Bravely, she put one foot in front of the other. She had to know if Thorn preferred Wilhelmina to her.
As she approached the cottage, she found it was in darkness, and she almost decided to return to the house. What was she so frightened of? Thorn was a man of fine character, and yet he had admitted that there had been something between him and Wilhelmina.
She paused on the doorstep. No, Thorn would not touch that woman—he could not have. He had asked her to believe him, and she was trying awfully hard to do just that.
She glanced down the grassy slope where the Ashley River touched upon Stoddard land. Tonight she would find out if there was a future between herself and Thorn.
Her hand was on the doorknob when she saw the lone figure standing at the river’s edge. It was Thorn, and he was alone.
The moon hung in the sky like a great ball of fire, illuminating the river and giving the countryside a soft golden glow.
Noiselessly, Brittany approached Thorn, who had not moved from the spot where she had first observed him. Although she could not see his face, she could sense the restlessness in him, and she felt like an intruder in his world.
Thorn turned slowly toward her, and when she saw his tortured expression, she almost cried out.
“It’s late for you to be about, Brittany.”
“Yes, I…when you did not come to…I knew you would be here.”
“Did you?”
“Thorn,” she moved closer to him, “will you talk to me?”
“Yes, if you like,” he said without looking at her. “You want to know about Wilhelmina?”
“You said you would tell me about her, but if you would rather not…”
“I owe you an explanation. I assume you know she is gone and will not be coming back.”
“I was not certain what had happened to her, since you did not tell me and I did not want to ask Ben.”
“My father knows only that she left. I did not think it was prudent to tell him I forced Wilhelmina to leave. As I had long suspected, but could not prove, she and Dr. Cross were lovers and had conspired to harm both you and my father.”
“I had come to that conclusion on my own. Are you sorry she has gone?”
He spun around to look at her. “Good God, no. How
could you believe that? Do you have so little faith in me that you think I would—” He shuddered, unable to go on. “No, I am not sorry she is gone.”
He was quiet for a long time, and both of them watched the restless movement of the river. At last Thorn spoke. “I was very young when I first met Wilhelmina. She was older than I, and more worldly. I thought that I loved her, but now I know what love…I know what I felt for her was not love. You once pointed out to me the difference between desire and love.”
“You desired her?”
“Yes. But, that was a very long time ago. I quickly became disillusioned with her, when I discovered she had been with many men before me. I might not have minded so much had she not represented herself as an innocent. When I decided not to see her again, she said she would get even with me—and she did.”
He gazed up at the moon, as if he were remembering. “I never guessed at the extent of her hatred, until a year later when she came to Stoddard Hill as my father’s wife. In that year, I had forgotten all about her.”
“You no longer wanted her?”
“No, and I can say in all honesty that she never crossed my mind.”
“You do not have to say anymore if you would rather not, Thorn.”
“Let me tell you what happened so there will never be any doubt in your mind that you have heard the truth.” He drew in a ragged breath. “One night, when my father was away from home, Wilhelmina came to my room. I tried to send her away, but she was determined to remain.”
He paused as if it was difficult to continue. At last his voice came out in a whisper. “When she embraced me, I tried to push her away. Unknown to either of us, my father had returned, and when he saw us together, he drew the wrong conclusion. Wilhelmina made it appear as though I were seducing her.”
Brittany could hear the anger in Thorn’s voice. “What did you do?”
“Before I could explain, my father ordered me to leave Stoddard Hill. I left without taking anything with me. I did not come back until now. The rest you can guess.”
“I cannot believe your father thought you guilty of betrayal.”
“Why not, Brittany?
You
believed it.”
Her eyes were swimming with tears. “Yes, I did, and I am so sorry. Will you forgive me for a very human failing?”
He touched her hair ever so softly, and then withdrew his hand. “What human failing would that be, Brittany?”
“Jealousy,” she admitted. “I was jealous of Wilhelmina when I thought you loved her, and I wanted to scratch her eyes out.”
His expression was cynical. “You have no reason to be jealous of anyone. Since you came into my life, I have not even thought about another woman.”
“Are you saying you l-like me, Thorn?”
He suddenly gripped her by the shoulders and stared into her face. “Look at me, Brittany. I am a man who stands on the brink of uncertainty. I have married you, without courting or wooing you. I brought you to my family home, unknowingly placing you in danger. I have left you to your own devices, seldom coming to your bed. How can I expect you to know how I feel about you?”
She was trying to understand what he was telling her. “Why did you try to avoid my bed?”
“Because,” he blurted out, “I was afraid that if I made demands on you, you would want to leave me. And that is the last thing I wanted you to do. You cannot guess at the nights I stood outside your room, wanting to go in to you.”
“Oh, Thorn, I wish you had. Where did you spend those nights, if not with me?”
He nodded to the cottage. “Here—alone.”
She glanced down at the ever-restless river that rippled in
the moonlight. “Mother and Simijin will be leaving in three weeks’ time. Achmed will be going with them.”
