“What’ll we do, once we’re hitched? Live with my parents?” Hewhispers this against my ear, his brogue especially pronounced and husky. “Maand Pa have the bedroom downstairs while the rest of us sleep in the loft. Splinterywood under our blankets, but never you worry, lass. We’ll be right happy tuckedin together. You won’t mind the smell of the pigs outside the window, willyou?”
I struggle against him, but he holds me fast. “Shall wehoneymoon in the barn or the woods?”
Tears form at the corners of my eyes. Don’t treat me likethis. You know I love you—
“Aye, I do. The feeling’s mutual, remember? You think I don’twant you as my wife? That I don’t dream of it?”
Then why are you being so mean?
Tom sighs and leans his forehead against mine, turningtelepathic. I can’t afford to be a romantic, Hettie. Not about us. I caretoo much to see you brought low.
Amor vincit omnia. Love conquers all.
He traces the side of my cheek with his finger, the touchdevastatingly soft. You say that now, but poverty can crush the strongestunion. I won’t bind you to me until I can provide a decent home for you. Iwon’t have my children growing up as I’ve done.
Cordelia once read Thomas More’s Utopia to me and Iremember marveling that gold meant nothing to the people within the book, solittle that they made chamberpots out of it. Stonehenge is the absoluteopposite of Utopia. It has a definite aristocracy, and it doesn’t comefrom blue blood. It’s entirely based on money. And wealth is just as importantto Tom as it is to my father. The ironic thing is that Father was just like himonce—before the gold rush.
I hold Tom close, wishing I’d never come to town. Things arejust things. They don’t matter.
Because you’ve always had them, love.
Tom allows me a glimpse of what’s in his heart. Sorrow,aggravation, fear. These feelings are soon replaced by a different passion, andTom sinks into me with a searing openmouthed kiss. I cling to him and weatherout the storm of emotion, returning each caress.
Then he disappears from my arms.
Bodies roll across the cobblestones, fists strike muscle and debriscrashes about in the alley. I switch down my hearing before my head explodes.
“You need lessons on how to treat a lady,” Kelly mutters.
Tom laughs bitterly. “I was treating her quite well until youarrived.”
The doctor grunts, as though he’s been tackled and driven intothe wall. He takes a good pounding before knocking Tom off his feet. Theviolence goes on for some time. They are gasping for air but still swinging.
No more, Tom. Please.
Tell that to your boyfriend—he fights dirty.
“I won’t allow Hester to be taken advantage of,” Kellysputters, as though his throat is being squeezed.
“I’ll kill anyone who tries it,” Tom replies with a snarl.
After hitting the cobblestones, Kelly springs to his feet, the soundfluid as a cat. More punching follows. The moment there is a lull, I movebetween them and put a hand on Tom’s chest.
Kelly steps back, and I sense him studying us. “You’re friendswith this man, Hester?” he asks, voice cool.
Nodding, I move closer to Tom, feel his arm slide round myshoulders. The doctor is quiet for a moment and then brushes off his coat. “Asecret affair, is it? Well, to each his own, I suppose.”
Tom’s Scottish temper flares. “Careful, Doctor,” he says. “ShowMiss Grayson the proper respect.”
Kelly moves past me. “Oh, I respect Hester. It’s you I don’tthink much of. If she were mine, there’d be no sneaking around. The entire townwould know I cared for her.”
Tom curses through his teeth. “Son of a—”
I grab his arm tightly. Let it pass. He thinks he’sdefending me.
The doctor walks to the mouth of the alley and waits for Tomand me to follow. “I am Miss Grayson’s escort at present,” he says. “And when Itake a lady out, I damn well see her home.”
The body heat from the men at my side is stifling, and I wantthis encounter to end without further incident. I’ll go with him, Tom. It’sonly a short ride, after all, and my mother will ask questions otherwise.
Fine.
Anger pulses from Tom as he hands me what remains of my spectaclesand strides away. The frames are bent, the lenses broken. It’s the topper to ahell of a day. As I despair over the spectacles, Kelly fetches my cloak fromthe hotel and leads me to the buggy, stiffly polite. Seems he’s angry, too.
Kelly whistles for a while as the horse trots along beforeturning to me, his knee grazing mine. “I’ve known my share of deceptivefemales, but your skills are of the first water. The ice-angel,butter-won’t-melt-in-my-mouth act fooled even me.”
Reaching into my pocket, I turn away from him and hold thelucky pebbles inside, thankful for the breeze blowing against my flushed face. Wefinally arrive at The Revels and Kelly walks me to the front door. I curtsy becauseit’s expected and thank him with a nod for taking me to tea.
“You’re quite welcome, but it seems that trysts in alleywaysare more to your liking. Had I but known you were in the mood for a tussle,Hester, I would have gladly obliged.”
The treacherous cad! All that talk about friendship andloneliness. And to think I defended him to Tom.
I release the pebbles in my pocket as Kelly raps on the door, alertingthe butler that I’m waiting to be let in. “At your service,” the doctor murmurs.
I don’t wait for the butler, for all I know he’s visiting thecook again, and I push the door open myself. As I stomp into the house, I hearKelly call my name and turn around.
“The choking man survived, in case you were wondering. And I’llsee you in my office tomorrow. Your mother and I have made arrangements foryour education.”
He walks toward his buggy, and I pull back the door so I canslam it. I’ll never go anyplace with him again, regardless of what he and Mamasay.
But Kelly gets in a final jab before I slam the
