Nellie (The Brides of San Francisco Book 1) (23 page)

Bertha came to the door, the children with her, and then they ran past her and down the steps. Henry came immediately to his mother and put his arms around her waist. Violet ran to Blake and wrapped her arms around his leg.

“Daddy!” shouted Violet.

“Mama,” said Henry. “When we saw Papa come home, and then he and James left so fast, I knew something was wrong. He didn’t stop to tell us. I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“I’m fine, my darling boy. I love you so much. Blake and I love you both so much. I’m just glad to be home.”

“Mama,” said Violet, now in Blake’s arms.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“You’re dirty. So is Daddy. Did you make mud pies?”

“No, but I think we should. Not right now, but we’ll have a day where we’ll make mud pies and have a picnic, and just the four of us will have a fine time. What do you think about that?”

“I like it.” She nodded her head emphatically, her blond curls bouncing wildly.

Shaking his head, Blake laughed. “I don’t know if Henry and I are up for mud pies. It’s not very manly. We might go watch the ships come in, and then we can join you later for the picnic.”

Nellie put her arm around Henry’s shoulders. He was growing so fast. The top of his head reached her chest. Soon he’d be taller than she was, but he would always be her baby, her first born.

The four of them walked into the house together.

“Henry, take your sister and go to the nursery and play until dinner. Your mother and I need to clean up and discuss some things.”

Henry took Violet’s hand and led her to the nursery, across from Nellie’s bedroom.

Blake opened the door to her bedroom. “Come here, wife.” He took her by the hand and led her to the dressing room. Once there he helped her undress and she helped him. When they were both divested of their muddy clothes, he took her hand and walked into the bathing room. The tub was already full of steaming water.

Nellie stared at the water, and then at Blake. “How did you do this?”

“I had James come ahead while we were reuniting with the kids. I’ll get in first and then I want you to enter in front of me.”

She did as he said and rested her back against his chest. Luckily for both of them, their hands and clothes took most of the damage from the mud. That didn’t stop Blake from taking his time and washing every bit of her with soapy hands.

Nellie made him stand and washed him as well, taking great care when she reached his member. She’d never touched a man’s rod before. The strength, hardness covered by velvet, was an interesting sensation and she spent extra time there.

“Nellie, if you keep doing that, I’m going to disgrace myself. I think we should rinse.” There was a pitcher by the tub and he filled it with warm water from the faucet and poured it over her, rinsing all the soap from her body and her hair.

She got out and wrapped herself in her wrapper with a towel covering her hair. Then she had Blake stand in the tub and she rinsed him. He had to bend over so she could rinse his hair. She held a towel for him to dry off with and then held his robe ready.

When they were done, Blake took her by the hand and into his bedroom.

“We’ve never been in here before,” said Nellie, she glanced around the dark, rich furnishings, stopping on the enormous bed.

“I know. The time has come for you to move in here. Permanently. I want you every night and to be honest, your bed is too short for me.”

Nellie walked to the bed, dropped her robe and her towel from her hair to the rug by the bed, and then climbed on. She crawled to the middle and lay on her side. Then she crooked her finger and called to him. “Blake, darling, come love me.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice, beloved.”

After they made love, Nellie lay in his arms. “I can’t believe you love me,” she said with awe.

“And I can’t believe you didn’t figure it out long before I did. I think I fell for you when we first met. When Violet put her little wet hand on me and told me I was pretty. I definitely fell in love with the sprite then and maybe, you too. When I first made love to you and started sleeping with you every night. When I changed my schedule to be with you. Any of those times I thought you would know and I was afraid to admit even the possibility to myself.”

“I thought you did those things to protect me from Maddie.”

“I did, but I also did them because I couldn’t stand not being with you, not touching you every night and having you sleep in my arms.”

“Come here, Nellie.” He patted the bed next to him.

She scooted next to his side, letting his warmth surround her just as his arms were doing. “I fell in love with you the minute you didn’t flinch when Violet patted you with her wet hand. I figured any man, not used to children, who could put up with that behavior was worth my time. Each time you were kind to me and my children, the way you let Violet call you ‘Daddy’. All of it added to my love for you. I realized it every time you held me so carefully and showed me the pleasure of the marriage bed and took away my fear.”

“I don’t want there to be misunderstandings between us,” said Blake. “Anytime you want to say something to me, do it. We may not always agree, but that’s alright. We’ll work it out. Agreed?”

“Yes, completely.”

“Now come, I want to show you how much I love you.”

Everything else forgotten, Nellie rolled with Blake and soon they were making slow, sweet love.

CHAPTER 16

January 31, 1868

Blake and Nellie sat down for a late supper. She’d already seen the children to bed and now was their time together.

James served them the smooth lobster bisque, that had become Nellie’s favorite food since she became with child.

“Don’t fill up on the soup,” said Blake.

She was having James fill her bowl with seconds when Blake reminded her there were other foods yet to come.

Nellie frowned. “You know how much I like it.”

“I know, but you need to eat a variety of things not just one. If you had your way, you’d eat the soup for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

She had to smile. He was right. She would.

James arrived with the main course, swordfish, fried lightly in butter, served with lemon caper sauce, fresh asparagus and parsley potato.

Nellie’s mouth started watering as soon as she saw the fish. “How wonderful.” She picked up her fork, sliced off a bite of the fish and put it in her mouth. She closed her eyes, as the buttery meat melted in her mouth.

