Rebel Enchantress (19 page)

“What’s wrong with that?” Delilah asked before Reuben had a chance to open his mouth.

“It’s illegal for one thing. It appears to sanction anarchy for another. It also stops due process of law and encourages people to believe they can refuse to pay their lawful debts if enough of them agree to it.”

“That’s not what we’re trying to do,” Reuben burst out. “We’re only trying to find a way to save ourselves so we
can
pay our debts.”

“That may be true for some of you, but not for all,” Nathan insisted. “There are men with you who are calling for civil war.”

“We only want the General Session to give us some relief.”

“Then find a better way to go about it. Governor Bowdoin has just declared your actions treason and has ordered the militia to shoot.”

“They won’t,” Reuben declared confidently. “Too many have brothers among us.”

“General Shepard doesn’t. And he’s the one who will give the order to fire.”

“Why?” Reuben asked. “There’s been no fighting.”

There will be if you don’t stop closing courts.”

“And let your kind take everything we’ve got,” Reuben exploded. “I’ll see you in hell first.”

“I didn’t say you were to give up,” Nathan said, “just find another way.”

“What other way is there?” Delilah asked. “We’ve held town meetings, sent petitions to the court, talked to every delegate who’ll listen, and still the General Session refuses to vote for paper money. Closing the courts is the only thing they’ve been able to do that’s made anybody listen.”

“The government is getting the wrong message,” Nathan said. “They’re preparing to fight.”

“Let ‘m,” Reuben shouted. “Well be ready.” He stalked away without even saying goodbye to Delilah.

“Why did you come out here?” Delilah asked. “Just to make him angry?”

“I wanted to talk some sense into him.”

“Talk sense! All you did was ask him to stop doing something that hasn’t hurt a single person.”

“It will if they continue. It will harden the opposition against them as well.”

“What are they supposed to do, roll over and die?”

“No, they’re supposed to look for other ways to pay their debts. Like you did.”

“Not everybody can work as a servant.”

“There’s more than one way to do anything.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then don’t go around saying there’re solutions until you find a few.”

“Why should it be up to me? They’re not my debts.”

“Somebody has to.”

“Then you do it”

“Me!”

“Yes. You grew up here. You know these people and what they can do.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Of course. I don’t like confrontation. I like war even less. If I can find a way to get my money and help somebody else at the same time, I will be happy to do it. When do we start?”

Delilah was nonplussed. “I’ll need some time to think.”

“How much?”

“We ought to start with the families in the worst situation. Give me a list, and I’ll let you know when I have some ideas.”

“Suppose I make up a list today, and we go over it together tomorrow morning.”

“Agreed.” Delilah was feeling a little breathless. When Nathan decided to do something, he didn’t waste time.

“I’ll go to the library and start on that list. Oh, I almost forgot. My aunt has invited you to eat dinner with us this evening.”

Delilah stopped dead in her tracks.

“She thought it might serve as an apology for this morning.”

Delilah knew Serena Noyes hadn’t sent that invitation. Nathan wanted her to have dinner with him. If she said no, she would be refusing him.

But she should refuse. How could she go back to being a servant after sitting down at the table as an equal? How would Mrs. Stebbens and Lester react? Serena’s hatred of her would be raised to fever pitch, but she doubted Priscilla would object. She didn’t know much about her, but she did know that under those silly affectations there existed a very different woman.

Yesterday she’d have turned down the invitation without hesitation, but after
this
morning, it wasn’t enough to see Nathan at meals on the days he was at home. She wanted to be near him all the time. If she was a fool for letting her feelings run away with her, she didn’t care.

Tomorrow she would be sensible. Tonight she was going to have dinner with Nathan Trent.

Nathan cursed. There was a tear in his shirt. The second one this week. At this rate he wouldn’t have a decent shirt left by Christmas. He’d have to sew it up when he had time; he didn’t have a minute to spare now. Nor a thought.

He had to dress for dinner, and he wanted his appearance to be perfect. All his life he’d been taught that one’s appearance counted for more than one’s personality, even one’s abilities. He didn’t think Delilah believed that, but so much stood against him he didn’t want to overlook any possible advantage.

He tossed the torn shirt aside and took another off we shelf. He couldn’t help but smile to himself when he turned to inspect himself in the mirror. He knew his physique had a powerful affect on Delilah, and he intended to use that weapon.

Nathan took pride in his body, and worked to keep it trim and fit. He had patronized the best tailors so his clothing would show off his assets to advantage, but now he had nothing in his wardrobe less than four years old. The velvet looked worn, the wool shiny and dun, the silk permanently creased, the cotton yellow with age and repeated washing.

He hoped the candlelight would hide these faults, but he also hoped Delilah would be more interested in him than in his clothing.

He admitted he had first been attracted by her beauty, To state the matter plainly, he had lusted after her. It was impossible for a red-blooded man to be around Delilah and not feel the tug of her physical appeal. She was designed to drive a man crazy. Her shoulders were flawless. He had ached to touch them from the moment he’d set eyes on her. If Mrs. Stebbens hadn’t walked in, he might still be standing in the library caressing her skin.

He told himself to control his thoughts, or he would betray his state of mind. When his lusts were inflamed, his body swelled with passion. He was afraid Delilah would be frightened or repulsed by such an obvious display of desire.

Too bad Lady Sarah Mendlow hadn’t been repulsed.

Nathan pushed aside the hateful memory. Judged against the pleasure of being with Delilah for an entire evening, even that nightmare didn’t have the power to hold his attention.