He closed his eyes, dreading to hear that she had sought him out to tell him she would be going with them. “I thought Achmed would never leave you. Does this mean you will be going, too?”
“Do you want me to go, Thorn?”
“I have been standing here thinking that since you no longer need me to protect you, I might lose you, Brittany. I know you can return to Turkey with your mother and Lord Simijin now that Sultan Selim is no longer a threat.”
Thorn still had his grip on her, and he pulled her slowly toward him until her head rested against his shoulder. “I cannot bear to think what my life would be without you. I can never go back to the way it was before I met you. If I thought it would do any good, I would beg you not to leave me.”
She looked up at him, catching her breath at the love that was shining in his eyes. She saw his throat working convulsively, and she buried her face against his chest as happiness rippled through her body.
“Oh, Thorn, I doubt I could leave you if you threw me out. I love you so desperately. I have from the beginning.”
She heard his quick intake of breath, and he slowly raised her chin. He saw tears swimming in her eyes, and he knew that she spoke the truth. His arms tightened about her like bands of iron. “Oh, God, if you knew how I have agonized over you leaving me.”
She reached up and gently touched his face. “You once told me that love was for fools and dreamers.”
“Yes, and I am guilty of being both a fool and a dreamer. If only I could have your love, I would be a most fortunate man.”
“Oh, Thorn, how can you not know how I feel about you? I have loved you for a very long time.”
His look of uncertainty was suddenly replaced by one of triumph. He gave a loud whoop and picked her up in his arms. “Little dancer, you had better mean that, because no power on earth will make me give you up now.”
She felt joy sing through her heart. “You have not said you love me,” she reminded him. “At least not in words.”
His voice trembled with emotion. “I love you with every beat of my heart,” he whispered. “My life has been an upheaval since you came into it, and still I love you.” He smiled. “You danced your way into my heart one night, and there you have remained.”
At last he released her and set her on her feet. He turned her toward the river, while his hand slid about her waist and he brought her body against his.
“Will you be contented to be a planter’s wife, little dancer?”
“Yes, oh, Thorn, yes.”
His lips rested against her velvety-soft hair, and she knew that later he would take her into the cottage, and they would make love. But for now, they were both content to stand beneath the bright moon and watch the ageless Ashley River meander on its way to the sea.
With the wine-dark river as the backdrop and the scent of the climbing rose filling the air, Thorn held Brittany in his arms.
“Here my love, between the ebbing and the flowing of the river, I will make love to you through the years again and again. Here, before God, and on this land of my ancestors, I pledge you my heart for all eternity—and if God be willing, even beyond that.”
DESERT PRINCE
“In the hands of O’Banyon, ancient history comes alive in this fourth book set in Egypt during the rule of the powerful Roman Caesars.”
DAUGHTER OF EGYPT
“The heroine is a smart, strong woman, a perfect match for the warrior hero. Their sexual tension permeates the novel, and the culmination of their love is hot and sweet.”
SWORD OF ROME
“O’Banyon continues the tale she began in
Lord of the Nile
by introducing Adhaniá. The historical facts are intriguing, and the effort of the characters to foil the plot against Caesar is heartwarming. The sensual scenes are sparse but tender and hot.”
LORD OF THE NILE
“Fans of Egyptian lore and facts will find O’Banyon’s historical right up their alley. She sprinkles political intrigue and love throughout the pages of this enjoyable book.”
HAWK’S PURSUIT
“O’Banyon’s third book in her Hawk series is possibly the best yet, with a regular little spitfire heroine, great verbal sparring and some very emotional scenes.”
MORE
RT BOOK REVIEWS
PRAISE FOR CONSTANCE O’BANYON!
THE MOON AND THE STARS
“Fast-paced and filled with adventure, this is a great read…O’Banyon has created some wonderful characters, an interesting plot and an entertaining book.”
HEART OF TEXAS
“O’Banyon excels at bringing the grit and harsh beauty of the West and its brave pioneers to life…
Heart of Texas
gets at the heart of the West and its readers.”
HALF MOON RANCH: MOON RACER
“Kudos to Constance O’Banyon!”
RIDE THE WIND
“Ms. O’Banyon’s story is well written with well-developed characters.”
TYKOTA’S WOMAN
“Constance O’Banyon delivers a gripping and emotionally charged tale of love, honor and betrayal.”
TEXAS PROUD
“
Texas Proud
is another good read from Ms. O’Banyon.”
COMANCHE MOON RISING
DESERT PRINCE
DAUGHTER OF EGYPT
SWORD OF ROME
LORD OF THE NILE
HAWK’S PURSUIT
HAWK’S PLEDGE
THE MOON AND THE STARS
HEART OF TEXAS
MOON RACER
THE AGREEMENT
(SECRET FIRES)
RIDE THE WIND
SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE
(Anthology)
TYKOTA’S WOMAN
FIVE GOLD RINGS
(Anthology)
SAN ANTONIO ROSE
TEXAS PROUD
CELEBRATIONS
(Anthology)
A LEISURE BOOK®
January 2010
Published by
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Copyright © 1991 by Evelyn Gee
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