He tugged on his drawers and regarded her with mock sternness. “If I didnae have work to do, ye would pay for that impudence, lass.” He continuedto dress as he asked, “Ye didnae put the mattresses and pillows on that list, did ye?”
Clover bit back a smile and shook her head. Ballard, Shelton, and Lambert had been possessive of the bedding from the very beginning. The feather mattress and pillows, fine linen sheets, and warm coverlets were a great luxury, and worth paying extra to ship them down the Ohio River. Ballard was determined to take every piece of bedding, having stated firmly that there would undoubtedly be a need for spare bedding. It was an attitude that contrasted sharply with the extreme care he had taken in selecting the other things they would take with them to Kentucky.
As soon as Ballard left the room, Clover hurried to get dressed. Her thoughts were fixed on what her husband was allowing them to take to Kentucky. Although he had been relatively lenient, he had made it clear that usefulness and necessity were the criteria for any choice. He took all the bedding, but not all the beds, for he felt something just as good could be bought or made in Kentucky. Clover shared some of her mother’s sorrow at parting with so many of their possessions, but she believed Ballard was being not only practical but also fair.
She pushed aside her musings as she finished pinning up her hair and quickly went downstairs. Despite Molly’s dire warnings that she would get stomach pains, Clover rushed through her breakfast. She was not sure how she could have moved any faster, but she had only just finished making copies of her lists when people began to arrive to see what was being offered for sale.
The morning sped by and was already over before Clover found a moment simply to stand back and take a few relaxing breaths. She thought briefly of her sister Alice, who had marched in at the very start of the sale. Alice had picked up the little table she had coveted, slapped the money for it into Clover’s hand, and left. Clover had pocketed the money and sworn that she would not allow her sister’s pettiness to ruin the day. The pleasure she felt over the success of the sale faded abruptly when she finally located her husband. Sarah Marsten was standing much too close to Ballard as far as Clover was concerned and the woman did not seem especially interested in the oak sideboard beside which they stood. Clover told herself not to be jealous, but little good that did.
Ballard frowned down at the fulsome Sarah pressing embarrassingly close to him. He had the distinct feeling that she was playing some sort of game, but he was not sure what it was. Clearly, despite her claims, she was not really interested in buying any of the goods Clover was offering for sale.
“We are willing to take something in trade,” he said, stepping back from her. “Ye dinnae have to pay in coin.”
Sarah stepped closer and stroked his arm with one gloved hand. “Now, what could I possibly have that you might want?”
When she subtly rubbed her breasts against his arm, Ballard lost all doubt about what she was up to. For just a moment he was flattered, then he grew angry. The woman had not wanted him when he had been available. Now that he was married andcould never be more than a lover, she was eager to have him. He might not be good enough for marriage, but he would suffice for stud service. Sarah felt safe in playing her games with him now, for she knew he would not trouble her with expectations of permanence.
He stepped away from her again. “‘Tis clear that ye have nae quite made up your mind, Miss Sarah. Ye just give me a holler when ye do decide.”
He walked away, shaking his head. Did Sarah really think he was that dumb? Even if he was stupid enough to want to indulge in an affair with her, he certainly would not start one with his wife, her kin, and half the town of Langleyville watching!
Clover breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Ballard leave Sarah. She admitted she had been both worried and frightened by what had appeared to be happening between the pair. The way Ballard had marched away, a deep scowl on his face, eased her concern.
She decided she would puzzle over her feelings later and turned all her attention back to the sale. By the time the last customer had left in the late afternoon, Clover heartily wished she had made some attempt to keep an eye on Ballard and Sarah. Both were gone. As she asked the others if they had seen her husband, it became painfully clear that the last anyone had seen of him, he had been helping Sarah Marsten’s groom carry the sideboard outside, with Sarah following close behind.
With a muttered curse, Ballard helped set the sideboard down and watched Sarah’s groom nearly run out of her dining room. Sarah then ordered her timid aunt to leave and Ballard wondered how Sarah’s parents could have thought the old woman a proper chaperone while they jaunted all around Europe. He then looked at Sarah, who smiled sweetly and urged him to come into the parlor for a cool drink before he returned home. It was on the tip of his tongue to refuse, but he nodded curtly. It was about time he set Miss Sarah Marsten straight about a few things. There was only a little time remaining before he left for Kentucky and he did not want the woman stirring up trouble.
Once Sarah had served tall glasses of chilled lemonade, she insisted on sitting as close to him as possible on her ornate settee.
“There, is this not just like before?” Sarah asked, pressing her side against his.
“Nay, it isnae, Miss Sarah. I am a wedded mon now,” Ballard replied.
“Oh, Ballard dearest, whyever did you do it? Surely you did not take that insignificant little episode with Thomas to heart? ‘Twas just a little flirtation.”
“I have never been partial to games. I am not partial to the one ye are playing now either. I am not a free mon.” He set his empty glass aside and turned toward her to say good-bye.
All at once Sarah flung herself into his arms. “How can you prefer that scrawny child to me? I can give you all a man needs.”
Ballard suddenly realized that Sarah was probably not boasting, that this fine lady he had seriously considered marrying was well-versed in the bedroomarts. The way she moved her hands over his body was proof of that. Sarah’s parents had obviously left the woman alone far too often. To his shame, when she rubbed her hand over the front of his breeches, desire hardened him. Ballard shoved her away and stood up.
“I am not interested, lass,” he snapped.
“Not interested? You prefer that fleshless Sherwood girl to me?”
“I do, for all my fool body perks up in interest at a skilled touch. Ye cannae be giving me anything I cannae get at home. I dinnae lie in a bed so cold I have to look elsewhere for some loving.” He gave her a brief smile. “I willnae deny that ye could probably give me one fine roll in the heather, but it isnae worth losing what I have now. Ye just are nae worth that much.”
“You bastard!” screeched Sarah as she leaped to her feet and swung at him.
Ballard easily caught her wrist. “I wouldnae do that, miss. I am not one of your fine gents who will just stand here and take it. Ye hit me and I just might hit ye back.” He tossed her hand aside. “Now, I believe I will amble back to my wife.”
“Go ahead. Enjoy what little time you will have with her.”
“We are wed. We have a lifetime ahead of us,” Ballard said as he paused in the doorway to look back at her.
“You are from two different worlds. Clover is desperate now and will grasp at any chance she can to save herself and her pathetic little family from utter destitution. But you cannot give her the life she is accustomed to. One day she will wake up, look atyou, and wonder why, in God’s sweet name, she is with you.”
Sarah’s words aroused all the fears Ballard thought he had subdued, and he glared at her. “Nay. Clover Sherwood isnae like that.”
