The teeth in question gleamed briefly.
Ah. Splendid. I shall... look forward to the occasion.
Your servant, sir. Jamie bowed abruptly, then spun on his heel, seized my elbow, and marched off down the terrace, me decorously in tow.
I marched along, keeping step and keeping silence, until we were safely out of earshot. The quicksilver had shot up out of my lower regions, and was rolling nervously up and down my spine, making me feel dangerously unstable.
Are you quite out of your mind? I inquired politely. Receiving nothing but a brief snort in reply, I dug in my heels and pulled on his arm to make him stop.
That was not a rhetorical question, I said, rather more loudly. High-stakes whist?
Jamie was indeed an excellent card player. He also knew most of the possible ways of cheating at cards. However, whist was difficult if not impossible to cheat at, and Phillip Wylie also had the reputation of an excellent playeras did Stanhope. Beyond this, there remained the fact that Jamie didnt happen to possess any stakes, let alone high ones.
Ye expect me to allow yon popinjay to trample my honor, and then insult me to my face? He swung round to face me, glaring.
Im sure he didnt mean I began, but broke off. It was quite apparent that if Wylie had not intended outright insult, he had meant it as a challengeand to a Scot, the two were likely indistinguishable.
But you dont have to do it!
I would have had a much greater effect had I been arguing with the brick wall of the kitchen garden.
I do, he said stiffly. I have my pride.
I rubbed a hand over my face in exasperation.
Yes, and Phillip Wylie plainly knows it! Heard the one about pride going before a fall, have you?
I havena the slightest intention of falling, he assured me. Will ye give me your gold ring?
My mouth fell open in shock.
Will I... my ring? My fingers went involuntarily to my left hand, and the smooth gold of Franks wedding band.
He was watching me intently, eyes steady on mine. The torches along the terrace had been lit; the dancing light caught him from the side, throwing the stubborn set of his bones into sharp relief, lighting one eye with burning blue.
I shall need a stake, he said quietly.
Bloody hell. I swung away from him, and stood staring off the edge of the terrace. The torches on the lawn had been lit, too, and Perseuss white marble buttocks glimmered through the dark.
I willna lose it, Jamie said behind me. His hand rested on my shoulder, heavy through my shawl. Or if I doI shall redeem it. I know ye... value it.
I twitched my shoulder out from under his hand, and moved a few steps away. My heart was pounding, and my face felt at once clammy and hot, as though I were about to faint.
He didnt speak, or touch me; only stood there, waiting.
The gold one, I said at last, flatly. Not the silver? Not his ring; not his mark of ownership.
The gold is worth more, he said, and then, after the briefest hesitation, added, in terms of money.
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I know that. I turned round to face him. The torch flames fluttered in the wind and cast a moving light across his features that made them hard to read.
I meanthadnt you better take both of them? My hands were cold and slippery with sweat; the gold ring came off easily; the silver was tighter, but I twisted it past my knuckle. I took his hand and dropped the two rings clinking into it.
Then I turned and walked away.
THE LISTS OF VENUS
ROGER MADE HIS WAY from the drawing room out onto the terrace, threading through the gathering crowd that clustered thick as lice round the supper tables. He was hot and sweating and the night air struck coldly refreshing on his face. He paused in the shadows at the end of the terrace, where he could unbutton his waistcoat inconspicuously and flap his shirtfront a bit, letting the cold air inside.
The pine torches that lined the edge of the terrace and the brick paths were flickering in the wind, casting wildly shifting shadows over the mass of celebrants, from which limbs and faces emerged and disappeared in bewildering succession. Fire gleamed off silver and crystal, gold lace and shoe-buckles, earrings and coat buttons. From a distance, it looked as though the assembly were lit by fireflies, winking in and out among the dark mass of rustling fabric. Brianna was not wearing anything reflective, he thought, but she should be easy enough to spot, nonetheless, on account of her height.
He had caught no more than tantalizing glimpses of her during the day; she had been dancing attendance on her aunt, or caring for Jemmy, or engaged in conversation with theapparentlydozens of people she knew from her earlier sojourn at River Run. He didnt begrudge her the opportunity in the least; there was precious little society to be had on Frasers Ridge, and he was pleased to see her enjoying herself.
