Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(100)

“I came for the sketches of the lumber mill if you have finished looking them over, sir. We want to start laying the first stones this afternoon. The brewing house will be finished before the end of this month, and I see no reason for delaying.”

“Good enough,” Trahern declared. “I’ll have a boy fetch them from my study while you eat.”

The conversatiton drifted to a myriad of topics, and the subject of the colonies arose again. To the squire’s inquiries, Ruark replied in much the same fashion as the captain. As the breakfast was concluded, Nathanial wiped his mouth on a napkin before laying the cloth aside, and turned to Trahern.

“While you are in the colonies, squire, it might be convenient for you to have someone along who knows the country, like this man here. My wife and I have a house in Richmond, but my parents’ home—and I’m sure they’ll want to meet you—is about a two-days’ journey from there. If you are serious in coming, I could take my wife on ahead to my folks and send the carriages back to meet you. The drivers know the way of course, but you might want one of your own men along.”

Ruark frowned slightly. His one thought was of Shanna and being separated from her. With him in the colonies and her left behind, he would not see it as a very pleasurable voyage.

“Of course! Of course!” Trahern agreed enthusiastically. “ ‘Tis a good thought. No doubt Mister Ruark would enjoy a visit to his homeland.”

Ruark fought the sense of pervading gloom that began to grow in him and was not completely successful in hiding his consternation.

Nathanial Beauchamp gave Ruark no notice as his laughter rumbled. “And you must bring your lovely daughter. She is sure to catch the eye of every swain there, including several of the married ones. My parents would count it a pleasure to have you both as guests in their home and anyone else you choose to bring with you. Indeed, I urge you to invite whom you will and stay long enough to settle your curiosity about the place.”

“October, perhaps,” Trahern mused aloud. “Or thereabouts. ‘Twould be after the harvests in the colonies, and I could see, then, what produce you have available.” He rose from his chair and met Nathanial’s hand across it as he, too, came to his feet. “Agreed. We’ll be there.”

As Trahern and the captain crossed the foyer and left the house, Shanna stepped back out of sight on the stairway and waited until Jason had closed the door behind them and returned to the back of the house. Then she flew down the steps, hoping to catch Ruark before he was gone. Her concern was as much modesty as secrecy, for she had come awake at the sound of her father calling back a question to John Ruark from the entrance hall, and in her haste, she had snatched only the thinnest dressing gown to cover her brief sleeping attire. She sought this chance to speak with Ruark and found him with his back to her, whistling softly as he gathered parchments into a stack on the table.

Ruark rolled his sketches into a neat bundle and tucked them beneath his arm then turned to leave. He stopped abruptly, his whistle hanging in mid-phrase and tapering away on a reedy discord. Shanna was just closing the door behind her, a determined set to her jaw as she fixed him with her gaze.

“Blimey!” Ruark mimed in a cockney accent. “A veritable nymph springin‘ from the blank walls to force me attentions in the dining room. And a bloomin’ near-naked one at that.”

Momentarily Shanna’s eyes flickered downward, and a light blush warmed her cheeks as she realized the boldness of her garb. Hurrying to catch Ruark, she had left her dressing gown hanging open, and the transparency of the batiste nightshift left nothing from his regard. Still, he had viewed more than this, indeed had more than viewed what she displayed, and she felt no more than a fleeting embarrassment at his close appraisal.

“Well, Mister Ruark, you certainly have made yourself scarce. I missed you at dinner last night.”

As she spoke Shanna left the door and came toward him warily, like a hungry cat might approach a large gander, seeing the meal it desired but deeply aware of the danger of drawing too near.

Ruark smiled lazily, his eyes glowing as he took in her abundant beauty and admired the full swell of her pale breasts beneath the filmy garment.

“Only the demands of my duty, Shanna. The mill is nearing completion. As much as I longed to be near you, my presence was required.”

“Of course.” Shanna stared at him with open suspicion. “I saw your note to my father. A most convenient occurrence, if there is anything between you and this other Beauchamp.”

“Madam?” Ruark’s brows raised to mirror his spoken question.