Riverbreeze: Part 2 (13 page)

“I didn’t say anything about wolves. I said wolfhounds. There’s a huge difference, you know.”

He waved her off, as if it didn’t matter. “Maybe so, but you do not see many wolfhounds around here. But did you know there’s still a bounty on wolves?”

“No.” She answered flippantly. “How would I know about something like that?”

He went on, ignoring her tone. “Jamie and I brought in two of them last month when we were hunting along the Chickahominy River. A pack had been spotted by some trappers and Jamie and I decided to try our luck.”

Elizabeth suddenly appeared uneasy. Her eyes swept the area, settling for a moment on the dense woods in the not-too-far-distance before returning to the dogs. She watched them steadily as she asked, “Have you ever seen any around here?”

“Only one last year. I killed that one too. Their furs bring in a nice bit of extra money.” Robert said matter-of-factly, not noticing her discomfiture.

“Oh. Well. I think the dogs have had enough time outside.” She called sharply for them, anxious to be back in the safety of the house. And she whistled that magic two-note whistle with brought them back in a blink.

Robert frowned. “Elizabeth, have I frightened you with this talk of wolves?” He asked catching her hand. He peered into her eyes, concerned for her feelings.

“Wouldn’t you be?” She said in a small voice.

“Oh my Lily, I’m sorry.” He said, pulling her into his arms. “I didn’t mean to. I guess I wasn’t thinking.” And he held her tight to him, pressing a lingering kiss on the top of her head. She was like a child in his arms, small and vulnerable.

She clung to him, molding herself against his solidness.

“You’re trembling.” Robert said in surprise, rubbing her back.

“I guess I hadn’t really thought about the danger from wild animals before.” She whispered.

With his cheek pressed against her hair, he said softly, “I’ve lived here so long now that I often forget that people like you, from the city, find this land wild and dangerous and frightening. It is wild and dangerous, mind you, but it is also beautiful and exciting and peaceful. I promised I would take care of you, Elizabeth, when we were betrothed and I meant that. I was being honest when I said I would protect you and take care of you, but now I mean it with all my heart. I will always protect you with every ounce of strength in my body. You won’t ever have to worry about wolves or bears or lynx…”

“Bears or lynx?” She exclaimed, shivering again.

Robert cursed himself for making her feel even worse. He better just shut his mouth on the subject. “Forget I said that. There are no bears or lynx around here anymore. Too many settlers.”

She frowned at him and opened her mouth to question him, but he shushed her with another quick kiss. “Everything will be alright,” he crooned when she didn’t stop frowning. “Remember your dream; long life, happy marriage. What is there to worry about?”

Her eyes met his and like someone had waved a hand in front of her face, all her fear vanished and she laughed gaily. “I forgot.” She admitted in a gladdened voice, blushing with embarrassment again. “I’m such a ninny.”

“No, you’re not.” He said obligingly, giving her a squeeze. “Maybe a puddinghead, but not a ninny.” He was grinning like a pumpkinhead himself.

She gasped and hit him in the arm with her closed fist.

He laughed and rubbed the spot. “Ow! Well, I guess that means we’re not going back to bed!”

“And maybe not ever again!” She declared, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Do not say that!” He gasped. “How will we ever have the children we’re supposed to have?”

“Well…” She capitulated. “Only to make children then.” She said with a secret smile.

“I wager I can change your mind.” He cajoled, hugging her tightly and blowing in her ear.

She giggled, wiggling to loosen his grasp. “That tickles!”

He held on to her though and nibbled her ear and neck, enjoying the feel of her hair tickling his nose.

“Stop it!” She gasped, laughing. “I can’t breathe!”

He loosened his hold and she let her head fall back. They smiled foolishly at each other for a moment while she caught her breath.

“Still afraid?” He whispered.

She shook her head. “No.” she whispered back.

“You want to go back to bed?” He asked, hope in his heart.