Blake chuckled. “I love to see you enjoy your food. It’s almost a sensual experience.”

James came back into the dining room, but was without a tray.

“Pardon me, sir, madam, there is a Mr. Balfour, here to see you, madam.”

Nellie completely lost her appetite. Suddenly, the fish was dry as dust in her mouth. She sipped her tea and swallowed the last bite.

“Show him to the library, James,” said Blake. “We’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you ready for this, Nellie?”

“I’m ready. This will probably be the delivery of the papers where Edward sues me for custody of Henry.”

“I, too, am anticipating that.”

Blake helped her out of her chair.

“Shall we?” He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and they walked out of the dining room.

When they reached the library, Blake released her so they could enter the room.

Mr. Balfour, was standing by the bookshelves perusing the titles.

“Mr. Balfour, I take it you have given my response to Edward,” said Nellie.

“Yes, ma’am. I have the letter with his response here.” He handed Nellie the letter, Edward’s unbroken seal on the back.

Her hands shook, but she broke the seal and removed the letter from the envelope.

November 28, 1867

Nellie,

You called my bluff. I’m old but I thought I would be able to force you to send Henry to me, to raise and groom. You didn’t fall for it. You obviously love your son very much and will do whatever you need to in order to keep your little family together. I can appreciate that.

I make this request of you. Please come to see me, bring the children and your husband. I will not make any further attempts to separate you from your child. I will not sully your name or, by association Henry’s name, with my baseless accusations concerning Violet’s parentage. I’m fully aware she is my son’s child. Again it was just an old man, trying to get his way.

You’ve got backbone, girl and I hope you pass that on to your children.

I wish you much happiness.

Edward

Nellie put her fist to her mouth and handed the missive to Blake.

Mr. Balfour, stood smiling. “Mr. Wallace shared with me the contents of this last letter. I’m very happy for all of you.”

Blake helped Nellie to sit, and then turned to Mr. Balfour. “Thank you for bringing this. I realize that you are only the messenger in this correspondence, but give your employer my thanks. I don’t know that we will be coming to see him anytime soon. I do not trust that as soon as we set foot on New York soil, he will not try to take Henry.”

“Understandable, sir. I will relay that information to him. Perhaps he will allow me to draft a guarantee, so to speak that he will do no such thing. I do believe that he is dying and wants to see the boy before he does, but I’m not a doctor.”

“Perhaps if we have the guarantee you suggest,” said Blake. “I would be more agreeable to bring my family to visit this man and let him spend time with his heir.”

“I will pass on your suggestion.”

The attorney put his hat on and tapped the front of the crown to keep it in place. Then he held his hand out to Blake. “I truly hope that I will see you again under much better circumstances.”

“Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Balfour.”

“Good evening, sir,” he tipped his hat. “Good evening to you as well, Mrs. Malone.”

Nellie nodded but didn’t say anything. Blake saw that she was hanging on by a thread, trying not to cry in front of the attorney.

“Can you find your way out? Or should I ring for James?’

“No sir, I know the way.” He left.

No sooner had he exited, than the tears of joy and relief poured out of his wife. She cried and cried.

“Shh,” he soothed. “He’s gone. Henry is safe and so are you and Violet. I don’t plan on visiting the old man until Henry is eighteen and able to make his own decisions about where he wants to live, what he wants to do and where he wants to go to school. Does that meet with your approval?”

She nodded vigorously. “Oh, Blake. I would never have been able to do this if not for you. You give me strength.”

He shook his head. “We give each other strength. We are a pair, a unified front. No one and nothing can hurt us as long as we have each other.”

She nodded. Then her eyes got wide and she grabbed his hand. “Feel.” Placing his hand on her stomach, he felt his child kick. “He’s strong.”

“Like his mother,” said Blake. He took her into his arms and slanted his lips over hers. “I love you Nellie Malone.”

“I love you, too.

*****

April 1868

Maddie Singer was arrested and charged with attempted murder and kidnapping. During the trial, Trixie turned state’s evidence and told the whole truth about New Orleans as well as the plans Maddie had made for Nellie.

During her trial, Maddie completely lost her mind. She kept telling Blake that if he’d just give her another chance, she could change, she could make him happy.

Nellie insisted on attending every day of the trial, though she grew bigger and bigger with child. On this particular day in April, she wore her favorite emerald dress. The modiste had it let out as much as possible, and Nellie was just barely able to close the buttons.

Her comfort level was nil. Her back hurt and her legs hurt and she was generally miserable.

Blake took her hand. “Are you sure you want to stay? All that’s left is the sentencing. We already know what the judgment will be. They will send her back to New Orleans to stand trial for Samuel Singer’s death and she’ll probably be sent to prison for life or hung on the gallows. You don’t want to hear that.”

“I want to speak, if possible. I think she needs mental help more than anything and prison would be a better option, than hanging.” Pain stabbed her belly.

She grabbed her stomach and bent forward.

“Nellie, I don’t care what you say, I am taking you home. I don’t want my child born in a courthouse.”

She breathed hard, through the pain. “Yes, I suppose that would be best. You should get the doctor there, too.”

“I’ll send Otis as soon as he can go. First he has to get us home.”

Nellie rose just as another contraction hit her. “Oh, dear, I’d forgotten how much this hurt.”

Blake scooped her up into his arms and carried her out of the courtroom to the waiting carriage.

“Otis, hurry home and then go get Doctor Walsh. Our baby is coming,” said Blake.