Hed been having a great time himself; his throat had an agreeably raspy feeling now, from the exertion of prolonged singing, and he had learned three new songs from Seamus Hanlon, safely committed to memory. Hed bowed out at last, and left the little orchestra playing in the drawing room, throbbing away in a steamy haze of effort, sweat, and alcohol.
There she was; he caught the glint of her hair as she came out of the parlor doors, turning back to say something to the woman behind her.
She caught sight of him as she turned back, and her face lit up, touching off a complementary warm glow beneath his rebuttoned waistcoat.
There you are! Ive barely seen you all day. Heard you now and then, though, she added, with a nod toward the open drawing-room doors.
Oh, aye? Sound all right, did it? he asked casually, shamelessly fishing for compliments. She grinned and tapped his chest with her closed fan, mimicking the gesture of an accomplished coquettewhich she wasnt.
Oh, Mrs. MacKenzie, she said, pitching her voice high and through her nose, your husbands voice is divinity itself! Were I so fortunate, I am sure I should spend hours just drrrinking in the sound of it!
He laughed, recognizing Miss Martin, old Miss Bledsoes young and rather plain companion, who had hung about wide-eyed and sighing while he sang ballads in the afternoon.
You know youre good, she said, dropping back into her own voice. You dont need me to tell you.
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Maybe not, he admitted. Doesnt mean I dont like to hear it, though.
Really? The adulation of the multitudes isnt enough? She was laughing at him, eyes gone to triangles of amusement.
He didnt know how to answer that, and laughed instead, taking her hand.
Dye want to dance? He cocked his head toward the end of the terrace where the French doors to the drawing room stood open, letting out the cheerful strains of Duke of Perth, then back toward the tables. Or to eat?
Neither. I want to get away from here for a minute; I can hardly breathe. A drop of sweat ran down her neck, glinting red in the torchlight before she swiped it away.
Great. He took her hand and drew it through his arm, turning toward the herbaceous border that lay beyond the terrace. I know just the place.
Great. Ohwait. Maybe I do want something to eat. She lifted a hand and stopped a slave boy, coming up to the terrace from the cookhouse with a small covered tray from which an appetizing steam wafted into the air. Whats that, Tommy? Can I have some?
You have all you want, Miss Bree. He smiled, whipping the napkin away to display a selection of savories. She inhaled beatifically.
I want them all, she said, taking the tray, to Tommys amusement. Roger, seizing the chance, murmured his own request to the slave, who nodded, disappeared, and returned within moments with an open bottle of wine and two goblets. Roger took these, and together they wandered down the path that led from the house to the dock, sharing tidbits of news along with the pigeon pies.
Did you find any of the guests passed out in the shrubbery? she asked, her words muffled by a mouthful of mushroom pasty. She swallowed, and became more distinct. When Da asked you to go and look this afternoon, I mean.
He snorted briefly, selecting a dumpling made of sausage and dried pumpkin.
Ken the difference between a Scottish wedding and a Scottish funeral, do ye?
No, what?
The funeral has one less drunk.
She laughed, scattering crumbs, and took a Scotch egg.
No, he said, steering her skillfully to the right of the dock, and toward the willows. Yell see a few feet sticking out of the bushes now, but this afternoon, they hadnt had the time to get rat-legged yet.
You have such a way with words, she said appreciatively. I went and talked to the slaves; all present and accounted for, and mostly sober, too. A couple of the women admitted that Betty does tipple at parties, though.
To say the least, from what your Da said. Stinking, he described her as, and I gather he didnt mean only drunk. Something small and dark leaped out of his path. Frog; he could hear them piping away in the grove.
Mmm. Mama said she seemed to be okay later on, in spite of Dr. Fentiman insisting on bleeding her. She gave a small shudder, drawing her shawl round her shoulders one-handed. He gives me the creeps, the Doctor. He looks like a little goblin or something, and hes got the clammiest hands I ever felt. And he smells terrible, speaking of stinking.