“No.” She answered honestly, smiling gently at him.

“No!” He looked wounded.

“I’m hungry.” She said simply.

“So am I.” And he dove into her neck again.

She didn’t respond and she didn’t react. She stayed as still and cold as a porcelain doll. When he came up for air, he realized she had merely been waiting patiently for him to finish, almost as if she were waiting dispassionately while a servant washed her feet. He sighed. “I’m not going to get you back into bed this morning, am I?”

She shook her head.

He sighed again. “I guess I should free you then. And the goat needs to be milked anyway. Her bag is probably ready to explode by now.”

“I’ll do what I can in the kitchen.” Elizabeth offered.

“You just get warmed up, alright?” He said, kissing the tip of her cold nose. “I’ll be back shortly.”

He started off in the direction of the barn, the cold from the damp earth seeping into his moccasins. Surprisingly the dogs started to follow him. Elizabeth called out, “Non! Pappillon! Fleurette! Venez ici!”

Robert stopped and turned around and was surprised to see the dogs nearly at his feet. He looked down at them, considering. “Wait.” He called. “Maybe they can come with me.”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “Yes, why not? What do I say to them?”

“Venez! Venez ici
. Come. Come here.” The dogs, hearing her, started back in her direction. “No, no.” She said. “Call them quickly. I won’t say anymore.”

“Venez
?” Robert tried it. When she nodded, he said it louder, calling the dogs sharply. “Papillon! Fleurette!
Venez! Venez ici
!”

The dogs looked confused for a moment, but hearing the familiar command, obeyed almost happily. They returned to Robert’s feet, and he slapped his thigh, saying in English, “come on.” before turning and striding in the direction of the barn. Watching the dogs following right alongside of him, he said in a lower voice, “I’ll make hunting dogs out of you yet.”

* * *

Elizabeth went into the house, clutching the cloak around her. Firmly closing the door against the frosty air, she gave one last great shiver and stamped her numb feet. Perhaps it would have been nice to return to bed and cuddle under the covers, but Robert would have wanted to do more than just cuddle and the truth was she did feel a bit stiff and sore this morning. She smiled to herself though; last night had been…successful, she decided. Not glorious or blissful, but satisfactory even if she hadn’t achieved satisfaction herself. But that will come with time and practice, her governess, Louise, had said. And there was no reason not to do some practicing on your own, she would add with a wink.

Moving down the hall towards the clothes pegs, she thought of Robert and the dogs. What a gentleman he had been this morning, getting up with her to take them out.
That
had been a surprise; she had believed that he had thought of them as a nuisance. And then when he had allowed them to follow him to the barn she had been so pleased.

She hung up her cloak, feeling like she could be falling in love with him. Even though her dream had shown her a long and happy marriage with him, she hadn’t felt any real love for him before. Affection, yes; respect and desire, yes; but not love. She knew that Evelyn already loved Jamie; Evelyn had fallen in love with Jamie almost from the moment she had first seen him, but Elizabeth’s feelings had been more subdued, more matter-of-fact. The feeling didn’t frighten her; it was just a pleasant surprise that she hadn’t expected so soon.

A shuffling noise coming from the kitchen caught her attention and she assumed Abigail must have gotten up and started breakfast. Elizabeth sighed with relief; even though she had offered to help in the kitchen, in reality she didn’t know what she could do. Her housewifery skills were nonexistent. Even after last night, helping Dolnick make corn cakes, she could scarcely remember how much corn meal or flour or salt to use.

Nonetheless, she stepped into the kitchen, determined to learn all she could from Abigail. She felt much better about interacting with the slightly older woman now. While their original meeting had been extremely awkward for Elizabeth, the time spent having supper with her last night had alleviated any uneasy feelings she might have had towards her.

