Cyprian’s vile threats slammed against her.
She had no choice but to stay. At least for now. The bondage wouldn’t last forever. It couldn’t. If she simply complied for a while, perhaps even showed some acceptance, Cyprian would release her from this horrid enslavement and she would once again be at liberty to do as she please
d with her life.
Staring toward the door, she blinked away another rise of moisture and prayed her company in the Watson home wouldn’t bring Eliza and Thomas any grief. At the moment she didn’t care what it did to Nathaniel. The thought of him dried her tears, replacing regret with healthy anger. The man had belittled her to such a degree that if he ever spoke to her again she might not be able to stop herself from slapping his perfect face.
Scooting back, Kitty opened the drawer of the table and pulled out a piece of paper, inkwell and quill. Dipping the white feather in the black liquid, Kitty began to write as tiny fragments of unease and fear crumbled away.
Dear James,
How pleased I was to receive your letter. You must forgive me for not writing sooner. Allow me to explain my hurried departure with the hope that you will understand that my reasons are not as they seem...
Chapter Nine
The late-spring sun beat upon Kitty’s back as if it were nearly August, not mid-June. She stared at the heavy basket in her arms, before shifting her focus to the dull clomp of her shoes against the hard dirt, willing her mind to find distraction in anything but the dreadful action she was minutes from executing.
Her fourth delivery.
Clutching the rounded wicker as if it carried her very heart, Kitty marched across town, heedless of the many shoppers and riders making their way up and down the wide road. Her lean shadow stretched out in front of her, looking as pitiful as she felt. Every painful second that passed drove another nail into her splintered soul. Lord, forgive me. I abhor being a party to this. What else I can do? Wilt thou not show me another way?
Once on the fringe of town past the shoemaker’s, Kitty glanced behind to be sure she wasn’t followed. Her pulse cooled when it appeared all was well, and she darted onto the overgrown path and hurried the rest of the way, as though angry wolves—or perhaps patriots—were on her heels.
The cabin came into view and she raced faster, stopping just in time to place the basket carefully on the front step. She paused to revive her breath, heaving deep through her mouth. Hands at her middle, she clung precariously to her courage and scanned the surrounding woods for the first time since she began this servitude. The sun broke through the skein of tree branches that shadowed the reclusive dwelling as she turned and stared at the checkered cloth that covered the three sacks of powder.
A fathomless ache pushed down through her stomach until it reached her feet and she wriggled her toes to keep it away. How much longer would she be forced to do this? She groaned as she stared at the heavens through the shimmering green. Please Lord, let it be soon. Certainly this couldn’t go on forever. She hadn’t once been negligent in her dreaded charge. She’d even forced herself to smile at Cyprian the one time she’d seen him, praying the simple kindness might soften his iron heart.
So far, there was no emancipation in sight.
A rustle from the inside of the cabin jerked Kitty from her momentary interlude.
Mercy! Someone was inside!
Grabbing fistfuls of skirt she shot down the path, refusing to stop until she reached the safety of the road. Skidding to a halt, Kitty held to a tree with one hand and pressed the other to her chest as she struggled to catch her breath.
Looking behind her, she trembled. Who had been in the cabin? Had she been discovered? A sickening feeling swirled around her, the actions and secrets she held so deep threatening to drown her with dark and consuming regrets. She rested her back against the tree and put her face in her hands, somehow smelling the precious black commodity on her gloves, though she’d never even touched it.
“Kitty?”
The sound of Nathaniel’s voice buckled Kitty’s knees and she flung her arms to the tree behind her. Panic jumped to her face in the form of heat and she could neither respond nor force a relaxed expression. Quickly regaining control of her wayward fears, she pushed from her place of safety and stepped forward, pretending more than actually feeling the tranquility she painted on her features.
“Nathaniel. What a surprise.” She casually glanced at the trail and smiled. Blessed be. No one followed.
Medical bag in-hand, Nathaniel’s broad shoulders and impressive height loomed, as did the memory of their last unpleasant encounter. She darted a look at his face, making contact with his vision just long enough to assure him of her civility, but quick enough to assure herself there was nothing there she need long for. However, her heart didn’t seem to remember what her pride still clung to. Those warm eyes, the ones she dreamed of more often than she should, narrowed as if concern flickered somewhere within him.
A feather-light cloak of longing flitted down her shoulders. The comfort that nestled in her heart nearly made her forget why she’d been angry. Did he care? In some way? Would he be pained at the knowledge of the demands she was forced to execute against her will? She brushed a hand over her bodice, trying to smooth her ruffled emotions and focus on the embers of anger that still flickered somewhere beneath.
“I must be going.” Offering a no-more-than civil smile, Kitty brushed past him. “Good day, Doctor.”
Grabbing her arm, he stopped her mid-step, his eyes bright and his tone as rich as his brown jacket and breeches. His mouth twitched at one side. “You are harsh, Miss Campbell.” He pressed a hand to his chest and shook his head. “I have not seen you in a month and yet you wound me with such coldness.”
She dared a look at him and reprimanded herself. His eyes looked almost brown in the shadow of his hat and his tan complexion stole her breath. A half-smile lifted one side of his mouth, making her forget where she was. Why must he tease? He knew how it undid her.
Smiling back, she clasped tight to her remaining frustration lest she be lost forever in his charms. “Has it really been a month?” She fiddled with her sleeve. “I reasoned you had chosen to retreat from me since you find my apathy so revolting, Doctor.” With that she met his gaze.
His smile-lines grew deep. “Retreating would suggest defeat would it not? And only a fool would retreat from your company, apathy or no. And I, dear Kitty, am no fool.” He pulled his shoulders back, causing the fabric of his waistcoat to tighten around his muscular chest. “My duties have been keeping me far too busy for diversions with friends, I’m afraid. And when did you start calling me Doctor?”
Kitty could feel the flames of her anger drowning under the pleasant rain of his kindness, but she fueled it again. “You slandered me in front of my sister and Thomas and wish to think we are still friends?”