The Enchanted Land Read online

  His face brightened, showing dancing lights in his eyes. “Did you imagine that I’d come in the middle of the night and steal you away?”

  She did not answer, but her tightened mouth gave her away. He laughed loudly, and she wanted to hit him.

  He sobered somewhat when he saw the hurt in her eyes. He reached over and placed his hand on hers and said quietly, “Did you really think I’d climb a ladder like a schoolboy?”

  The appeal in his eyes made her see the humor. No, she could not imagine this enormous man climbing a ladder in the middle of the night to spirit his bride away. She smiled back at him.

  They rode on, again in silence, but there was no more hostility between them. Morgan was no longer nervous.

  They had been riding for what seemed hours, each occupied with his own thoughts, when the coach stopped, and Seth said, “Are you sure you don’t want to change your mind?”

  She shook her head slightly. “Yes, I’m sure.”

  “Good.” His eyes danced. “I guess that means you think you can stand me for a whole year.”

  He got out of the carriage, helped Morgan out, and led her to the front of a large, pleasant, whitewashed house. Morgan looked around. She knew they had been heading south, toward Lexington, but she wasn’t sure where they were now.

  Finally a servant answered the door and Morgan preceded Seth into the hallway.

  “The judge is waiting for you, Mr. Colter,” he said.

  “Thanks, Elijah.”

  The servant led them to a door off the hallway into a cozy drawing room.

  A large man came toward them swiftly, hand extended. “Well, well, well! I never thought I’d have the honor of this day—I mean night. It’s good to see you are finally going to get married, Seth.”

  Seth smiled. “May I present Miss Morgan Wake-field.”

  “I am very glad to meet the lady who has been chosen by this young man. Why, I’ve known his father for years.”

  “And his mother, too.” A small woman entered the room. “Nora Colter is my dearest friend.”

  “This is my wife, Sara, and if this man of yours hasn’t told you, I am Judge Samuel Stevenson.”

  Morgan extended her hand, which he shook robustly. “I am very happy to meet you.”

  “Let’s begin, shall we?” said Judge Stevenson.

  The service was over so quickly that Morgan hardly realized it had taken place. The silence at the end was awkward. Finally, Judge Stevenson laughed and said, “Go ahead and kiss the bride, Seth.”

  He turned to Morgan with a winning smile and bent down to kiss her, gently taking hold of her shoulders.

  At first she was astonished. Then, just as his lips were very close to hers, she turned her head quickly and his kiss landed on her ear, just above the earlobe. His breath was soft and warm in her ear, his kiss moist, and she felt chills on her arms.

  Morgan kept her eyes from Seth’s and accepted the congratulations from the Judge and Mrs. Stevenson. In spite of their entreaties to stay, the young couple left immediately after the ceremony. They were soon on their way again in the coach.

  Morgan had just snuggled into a corner of the coach when she felt it lurch. She looked up to see Seth’s broad shoulders leaning toward the window.

  “Well, my little bride, we are here.” He stepped out of the coach and turned to help Morgan down the two steps.

  She saw before her, shining in the moonlight, an enormous white mansion. What was it the woman had said last night? The Colter plantation was one of the largest and richest in the state.

  The house had two stories, with massive, white columns extending the full height. There was a deep veranda with several large oak chairs and rockers scattered about. On either side of the veranda were two large old willows, moving slightly in the night breeze.

  On the second story there was a balcony, with a delicate, white-painted railing. She could see one pair of double doors leading onto the balcony and guessed there were others.

  Seth carried Morgan’s bag and led her into the house and up a massive staircase to the second floor. She followed him silently down the thickly carpeted hallway and into his bedroom.

  Seth lit the lamp, and Morgan could see that the room was very large. All the furniture was walnut: dark, rich, and heavy. The prominent feature of the room was an enormous four-poster bed. Morgan stood staring at it, thinking that it was just the sort of bed that a man like Seth should have.

  Seth had come up behind her and stood quietly as Morgan was staring at the bed. “It’s just as comfortable as it looks,” he whispered.

  Morgan jumped and turned toward him, their faces inches apart. He bent toward her. “Come, mi querida, and I’ll show you what it’s like to be a real bride.” His voice was low and soft and persuasive. But Morgan, unused to the presence of a man, was frightened by his large body and took a step backwards.

  Her face betrayed her fear, and Seth laughed. “Don’t be afraid, little rabbit, I won’t hurt you. Where is that look of fire I saw you flash at Cynthia Ferguson? Anyone who can give such a look shouldn’t be afraid of a mere man.”

  Morgan smiled.

  “That’s better. You may take the bed and I’ll sleep on the couch. Does that ease your fears?”

  Morgan hastily took her bag and went to the adjoining dressing room. She was nervous as she removed her dress and put on the plain, white nightgown. As she took the pins from her hair and brushed the mass into fat, shiny curls that reached her waist, she tried not to think about Seth.

  When she returned to the room and self-consciously walked across to the bed, she saw that Seth had turned down the covers. He was already wrapped in a blanket on the couch, his head away from her. He appeared to be sleeping. Somehow she felt a tinge of anger that he could ignore her so completely.

  As she blew out the lamp and snuggled under the covers, she heard Seth say sleepily, “Goodnight, mi querida.”

  Morgan smiled and said, “Goodnight.”

  The next morning, Morgan was awakened by a knock on the door. “Mr. Seth, are you up yet?”

  Morgan sat up just in time to see Seth striding across the room towards her. Morgan’s eyes opened very wide in astonishment at the sight of him. He was completely naked. Morgan had not seen many men, even clothed, and had never seen a man without his shirt. She glimpsed a broad, heavy chest covered with thick, curling hair, large arms and shoulders, all tapering to a hard, flat stomach. He climbed into bed with her before she could complete her survey.

  “Close your mouth, little one. You don’t want Bessie to think a newly wedded couple would spend their wedding night apart, do you?” He moved close to Morgan so that their thighs touched. Louder he said, “Come in, Bessie.”

  A very large woman entered the room carrying a tray of coffee. As she saw Morgan in the enormous bed sitting beside Seth, she stopped and stared. Seth moved even closer to Morgan and put his arm around her shoulders. “Bessie, I’d like you to meet my wife, Morgan.”

  It didn’t take Bessie long to recover her voice. “I declare, Mr. Seth, you didn’t give nobody word that you were bringing a bride. I bet even your mama don’t know.”

  Seth grinned and hugged Morgan closer, idly taking a curl in one hand and rubbing it between his fingers. “No, Mother doesn’t know, but then it was a rather hurried marriage. Morgan and I just met the night before last.”

  “An elopement! Your sisters are just going to love that.” Bessie had a twinkle in her eye. “Well, I must mind my manners. It’s nice to meet you,” she said to the still-silent bride.

  Morgan managed to murmur, “Thank you.”

  Bessie smiled broadly and said, “Well, Mr. Seth, I’ll just leave you two. You come down whenever you’re ready.” The twinkle deepened and she winked at Seth. He returned the wink. Morgan looked down at her hands and blushed.

  Bessie put the tray on the bedside table and turned to leave. As she did so, she stopped for a second and looked at the couch with the rumpled quilt and pillow, still dented