The Duke's Redemption by Carla Capshaw

Author:Carla Capshaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

At the slave cabins, a bonfire raged. Flames roared high into the night sky, filling the air with the smoky aroma of burning pine and dry leaves. Laughter flowed freely and the tempting scent of roasting boar made Elise’s mouth water. Drums beat a frenzied pace, enticing a good number of Brixton’s African population to dance with wild abandon.

Elise sat on a stump in the shadows, a child on each knee. An older girl, Mary, stood behind her, braiding her hair. Elise had volunteered to sit with the children while their parents enjoyed a rare hour of merriment.

Prin and Kane had walked into the woods to talk about the baby and share some privacy. Elise expected them back at any time. She’d have to return to the house soon. Zechariah wanted to speak with her at midnight.

She pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Her meetings with her spymaster had grown tense of late and she wanted to enjoy a few stolen moments before returning to face him.

Looking down at the little ones in her arms, she smiled at their sweetness. The youngest child, a baby girl of six months, gnawed on her little fist, while eighteen-month-old Jed clapped disjointedly to the pounding drumbeat. Elise bent her head and nibbled playfully on his neck, laughing when he squealed and giggled.

“Miss Lisie, I can’t braid your hair if you bend your head like dat,” Mary complained.

“I’m sorry, precious.” She sat up straight. Mary was a solemn child and Elise knew the girl performed even the simplest tasks with the seriousness of a grave tender. “I won’t move again until you’re finished.”

She closed her eyes and allowed the drumbeat to pulse through her. Little Jed smoothed his finger over her cheek, drawing her attention to his impish grin. She smiled back. She loved children, but somewhere along the way had given up hope of having her own. For one fanciful moment, she allowed herself to imagine being the mother of Drake’s child. Would a child of theirs have his silky black hair and deep, golden eyes? She wished it could be so.

Elise blinked and kissed the top of the baby’s head. She had no reason for this emptiness in her heart. She’d been content with her lot and clear in her purpose until Amberly had insinuated himself into her life. Soon, she would have a niece or nephew to spoil. She assured herself that when the time came any misplaced longing for a child of her own would disappear.

Mary dropped the completed braid against Elise’s back and the tip brushed her tailbone. The little girl leaned forward and rested her chin on Elise’s shoulder. “I’m all done, Miss Lisie. Who’s dat man starin’ at you over there?”

“What man?” Elise twisted in the direction Mary pointed. Drake stepped from the shadows a few feet away. The fire’s orange glow shimmered on his skin. Her chest tightened, and it was all she could do not to smile like a simpleton.

His straight white teeth flashed in a charming grin as he strode toward her.

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