on his plate.
“I can’t quite place your accent,” his mother said to Mrs. O’Connell. “I take it you’re not native to Virginia.”
Jenny shot their mother a glare.
“I’ve lost my memory,” Mrs. O’Connell answered.
“Ah, yes, the accident with the horse.” His mother looked at Will. “Jenny tells me you came to this young lady’s rescue.”
He cleared his throat, aware Emily studied him intently. “I was there when the horse reared up and injured Mrs. O’Connell. Of course, I took her to the surgeon. She appeared to be badly hurt.”
“How horrible.” His mother sighed. “I do hope your memory returns, dear.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery. I hope so, too.” She raised her gaze to Will as if pleading for rescue.
“Miss Courtland, have you told Will about the dinner at the Peterson’s this Saturday?” his mother asked.
“Why no, ma’am. I haven’t had the chance.” Emily gazed at Will.
He cleared his throat. “My apologies, Miss Courtland, but I’m afraid I’ll be occupied on Saturday.”
Zachary frowned. “May I ask what is so important, son?”
“It’s personal.” He stared at his plate to escape the perplexed glances of his parents, as well as Emily.
His face heated, knowing his parents expected him to compliment and shower attention on her, but he’d spent the entire meal watching Mrs. O’Connell.
Shoving a forkful of pie into his mouth, he nearly gagged. He couldn’t wait to escape from the dining room but didn’t dare excuse himself until his father left to smoke his after dinner cigar.
Although, up until now, his father had said nothing, Will felt his father’s eyes upon him all through dinner. When the meal finally ended, he suggested Will join him for a cigar in the study to discuss the war. He declined and escaped the house, leaving Emily behind.
He retreated to the, now empty, carriage house. Isaac must have taken Snicker out for some exercise. He glanced through the window toward the creek and found Mrs. O’Connell had left the house, too. She stood a few yards from him, gazing out at the rushing water. In the borrowed gown with her hair elegantly styled and confined in a matching blue ribbon net, she made an enchanting picture.
Drawn to her, he left the carriage house and approached from behind. When he was a few feet away, she turned, sensing his presence. The corners of her lips curved into a smile.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized, “but I felt awkward around your parents.”
“I’m afraid they can be quite intimidating.”
She laughed. “Jenny would agree with that. I’m surprised she isn’t out here, too.”
“I see you’ve been talking with my sister.”
She nodded.
“My parents are not the easiest people to get along with,” he said. “They have certain...expectations.”
“I understand.” She glanced up at the house. “I hope Jenny and Amanda will be okay when you leave.”
Will sighed. “I hope so, too, since I have no choice in the matter.”
“I suppose there’s no way you could take them with you.”
He shook his head. “Army life wouldn’t suit those two.”
“From what I’ve seen, I would have to agree.”
His pulse raced when she gazed at him. She displayed both strength and vulnerability. He edged closer, catching the scent of lavender. “When I return to the army, will you be going with me?”
“I have nowhere else to go.”
The fear and sorrow in her voice made him long to take her hand and comfort her. He restrained himself. “Doc could use your help in the medical tent, I’m sure.”
She eyed him with obvious suspicion. “And what about you? Do you want me to come?”
“It makes no matter either way to me,” he lied.
Her gaze dropped.
What he wanted to do was take her in his arms, kiss her senseless, and carry her to his room for a night of lovemaking. Now that he had her under his roof, he had to control his feelings, so as not to bring scandal on his family.
But he doubted he’d
“I can’t quite place your accent,” his mother said to Mrs. O’Connell. “I take it you’re not native to Virginia.”
Jenny shot their mother a glare.
“I’ve lost my memory,” Mrs. O’Connell answered.
“Ah, yes, the accident with the horse.” His mother looked at Will. “Jenny tells me you came to this young lady’s rescue.”
He cleared his throat, aware Emily studied him intently. “I was there when the horse reared up and injured Mrs. O’Connell. Of course, I took her to the surgeon. She appeared to be badly hurt.”
“How horrible.” His mother sighed. “I do hope your memory returns, dear.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery. I hope so, too.” She raised her gaze to Will as if pleading for rescue.
“Miss Courtland, have you told Will about the dinner at the Peterson’s this Saturday?” his mother asked.
“Why no, ma’am. I haven’t had the chance.” Emily gazed at Will.
He cleared his throat. “My apologies, Miss Courtland, but I’m afraid I’ll be occupied on Saturday.”
Zachary frowned. “May I ask what is so important, son?”
“It’s personal.” He stared at his plate to escape the perplexed glances of his parents, as well as Emily.
His face heated, knowing his parents expected him to compliment and shower attention on her, but he’d spent the entire meal watching Mrs. O’Connell.
Shoving a forkful of pie into his mouth, he nearly gagged. He couldn’t wait to escape from the dining room but didn’t dare excuse himself until his father left to smoke his after dinner cigar.
Although, up until now, his father had said nothing, Will felt his father’s eyes upon him all through dinner. When the meal finally ended, he suggested Will join him for a cigar in the study to discuss the war. He declined and escaped the house, leaving Emily behind.
He retreated to the, now empty, carriage house. Isaac must have taken Snicker out for some exercise. He glanced through the window toward the creek and found Mrs. O’Connell had left the house, too. She stood a few yards from him, gazing out at the rushing water. In the borrowed gown with her hair elegantly styled and confined in a matching blue ribbon net, she made an enchanting picture.
Drawn to her, he left the carriage house and approached from behind. When he was a few feet away, she turned, sensing his presence. The corners of her lips curved into a smile.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized, “but I felt awkward around your parents.”
“I’m afraid they can be quite intimidating.”
She laughed. “Jenny would agree with that. I’m surprised she isn’t out here, too.”
“I see you’ve been talking with my sister.”
She nodded.
“My parents are not the easiest people to get along with,” he said. “They have certain...expectations.”
“I understand.” She glanced up at the house. “I hope Jenny and Amanda will be okay when you leave.”
Will sighed. “I hope so, too, since I have no choice in the matter.”
“I suppose there’s no way you could take them with you.”
He shook his head. “Army life wouldn’t suit those two.”
“From what I’ve seen, I would have to agree.”
His pulse raced when she gazed at him. She displayed both strength and vulnerability. He edged closer, catching the scent of lavender. “When I return to the army, will you be going with me?”
“I have nowhere else to go.”
The fear and sorrow in her voice made him long to take her hand and comfort her. He restrained himself. “Doc could use your help in the medical tent, I’m sure.”
She eyed him with obvious suspicion. “And what about you? Do you want me to come?”
“It makes no matter either way to me,” he lied.
Her gaze dropped.
What he wanted to do was take her in his arms, kiss her senseless, and carry her to his room for a night of lovemaking. Now that he had her under his roof, he had to control his feelings, so as not to bring scandal on his family.
But he doubted he’d
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