Desperate (Harris Trilogy Book One) (15 page)

Rather than be witness to a cat fight, Mrs. Robinson said, “I’ve got something that needs my attention in the front room. I’ll be right back.” She struggled off the floor which wasn’t easy with her wide girth.

Giving Abigail a simmering glare, she sneered, “I hope not, since Myra chose the color.” She saw the anger in Abigail’s face proving she felt threatened by her relationship with Myra.

“Where is, Myra?
I would love for her to see my gown for the ball and get her opinion.”

“She is doing some shoppi
ng while I finish my fitting.” Kate hated how beautiful Abigail looked in her white gown. Her dark hair was loose, flowing sensually down the back of her dress. The shape of the gown accentuated her tall, willowy figure.

“I can’t wait f
or David to see me in my gown.” Abigail twirled gracefully showing off her beautiful dress. “It has been months since I have seen him.” 

Kate suppressed the urge to scratch Abigail’s ey
es out at the mention of David. “I need to change and find Myra so we can return to Harris Plantation before supper. I’ll see you at the ball.” 

She
walked into the changing room, removed the gown so she could slip into her clothes, and leave quickly so she would not have to have another conversation with Abigail. Suddenly she felt depressed. Whenever Abigail was at Harris Plantation, Kate kept herself occupied in her room. She might be beautiful but she was devious. The thought of David marrying a viperous bitch like Abigail made her sick to her stomach. Was she that good at deceit that David didn’t realize her heart was as black as night? Maybe he was only attracted to her beauty. Never would she have pegged him for the kind of man to be duped by a pretty face.

Even though Myra never spoke ill about Abigail
, she could read her expression and knew she didn’t care much for her petty ways. Especially, when she went on and on about the spectacular wedding she was planning. It would be wonderful if David loved her instead. Without a doubt she would be a more loving, devoted wife. 

Chapter Nine

“Kate, ya a sight for sore eyes.  Your dress is beautiful. You’ll be the purtiest girl dare.”  Lizzy wrapped her finger around a fat curl and pulled it over Kate’s forehead. She had rolled Kate’s hair on paper and it curled seductively around her face. Her transformation was amazing. She looked like a sophisticated, socialite, not a poor farm girl. 

W
hat would David think when he saw her? She was glad there had been a lull in the fighting so all officers would be present tonight. The ball would be at the plantation of General Walters, which was an hour ride from Harris Plantation. All the officers were already in attendance so they could discuss strategic tactics to win the war. 

The thought
of seeing David again made her heart flutter. It had been three long months since she left Camp Kanway. From the tone of his letters he still had feelings for her. Without fail, she received a letter every week. While in the letters he did not confess his love, he did lead her to believe he cared for her. Maybe tonight she could convince him to break his engagement with Abigail and marry her instead.

“Kate, are you ready to go? We have a long ride ahead
of us.” Excited that Myra would be seeing David, she was impatient to get to the ball. When she saw Kate, she put her hand to her chest and whispered, “You are beautiful. You look fantastic. It’s hard to believe you are the same little rag muffin that showed up on my doorstep in that filthy Confederate uniform months ago.”

Kate blu
shed from all the compliments. “Yes, I’m ready, Myra.” She threw her arms around Lizzy and squeezed. “Thank you for all your help. You are a miracle worker.”

Lizzy wiped away a tear and whispered, “I hope you has a good time.”

Kate and Myra hurried to the parlor where Edward waited. Pride showed on his face when they sashayed into the room. “I’ll be escorting the two most beautiful women at the ball. I’ll have to beat the men off with a stick, you two are so lovely.”

Myra looped
her arm around Edward’s waist. “You’re not so bad yourself.” He dipped his head and kissed her lips.

S
till a very handsome man, he looked very masculine in his dark formal wear. Except for the gray at his temples, his hair was still black and thick. The resemblance to David was strong, and they were both the same height. Sometimes it hurt to look at him because it reminded her of how much she loved David.

Kate could feel the love Edwar
d and Myra felt for each other. If only David loved her like she loved him. Tonight she would win his heart.

****

The splendor of the ballroom where the Walters’ entertained was magnificent. A huge chandelier hung from the high ceilings with so many lights Kate couldn’t begin to count them. The white, stone floor shone brightly as guests were already dancing, swinging each other on the dance floor. Beautiful dresses of every color imaginable dotted the dance floor. Never, had Kate seen such opulence. 

