River Lady Read online

“Just a tiny bit. Not even enough to count. Justin’s father makes this wonderful stuff that relaxed me with one swallow. I’ve just been so nervous and John is hardly speaking to me. Don’t you think Justin looks nice tonight? But then so do all the men. Every man looks good except my husband.”

  “Kimberly, I want you to eat something right away and for heaven’s sake, stop talking!” With some force Leah led Kim toward the food-laden tables.

  “Leah!” Linnet Macalister said, looking at Leah as if she were a ghost. “I didn’t think you were going to be here.”

  “What a pretty dress,” Agnes Emerson said. “Is that a picture of your mother?” she asked, referring to the brooch Leah wore.

  “It was a gift from a friend of mine. Could I get a plate of food for Kim and maybe someone would see that she eats it? I need to talk to Doll Stark for a moment.”

  Agnes took one look at Kim and understood immediately. “I hope you say a few words to Doll for me too,” she called after Leah.

  Doll sat in his usual place before the fireplace, except that now his chair was turned to face the dancing people. Lester Sawrey, sitting next to Doll, punched the older man when he saw Leah coming.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Doll said. “What can I do for you?”

  “I want to ask you not to give Kimberly Hammond any more of whatever you gave her.”

  “That little lady sure can drink,” he said in wonder. “Thought she was gonna drain the jug.”

  Leah glared at him.

  “Where’s that husband of yourn?” Doll asked. “I didn’t think he’d let you come to this shindig.”

  Still refusing to answer, Leah just looked at him.

  “All right,” Doll said heavily. “I won’t let her have no more. Sure seems a shame to me, though. That little lady has capacity.”

  “Mrs. Stanford?”

  Leah turned to look at John Hammond. He was a good-looking man with beautiful gray hair. “May I have this dance?”

  After a quick look to see that Kim was sitting down and eating, Leah took John’s arm.

  Her dancing lessons hadn’t prepared her for the energetic country dances, and when they were finished she was fanning herself with her hand.

  “How about a breath of air?” John suggested, his eyes twinkling.

  “Yes, I need it,” Leah said with a laugh.

  Outside with the stars winking overhead, the cool, fragrant night air about her, Leah was very glad she’d come to the dance. And to think that Wesley had forbidden her to attend.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  She smiled at him. “I was just thinking that I’m glad I came.”

  “I am too,” John said seriously. “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time. Actually, I wanted to ask your advice. You see, I know Kimberly is very unhappy, but I honestly don’t know why or how to make her happy. I’ve tried my best to be as patient as I know how. When I come in from the fields, supper isn’t ready, and it’s taken me weeks to teach her how to fry eggs for breakfast. I’ve done everything I can to be lenient with her, to understand that she’s not used to so much work, but no matter what I do, she still seems to resent me. You must believe me, Mrs. Stanford, I love my wife, and if I could afford servants for her I’d gladly hire them, but I can’t. I know the two of you are friends and I thought maybe she’d said something to you. Could you please help me?”

  Leah wasn’t sure, but there seemed to be tears in his eyes. Damn Kimberly! she thought. Her laziness was causing this gentle man a great deal of misery. “She hasn’t said much to me,” Leah lied.

  “But anything could help,” John said in desperation. “She won’t talk to me and if I just knew exactly what she complained about maybe I could fix it. I do want to make her happy.”

  “I guess marriage in general is difficult for her,” Leah said slowly. “She’s not exactly in love with work.”

  John smiled. “How kind you are. But there’s nothing…specific about our lives together that she complains about?”

  “John,” Leah said, putting her hand on his arm, “I really wish I could help you. Kimberly is my friend, but I’m aware that she must be difficult to live with. I’ll talk to her and try to find out whatever I can. I want both of you to be happy.”

  “Please try to convince her that I love her,” John pleaded.

  “I will. Now, shall we go inside?”

  With a grin John offered her his arm. “You must have heard this a dozen times already tonight, but you look lovely. That green sets off your eyes. Is the miniature on the brooch of your mother by chance?”

  Leah gave a little grimace as she thought of her mother’s never having worn a silk dress in her life. “Actually, Kimberly gave me the brooch. Perhaps it’s a picture of someone in her family.”

  “Ah yes, perhaps I’ve seen the brooch before and don’t remember it. It was nice of her to give you a gift, wasn’t it? Perhaps she’ll tell you the history of the woman in the painting and you can tell me. It looks like the only way I can find out about my own wife is through a third party.”

  Leah’s heart went out to him and she felt like smacking Kimberly for mistreating this sweet man. “Excuse me,” she said when they were inside, and she went directly to Kim.

  “You were talking to John,” Kim said belligerently before Leah could speak. “Did he ask about me?”

  “Yes he did. That poor man is working very hard to make you happy and you’ve been very unkind to him.”

  “Leah,” Kimberly began, but suddenly John was in front of her, his hand extended.

  “Dance with me?” he asked with longing in his voice.

  Kim’s face lost some of its color. “Yes,” she murmured and took his hand.

  As Leah watched they joined in with the others, but every time Kim came in contact with John, her face fell until by the end of the dance Kim was no longer smiling.

  “You can’t stay here against the wall all night,” Justin said from beside her. “I expect any minute for that husband of yours to come roaring through the door and take you away from all of us.”

  “I’m afraid I expect that too. Do you think we could get some food instead of dancing? I think my dancing mood has fled.”

  “Could it have to do with John and Kim? You’ve been watching them and frowning for minutes.”

  “I don’t guess I like to see anyone unhappy.”

  Justin snorted. “Kim would make anybody unhappy. I pity John for having to live with her. Uh, oh. I think a storm just blew in.”

  Coming toward them with the full force of a gale was Wesley, his cotton work shirt damp with sweat, his hair plastered about his face.

  Chapter 29

  “Come with me,” Wesley said through clenched teeth as his fingers bit into Leah’s upper arm.

  “If you’ll pardon me,” Leah said politely to Justin just before Wesley gave her arm a quick jerk.

  All the way across the floor Leah tried to smile and nod at people, tried to act as if she were merely on her way outside with her husband and he wasn’t half dragging her. But inside her anger was reaching the boiling point.

  “Get on my horse,” Wesley commanded as soon as they were outside.

  “So you can save the rest of your reputation? Let me tell you, Wesley Stanford, it’s too late! Everyone has already seen me, already knows that his majesty, Mr. Stanford of the magnificent Stanford Plantation, has a wife from the swamps of Virginia. And you know what, no one was repulsed, not one person wiped off his hands after touching scum like me.”

  “Have you gone crazy, Leah? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I’m talking about being a Simmons, that’s what. I’m talking about your being ashamed of me and not wanting me to be seen in public.”

  “Not wanting—.” He shook his head at her. “I still don’t understand you, but let’s go home and discuss it.”

  She backed away from him. “Go home and no doubt climb into your bed, is that it?”

  “I wouldn’t mind,