Coitus in a pitch-dark room, indeed! Theodosia lifting her nightgown only to her hips! No kissing! No caressing!
Just swift penetration and the spilling of his seed.
How ludicrous, Hammond mused. With each passing moment in Theodosia’s company, his desire for her increased, and it had become almost impossible for him to keep his hands off her. “What have you to say?”
“A surprise,” Theodosia murmured, fiddling with the heart-shaped ruby brooch at the throat of her gown. “How nice, Hammond.” Good manners dictated that she look at Hammond’s face while he talked to her, and she did. But it was not Hammond she saw.
Roman’s image hovered in her mind. Indeed, she’d thought of nothing else since his sudden departure last night.
Tears burned the backs of her eyes. She couldn’t understand how it was possible to have any left to shed.
“Theodosia, I feel I owe you an apology, my dear. I offer one now, and I hope you will accept it.”
So intense were her thoughts of Roman that a moment passed before Theodosia understood what Hammond had said to her. “An apology?”
He nodded. “I am not certain what it was I said last night that so disturbed Mr. Montana, but I assure you that it was not my intention to ruffle him,” he said, forcing sincerity into his voice. “Why, I was not even speaking to him but to you. I truly am sorry, Theodosia, for whatever it was that I might have done that led him to leave.”
She bowed her head.
“I understand how you must feel,” Hammond continued. “You and Mr. Montana spent a great deal of time together, and you miss him. But Theodosia, do you forget your ambitions? Bearing a child for your sister is not your sole objective. There is also your research in Brazil, which is a truly laudable undertaking in the interest of mankind. And I am certain that Mr. Montana has goals of his own. You did not believe you would remain in his company for an indefinite period of time, did you?”
Theodosia forced herself to concentrate on what Hammond said. “No.” The word escaped her on the same whisper that blew the truth through her mind. Hammond was right. The day would have come when she and Roman would go their separate ways in search of their separate dreams.
She just hadn’t expected the day to come so soon, and she certainly hadn’t expected it to bring Roman such pain.
“I believe I have the remedy for what troubles you, Theodosia,” Hammond said, patting her hand again. “It occurred to me last night that there are a great many things in town that must remind you of Mr. Montana. After all, the two of you arrived here together and stayed in the same room.”
Theodosia closed her eyes for a moment.Roman.His name echoed through her while she wondered where he was, what he was doing. Did he hate her now? Would he curse her memory forever?
Realizing she was dreaming about Roman, Hammond decided that the sooner he put his plans into action, the sooner he would taste Theodosia’s kisses, caress her soft body, and feel her writhing beneath him.
The very thought made him tremble with lust.
He helped her off the bench and escorted her to the carriage he’d rented. “I shall show you the surprise now, Theodosia. I’ve no doubt it will ease your distress considerably.” Handing her into the vehicle, he had to suppress a smile of excitement.
“Where are we going?” Theodosia asked as he drove into the countryside surrounding the town.
“You will see for yourself when we arrive.”
Twenty minutes later, when he stopped the carriage before a quaint cabin not far from the legendary Enchanted Hill, Theodosia remained bewildered.
Hammond alighted from the carriage, then assisted Theodosia. “This is the surprise,” he said, gesturing toward the cabin.
She examined the log cabin. Emerald-green ivy climbed along one side of the structure, a blue swing hung from the porch roof, and the garden of brilliant red zinnias that edged the front had attracted the attention of two hummingbirds.
Theodosia watched the tiny birds for a moment, then looked at Hammond. “The cabin is quite lovely, but I’m afraid I do not understand why you brought me here.”
He took her elbow and led her into the house.
Theodosia stopped short in the front room. Her trunks and bags lay on the floor near one of the three windows. On a small table near the fireplace sat John the Baptist, asleep in his cage with his head beneath his wing.
“Your horse and wagon are safe in a shed behind the cabin,” Hammond informed her. He removed his gloves and laid them on the top of a small pie safe. “I spotted this cabin yesterday when you and I visited Enchanted Hill. Of course, I thought little of it until this morning, when I realized it would be just the thing to take your mind off your depression. After renting it from the man who owns it, I took the liberty of having all your belongings moved here while you and I enjoyed our midday meal and conversed in the rose garden earlier. I have also hired one of the townswomen to bring us three hot meals a day so that we do not have to trouble ourselves by going into town to dine.”
Theodosia turned to face him. “I gather that you wish us to live here, but what I do not comprehend is why.”
“It’s quite simple, my dear,” he replied, glancing at her lush round breasts. “As I said before, many things in town remind you of Mr. Montana. You and he never came to this cabin together, so there is nothing here that could possibly cause you to remember him. I am only trying to help lessen your sadness so that you will feel more at ease while accomplishing your dream of conceiving a child for your poor sister.”
She almost told him that she could be on the other side of the world and still think of Roman. She needed no reminders to remember the man who had somehow carved his name on her heart, just the way he had carved hers on the oak tree.