S
he scanned the room looking for David. She had missed him and couldn’t wait to see him. Finally, she spotted him on the dance floor embracing Abigail as they moved to a waltz. Her stomach began to ache. How could he make love to her, and then act like he was in love with Abigail? She was perplexed trying to understand his behavior. 

Abigail was smiling at something David said, and Kate had to look away
. Jealousy was new to her and she was having a hard time controlling the ugly emotion.   

From the refreshment table, Kate watched as Myra and Edward interrupted the dance with Abigail.
Myra threw her arms around her son and kissed his cheek. David lifted his mother off the floor in a huge hug and swung her around. Next it was Edward’s turn to give David a fatherly hug. One thing Kate had learned while at Harris Plantation, they were an extremely close family. They all moved to a sofa in the corner of the room so they could talk and visit.

N
o matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep her eyes off David. He looked so handsome in his dress uniform. It fit his muscular body like a glove. As if he sensed he was being watched, he turned toward Kate. Gorgeous blue eyes met hers. By his expression it took a few moments for him to realize it was her. Of course he would not recognize her. The last time he saw her she looked like a boy. 

A thrill coursed through her veins as David devoured her with his eyes. Even though the ballroom
was filled with guests and conversation, it was if they were the only two people in the world. That is until she saw Abigail look her way.

The
murderous glare Abigail sent her way caused her to shiver. Acting quickly, Kate moved out of the range of Abigail’s intense stare. She didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass Edward and Myra.

She weaved her way through the guests, and onto the dance floor. She bumped into a couple causing them to look at her curiously. “Sorry, please excuse me.” Hand to her pounding heart, Kate took several breaths to calm down. People were beginning to stare at her.

****

David leaned back on the sofa, and crossed his legs.
The tension was so thick he felt he could cut it with a knife. He assumed his parents could feel the change in Abigail because they made a hasty retreat to the dance floor.

“Is there som
ething I need to know, David?”

Abigail was seething
by the time his parents deserted him, the cowards. 

“About what, dear?” 
He did not want her to know he had feelings for Kate. He knew how volatile her personality could be. She could be vicious and he would hate for Kate to be at the receiving end of her anger. 

“Don’t play dumb with me.
I saw the way you were looking at Kate.”

“Are you jealous, Abigail?”
Annoyed with her, his voice was harsh.

“Of that tiny, slip of a girl who looks like a boy
with that horrible, short hair? I don’t think so. She is pretty, but she is too short, and I can’t believe she cut her hair.” Her perfect nose rose in the air. “It’s just not fashionable.”

Kate was far from short.
She might not be as tall as Abigail but she had long legs perfect for wrapping around a man….  He shook himself back to reality. 

If Abigail’s suspicions grew, he would have hell to pay. He squeezed her hand.
“I’m famished. I’ll go and get us some refreshments. Wait for me here.” 

With hopes of getting Kate alone, he weaved his way through the throng of guests
. She was the most magnificent woman he had ever seen and he wanted her for his mistress. When he finally spotted her, she was standing at the far end of the refreshment table sipping on a glass of punch. 

Kate’s excitement
of being at the ball was evident as her emerald, green eyes sparkled. She looked absolutely magnificent in the royal blue dress. The color was perfect for her. Her short locks had grown and curled delicately around her pretty face. His eyes moved to her neck. The scooped neckline of her dress showed an expanse of creamy décolletage. Oh, he remembered those beautiful breasts. He would never forget them as long as he lived. Then cold hot jealousy coursed through his veins when he saw Mike lead her onto the dance floor.

So
meone touched Kate on the arm. “Hello mermaid, how about a dance?” 

Kate looked up into the smiling f
ace of Lieutenant Mike Emerson. “Only if you think you can behave as a gentleman, Lieutenant Emerson.”

“Kate, please call me Mike.
After all we’ve been through together I think it would be proper.” He took the punch glass from her hand and placed it on the table.

Hand tucked into her arm, he led her to
the dance floor as curious onlookers watched. The attention made her feel self-conscious as their eyes followed her. Several young men had already asked her for a dance but she had said no to every one of them. She had been too busy spying on David. 

