AS HE CONTINUED to pace, Clayton caught movement upstairs out of the corner of his eye. He tried to divert Rose’s attention—unsuccessfully.
Rose leaned forward and glanced up the stairs. “Clayton? Who’s that upstairs?”
Clayton was surprised when his housekeeper paused at the top of the stairs and called down, “Mr. Madden, I found a few things for the ladies in case they need them.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Price, please bring them down.”
The housekeeper brought the gowns downstairs and laid them on the back of one of the chairs in the parlor. “I didn’t know if Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Madden would need clean dresses, so thought I would gather a few things in case.”
“Mr. Ford, will this work for Mrs. Ford?” Mrs. Price asked.
Jamie walked over and appeared to inspect the dresses. “This was a dangerous move.”
“I had to bring the ladies food,” she whispered unapologetically. “I wasn’t expecting Miss Johnson to see me.”
“Well, that was quick thinking. This isn’t going quite the way we expected.” Then louder, he added. “These will be fine for Sophie. Thank you, Mrs. Price.”
Using the distraction the housekeeper had created, Clayton sent Christopher on an errand. He organized a light meal, uncertain when they would get an opportunity to eat again, and as soon as they finished their repast, Christopher walked into the parlor with a guest.
Clayton heard Rose gasp as Christopher led Gregory Payne, in shackles, into the parlor. Walter and two of Clayton’s men followed, armed with rifles and handguns. Mrs. Price came in to collect the discarded dishes, and Clayton smiled. “Mrs. Price, would you please bring the ladies downstairs?”
“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Price said and left the room.
Rose’s head whipped up. “Ladies? What ladies?”
“Surprised, Rose?” Emma asked as she walked into the room with Sophie.
“You’re supposed to be dead,” Rose snapped.
Emma shrugged. “Sucks for you.”
Rose looked as though she was ready to bolt, but Christopher grabbed her and held her arms behind her back. Walter lifted one of the handguns and aimed it at Rose’s head.
“Mr. Payne, we are prepared to offer you a deal. Tell us what your plan is and we’ll spare her life,” Clayton said.
“No,” Gregory hissed.
Rose’s head whipped up. “Gregory!”
“You had one responsibility, Rose, and you couldn’t even do that right,” Gregory seethed. “You’re useless.”
“You bastard! He’ll hear about this.”
Gregory hissed. “You stupid bitch, keep your mouth shut.”
Christopher squeezed her arms. “Who, Rose?”
“Johnny Booth.”
Clayton raised an eyebrow. “The actor?”
“He’s going to kill the President,” Rose shouted.
She’s insane.
“Shut up!” Gregory bellowed.
“The actor is going to kill the President?” Clayton said patronizingly.
“Not just him.”
“Rose, shut yer mouth!”
“Who else is involved?” Clayton asked.
“I don’t know everyone involved, but I’ll tell you what I do know.”
“All right, Rose. Christopher, take Mr. Payne back to his holding cell and I’ll follow with Rose.”
Christopher left and Clayton put Rose in shackles to deliver her to interrogation. Rose struggled against the restraints. “Is this really necessary, Clayton?”
Clayton nodded. “I believe it is, Rose.”
Emma squared her shoulders and closed the distance between herself and Rose. “One thing before you leave, please.”
Clayton raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
Emma formed a fist, and threw a very impressive right into Rose’s face. Rose’s bloody lip began to swell. “Next time, I won’t be so nice.” Emma stalked out of the room.
* * *
Gwen arrived for an impromptu visit, and Emma greeted her at the door just as the men were leaving.
“I don’t know what has come over you, Gwennie,” Christopher admonished. “It’s unseemly to come and go as you please.”
Gwen squared her shoulders. “Are you saying you want me to tell you where I am at all times, Chris? You’re worse than Andrew!”
“It’s unsafe.”
Gwen let out a quiet snort. “I thought I’d visit my friend. How was I to know you were in the midst of an arrest? You don’t tell me anything. I also had to pass the message on that the dinner party had been canceled. You were not in your office, so it was left to me.”
“I don’t have time to discuss this with you at the present time.”
Gwen removed her outerwear and handed it to Emma. “Why don’t I stay with Sophie and Emma for a time, then? You can take care of whatever you need to take care of while sit here and anticipate your return… and subsequent lecture, later this evening.”
“Gwendolyn.”
Emma bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling. So much for the myth of subservient nineteenth-century women.
Christopher stared at Gwen for several seconds before turning and following Jamie and Clayton. Emma led Gwen into the dining room where lunch had been laid out. Sophie greeted Gwen and then handed Emma the icepack the housekeeper had prepared for her.