I havent had the pleasure yet, Roger said, amused. Come on. He pushed aside the hanging veil of willow branches, alert lest he disturb some courting couple that had beaten them to the stone bench, but all was well. Everyone was up at the house, dancing, eating, drinking, and planning a later serenade of the wedding pair. Better Duncan and Jocasta than us, he thought, rolling his eyes inwardly at some of the things hed heard suggested. Another time, he might have been interested to see a shivaree, and trace all the roots of it from French and Highland customsbut not bloody now.
It was suddenly quiet under the willows, most of the noise from the house drowned by the rushing of water and the monotonous chirping of frogs. It was also dark as midnight, and Brianna felt carefully for the bench, in order to set down her tray.
Roger shut his eyes hard and counted to thirty; when he opened them, he could at least make out her form, silhouetted against the dim light that filtered through the willows, and the horizontal line of the bench. He set down the glasses and poured out the wine, the neck of the bottle chinking faintly against the goblets as he felt his way.
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He put out a hand and ran it down her arm, locating her hand in order to put the full goblet safely into it. He raised his own glass in salute.
To beauty, he said, letting the smile show in his voice.
To privacy, she said, returning the toast, and drank. Oh, thats good, she said, a moment later, sounding slightly dreamy. I havent had wine in... a year? No, nearly two. Not since before Jemmy was born. In fact, not since... Her voice stopped abruptly, then resumed, more slowly. Not since our first wedding night. In Wilmington, remember.
I remember. He reached out and cupped a hand round her cheek, tracing the bones of her face softly with his thumb. It was no wonder that she thought of that night now. They had begun it there, under the drooping branches of a huge horse-chestnut tree, that had sheltered them from the noise and light of a nearby tavern. Their present situation was oddly and movingly reminiscent of that dark and private secrecy, the two of them amid the smell of leaves and nearby waterthe nearby racket of lust-crazed tree frogs replacing the tavern noises.
That had been a hot night, though, thick and humid enough that flesh melted to flesh. Now it was cold enough that his body yearned for the warmth of hers, and the scent that enclosed them was the spring smell of green leaves and running river, not the musty smell of leaf-litter and mudflats.
Do you think theyll sleep together? Brianna asked. She sounded slightly breathless; perhaps it was the wine.
Who? Oh, Jocasta, ye mean, and Duncan? Why not? Theyll be married. He drained his own glass and set it down, the glass chiming faintly on the stone.
It was a beautiful wedding, wasnt it? She didnt resist as he took the glass from her hand and set it down with his own. Quiet, but awfully nice.
Aye, very nice. He kissed her, softly, and held her close against him. He could feel the back lacing of her gown, crisscrossed under the thin knitted shawl.
Mmm. You taste good.
Oh, aye, like sausages and wine. So do you. His hand twitched up the edge of the shawl, getting beneath and fumbling for the end of the lace, somewhere down near the small of her back. She pressed against him, making it easier.
Will we still want to make love, do you think, when were as old as they are? she murmured in his ear.
I will, he assured her, getting hold of the small bow that secured the lace. I hope you will, too; I shouldna like to have to do it alone.
She laughed, and took a deep breath, her back swelling suddenly as the tight lacing came loose. There were the stays underneath, too, though, damn it. He used both hands, looking for the inner lacings, and she arched her back helpfully, which made her breasts swell up into sight just below his chin. The sight made him take one hand off her back, to deal with this new and delightful development.
I havent got my... I mean, I didnt bring... She pulled back a little, sounding dubious.
Yeve taken the seeds today, though? Away to hell with pizza and loo-paper, he thought; at the moment, hed trade all prospects of indoor plumbing for a rubber condom.
Yes. She still sounded doubtful, though, and he gritted his teeth, taking a firmer hold on her, as though she might bolt.
Its all right, he whispered, nuzzling his way down the side of her neck toward that heartbreaking slope where the muscle of her shoulder joined it. She was smooth beneath his lips, her skin cool in the air, warm and scented beneath the fall of her hair. We neednt... I mean... I wont... just let me...
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The neckline of her dress was fashionably low with her kerchief pulled off, still lower, with her gown unlaced, and her breast was heavy and soft in his hand. He felt the nipple big and round as a ripe cherry against his palm, and bent on impulse to put his mouth to it.