Abigail was at the fireplace, bent at the waist. She was dressed very plainly in a somber brown skirt and bodice. A course linen apron was tied around her waist and a finer linen coif covered all of her hair. She was tending to a small fire with an iron poker and in her other hand she was holding a stick of wood, evidently preparing to add it to the flames. Several candles on the board table had already been lit and another burned smoky and foul-smelling on the mantelpiece.

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. She had heard of poor people using tallow candles in their homes, but her family had never used them. They had always burned only the best bayberry or beeswax candles.

She also noticed that several different sized crockery bowls, a small pewter cup, two wooden spoons and a large, marble mortar and pestle had been laid out on the table along with a length of fine, loosely woven linen. Next to that, oddly enough, was one entire large plant, roots and all. It appeared to have been freshly dug up from the garden and then rinsed clean, for the roots were free of all dirt although because of their strange black color that was not so apparent. Elizabeth didn’t recognize it as any type of herb or vegetable that she was familiar with. Surely that was not for their breakfast! If it was, she would not eat it.

“Oh, good morning, Elizabeth!” Abigail trilled. She added the wood to the fire, set the poker down and started towards Elizabeth, wiping her hands on her serviceable apron, a warm smile on her face.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know it was me?” She blurted out.

Abigail smiled wider, stopping in front of Elizabeth. “I was in the kitchen already when I saw you with Robert as you went through the hall on your way out. And I recognized your clothes from yesterday.”

Elizabeth blushed fiercely and lowered her eyes. “Oh.” She said in a small voice. Not only was she embarrassed about being seen in the same clothes as she had been wearing yesterday, which would have
never
happened in her old life, she also felt highly ashamed of herself for being so vain. She had noticed that the bruise on Abigail’s jaw had darkened overnight and it looked quite painful and prominent against her pale skin. Elizabeth was reminded once again that her old life was over and that wearing the same clothes two days in a row was hardly the crisis that she made it out to be.

“Where is Robert?” Abigail asked, looking towards the door.

“He went to the barn to milk the goat.” Elizabeth answered softly, surreptitiously eyeing Abigail while her gaze was averted.

“Good. I still have time then.” Abigail said, looking back at Elizabeth. Elizabeth quickly looked down at her nails and pretended to pick at a nonexistent hangnail. Abigail peered closely at her. “Are you all right?”

Elizabeth nodded, raising her face, but still avoided looking directly at Abigail. In fact she looked everywhere else trying not to stare at that awful bruise.

Abigail gently touched Elizabeth’s cheek. “You can look at me, dear.” She said kindly. “I’m feeling much better this morning.”

Elizabeth did look at Abigail then, her cheeks still rosy from blushing. “I’m sorry.” She said in a small voice. She was rather surprised at Abigail’s transformation. Last night Abigail had been mostly quiet during the evening meal and then had gone directly to her cot afterwards. She had expected Abigail to still be withdrawn this morning, not this pleasant, matter-of-fact woman.

“Sorry I’m feeling better?” Abigail teased. Her smile caused a cute, little dimple to appear in her cheek.

“Oh no!” Elizabeth gasped, mortified. “I mean, I’m glad.”

“Thank you. I know that is what you meant.” Abigail said, her smile softening. She moved beside Elizabeth and put her arm around her in an intimate fashion. “And how are you this morning?” She leaned in, asking solicitously.

Elizabeth tried not to stiffen at Abigail’s touch; she had never liked casual touching. And this was so unexpected. “I’m fine.” She answered politely.

“Come now, you can tell me the truth.” Abigail urged, tilting her head closer to Elizabeth’s and giving her an empathetic squeeze. “I know all about wedding nights.”

Elizabeth felt her face grow warm again, despite the feel of Abigail’s chilly fingers through the sleeve of her bodice. “Well, I am a little sore this morning.” She admitted quietly.

“I thought you might be. Men are so brutal.” Abigail said, her voice turning hard. She walked with Elizabeth slowly towards the kitchen table. “They have no consideration for a woman’s delicate nature.”