Emma filled Gwen in on their excitement as they filled their plates.
“Keep that ice on your hand, Em,” Sophie directed.
Emma did her best to eat with her left hand. “As much as this hurts, I have to admit, it was so worth it!”
“I have never heard anything like that before.” Gwen giggled. “It all sounds very exciting.”
Sophie sighed. “Yes, it was. However, I think we’re going to be kept on a tight leash going forward.”
Emma nodded. “No doubt about that one.”
“Mrs. Ford, ma’am?”
Sophie turned to see Jack frantically twist his hat in his hands. “Is it Samson?”
“Yes ma’am. He’s started to kick out at the stall.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Jack left, but she didn’t move. “I don’t know what to do.”
Emma pointed her fork toward her. “Samson will do some real damage if you don’t calm him down. He’s probably still freaked about this morning.”
“Yes, but I don’t want Jamie to worry.”
“We’ll cover for you. You’re only going to the carriage house. Besides, you might be able to get him calmed down before the guys even get back,” Emma argued.
“All right.” Sophie reluctantly left the room.
“Gwen, how long have you known Clayton?” Emma asked.
“Six years.” She took a sip of her drink. “Although, not closely until he and Chris started working together.”
Emma adjusted the ice on her hand. “How did you meet?”
“Chris invited him to dinner a few times before Lincoln was elected, and we kept him.” Gwen smiled. “He became a good friend--actually, more like another brother and spent several holidays with us when he was unable to go home.”
“I understand you have a relationship with Andrew Simmonds.”
“I don’t know that you can call it a relationship.” Gwen blushed. “Although, I love him beyond reason.”
“Then why are you apart?”
“I’m not entirely certain.”
Emma helped herself to more food. “How did you meet?”
Gwen smiled. “I met him when I was fifteen. The saddle on my horse slipped and he saved me from a potentially serious fall.”
“How romantic.”
“Not really.” Gwen blinked back tears. “After his injuries at Shiloh, he’ll have nothing to do with me.”
“His loss, then.”
“Thank you,” she whispered and concentrated on her meal.
Emma let the subject drop.
Gwen laid her napkin on the table. “Should we check on Sophie?”
Emma followed Gwen outside and heard Sophie swear. She wasn’t having a particularly successful time getting Samson calmed down.
Emma rushed into the stall. “Are you okay?”
Sophie groaned. “Not really.”
“Why is he so keyed up?”
“I don’t know.” Sophie rubbed her temples. “I have tried standing outside of his stall, but he keeps whinnying and pushing at my shoulder.”
“Then let him out,” Emma suggested.
Sophie sighed. “I’m afraid he’ll bolt.”
“He never has before.”
“That’s true.” Sophie opened the stall door. “I don’t know where you’re going to go, Sammy. I can’t ride you at the moment, and there’s nowhere for you to run.”
“Sophie?” The girls turned when they heard Jamie call for her.
“Over here,” she called out.
The men walked into the carriage house and Sophie turned to Jamie with a guilty look on a face. “Sorry. I know I wasn’t supposed to leave the house, but Jack was a little frantic and Samson kept kicking at the walls, so I thought I’d come and at least try and calm him, but it’s not working. Can you take him out?”
Jamie shook his head. “No, sweetheart, but you can.”
“Seriously?”
Jamie closed the distance between them and kissed her cheek. “Seriously. I’ve been an idiot. Will you forgive me? I should have told you everything that was going on. I promise I’ll never keep anything from you again. How about we tack up one of the other horses and you and I go for ride?”
“Yes! I’m totally in.” She threw herself into his arms.
They got the horses tacked up and started out for their ride.
“I’m going to take Gwen home.” Christopher held his arm out for his sister. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Clay.”
Clayton nodded. “Thanks for everything.”
Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Monday then, Emma?”
“Yes, Monday. I’m looking forward to it.”
Clayton led Emma to his office at the back of the house. He sat down in his big leather chair and pulled her onto his lap. “Tell me what’s happening on Monday.”
“Gwen’s taking me and Sophie shopping. If that’s all right with you, of course.”
He kissed her. “Yes, sweet, the danger is behind us.”
Emma stroked his cheek. “How did it go?”
“Better than expected.” Clayton kissed her palm. “Sam Powell has Rose over at the prison.”
Emma snorted. “She’s going to love that.”
“Why do you say that?”
Emma gave a cheeky smile. “Because he’s hot.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s handsome.”
Clayton frowned. “You think him handsome?”
She slid her hand inside his jacket. “Not as handsome as you. Although, he does have incredible eyes.”
“Emma Madden, you should not have noticed his eyes.”