She stiffened, then relaxed with an odd little sigh, and he felt a warm sweet taste on his tongue, then a strange pulsing and a flooding of the... he swallowed by reflex, shocked. Shocked, and terribly aroused. He hadnt thought; he hadnt meant... but she pulled his head hard against her, holding him.
He went on, emboldened, and pushed her gently backward, easing her down onto the edge of the bench, so that he knelt before her. A sudden thought had come to him, prompted by the stinging memory of that entry in her dreambook.
Dont worry, he whispered to her. We wont... risk anything. Let me do thisjust for you.
She hesitated, but let him run his hands under her skirt, up the silken curves of stockinged calf and round, bare thigh, under the flattened curve of her buttocks, cool and bare on the stone, beneath the froth of petticoats. One of Seamuss songs had described a gentlemans exploits in the lists of Venus. The words drifted through his head with the rushing of the water, and he was determined to acquit himself with honor in those lists.
Maybe she couldnt describe it, but he meant to make sure she knew it had happened. She shivered between his hands, and he cupped one hand between her thighs.
Miss Bree?
Both of them jerked convulsively, Roger snatching his hands away as though burned. He could feel the thunder of blood in his earsand his balls.
Yes, what is it? Is that you, Phaedre? Whats wrongis it Jemmy?
He was sitting back on his heels, trying to breathe, feeling dizzy. He caught the brief pale gleam of her breasts above him as she stood up and turned toward the voice, tucking her kerchief hastily back in, pulling the shawl up over her unfastened gown.
Yes, maam. Phaedres voice came out from under the willow nearest the house; nothing of the slave showed but the whiteness of her cap, floating dimly in the shadows. Poor child, he woke up hot and fussin, wouldnt take neither mush nor milk, and then he started in to cough, sounded bad enough, Teresa said we best fetch Dr. Fentiman along to him, but I said...
Dr. Fentiman!
Brianna disappeared with a ferocious rustling of willow branches, and he heard the hurrying thump of slippered feet on earth as she ran toward the house, Phaedre in her wake.
Roger got to his feet, and paused for a moment, hand on his fly-buttons. The temptation was strong; it wouldnt take more than a minuteless, probably, in his present condition. But no, Bree might need him to deal with Fentiman. The thought of the Doctor using his gory instruments on Jemmys soft flesh was enough to send him crashing through the willows in hot pursuit. The lists of Venus would have to wait.
HE FOUND BREE and Jemmy in Jocastas boudoir, the center of a small knot of women, all of whom looked surprisedeven mildly scandalizedat his appearance. Disregarding the raised eyebrows and huffing noises, he forged his way through the skirts to Briannas side.
The little fella did look bad, and Roger felt a clutch of fear in the pit of his stomach. Christ, how could it happen so fast? Hed seen Jem at the wedding only a few hours before, curled up pink and sweet in his makeshift cradle, and before that, being his usual raucously genial self at the party. Now he lay against Briannas shoulder, flush-cheeked and heavy-eyed, whimpering a little, with a slick of clear mucus dribbling from his nose.
How is he? He reached out and touched a flushed cheek gently, with the back of his hand. God, he was hot!
Hes sick, Brianna said tersely. As though in confirmation, Jemmy began to cough, a dreadful noise, loud but half-choked, like a seal choking on its fish. The blood surged into his already flushed face, and his round blue eyes bulged with the effort of drawing breath between the spasms.
Shit, Roger muttered. What do we do?
Cold water, one of the women standing beside him said, authoritatively. Put him altogether under a bath of cold water, then make him drink more of it.
No! Heavens, Mary, youll kill the child. Another young matron reached out to pat Jemmys quivering back. Its the croup; my lot have had it now and again. Sliced garlic, warmed and put to the soles of his feet, she told Brianna. That works well, sometimes.
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And if it doesnt? another woman said, skeptical. The first womans nostrils pinched, and her friend butted in helpfully.
Johanna Richards lost two babes to the croup. Gone like that! She snapped her fingers, and Brianna flinched as though the sound were one of her own bones cracking.
Why are we havering so, and a medico to hand? You, girl, go and fetch Dr. Fentiman! Did I not say so? One of the women clapped her hands sharply at Phaedre, who stood pressed back against the wall, eyes fixed on Jemmy. Before she could move to obey, though, Briannas head shot up.
