Free Defiant Impostor by Miriam Minger Page B

then he was failing miserably, and it was his own damn fault. He had
clearly upset her, but then he had meant to. If only she hadn't stared at him
so incredulously when he had said this was his room. He could just imagine what
she had been thinking.
    A hired man sleeping only a few doors away from her?
Well, he wasn't just any hired man! And the sooner she knew about his intention
to marry her and that her father had approved of the match, the better. Yet
somehow he would have to compensate for the less than fine impression he had
just given of himself.
    Growing more disgusted with his behavior, Adam leaned
against the window, blind to the bustle of activity outside.
    Dammit, he shouldn't have been so hard on her. Of
course she wouldn't know of the Tidewater's customs, being a gently bred young
woman raised in England. The social distinctions so rigid there were more
blurred in Virginia, and more easily scaled. How could he have expected her to
know that? Maybe she had simply been surprised, not insulted or disturbed, to
discover that this was his room. He had to admit, the arrangement was unusual
if he looked at it from her perspective.
    Patience, man, you'll make amends, Adam told himself as
he changed into rougher clothes and his work-worn jackboots for the long, dusty
ride ahead of him. Too bad it couldn't be over dinner.
    He had been looking forward to spending more time her
with, especially after what he had seen of her so far. He suspected that
passion lurked beneath her shy exterior, although she kept it well-hidden. Yet
in the carriage when he had leaned against her soft, lush body, there had been
no mistaking the heightened color of her cheeks and the rapid pulse at the base
of her lovely throat. Her reaction to his nearness had pleased and excited him;
he could tell she was easily aroused by a man's touch, knowledge which he would
use to his advantage.
    He had been sorely tempted to kiss her then and there,
to see if he could unleash more of that hidden passion, but he had restrained
himself, thinking it would be too much too soon for his timid heiress. He would
observe the proper niceties first and tell her of his plans for them, then kiss
her. But now that moment would have to wait a while longer, Adam thought with
regret.
    There was trouble in the outlying tobacco fields
because of a newly hired overseer who had exceeded his bounds with the slaves.
Josiah Skinner, one of his head overseers, had just informed him in the stable
that the man had been using the lash even though he knew no whips were allowed
on Cary land. If the accusation was true, the bastard would be thrown off the
plantation. Adam would not tolerate any deviation from his orders.
    As he stepped into the hallway, he glanced at Camille's
door, wondering if he should say anything to her now. Then, remembering how
weary she had looked, he decided against it. He would let her rest. He wanted
her to be fresh and receptive when she heard what he had to say.

     

     

 
    Chapter 5

     
    Susanna felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder and opened
her eyes with a start, at first not knowing where she was. "What . . .
?"
    "I'm sorry, Miss Camille. I didn't mean to wake
you so sudden-like. Ertha sent me to help you dress for dinner. My name's
Corliss, if you recall. I'll be your waiting-maid—that is, if you like me well
enough."
    Time and place came flooding back to her, and Susanna
realized from the crick in her neck that she had fallen asleep in the rather
stiff chair near the fireplace. She remembered exploring briefly the luxurious
suite with its huge canopied bed, separate sitting area, and curved balcony
overlooking beautiful gardens that led down to the river. Then she had plopped
down here, her enjoyment of her surroundings tempered by her unsettling
encounter with Adam. She must have leaned her head back and nodded off.
    "I'm sure we'll get along just fine,
Corliss," she finally replied, hoping to reassure the pretty young woman
who looked to be about