Emma shook her head. “No? Oh, I meant to say, he’s an ugly troll.”
Clayton gave her a squeeze. “That’s better.”
Emma fiddled with one of the buttons on his vest. “What happened to Lewis Payne?”
“He managed to escape before we entered the house to get you, so we aren’t certain where he is.”
“What will you do?”
Clayton linked his fingers with hers. “We’ll find him.”
“What about Rose?”
“She’s currently fuming in a cell.” He put his hand on her knee and kissed her again.
“What will happen now? Will the President still take his trip?”
He moved his hand up her thigh and rested it on a hip. “Yes, we’ll still go to Gettysburg.” He started to unbutton her blouse as he kissed her again. He was pleasantly surprised to see she wasn’t wearing a corset.
Emma’s breath came in short bursts. “When will we leave?”
He slipped his hand inside her blouse. “We leave on the seventeenth.” He slid his hand up her back and unlatched the hooks on her bra.
Emma arched her back. “Mmm and how long will we be gone?” She was having a difficult time concentrating on their conversation.
“We’ll go for about three days.”
“What about Thanksgiving?”
“We’ll celebrate it in Harrisburg.” Clayton kissed her neck. “Are we going to continue conversing, or do something else?”
Climbing off his lap, she removed her blouse and bra. She slipped her skirt and hoops off and revealed a sexy pair of bikinis that matched her discarded ice blue bra. She climbed back onto his lap and straddled his hips.
“I think these might be my favorite.” He ran his hands over her bottom.
“Oh, really?”
“Definitely.” He kissed her as he ran his hands up her hips.
She unbuttoned his shirt and slipped her hands inside to stroke his chest. “Baby, you have too many clothes on.”
Clayton chuckled as she set her feet on the ground. He walked over to the door and locked it as he removed his shirt. After sliding her panties off, she pushed him back into his chair, kissing him as she lowered herself onto his rock-hard length. Clayton gripped her bottom and squeezed, shifting slightly to get a better angle. Emma grabbed the back of the chair and moved against him, her nipples hardening every time her breasts connected with his chest.
Clayton slipped his hand between her legs, running a finger along her clit. She licked her lips as he thumbed her clit while sliding two fingers inside of her.
“Feel good?”
“Feels amazing.” He stood, walking her to his desk where he moved papers aside and settled her on top. Kneeling between her thighs, guiding her legs over his shoulders and lowering his mouth to her center.
Emma sighed, sliding her hands into his hair as he tortured her with his tongue. She dug her heels into his back, lifting her hips to get more of him, when he sat up, taking her with him and lowering her onto his cock. Emma let out a quiet breath as she looped her arms around his shoulders.
Clayton flattened one hand against her back and one against her bottom, carrying her back to the chair. “Ride me.”
She nodded as she straddled him and rocked against him. Using his shoulders as a base, she raised her body and lowered herself slowly, leaning down to kiss him as she did. He cupped her breasts, pinching one nipple while he took the other in his mouth. Emma dropped her head and tried to focus on her breathing. “I can’t wait,” she whispered.
“Don’t.”
Her orgasm ripped through her and she fell against him, nestling her face in his neck as she tried to catch her breath. “Do you love me?”
“Of course I love you.”
She bit her lip. “But you were so mad at me.”
“You scared me, sweetheart, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you. Now that I have you in my arms, however, I’m no longer angry…or scared.” He lifted her and slid from between her legs. “Over the desk, sweet.”
She didn’t hesitate and bent over the mahogany as he slid into her slowly. She whimpered with need and he gripped her hips and surged into her a little faster.
“More,” she demanded.
Clayton pulled out and slammed into her again, then faster and faster, building her climax the harder he thrust into her. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out.
“Now, sweet,” he whispered, and she did.
He slid out of her and pulled her to the chair, settling her on his lap again. They stayed like this for a while, their breathing labored as they came down from their high when he whispered, “We’re just getting started, Emma. Don’t fall asleep.”
Before Emma could get too comfortable, Clayton carried her to their bedroom. Their lovemaking ended in their bed well past dinner, so Clayton grabbed a robe and made his way to the kitchen for a tray. He arrived back in their bedroom to find Emma sound asleep, so he quietly set the tray down, undressed, and climbed into bed with her.
* * *
The next week was a bustle of activity as the group prepared for their trip back to Pennsylvania. Gwen and Emma spent more and more time together and were becoming close friends. Sophie spent every waking minute with Jamie, still trying to make up for her earlier actions.
Clayton and Christopher worked diligently to organize Lincoln’s movements to Gettysburg. They had to change the itinerary slightly, due to the fact that they still hadn’t been able to locate Payne and didn’t know exactly how much he knew.