No! Not him, I wont have him. She glared round at the women, then shot Roger a look of urgent entreaty. Find Mama for me. Quick!
He turned and shoved past the women, fear momentarily assuaged by the ability to do something. Where was Claire likely to be? Help, he thought, help me find her, help him be all right, directing the incoherent prayer toward anyone who might be listeningGod, the Reverend, Mrs. Graham, Saint Bride, Claire herselfhe wasnt particular.
He thundered down the front stair to the foyer, only to meet Claire hurrying across it toward him. Someone had told her; she gave him one quick look, asked, Jemmy? with a lift of her chin, and at his breathless nod, was up the stairs in a flash, leaving a foyer full of people gaping after her.
He caught her up in the hall above and was in time to open the door for herand to receive an undeserved but much appreciated look of gratitude from Bree.
He stood back out of the way, catching his breath and marveling. The moment Claire stepped into the room, the atmosphere of worry and near-panic changed at once. There was still an air of concern among the women, but they gave way without hesitation, standing back respectfully and murmuring to one another as Claire headed straight for Jemmy and Bree, ignoring everything else.
Hallo, lovey. What is it, then, are we feeling miserable? She was murmuring to Jem, turning his head to one side and feeling gently under his flushed chubby jowls and behind his ears. Poor thing. Its all right, sweetheart, Mummys here, Grannies here, everything will be just fine.... How long has he been like this? Has he had anything to drink? Yes, darling, thats right.... Does it hurt him to swallow?
She alternated between comforting remarks to the baby and questions to Brianna and Phaedre, all delivered in the same tone of calm reassurance as her hands touched here and there, exploring, soothing. Roger felt it working on him, too, and drew a deep breath, feeling the tightness in his own chest ease a bit.
Claire took a sheet of Jocastas heavy notepaper from the secretary, rolled it into a tube, and used it to listen intently to Jemmys back and chest as he made more of the choking-seal noises. Roger noticed dimly that her hair had fallen down somehow; she had to brush it out of the way to listen.
Yes, of course its croup, she said absently, in answer to a half-questioning diagnosis offered diffidently by one of the bystanders. But thats only the cough and the difficult breathing. You can have croup by itself, so to speak, or as an early symptom of various other things.
Such as? Bree had a death grip on Jemmy, and her face was nearly as white as her knuckles.
Oh.... Claire seemed to be listening intently, but not to Bree. More to whatever was happening inside Jemmy, who had quit coughing and was lying exhausted against his mothers shoulder, breathing thickly in steam-engine gasps. Um... coryzathats only a common cold. Influenza. Asthma. Diphtheria. But it isnt that, she added hurriedly, looking up and catching a glimpse of Briannas face.
Youre sure?
Yes, Claire replied firmly, straightening up and putting aside her makeshift stethoscope. It doesnt feel at all like diphtheria to me. Besides, there isnt any of that about, or Id have heard. And hes still being breast-fed; hell have immunity She stopped speaking abruptly, suddenly aware of the women looking on. She cleared her own throat, bending down again, as though to encourage Jemmy by example. He made a small whimper and coughed again. Roger felt it, like a rock in his chest.
It isnt serious, Claire announced firmly, straightening. We must put him in a croup tent, though. Bring him down to the kitchen. Phaedre, will you find me a couple of old quilts, please?
She moved toward the door, shooing the women before her like a flock of hens.
Obeying an impulse that he didnt stop to question, Roger reached for the baby, and after a instants hesitation, Brianna let him take him. Jemmy didnt fuss, but hung listless and heavy, the limp slackness a terrible change from his normal India-rubber bounce. The babys cheek burned through the cloth of Rogers shirt as he carried the little boy downstairs, Bree at his elbow.
The kitchen was in the brick-walled basement of the house, and Roger had a brief vision of Orpheus descending into the underworld, Eurydice close behind him, as they made their way down the dark back stair into the shadowy depths of the kitchen. Instead of a magic lyre, though, he bore a child who burned like coal and coughed as though his lungs would burst. If he didnt look back, he thought, the boy would be all right.
