Kathleen E. Woodiwiss(258)

“Aye, sir!”

Ruark disappeared down the hall, and Trahern hobbled back into the drawing room, his head bowed in thought, his brow furrowed in a frown. He looked accusingly at Pitney, who only shrugged and lit his pipe. Glancing around, Orlan saw the worried frowns of all the Beauchamps, the deepest on the face of the girl, Garland, who seemed not at all sure now that she had done the right thing. Trahern’s belly began to shake, a chuckle burst forth and became rolling laughter. A few hesitant smiles appeared. Limping forward to George, Orlan stretched forth a large hand.

“Whatever else, sir, I am sure we shall not suffer from boredom.”



Ruark tried the knob and found the way barred. “Shanna?” he called. “I would explain.”

“Go away!” her shriek answered him. “You made a fool of me in front of everyone!”

“Shanna?” he rattled the knob again. “Open up.”

“Get away!”

“Shanna?” Ruark’s own anger rose, and he leaned a shoulder against the portal to find it as solid as he remembered.

“Leave me be, you mewling jackanape!” Shanna gritted out. “Go play your puns on some other fool!”

“Dammit, Shanna, I can explain.”

“Damn what? Damn me for a fool?” she hurled. “Get thee gone, you many-named goat!”

“Open this door!”

“Nay!”

Ruark stood back and kicked with all his might. The panel was solid oak, but the latch and jamb were not meant to take such abuse. With a splintering crash, the door flew wide, and a shower of plaster and wood fell from the side of the adjoining wall. Down below, Amelia laid a worried hand on her husband’s arm, but he patted it reassuringly.

Ruark stepped through the door, glancing in momentary wonder at the wreckage he had wrought, but where he had expected to see Shanna, there stood a horrified Hergus. Her hands were clenched to her mouth, and her eyes were wide as moons.

“M-M-Mister Ruark!” she stuttered and then found her tongue. “Get ye gone from this room, Mister Ruark,” she stammered. “I’ll not see ye doing yer dirt here with these nice people.”

Ruark ignored her and stepped toward Shanna, who had her back to him. But the Scotswoman scurried to block his path.

“Get out of my way,” Ruark growled. He was not in a mood to allow interference.

The maid was firm. “Mister Ruark, ye will not do this here!”

“Woman, you stand between me and my wife!” He almost matched Trahern’s tone and moved forward menacingly. “Get out!”

Hergus gaped at him, her jaw sagging. Very meekly she moved aside and left the room, shaking her head and mumbling to herself.

“Shanna!” Ruark began angrily, but he realized full well the hurt she had suffered. “Shanna?” His voice was softer, then softer still. “Shanna, I love you.”

“Beauchamp! Beauchamp!” She stamped her foot with each word. “I should have known.”

“I tried to tell you last night, but you would not listen.”

Shanna, faced him, and her eyes brimmed with tears. “Then I am Madam Beauchamp of the Virginia Beauchamps. I am no widow, nor have I been. I shall be the mother of a Beauchamp, and my father shall have all he wished for.”

“To hell with your father’s wishes.” Ruark took her in his arms. “You shall have all you wish.”

“You played me the fool from the first,” she accused, resisting his embrace. She kept her arms folded between them as she stared up at him. “You could have told me and spared me much.”

“Remember, my love, on Mare’s Head when you told me you could accept me if I were rich and came from a family well-named?” he questioned softly and then stated without waiting for her answer, “I wanted you to love me, Shanna, whether bondsman or Beauchamp. Had I told you, I would never have been sure.”

“ ‘Tis all yours, isn’t it? This room? The high valley? The cabin there and the bed where we made love? The horses? Even Jezebel was your gift to me, wasn’t she?”

“Whatever I have I gladly yield to you,” Ruark murmured.

Shanna’s brows drew together as a new thought struck her. “How did you come to know so much about mills?”

His hands slipped up her back as he tried again to bring her closer, but still she refused him. He answered quietly, “I have built three of my own on the James and a big one at Well’s Landing above Richmond.”

“And ships?” She raised her gaze and contemplated him suspiciously. “It always puzzled me about the schooner, how you handled her. You seem to have a talent for sailing ships as well as all your other accomplishments.”