Free Forever Ashley by Lori Copeland

off to
sleep. She studied him for a long moment. He appeared to have more than looks.
He was a man fully dedicated to a cause. Though he was a doctor, sworn to
preserving life, there was no doubt in her mind that his only reason for saving
her from being branded a spy and perhaps killed was to prevent exposing the
others. If keeping her alive threatened him or his group, Dr. Aaron Kenneman
would not hesitate to do away with her, she was certain.
    A shiver of apprehension rippled down her spine. He might be
handsome, but she had the sense to realize that he could also be very
dangerous.
    She walked to the washstand. The pitcher was full of clean
water. Glancing toward the bed, she assured herself again that he was sleeping
soundly now.
    After pouring water into the bowl, she unbuttoned the front
of her bodice and removed the scrap of lace that acted as a modesty piece. She
tossed the fabric onto the dresser, loosened the lacings, and drew the first
comfortable breath she’d had all day.
    Glancing toward the bed again, she quickly gathered her
skirt around her waist, untied her petticoats, and let them drop to the floor.
She caught the rim with her toe and tossed it onto the chair. Much better, she
decided, pushing up her sleeves. Now for the farthingale.
    She hitched up her skirt again, then twisted around until
she could find the fastening. It was knotted by now, and she had to pick at it
blindly to get it to release. When it finally gave, she jerked the nuisance off
and tossed it on top of the hoops. Without all the stiff layers, the cotton
skirt was much more comfortable. She brushed some of the dirt and debris from
the fabric.
     Aaron watched her measures through slitted eyelids. He was
prepared for her to attempt an escape. If she tried, it would settle the
question of whether she was a Tory or patriot. Instead, she had decided to
remove all of her undergarments. It didn’t matter that she thought him asleep,
this woman had no modesty!
    Without her hoops, the soft fabric of her skirt did little
to hide her curves and the shape of her limbs beneath. His eyes cracked open a
bit more. As she shook out the skirt, he caught a glimpse of her slender calves
and quickly rolled onto his side.
    After dampening a rough square cloth, Ashley began to scrub
at the smudges on her face and arms. She dipped the cloth into the bowl again,
then leaned forward, peering into the looking glass. Gads, she was beautiful,
Aaron thought in agony. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he continued to
feign sleep. If she was a spy, it would take a strong man to resist her charms;
that was precisely why she has been chosen to infiltrate the group, he
realized. Gage was a sly fox.
    Ashley suddenly tensed as she saw Aaron move out of the
corner of her eye. “You’re not sleeping,” she accused.
    “Nay, I sleep very soundly,” he lied.
    Ashley’s cheeks flamed. “You’ve been watching me!”
    His eyes opened slowly, allowing his gaze to meander over
her with tantalizing care.
    Following the direction of his gaze, Ashley looked down. The
gaping blouse seemed to hold him spellbound.
    She tugged the strings and tightened the neckline, shooting
him a frown. “You could have looked the other way,” she snapped.
    “It is my duty to watch you,” he reminded.
    She turned her back to him, pretending to study herself in
the mirror. Her cheeks resembled strawberry Pop Tarts as he continued to gaze
at her in the muted candlelight. Ashley was appalled to find herself responding
to his disconcerting pewter-gray eyes traveling over her. She wasn’t sure what
this man was willing to do to protect his country, and she wasn’t sure she
wanted to know.
    She finished restoring her top to decency, determined to
ignore his penetrating gaze.
    But his interest had been piqued. “Are you accustomed to
undressing in front of a man?” Aaron found the thought that she was frequently
this immodest in the company of a man annoying. What were these
eighteenth-century