XII

Adam had left the shop early. Tonight was the gala to raise money for a new hospital and "if I'm late, Nell will have my head—or my cock. Whichever she thinks I'd miss the most. Either way, I'd be afraid to shut my eyes." Jess had laughed and said that he was glad that he had an excuse for not going—Bee's condition. Nevertheless, the Cartwright & Spence Architectural Firm had contributed a thousand dollars to the fund, a goodly amount and it had caused notice among those in Sacramento society.

Adam had strolled down the street thinking of Nell. She had shown him the gown the previous evening and he had to admit that it was lovely although he wouldn't have cared had she worn a croaker sack—to him she was just as beautiful, no matter what. "Shows a bit more breast than usual, doesn't it?" Adam was reclining on the bed, one bent arm underneath his head on the pillow, the sheet carelessly thrown over him. "Or is that for charity as well?"

"Oh, Adam," Nell had said, tossing the gown on a chair and climbing under the sheet again. They had just finished a rousing bout of lovemaking and Mrs. Chevy had already sent Margery up twice to tell them dinner was ready. "Stop teasing me. It's not that low when it's on and besides, I plan to wear the string of pearls doubled and maybe even tripled so my bosom won't be that exposed." There was another light knock on the door.

"Yes?" Adam called out, his voice gruff. He had just pulled Nell to him and was going to taste one of her lovely breasts and didn't appreciate the interruption.

"Excuse me, sir," Margery said in a quaking voice. "Most sorry to interrupt, sir, but Mrs. Chevy says that dinner can't be held much longer. Would you like her to throw it out and cook something else for later?"

"Moan," Adam whispered to Nell.

"What?"

"Moan as if I'm fucking you. C'mon." He pinched her buttocks.

"OW!" Nell said in earnest.

"I can come back," Margery said quickly and Adam laughed.

"That wasn't funny," Nell said. "Poor Margery is afraid of you enough the way you go bellowing through here like a bull."

"A bull eager to mount his heifer," Adam said, nuzzling her neck.

"Don't forget, she changes the sheets. She can guess what you do to me."

"Are you complaining?" Adam asked as he squeezed the firm buttock that he had just pinched.

"No," she said quietly, running her hands along his shoulders. "Make me moan for real." And she stretched her arms out over her head to hold onto the brass rails on the headboard, closing her eyes to better enjoy the sensations of his mouth and his strong hands. And her mind went to the conversation she and Abby had two years earlier about what a wonderful lover Adam would be, what he could show her—things about which she had been completely ignorant. Maybe she would share this delight with Abby, Nell thought, maybe the next time she would reveal what being impaled by Adam was really like…and then her mind shifted to the present and the warmth filling her and she was back in bed with her husband and he was showing her his love and desire for her.

Adam entered the house and Mrs. Chevy came to meet him. "I have a light meal ready…" but that was all she was able to say as Nell, smiling, met him as well and threw herself into Adam's arms, kissing him. She was wearing her dressing gown and smelled of hyacinth and bluebells. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was half styled.

"And what did I do to deserve such a wonderful welcome home? Not that I don't appreciate it." Adam still held her, her toes not quite touching the floor.

"The flowers are beautiful—you shouldn't have, my darling."

Adam put Nell down. "I didn't."

"You didn't what?"

"Send any flowers. What flowers are you talking about? If they're grand enough, I'll take the credit anyway."

Nell looked confused. "Those." She pulled Adam into the main room and pointed to a vase of roses, a mixture of white and red siting on a polished mahogany table.

Adam walked over to the vase and opened the card that was on the table top. Nell followed him and stood behind him while he read the card aloud. "To the most beautiful woman at the gala tonight." Adam looked at Nell. "I didn't write this and I didn't send the flowers."

"Oh…I just assumed…"

"Well," Adam said, bending to kiss her. "At least it's from a man with good taste. Now if we're to be there on time—or even a bit late, you'd better dress." He saw Mrs. Chevy standing in the doorway. "Let me wash up, Mrs. Chevy, and I'll be there to eat." And he left a troubled Nell standing alone.

