In His Eyes(34)

So this was the man she had claimed to be her husband? Her heart dropped. No wonder the Martin women had been skeptical. Never would Ella have garnered the attention of one such as he. She stopped herself short. What was she thinking?

The man stared at her, his dark eyes assessing everything from her widow’s dress to the baby in her arms. To her surprise, he said nothing about her presence. Oh, but what would he do when….?

“Don’t you wish to greet your wife?” Mrs. Martin asked, slipping to the man’s side. She raised her eyebrows at Ella, as though she had figured out the game.

Ella glanced past the man to the women who waited in the still moments that had surely not been as long as they seemed. Miss Martin wore a wide smile that evidenced she expected Ella to come to her senses and throw herself into the arms of the husband she was supposed to dearly love.

Ella opened her mouth to try to stop the humiliation, but the man spoke first.

“Indeed. I am most eager to see you, wife.”

Ella’s mouth unhinged and she stared.

He looked at the baby. “And is this my son, as well?”

Finding her senses, Ella glanced to Sibby, but the woman seemed just as confused as she. Did this man seek to trap her?

“Mr. Remington, I….”

He held up a hand. “Come now, surely I am Westley to my wife?”

She gulped, and took an unsteady step closer. Perhaps he thought to save face in front of his neighbors. But why continue thus? When later he threw her out, he would only have all the more explaining to do.

“Mr. Westley, Ella, she….” Sibby stammered.

Mr. Remington gave a firm shake of his head, sending a lock of hair dancing across his brow, and Sibby seamed her lips.

Ella came forward, descending the stairs and coming to stand before the man a head taller than she. “This is, um, this is Lee,” she managed, glancing at the baby.

His eyes lingered long upon her face, and then something that seemed like understanding lit a spark in eyes so dark a brown they neared black. Finally, he glanced at the child. “A handsome boy.”

Unable to contain herself, Ella spoke words that burned in her throat. “I thought you were dead.”

A smile tilted one side of his mouth. “So I see.”

A fire lit in her chest. Did this man toy with her? She had not meant anyone harm, merely needed someone to care for the baby. She stared at him, all the more flustered when amusement shone in those arresting eyes as well as upon his well-formed mouth.

“Come, Mama,” Miss Martin interjected. “We should leave them to such private matters, should we not?”

Ella had all but forgotten the Martin women were standing in the room. She darted a glance past Mr. Remington to Miss Martin. The young woman offered Ella a smile even as her mother looked to be near on spouting an accusation.

“I do thank you for the ride, ladies,” Mr. Remington said, the deep timbre of his voice smooth with the genteel words of one born to privilege. “But if you would be so kind as to forgive my eagerness, I would now like to speak privately with my wife.”

Mrs. Martin sniffed. “Of course. We bid you good afternoon, Mr. Remington.” She nodded to Ella. “Mrs. Remington.”

Ella knew she should give some sort of farewell, but what did that matter now? She would probably never see these women again. Her eyes darted to Sibby, who stared at the floor, and then back to the handsome man in front of her.

What was this that caused a tremble in her knees? Could it be the way his eyes held her own as though they were some great treasure to behold? She gulped. No. It had to be the fear of losing a home for Lee that caused her legs to be unsteady.

The door clicked behind the departing neighbors, and it seemed her composure left with them. She swayed and thought she might fall until a hand grasped her upper arm and held firm.

“Are you well, Miss?”

Ella looked up into his eyes, and when she discovered a measure of concern pooling within their depths, found herself all the more confused. Why did he not pummel her with harsh words? Or at the very least, demand to know why she had labeled herself his wife?

“It was the baby….” she said through lips that seemed too dry to form words.

She stood steadily now, but still he did not release her. He looked down at the child. “You needed Sibby to help with the nursing?”

Ella nodded.

“I should have guessed as much.” He swung his gaze to Sibby. “Did you know that the Martin women believe this woman is my wife?”

Sibby’s eyes grew large. “But, suh, we done thought you was dead!” Sibby shook her head. “And she done showed up here with that babe right when them soldiers did.”

“Soldiers?”

Growing uncomfortable at the nearness of this man and the odd sensation it sent through her, Ella took a step back and he released her arm.

“The blue soldiers. They wanted to make sure we weren’t no slaves.”

Mr. Remington reached up to stroke a firm chin devoid of whiskers. “I see.”

“Please, sir,” Ella said, finally finding her voice. “This is my fault. I needed someone to help with the baby, and when I arrived the soldiers wanted to speak to a Remington. Without thought, I pretended to be one so that Sibby could care for the child and I could get them to leave.”

To her utter amazement, the man chuckled. “Did you, now?”