Gi
ving Mike a blinding smile, she stated, “I don’t think I can ever call you, Mike. It wouldn’t be proper to call my Lieutenant by his first name.”

More than a few guests turned and looked at them when Mike laughed. “Well, since you are no longer a soldier you can call me by my first name
.”

“Mike it is then.”
His admiring eyes dropped to her bosoms and then back to her face. One thing she could say about Mike, she could always tell what he was thinking. As usual his lascivious thoughts were evident. 

“I have to admit spitfire
, you looked pretty good in pants, but I must say you are even better looking in that dress. You are by far the prettiest girl here.” Again his gaze slid over her. 

“Thank you.
I can’t believe I am at a ball in this beautiful dress. Just three months ago I was digging in the dirt trying to plant a spring garden.”              

Eyes brightening, he swept
her across the floor in a twirl. His grip on her hand tightened. “No one here would believe you were once a poor farm girl. You look sophisticated, graceful, and most of all, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

Kate blushed because of his
compliments.

The dance ended
and she felt she had wasted enough time. If she was going to talk to David, she needed to find a way to get him alone. “I’m thirsty can you please get me something to drink?”

Disappointment showed on his face.
“Sure, don’t dance with anyone else though. I want the next dance.” 

She
watched him as he meandered his way toward the refreshment table. She didn’t want to give Mike the wrong idea. Not ready to give up on David until he was married to Abigail, she would wait. By the way David was staring at her, he still wanted her. It was time to find him and make her declaration of love. Her hands trembled. Now was not the time to be timid, she had to be bold.

Before she got two steps, she saw another familiar face. A small scream escaped from deep in her throat when she saw him.

Doctor Jacob Greene weaved his way through the throng of guests, his eyes fixed on her. As he came closer, she panicked and slipped behind a group of ladies in conversation. They stopped talking and gave her a curious look. Quickly, she threaded through the dancers trying to lose him.

Glancing over her shoulder before stepping onto the well-lit terrace, Kate did n
ot see him following her. Just maybe she had been lucky enough to escape him. As a precaution, she descended the terrace steps and ran into the deserted, secluded, garden hoping to find a place to hide. She spotted a huge statue large enough to conceal her. 

She picked up her skirts, and loped toward the statue. A
strong hand jerked her around. She found herself pressed against a huge, powerful chest. Angry, brown eyes peered down at her. 

In a mild voice
honed with steel beneath he asked, “I think I deserve an explanation. Jake? Isn’t that the name you gave me? You don’t look much like a Jake now.” He looked deep in her eyes.

Kate’s heart pounded
so fast she thought she would faint. She couldn’t speak she was so frightened. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. 

“I deman
d you give me an explanation. What game are you playing?” He tightened his hold on her arms causing her to wince.

“Please,
I can explain,” she pleaded.

“Take your hands off her.” David’s forceful tone
caused Jacob to release his hold on her. He turned and faced David.   

Kate was
glad to see him. He would know how to get her out of this situation.

“David, maybe you can explain
? This is the young man …or woman that helped at the field hospital. I demand to know why she was dressed as a man.”

David’s brow creased in worry. I
f he could not convince Jacob to keep their secret, he would be in a mess of trouble. “This is Kate Monroe. Her family died and she was destitute. She had no one to turn to so she joined the infantry.”

A look of disbelief on his face, Jacob asked, “Do you mean to tell me she pretended to be a man?”

“Yes, that is exactly what she did. I had the same reaction as you when I discovered she was a female.” David shoved a hand through the mass of his dark hair. “As soon as the battle of Chancellorsville was over, I had her escorted to my parents’ plantation before anyone else found out her gender.”

His eyes returned to Kate.
“Do you mean to tell me she fought alongside men in battle?”  It was apparent Jacob was still in shock. Of course Kate understood. It was a reckless, dangerous choice to make.

“Thank God, no.
I found out she was a female before she went into battle. I sent her to help out at the field hospital so no one would suspect when she did not join the fighting with the other soldiers.” 

“I suspected so
mething wasn’t right about you. The way you moved was much too delicate.”   

Kate finally found her tongue. “Please don’t report us.
I don’t want David to get court-martialed for keeping my identity a secret. I can’t bear the thought of causing anymore trouble because of my deception.” An eerie silence followed. She chewed her bottom lip as she waited for his answer.