River Lady (James River Trilogy 3)

“I have no idea. He refused to discuss the matter. He just said he didn’t want me surrounded by so many people.”

“I’d rather be surrounded by people than home alone with John,” Kim said. “Surely Wesley gave you some reason.”

Leah turned toward Kim, fighting back tears. “Maybe a Stanford doesn’t want to be seen with a Simmons who’s been accused of murder. Perhaps my husband can’t bear people knowing what kind of wife he has.”

/> “Oh Leah,” Kim whispered as she put her arms around her friend. “Sit down and let me make you some tea.”

Obediently Leah sat down, her shoulders shaking with a combination of grief and despair.

“That’s not very nice of Wesley,” Kim said thoughtfully, sitting down at the table and forgetting about the tea. “When I first met you I dreaded having to travel with one of the Simmonses. Steven kept saying the most awful things about you. He bragged about how he was going to…well, do things to you as soon as Wesley turned you over to him. He said all you Simmons women loved, you know…sex.”

Leah was looking at Kim with horror.

“I believed him,” Kim continued, “for a long time, but you were always so kind to me when other people weren’t and as far as I could tell you weren’t running into the beds of all the men like Steven said you would. I almost understood when Wesley said he wanted to stay married to you. But I was very, very angry.” There was an apology in her voice.

“What did Wesley say when he told you he wanted to remain married to me?” Leah asked softly.

“Actually, he was very kind, although I didn’t think so then. He said it’d been a hard decision for him to make but he really thought he ought to stay married to you.”

“He ought to, huh?” Leah muttered. “That’s all?”

Kim smiled. “He said he’d always love me because I was his first love, but he had to do what was right and he’d married you and he planned to honor his wedding vows.”

Leah stood. “Those Stanfords are good people aren’t they? They believe in honor and loyalty to the core. Even when it means doing something as disgusting as remaining married to a bit of swamp scum who forced him into marriage in the first place. Of course there are compensations. Women from my station in life make great bed partners and farmhands, and if they get in trouble while protecting a Stanford then the women can be hidden away, not allowed to go out in public, just stay home, cook and clean, and warm his bed at night—or in the day. Women from the Simmons family are easy to persuade.”

“Leah,” Kim said with a frown, “that may all be true, but when Wesley told me he was going to stay married to you, I felt that he wanted to, not that he had to. Wesley can be awfully stubborn and he won’t do what he doesn’t want to do.”

“Oh, he wanted to stay married to me, all right,” Leah said with anger. “Where else was he going to find a worker and a sex partner? He took me to town once to introduce me, but he hasn’t let me go out in public since. And tonight he doesn’t want to be embarrassed by somebody like me.”

Kim frowned harder. “I don’t understand. I thought you didn’t want to go into town.”

“For a while I didn’t, but for the last two weeks every time I’ve mentioned facing the townspeople, Wesley’s given me a dozen reasons why I should stay home. And tonight he’s forbidden me to go to the dance.”

“I was so hoping you’d be there,” Kim said. “In fact, I even brought you a present.” Out of her pocket she pulled a little package wrapped in a scrap of fabric. “I thought it would look quite nice on your green dress.”

Slowly Leah opened the bundle to see a brooch, gold filigree, edged with a hand-painted miniature of a woman on the ivory oval. “Who is she?” Leah whispered.

“I don’t know. It’s very old, don’t you think? And the green dress in the picture just matches yours. I so wish you were going tonight.”

“I am,” Leah said suddenly, astonishing herself. “Wesley Stanford may think he can hide me away, but he can’t. He may think a Simmons has river mud for blood, but we don’t.”

“I’m not sure you should do that, Leah. Wesley can get awfully mad sometimes.”

“Wesley Stanford doesn’t even know the meaning of anger. I’m not going to sit here in this house for the rest of my life and feel sorry for myself. I didn’t participate in those murders and that woman can tell everyone from now until doomsday that I did and it won’t make it true.”

“I think I’m glad you feel this way, but Wesley said you couldn’t go and—.” She brightened. “Maybe if you cry and tell him you’ll just die if you don’t go he’ll say yes, then you won’t really be disobeying him. Or maybe you could faint! Wesley does love—.”

Leah gave her a stern look. “I’ll not beg and I’ll certainly not faint. No, first I’m going to get Wesley to go, then I am going to turn up at the dance. I can hardly wait to see his face.”

“Neither can I,” Kim said grimly. “I think I’d fall down dead if anybody got as mad at me as Wesley’s going to be at you.”

“It’ll be worth it just to show that arrogant man that he can’t keep me locked away from the world as if I were something nasty he had to hide. And you, Kim, are going to help me.”

Kim paled. “No, Leah, Wesley scares me.”

“I thought you said he was kind and gentle.”

“Only when he gets his way. Really, Leah, I couldn’t possibly help you.”