Adam pulled off his dress coat and threw it on the settee along with his tall hat. He also took off his tie and tossed it on top and then went and pulled a glass and a bottle of whiskey out of the sideboard. He poured himself a drink and sat down in a side chair flanking the fireplace to drink it. Nell still stood in the foyer, close to tears, staring at the pink marble floor.

She had never seen Adam in such a foul mood but she didn't feel that any of it was her fault and the more she had tried to justify her behavior at the gala, the darker Adam became. Finally she remained quiet and they rode in silence for the last ten minutes. And now she knew that Adam was sitting in the main room; Mrs. Chevy had left a lamp burning for them and the fire was turning to ashes, leaving the room with a slight chill. Nell didn't want to go in as she was afraid of what Adam would say. He had never been angry with her before—never and she didn't know how to react. And to think that she had once wanted him to become angry; never again, she thought. Never. Finally, Nell unhooked the neck of her cape and pulled it off, throwing it over her arm and decided that she would just walk calmly through the room and go upstairs. Maybe Adam would stay downstairs for a while longer and she wouldn't have to face him until morning. By then, he should have calmed down.

"Nell." She was almost to the stairs. She stopped. "Sit down."

Nell, still holding her cape, turned and sat on the edge of the seat of another side chair. "What is it? I've told you…"

"Be quiet, Nell. I'm going to ask you two things. Just answer me. Did Vincent send you the flowers?"

"No." Nell feared Adam wouldn't believe her as Vincent had been at the ball and they had danced. Not only had they danced but Vincent, showing more courage than Nell had seen from him, had insulted Adam to his face, accusing him of seducing Nell and compromising her honor, therefore forcing Mr. O'Connor to agree to their marriage. He had no proof, he said, but since Nell had loved him, loved him greatly, he saw no other possible explanation. Nell recognized the control that Adam had exerted over himself to keep from reacting. Vincent had challenged him to a duel but Adam had scoffed and said that Vincent was far too young to die in such a miserable way. And then Adam had turned his back to Vincent and continued his conversation with one of the bankers in attendance. Vincent had placed a heavy hand on Adam's shoulder. Adam had slowly turned and told Vincent that if he cared to continue to have use of his hand, he had best remove it…and himself from Adam's presence. Nell decided that Vincent must have seen what she had in Adam's eyes because Vincent had retreated. Adam wasn't bluffing.

"Did the other man—Henry Bailey, did he send you the flowers?"

"No." Nell quaked, whether from fear or the slight chill, she didn't know. "I told you, I was just talking to him…"

"Be quiet, Nell. I've already heard all that." Nell had protested in the carriage ride home that she was just trying to find if Henry was interested in meeting Abby again. He was a childhood friend of theirs and Nell had considered that perhaps, since he was unmarried, he might be interested in her. After all, Abby had been sad of late and Nell thought that meeting Henry again who was handsome and personable, might raise her spirits.

They sat in silence. Nell felt herself break into a cold sweat. "May I go to bed now? I'm very tired."

"I would imagine you are. It must take a great deal of effort to be seductive and charming—would wear any girl out. Go to bed. Go to sleep. If I decide that I want you, I'll wake you." Adam stared into the dying embers in the fireplace.

Nell wasn't sure what Adam meant-did he mean that if he had more questions he would wake her? Or did he mean that if he wanted her body, if he wanted to take her, he would wake her with his demands? She quietly rose but Adam never glanced at her. Nevertheless, she wished she could slink against the walls until she was out of sight. She controlled herself, trying to retain some dignity as she took the stairs, her legs shaking. Once in the hall, she leaned against the wall, recovering her breath; she had been holding it unawares. She jumped slightly at the sound of shattering china. She knew that Adam had thrown the vase of beautiful roses against the wall. Better them than her, Nell thought.