The Thursday before they were due to leave, the couples gathered in the parlor before dinner. Walter stepped into the room just as Clayton sat next to Emma. “Mrs. Hattie Jones and Mrs. Christine Martin to see you, sir.”
Sophie jumped up as soon as she saw Christine and gave her a hug. “What are you doing here?”
Christine grimaced. “It’s a very long story.”
“Are you all right?”
“No,” Christine whispered.
“Hattie?” Clayton gave her a chaste hug. “Did something happen with Richard?”
She shook her head. “No, Clayton. Christine needed an escort, so I volunteered.”
“Would any of you mind if we stole Christine away for a few minutes?” Sophie asked.
Clayton shook his head. “Not at all. You may use my office for privacy.”
Hattie settled herself into a chair. “Would you mind if I stayed here and caught up with Clayton?”
Sophie shook her head. “Not at all.” She took Christine’s hand, motioned to Emma, and the girls led her to Clayton’s office. As soon as they closed the door, Christine burst into tears. Sophie pulled her into her embrace and stroked her back. “My dear sweet friend, what has happened?”
“He kissed me.”
“Who kissed you?”
Christine sobbed. “Stephen kissed me.”
“He did? That’s wonderful! He’s adored you for a while now. I was wondering when he would make his move.”
“It’s not wonderful.” Christine threw her hands in the air.
Emma frowned. “It’s not?”
“It most certainly is not!”
Emma glanced at Sophie. “I’m confused.”
“He can’t just go around kissing people. It’s not right. And what about Peter? What would he say? He needs to have more respect.”
Emma frowned. “Who’s Peter?”
“Her first husband,” Sophie said and then turned back to Christine. “Peter needs to have more respect?”
Christine huffed. “NO, Stephen!”
“Why does he need to have more respect?” Sophie asked.
“Peter?”
“Emma!” Sophie admonished.
Emma covered her mouth with her fingers. “Sorry.”
“He said that he’s in love with me and he wants me to marry him.”
Sophie grinned. “And what did you say?”
“I said I couldn’t marry him and then I left him standing in Nona’s parlor.”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “Did he let you go?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Christine said evasively.
Sophie gasped. “Christine! You didn’t.”
Christine shrugged. “I left him there and I came here. I didn’t know where else to go.”
“You ran away.”
“If you want to call it that, then fine! I ran away. He shouldn’t be asking people to marry him anyway. What kind of man does that?” Christine stomped her foot.
Sophie giggled. “A man who is in love with you.” She grabbed her arm and led her to the window. “Christine, sit down.”
Emma handed her a handkerchief.
Sophie took Christine’s hand. “Tell me everything that’s happened since we left. You two have been getting closer and closer over the past months, so what happened to make him act now?”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Riiiight. So, what happened ‘in general’ then?” Sophie asked.
“I don’t want to tell you,” she whispered.
Sophie laughed. “Teeny, what did you do?”
Christine took a deep breath. “I had a little accident.”
Emma frowned. “You had a little accident?”
Christine nodded. “Yes.”
“What kind of accident?” Sophie asked.
Christine raised her chin. “It was nothing.”
“Nothing enough for you to run away from a man who said he loved you,” Sophie pointed out.
Christine sighed and picked at the embroidery on the handkerchief. “I rode a horse and Stephen objected.”
“Heard that one before,” Emma retorted.
“Emma,” Sophie admonished. “Christine. Why did he object?”
“I was riding a horse unfamiliar to me.”
“Why weren’t you riding Ben?” Sophie asked.
Christine shrugged. “The doctors and nurses decided to get together for a group picnic and I wasn’t expecting to ride.”
“But you take Ben everywhere? Why not then?”
“I took the buggy this time, so chose one of the pull horses instead.”
“And…” Sophie pressed.
Christine huffed. “And, I was thrown.”
“You were?” Emma exclaimed. “What happened?”
“How, Teeny?” Sophie asked, ignoring Emma’s question.
“Lila challenged me.”
“Lila Sylvester?”
“Yes, exactly,” Christine hissed.
“What do you mean, she challenged you?” Emma asked.
“Lila wanted to show off her riding skills to Stephen, so the trollop rode right past him and jumped one of the fences.”
“All right. How is that a challenge, Christine, and how do you know she wanted to show off to Stephen?”
“After she jumped the fence, she rode up to him and asked him to lift her down. Then she kept her hands on his shoulders.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “That’s just awful.”
“Yes, what a whore,” Sophie quipped.
Christine hissed. “She was all over him—it was positively unseemly. And people were going on and on about her magnificent riding.”