Perhaps a little cold water wouldnt come amiss. Claire put her hand on Jemmys forehead, judging his temperature. Have you got an ear infection, sweetheart? She blew gently into one of the babys ears, then the other; he blinked, coughed hoarsely, and swiped a chubby hand across his face, but didnt flinch. The slaves were bustling round in a corner of the kitchen, bringing boiling water, pinning the quilts to a rafter to make the tent at her direction.
Claire took the baby out of Rogers arms to bathe him, and he stood bereft, wanting urgently to do something, anything, until Brianna took his hand and clutched it hard, her nails digging into his palm.
Hell be all right, she whispered. He will. He squeezed hard back, wordless.
Then the tent was ready, and Brianna ducked under the hanging quilt, turning to reach back for Jemmy, who was alternately coughing and crying, having not liked the cold water at all. Claire had sent a slave to fetch her medicine box, and now rummaged through it, coming up with a vial filled with a pale yellow oil, and a jar of dirty white crystals.
Before she could do anything with them, though, Joshua, one of the grooms, came thumping down the stairs, half-breathless with his hurry.
Mrs. Claire, Mrs. Claire!
Some of the gentlemen had been firing off their pistols in celebration of the happy event, it seemed, and one of them had suffered some kind of mishap, though Josh seemed uncertain as to exactly what had happened.
He isna bad hurt, the groom assured Claire, in the Aberdonian Scots that came so peculiarly from his black face, but he is bleedin quite free, and Dr. Fentimanwell, hes maybe no quite sae steady as he might be the noo. Will ye come, Maam?
Yes, of course. In the blink of an eye, she had thrust vial and jar into Rogers hands. Ill have to go. Here. Put some in the hot water; keep him breathing the steam until he stops coughing. Quick and neat, shed closed up her box and handed it to Josh to carry, heading for the stair before Roger could ask her anything. Then she was gone.
Wisps of steam were escaping through the opening in the tent; seeing that, he paused long enough to shed coat and waistcoat, leaving them in a careless heap on the floor as he bent and ducked into the darkness, vial and jar in hand.
Bree was crouched on a stool, Jemmy on her lap, a big white pudding-basin full of steaming water at her feet. A swath of light from the hearth fell momentarily across her face, and Roger smiled at her, trying to look reassuring, before the quilt dropped back into place.
Wheres Mama? Did she leave?
Aye, there was some sort of emergency. Itll be fine, though, he said firmly. She gave me the stuff to put in the water; said just to keep him in the steam until the coughing stops.
He sat down on the floor beside the basin of water. It was very dim in the tent, but not totally dark. As his eyes adjusted, he could see well enough. Bree still looked worried, but not nearly so frightened as shed been upstairs. He felt better, too; at least he knew what to be doing, and Claire hadnt seemed too bothered about leaving her grandson; obviously she thought he wasnt going to choke on the spot.
The vial contained pine oil, sharp and reeking of resin. He wasnt sure how much to use, but poured a generous dollop into the water. Then he pried the cork out of the jar, and the pungent scent of camphor rose up like a genie from the bottle. Not really crystals, he saw; lumps of some sort of dried resin, grainy and slightly sticky. He poured some into the palm of his hand, then rubbed them hard between his hands before dropping them into the water, wondering even as he did so at the instinctive familiarity of the gesture.
Oh, thats it, he said, realizing.
Whats it?
This. He waved a hand round the snug sanctuary, rapidly filling with pungent steam. I remember being in my cot, with a blanket over my head. My mother put this stuff in hot watersmelled just like this. Thats why it seemed familiar.
Oh. The thought seemed to reassure her. Did you have croup when you were little?
I suppose so, though I dont remember it. Just the smell. Steam had quite filled the little tent by now, moist and pungent. He drew a deep breath, pulling in a penetrating lungful, then patted Briannas leg.
Dont worry; thisll do the trick, he said.
Jemmy promptly started coughing his guts out with more seal noises, but they seemed less alarming now. Whether it was the darkness, the smell, or simply the homely racket of the renewed kitchen noises outside the tent, things seemed calmer. He heard Bree take in a deep breath, too, and let it out, and felt rather than saw the subtle shift of her body as she relaxed a little, patting Jemmys back.
