva locked eyes with the elderly lady, whose warm brown eyes shone back only sympathy.

“It won’t come to any good, sweet Erva.”

It was such an odd moment, but the way Lady Anne looked at her, held her, and seemed so attentive to her, well, it broke Erva’s heart. She thought of her own mother who wouldn’t have cared if Will was in a room with his two mistresses. Her mother wouldn’t have cared how much Erva had grown to like Will. Oh, hell, she wondered if it were possible to fall in love with the guy this quickly.

But not when he had two mistresses in the room next door.

She swooped down and hugged Lady Anne quickly. When standing, still holding onto Anne’s hands, tears blurred Erva’s vision. “You’re so good to me.”

Lady Anne blinked, sudden moisture in her own eyes. “You are an angel, my dear.”

A tear escaped down Erva’s cheek. It felt so good to have a woman say that. A nurturing, kind woman. Although it was an odd moment to think such things, she knew she should give herself the acceptance she craved.