“So?” Sophie challenged.
“Well, I guess I got a little bit angry, so I tried to do the same thing.”
Sophie frowned. “You guess you got angry?”
“Yes.”
“At the trollop?”
Christine nodded. “Yes.”
Sophie squeezed her hand. “So, what was the problem?”
“The problem is that I’m not as good a rider as she is. The horse shied at the fence and threw me.”
“Oh, I hate it when that happens,” Emma murmured.
Sophie sent Emma a look of warning and then focused back on Christine. “How badly were you hurt?”
Christine shrugged. “I wasn’t hurt. A few scrapes and bruises… but Stephen was livid.”
Sophie met her gaze. “How do you know he was livid?”
“He growled at me, Sophie. He sounded like an angry dog.” Christine burst into tears again. “He didn’t stay for the rest of the picnic. He just took me straight home.”
“You mean, you didn’t get to pass “GO” and collect two hundred dollars?” Emma retorted.
“Emma,” Sophie admonished again and then turned back to Christine. “So, is that when he kissed you and told you he wanted to marry you?”
“No, that was when he just kissed me.”
“Then what?” Sophie probed.
“I didn’t know what to think, so I went to the hospital the next day. Just as I do every day. He kept watching me and it made me very uncomfortable. Any time a patient did something Stephen didn’t like, he was right there to move me out of the way. He kept overreacting! Remember Ryan Smith?”
“The young man with the amputated leg?”
Christine nodded. “Yes. He told me that he was in love with me and took my hand.”
Sophie cocked her head. “Okay. And?”
“Well, Stephen waltzed right up and pulled his hand from mine and then pushed me away. It was frustrating.”
“Why was it frustrating?’ Emma asked.
“Because I couldn’t do my job adequately.” Christine went silent.
“You needed to hold his hand in order to do your job?” Emma took a deep breath. “I don’t get how this whole Civil War hospital thingy works.”
“Holy shit, Christine, you are driving me crazy! Spill for heaven’s sake!” Sophie snapped.
Christine sighed in frustration, but finally continued the story. “Stephen showed up at Michael and Nona’s that night because he knew I was having dinner there. He and Michael went off together for a few minutes and then he pulled me into the parlor for a private conversation.”
“And that’s when he proposed?”
“Yes and kissed me.”
“He’s kissed you twice?” Sophie asked.
“Three times, actually. But that’s not the point!”
Emma giggled, but slapped her palm over her mouth at her sister’s warning scowl.
“Did you like the kisses?” Sophie asked.
Christine lifted her fingers to her lips and stared into space.
“Teeny?” Sophie pressed.
“I loved the kisses.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Christine blew her nose. “I have never felt this way before.”
“Never?” Emma asked. “But you were married?”
“It’s different.”
“How is it different?”
Christine stood again and started to pace. “I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. It’s not right.”
Sophie grinned up at her. “Oh, honey, you’re in love. It’s perfectly right.”
“But I was in love with Peter.”
“No one’s disputing that,” Sophie assured her.
“But it didn’t feel this way! I never felt sick over him and I never felt jealousy or insecurity when we were courting.”
Emma grinned. “Is that how you feel with Stephen?”
“Yes! And I hate it. I can’t go back,” Christine cried and then looked at Emma. “Please, may I stay?”
“Of course you can, silly woman,” Emma said.
“Thank you.”
“So, tell me.” Sophie patted the seat of Christine’s chair. “Are you feeling guilty about your feelings for Stephen?”
“Because of Peter, you mean?”
“Yes.”
Christine took her seat. “No, not really. It’s been well over a year since he died, but he’d already been gone from our home a year before that, so I feel as though the grief is done. I can remember a sweet time in my life with him and little Ellie, but I don’t feel the pain anymore. Just a precious memory.”
“Then, why don’t you let yourself love Stephen?”
“This can’t possibly be love, Sophie. It’s far too intense.” Christine tapped her fingers on her knees. “It’s better that I just distance myself from him and move on with my life.”
“Ah, I see.” Sophie rose to her feet. “Well, my friend, I’m famished and you must be too, so let’s go and have some dinner. You’ll get some sleep tonight and feel better in the morning.”
Sophie linked arms with Christine and she and Emma led her down to the dining room. The girls walked into the room to find everyone seated, but the men stood and Jamie hugged Christine before he helped her sit.
Clayton raised his eyebrow in question at the look of Christine’s red eyes and nose.
“I’ll tell you later,” Emma whispered. “We’ll need a couple of extra rooms though.”
Clayton nodded and informed Walter to have their housekeeper prepare the rooms.