Desire had sparked inside him, red-hot like a blacksmith’s poker left too long in the fire.
He immediately attributed the response to his frustration over Diana’s failure to arrive, for over the past few weeks, his eagerness to see her again had mushroomed into a burning, aching need. Madeline was a part of those long-ago days, and her presence here had no doubt brought it all closer to home and stirred what had been dormant in Adam for what seemed like forever.
If he was aware of Madeline’s shapely leg or the creamy, soft-looking skin at her neckline, it was only because she was a woman, and he had not seen many “new” women since he’d arrived here in this remote section of the world. He would probably react that way to any feminine feature.
Adam then tried to picture his beloved’s face, and wondered if her leg would be anything like her younger sister’s, for he was sure he had seen some firm muscle in Madeline’s calf. He suspected that Madeline didn’t spend a lot of time sitting. She seemed to enjoy the outdoors.
He watched her ride ahead of him. She was indeed an accomplished horsewoman.
He wondered further where he and Diana would be now if she had come as she was supposed to. Would he be riding across the marsh with her? Would she be curious about the dykes, like Madeline was?
He preferred to imagine they would be married already and in bed together, for he had been without her too long. And after the bit of fire he’d just experienced, he decided firmly that he was even more starved for Diana than he knew.
Chapter Six
Adam and Madeline rode up the steep, grassy hill to Fort Cumberland. They dismounted outside the main entrance and led their horses into the courtyard.
A voice rang out. “Miss Oxley!”
Madeline turned and recognized the caller. John Metcalf, a young man who had traveled on the ship with her from Yorkshire, was approaching, ax in hand. He had come alone to Nova Scotia to rent land until he could earn enough to buy his own and send for his brothers. This morning, he looked as if he’d been hard at work, splitting wood and perspiring in the sun.
Madeline smiled and walked to meet him halfway. Adam waited near the barracks.
“Hello, John. It’s good to see you. Have you been settling in?”
“Yes, Miss Oxley. Though I haven’t found a place to call my own just yet.”
She remembered his optimism on board ship, speaking ambitiously about the fertile soil in Cumberland, and how he planned to acquire enough land to someday make something of himself. “I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for soon enough, John. Have you been to see the marshes?”
“Yes, and it’s fine land, but I knew it would be.” He peered over her shoulder.
Curious to know what had caught his attention, Madeline turned. There was Adam, standing by the barracks, watching their conversation. When he noticed her looking at him, he glanced the other way.
“So you didn’t marry him after all?” John asked quietly.
“No.”
“Were you very disappointed?”
Madeline cleared her throat. She didn’t want to talk about this—not with John Metcalf, not with anyone. “I barely knew him.”
“He’s older than I thought he’d be.” After a pause, John settled his gaze upon her again. “Will you return to Yorkshire?”
“No. I haven’t decided what I’ll do exactly, but I do hope to remain here. For the time being anyway.”
Madeline couldn’t help thinking that after spending the morning with Adam, so full of knowledge, wisdom and experience, John’s eyes looked particularly youthful.
“So, whatareyou doing at the fort this morning?” he asked.
“I came to see the Ripleys.”
“Ah…”
Did she detect a hint of disappointment in his tone? She was probably imagining it. He couldn’t possibly be hoping she was here to see him. Men never had hopes about her.
“They’re staying in there.” John pointed toward the barracks where Adam stood.
“Thank you, John. I must go now. It was nice seeing you again. Good luck finding land.” She returned to where Adam was now leaning against the barracks.
