r /> “I guess that has to do with Clay’s women,” he said, his mouth full of crab. He smiled at Janie’s look of surprise. “I saw Clay before I came over here, and he told me the whole story.”
“Clay doesn’t know the whole story. He’s blind to most of it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? It seems to me it’s simple. All he has to do is get the marriage annulled to this Nicole and he’s free to marry Bianca, the woman he loves. Then he can be happy again.”
Janie was so angered at Wes’s statements that she couldn’t speak. She had the iron ladle from the pea soup in her hand, so she just conked him on the head with it.
“Hey!” Wes yelled, and put his hand over the hot mess in his hair.
Janie was immediately contrite. She wouldn’t hurt Wes for the world. She grabbed a rag and dipped it in cool water to clean his hair.
While Janie was leaning over Wes, blocking him from view, Nicole entered. Janie started to move aside so Nicole could see him but then decided not to. Wes peered curiously around Janie’s substantial form.
“Janie,” Nicole said. “Do you know where the twins are? I saw them a few minutes ago, but now they seem to have disappeared.” She removed a straw bonnet from her head and hung it on a wooden peg by the door. “I wanted to give them a few lessons before supper.”
“They’ll come home, and besides, you’re too tired to work with them.”
Wes was aware that Janie was purposefully hiding him yet allowing him to watch Nicole. Of all his thoughts about her, he knew she’d never been anyone’s maid. She walked with a quiet grace and elegance that showed she’d never been a servant to anyone. And what Clay had said about her beauty was an understatement. His first thought was to throw roses at her feet and beg her to leave Clay and take him.
“Clay sent a message over today,” Janie said.
Nicole paused, her hand on the stair rail. “Clay?”
“You remember him?” Janie said, watching Wes’s face. “He asked if you’d attend supper with him tonight.”
“No,” Nicole said quietly. “I can’t, though maybe I should send something. Maggie hasn’t been cooking much lately.”
Janie snorted. “She’s refusing to cook for that woman, and you know it.”
Nicole turned and started to speak. Then she stopped. Janie seemed to have grown two new legs. She left the stairs to walk closer to Janie.
“Hello,” Wes said, then brushed Janie’s hands away and stood. “I’m Wesley Stanford.”
“Mr. Stanford,” she said politely, holding out her hand to him. She gave Janie a troubled look. Why had she hidden this man? “Won’t you please sit down? Could I offer you some refreshment?”
“No, thank you. Janie’s already taken care of that.”
“I think I’ll go look for the twins,” Janie said, and was out of the house before anyone could speak.
“Are you a friend of Janie’s?” Nicole asked as she poured a mug of cool cider for him.
“More a friend of Clay’s.” He watched her face, his eyes always going to her mouth. The upper lip intrigued him. “We grew up together, or at least we spent a lot of time together.”
“Tell me about him,” she said, her eyes wide and eager. “What was he like as a little boy?”
“Different,” Wes said, watching her. She’s in love with him, he thought. “I think this…situation upsets him.”
She stood and walked toward the fireplace behind him. “I know it does. I assume he told you the story.” She didn’t wait for his nod. “I tried to make it easier for him by moving out. No, that’s not true. I tried to make it easier for me. He’ll be happy again when our marriage is annulled and he’s free to marry Bianca.”
“Bianca. You worked for her in England?”
“In a manner of speaking. Many of the English kindly took us in after we fled our own country.”
“How did the kidnappers get you instead of Bianca?” he asked bluntly.
Nicole blushed, remembering the scene. “Please, Mr. Stanford, let’s talk about you.”
Wes knew that her blush told more than her words. What sort of a woman would be so generous as to offer to prepare food for the man she loved when she knew he’d be eating with another woman? He’d already made one wrong judgment, and he wasn’t going to make any more. He’d wait until he saw Bianca before he developed another opinion.