At dinner she cut his meat for him, chided him to eat his vegetables, refused to allow the children to jump on him and, in general, let it be known how much of a weakling he was.
Eleanor watched her with angry eyes while Sophy’s eyes sparkled in delight. Sophy even announced she was staying a few days longer.
Neither Marianna nor Pitman seemed to sense anything out of the ordinary in Jessica’s behavior.
And Jess never missed an opportunity to tell Alex how she was so glad he wasn’t the Raider. Then the next minute she’d tell him how, if he were the Raider, she could borrow his black costume and ride with him. She made up long fantasies of how romantic a couple they’d be, a Mr. and Mrs. Raider. And if they were hanged, they’d have adjoining nooses.
Each time she talked of this, Alex turned paler and Jess grew angrier at him. Why did he think she was so stupid?
On the afternoon of the third day she pointedly told Alex she was going to Farrier’s Cove. His spirits were so glum that she had to say it three times before he lifted his head and heard her.
She went to the common room where Eleanor was bending over the fire.
“You’d better stop this,” Eleanor hissed. “That man adores you and you’re hurting him badly.”
“I’ve shed a few tears over him, too.” She stuck a sumac root onto a skewer and began to roast it.
“What are you doing now?”
“Making a little ‘medicine’ for my husband.” Jess smiled at her sister and dropped the charred root into a mug of boiling water. She skimmed the nastiest bits off the top, then took it in to Alex.
“Here you are, my darling,” she said in a tone one would use to talk to an elderly, invalid person. “This will make you feel better.” She handed him the warmed mug.
Alex smelled of it and grimaced.
“Now, now, you must take your medicine. Drink up like Mama’s good little boy.” She turned her back enough so she could still see Alex out of the corner of her eye. She saw him toss the vile liquid out the window.
When she turned back around, she took the mug. “That’s a good boy, now you just rest. Mama has an errand or two to do.”
Jessica was out of the Montgomery house in no time at all and running toward Farrier’s Cove. She figured Alex would have to row to Ghost Island, then dress and come to her. She knew as well as anything that the Raider would appear to her. And she was ready for him.
Jess was so glad to see him that she didn’t know if she could do what she’d planned. As he was running toward her she saw how like Alexander he was. Their hands were the same, the Raider had that Montgomery walk, his shoulders thrown back and walking lightly on his feet, and their lips were alike.
Jess opened her arms t
o the Raider. How could she not have seen that Alex’s lips and the Raider’s were the same? How could she have desired one pair and not the other?
The Raider was all over her at once and Jess knew she’d better say what she had to or she’d lose her resolve.
“His hair’s grown back some but it’s so thin it’s pathetic and his breath smells terrible, as if he’s decaying inside.” The Raider’s teeth were on her neck.
“What?” he murmured.
She had some trouble thinking. “I’m afraid my husband is dying. Please hold me. It’s so good to feel strong arms about me. Alex is so weak I have to hold his arms in place. Oh, please make love to me.”
He stopped untying the front laces of her dress. “Make love to you? But you’re a married woman. Married to someone else.” He was pulling away from her.
“I think Alex would understand.” She clutched at him.
“Understand another man making love to his wife? No man understands that.” He stepped away from her.
“It’s not as if he were actually a man. Not a complete, whole one.” She put her arms about his neck.
The Raider pulled her arms away. “He may come looking for you.”
“No, I gave him a sleeping potion. He’ll be out all night. He won’t be here.”
“You drugged him?” He was aghast.