"I will, Colonel Redmond, thank you. Now I do believe that we have taken enough of your time. Please, when you have time, bring Dr. Walker by my husband’s shop. I most certainly look forward to meeting her." She turned to her companions. "Ladies, I believe it is time we leave Mrs. Gaines and the Colonel to their evening."
Rebecca patted Charlie's back and escorted them out. She returned a short time later closing the doors. "Well, that went well."
"That went well? The wife of the local minister essentially called you a whore, and you say that went well?"
She laughed as she crossed the room and settled on the couch. "Charlie, it is not like I did not set them up for it."
"Ah, yes. Would you care to tell me what that was about?"
She motioned him to the couch. "Come sit with me. We need to talk."
"Yes. Indeed we do. I do not think I have walked into a situation like that in my whole life. I cannot stand anyone saying things like that about you."
"Firstly, my dear sir, I could care less what they say about me. Dr. Walker was very good at making me realize that. Secondly, while I will admit I kissed you, partly, just to annoy that old bat, the main reason I kissed you is that I wanted to. I have wanted to for days."
"You have kissed me before, dear lady. I admit, today's kiss was certainly more... stirring. You can certainly do it again, but I would prefer it if you did it to please yourself or to please me, not to offend the biddies." Charlie softened this rather stern request with a rather shy smile.
"Fine." She leaned over, taking his face in her hand and kissed him. Kissed him for her pleasure and his. She was gentle but leaving no doubt in his mind she would go wherever he wished to lead them.
Charlie pulled her into his arms, his emotions running high, torn between overwhelming tenderness and a rush of passion and desire that left him shaking. He held her close and cradled her head in his hand, slowly lowering his head to return her kiss with one of his own. Just as his lips brushed hers, the door banged open and Elizabeth stalked in, fuming.
"Drat that bigoted, high and mighty, self-righteous woman." Obviously, Dr. Walker and Mrs. Williams had met. Elizabeth then registered what she had walked in on. "Oh…… OH! Uh. Excuse me. I am sorry. I did not mean to interrupt, but Charlie asked..." Elizabeth tried to back out of the door.
Rebecca smiled, pulling away from Charlie, but patting his leg to reassure him. "It is all right Elizabeth. Come in."
"So, I take it that the lovely Mrs. Williams came out to check on you, and brought a little Charlie-bait with her. How bad were you?"
We were good. Mostly." She chuckled.
"Mostly? Charlie - was she good?" Charlie shook his head and grinned.
Elizabeth looked at both of them. They both looked rather sheepish right then.
"Oh, Charlie was very good." She raised her brows, patting his leg again.
"True. I was very good. I did not pass out from surprise."
"I am afraid I was a little naughty," Rebecca admitted.
"I am afraid, my dear Rebecca, that you convinced Mrs. Williams that you and I are conducting our own version of the Hell Fire Club's rituals."
She sighed, slipping her hand into his. "If I am going to burn in hell, Charlie, I will not mind it if I am with you."
Elizabeth looked at both of them sternly. "Well, my dear friends, if the two of you burn in hell, I suspect it will be for malicious taunting of unsuspecting bigots. Keep it up and you may give the poor woman apoplexy. I really did not like her color at all."
Both Charlie and Rebecca burst out laughing. They needed that after the visit.
"Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to get cleaned up and get a little rest before dinner."
They watched their friend leave then Rebecca turned to Charlie, "Now, where were we?"
He smiled gently and drew her back into his arms, "I believe, Mrs. Gaines, I was about to do something I have wanted to do for a long time." Slowly, gently, tenderly, passionately and possessively, Charlie kissed her, putting into his touch all the wanting and yearning he had in his soul.
Rebecca responded to Charlie’s gentle touch and his slow demonstration of affection. She had never been kissed this way before in her life and she could not help it when the moan escaped her lips while Charlie continued to kiss her. Her entire body tingled, alive with a feeling she had never felt before. It was as if Charlie was touching her very soul with his kindness and tenderness.
Her eyes remained closed when Charlie’s lips left hers and she immediately felt the loss. She was grounded to the here and now by the gentle hold Charlie had on her face, with it gingerly cupped between his hands. Slowly her eyes opened and she looked at his smiling face. At this very moment, Rebecca Gaines lost her heart completely.
Without a word, Charlie leaned back against the couch and pulled Rebecca into his arms, holding her there close to his thundering heart. A place that Rebecca was more than willing to be.
--*--
Polk looked around the dinner table; all three of his companions were strangely quiet, but all smiling like the cat that ate the canary. He watched with fascination; Miss Rebecca would look to the Colonel then lower her eyes like a schoolgirl with her first crush. The Colonel, on the other hand, kept his eyes mostly locked on his plate while trying to hide the smile on his face. Polk looked to Elizabeth who had a thoughtful look on her face.
"Did I miss an amusing story?" He asked, sipping from a glass of wine.
"No, Polk. I assure you there is nothing funny going on." Charlie gave is second in command a glance.
"Then why are you all smiling?"
"We are not." Elizabeth offered him a gentle smile.
"Absolutely not." Rebecca said, hiding her own smile behind her dinner napkin.
"Uh-huh." Polk replied skeptically, once again looking at each of his companions in turn.
"Richard," Charlie spoke up before further prodding could embarrass any of them. "Why do not we step out on the porch and have a cigar?"
Rebecca laid her hand on Charlie’s arm. "Colonel, please, go to the parlor and have your cigar. It is very chilly out tonight. I will prepare a digestive that we might all enjoy if you and Colonel Polk would be so good as to start a fire."
Charlie rose from the table. "Our pleasure. Come along, Polk."
Rebecca waited until they were gone from the room before turning to Elizabeth. "I am in love."
Elizabeth smiled. "You are sure?"
"Absolutely. Oh, Elizabeth, when Charlie kissed me today……" She stopped and just shook her head, her smile bright. "I had no idea that affection could be like that." She leaned forward as if to tell a deep secret. "So tender. So passionate. I felt wanted and needed and very loved."
"I am happy for you, Rebecca. I truly am. Just remember our dear Charlie is fragile and he is opening his heart for the first time in his life. Be gentle."
"I promise."
--*--
"All right." Polk nudged Charlie’s shoulder, handing him a cigar when he looked up from his place in front of the hearth. "Now that we are away from the ladies, perhaps you will tell me."
Charlie finished tending the fire before standing and lighting his cigar. "What would you like to know?"
"Damn it, Charlie, do you have to be so stubborn all the time?"
"Was that a rhetorical question?" The Colonel smiled, taking the first puff of his cigar.
"You are intentionally trying to drive me insane."
"No, I am not, my friend. I am just getting accustomed to the fact that I have done something here in this beautiful country that I have never done before."
"And that is?"
"I believe I have had my heart captured by our hostess. I do believe I am falling in love with Miss Rebecca."