But he would have to proceed slowly. He didn’t yet know where his heart would lead him, and Delilah had become unaccountably precious to him; Being in the same house with her had done nothing to abate his desire to claim her body. It had, however, given him an opportunity to realize she wasn’t merely a good-looking woman. She had courage, principles, and daring. Maybe she was trustworthy as well, able to value him above the world’s counterfeit riches.

But a nagging voice, the voice of doubt, would not be silenced. Or was it mistrust? He had only loved two women, and both had attempted to use him for their own advantage.

What did Delilah want?

Delilah didn’t bother to look in the mirror. She tried to chastise herself for being so concerned with her looks, but failed entirely. She knew she looked lovely, and she was glad.

She thought of Nathan and his tight breeches, and her body grew taut. She felt a tingling sensation in her breasts. Curious, she touched one and found the nipple hard and tender. Even her skin was sensitive to her touch.

Think about the
man,
you dolt, not just his body. But in trying to take her own advice, Delilah realized she didn’t know much about Nathan. He had never told her about his life in England, and she had been so certain he was like all the rest of the greedy merchants.

He’s kind, she told herself. At least he’s been kind to you. He’s taken your part on several occasions when it hasn’t been to his advantage. And he has taken extraordinary care to make sure you’re comfortable. And there’s the material for the dresses.

She wasn’t sure about his advising Reuben and Shays to find another way to pursue their protests. Delilah thought they had found the best way possible, but now she wasn’t sure. Nathan’s understanding of things continued to surprise her.

The list of names in his desk came to mind. What did he plan to do with it? Would she find Reuben’s name on it? Surely, after their conversation by the river this morning, he knew Reuben followed Shays.

But he had advised the merchants to alter their tactics as well. Did his being a foreigner mean he had no understanding of what was going on, or did it mean he had ideas the locals hadn’t even thought of yet?

The longer Serena looked at Delilah, the more furious she became. Not only had Nathan forced her to sit at table with a servant who was being served by her own butler, she had had to swallow the humiliation of knowing Delilah looked more beautiful than Priscilla. How was she going to convince Nathan to marry his cousin when Delilah was more alluring?

And Delilah was more interesting as well. Priscilla giggled and simpered and deferred to Nathan on every point. Delilah stated her opinions and defended them intelligently. Serena had never valued brains in a female, but she had to admit that Priscilla’s idiotic giggle was enough to drive a man into another woman’s arms, especially when those arms looked like Delilah’s.

It galled her to have been forced to provide Delilah with the means to dress so stunningly. Obviously the girl and Mrs. Stebbens could do better work than Amelia Cushing. The needlework was gorgeous, though it had taken them only three days to make the gown. Serena knew because she had made it her business to find out.

“Shall we retire to the drawing room?” Serena asked, rising abruptly after Priscilla had capped one of Delilah’s more intelligent observations with one of her most irritating titters. “I’m sure Mrs. Stebbens is expecting you in the kitchen,” she added when Delilah rose to her feet.

Serena had waited all evening to say that.

“I’ve engaged Mrs. Pobodie to help Mrs. Stebbens. Miss Stowbridge is free to spend the entire evening with us,” Nathan than told his aunt.

Angry spots flamed on Serena’s pale cheeks. “Hepsa Pobodie is a laundress.”

“Who more suitable to help with the washing up,” Nathan replied. He winked at Delilah.

Delilah turned pink.

Serena turned red.

“I won’t have you altering the housekeeping arrangements without consulting me,” Serena announced.

“You are free to make any objections you wish, but as long as this is my house, I will make changes as I see fit.” Nathan’s gaze had grown hard, so reminiscent of his uncle’s that Serena immediately began to give ground.

“Who cares who washes the dishes?” Priscilla said, leading the way to the drawing room. “I think having Delilah join us will be great fun.”

“But what will she do?” Serena asked. “Raised as she has been, she can’t possibly have any accomplishments.”

Then we shall talk,” Nathan said.

“I hope you don’t mean to discuss the political situation,” Serena cautioned. “I think that would be most unwise as long as Delilah’s present.”

“Would you tell on us?” Priscilla asked in her most foolish manner.

“I certainly would,” Delilah said, deciding the best way to handle the question would be to make a joke of it. “I would hurry up to my room and write down everything you said. Then I would sit up all night copying it out in cipher so no one else could read it.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to tell your brother or sister when they come to visit you?” Nathan inquired.

“That would take away all the fun, don’t you think?”

“I think you ought to put the message in a jar and let it float down the river,” Priscilla said.

“But then anyone might find it,” Delilah objected.

“There’s no need to make light of a very serious question,” Serena interposed.

“What would you really do?” Nathan asked.

“I don’t know. I thought of writing on the ruffle of my petticoat. It sounds wonderfully clever, but I can’t think how it would do the least good.”

Priscilla giggled. “Can’t have men reading your petticoats. Most improper.”

“I’m astonished at you!” exclaimed Serena.

“I said it was improper,” Priscilla answered, pouting.

“I suppose that eliminates hiding a note in your bosom?” asked Nathan.

Priscilla giggled again, but Delilah said, “I would imagine so.”

“You could put it in your mouth” Priscilla suggested. Then when you kiss a gentleman friend, you could pass it to him.”

“Priscilla Noyes, how could you think of such a loathsome thing?” Serena demanded, aghast. “What do you know about kissing men?”

“Lucy and Hope tell me what it’s like,” Priscilla replied defiantly. “Their mamas don’t keep them locked away”

“I don’t lock you up, darling. I’m merely very careful about the men you see. I want you to meet only the right kind.”

“I don’t suppose the
right kind
would pass a note in a kiss,” Priscilla said, still sulky.

Delilah could have sworn she saw a light of devilment flare in Priscilla’s eyes, but she couldn’t be sure.