The Raider (Montgomery/Taggert 9) - Page 34

“What does that mean, Jessica? For two days now you’ve been acting strangely, as if all of your mind weren’t here.”

“I’m just trying to finish these ledgers and stay out of trouble. Just what I’m supposed to be doing.” She glared at Nathaniel who was giving her an adult look, as if he knew what was on her mind.

It had been two days since she’d left the cove where the Taggert house was set, and her imprisonment was voluntary. Since the day Pitman had questioned her, she had felt the Raider nearby. There were nights when she lay in bed and knew he was close. She’d even heard a low-pitched whistle outside and known it was him—but she refused to go to him.

Eleanor told her that the talk of the Raider had begun to die down. The consensus was that Pitman had frightened the man away and that the Raider had returned to wherever he had come from. Eleanor said the townspeople were beginning to believe that the Raider was a sailor and his ship had left port.

Jessica didn’t make any reply, since she knew all too well that the Raider was still in Warbrooke. She wanted to deny her attraction to him and so she ignored his calls to her, ignored his presence in the forest that ran behind their house. She never stepped outside without one or more of the children with her, hoping the Raider would keep hidden from the children. How in the world Nathaniel knew about the Raider waiting outside for her, she didn’t know, but she’d long ago given up trying to second-guess Nate.

“Jessica, take these slops out for me,” Eleanor said. “It’ll do you good to get some air.”

Jessica looked out the south window of the little house and saw the dark sky and the stars. “No, thank you, have one of the children do it.”

“I need to go to the privy and I’m scared of the dark,” Sarah said.

“Jess, go with her.” Eleanor gave her sister a threatening look. “Just what is wrong with you?”

“Nothing. I’ll take you, Sarah,” Jess said reluctantly. “Anyone else need to go?”

The other children were more interested in something Nate was drawing in the ashes on the hearth, so Jess took Sarah’s hand and led her to the privy. The child seemed to take forever and Jess kept glancing about nervously, but there was no sign of a masked man lurking behind a tree.

By the time she was returning with Sarah, her heart had begun to lighten. Of course if she did see him again, all she had to do was tell him to go away. She didn’t have to put up with his mauling of her. If he appeared again, she’d be strong and decisive and tell him to get away from her.

Her walk was almost jaunty as she reached the house. Sarah went inside, Jess following. But as Jessica had her hand on the latch, something—no, someone—grabbed it. There was no doubt who the hand belonged to.

“Jessica, close the door. You’re letting the night air in,” Eleanor said.

Jess gave her hand a jerk, but he held it firmly and then he began to—oh heavens—he began to kiss her palm, then the inside of her wrist.

“Jessica! What is wrong with you?” There was a great deal of exasperation in Eleanor’s voice.

The Raider was nibbling at her fingertips. “I thought I…I’d take those slops now. Would you hand them to me?”

Eleanor had a lap full of mending and now she began to look at Jessica curiously.

Suddenly, Nathaniel jumped up and ran to hand Jessica the bowl of kitchen slops, but when he tried to look out the door, Jess managed to block his view.

The next moment, the Raider pulled her outside, shut the door, then clasped her in one motion. The bowl of slops went tumbling as he drew her to him in a kiss. It was as if he were starving, as if his life depended on this kiss.

In spite of her good intentions, Jessica responded in kind.

“Go away,” she said breathlessly when at last they broke apart.

He put his finger to her lips to silence her, nodding toward the house. Then he grabbed her hand and went running up the hill and into the forest. When he stopped, she was out of breath, but he immediately began kissing her neck and shoulders as he pushed her dress to one side.

“I’ve missed

you, Jessie,” he whispered. “I called for you night after night, but you didn’t come to me. Why?”

She tried to push him away but she had no strength. “I don’t want to see you. I wish I’d never met you. Everyone in town thinks you’ve left. Why don’t you go somewhere else? You’ve helped Josiah, now go away.”

“Do you want me to leave? Do you really want me to leave?”

“Yes, I do. My life has become miserable because of you. First you toss me in dirty water, then you kiss me, then I’m imprisoned because of you, then I’m arrested and questioned. Oh, Ethan, please leave.”

He stopped kissing her. “Ethan?”

“I didn’t mean to say that. No,” she whispered, “don’t tell me if I’m right or not. I don’t want to know who you are. I don’t know why you’ve chosen me.” She looked up at him. “Or have you? How many other women are you seeing secretly, pulling them out of their houses during the night? Whistling to them while they try to sleep?”

Tags: Jude Deveraux Montgomery/Taggert Historical
Source: readsnovelonline.net
readsnovelonline.net Copyright 2016 - 2024