Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

"You seem to be rather melancholy, my dear," he announced as Evie looked up from a hook. She found Trayton and Thomas had entered the library as if on some important business.

"I'm fine," she replied, uncertain of what else to say.

"Well, I had a marvelous idea. I'm sending Trayton to Chicago. I think it would work well for you to travel with him. There is a great deal to do in that marvelous city. A few days away would do you good, and with Trayton along, I wouldn't have to worry about your safety"

Evie glanced at Trayton and felt her heart pick up its pace. He was very nearly smirking at her, as if he knew she was helpless to refuse him.

"Trayton assures me it won't be a bother to him. He's a good man probably the best on my staff."

Swallowing hard, Evie found she couldn't speak. She looked again from her husband to his secretary. She could still feel his lips upon hers, smell the scent of his cologne.

Trayton held her gaze with smoldering passion in his eyes. Evie wanted to turn away, but she couldn't.

Thomas was already busying himself with a stack of papers. "I'll make all of the arrangements. I'll see to it that two of your maids accompany you, as well. Now run along and see to your packing, my dear."

His voice broke the spell, and Evie quickly got to her feet. "I don't… think… I really shouldn't go. My sister hasn't been feeling well of late, and I should probably stay close to home in case she takes a had turn." Evie knew Jeannette had nothing more than a cold, but it gave her a reasonable excuse.

"Nonsense," Thomas replied, not even bothering to look up from his papers. "Your sister will he just fine, and you won't he gone more than a fortnight, at the most. Now go and pack."

Evie moved across the room as if under a spell. She felt helpless, unable to keep the situation from tumbling out of control. As she passed Trayton, he reached out and touched her fingers. She pulled her hand to her breast as if burned. He smiled in amusement.

Nothing about the situation made any sense. Evie had been prepared to ask her husband to allow her to accompany Trayton to Chicago, but when the suggestion came from Thomas, it felt awkward. It was odd that he had brought up the trip. Had she truly seemed melancholy? And even if she had, when had Thomas ever given her more than a passing glance?

Her stomach churned at the thought of being alone with Trayton. There was a part of her that very much wanted to he with him, and another part that wrestled with the impropriety. She had not been raised to be a religious woman, but she knew that it was wrong to commit adultery. Still, there was no real conviction on her part. She lived in a world where her father and brothers made their own rules, and morals were never considered important unless they came with a monetary value attached.

Starting up the grand staircase, Evie realized she didn't know when they would leave. Thomas had only told her to pack. She drew a deep breath and went back to the library. Hopefully Trayton would have the good sense to ignore her.

Bvie reached for the door and paused as she heard her husband laugh heartily. "If you impregnate her," he told Trayton, "I will give you a bonus of one thousand dollars."

Her eyes widened as Thomas continued. "There is already enough talk about me, and a child or two might put such gossip to rest."

"Why not simply deal with the task yourself?" Trayton asked.

Again Thomas laughed. "Because I have no interest in… her. I married her only for her father's fortune and the connections he promised. When he died, much of that was lost. I cannot divorce her without risking my own inheritance. So I play this game. She is kept very nicely here, and now with your help, she will receive the romantic attention she desires. I will continue to pay you well, but that money also ensures your silence and discretion."

"But of course," Trayton replied. "I wouldn't dream of disgracing either of you."

Evie was sickened by the conversation. She hacked away from the door. Never had she felt so betrayed, so used. Trayton didn't care at all for her; he was simply playing a part. Her own husband had hired him to seduce her.

Running up the stairs, Evie nearly knocked the housekeeper off her feet. She didn't bother to apologize to the woman but escaped to the solace of her room. Locking the door behind her, Evic felt hot stinging tears come to her eyes.

Of all the nerve! How dare he do this to rne? How dare thee? She went to the bed and threw herself down.

It was so wrong, so unfair. She had very nearly yielded her body and soul to a man whose only interest in her was the money he was getting from her husband. She wanted to vomit. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have been so taken by Trayton Payee's act?

She hated herself. Hated that her loneliness and longing had nearly robbed her of her wisdom. Pounding her fists into the mattress, Evie wanted to scream. She didn't, however. She knew she couldn't say a word about this. The embarrassment was far too great.

As the evening wore on, Evie refused to go to dinner. Instead, she insisted her maid help her to dress for bed. "Tell Mr. Gadston I am feeling unwell. Tell him I will not be traveling to Chicago."

"Yes, ma'am," the girl said with a curtsy.

Evic dressed quickly for bed and once the girl was gone, Mocked her bedroom door so that no one especially not that sneaky Trayton-could gain entry to her quarters.

She remained awake until well after midnight, trying to figure out what she would do. Many times she had contemplated asking Thomas to release her-to annul their marriage on the grounds that it had never been consummated. He would never agree to it, of course. No man wanted to admit that he'd not preformed his husbandly duties. But now Evie had something to threaten him with. She could expose him to the whole world and tell everyone of his schemes with Trayton.

But what if Trayton lied? What if he merely laughed at her announcement and called her mad? Evie shook her head. No doubt Thomas would pay the man well to keep silent.

"I'm trapped. I'm really and truly trapped." Despair crept over her, crushing her, leaving her struggling to breathe. "What am I going to do%"

It seems like a very nice house," Lydia said.

"I'm glad you felt comfortable enough with us to come home," Zerelda replied. "After over a month in the hospital, I would think any place would feel better."

Kjell watched his wife evaluate their home. She walked around the parlor looking at the various pieces of bric-a-brac. Some were things she'd acquired after coming to Sitka, but most belonged to Zerelda.

She walked to the rocking chair and ran her hand across the hack. "I've always liked rocking chairs."

The comment surprised everyone. Even Lydia looked up in shock. "I'm not sure how I know that, but it just came out. I know it's true." She sounded excited, and Kjell couldn't help but smile.

"It is true," he told her. "You have always enjoyed sitting by the fire, rocking."

Her smile broadened. "What else do I like?"

Zerelda laughed. "Well, maybe it will come to you as you explore, but you like a great many things."

"What was my favorite food?" Lydia asked, looking back and forth between Kjell and Zerelda.

"You've always loved peaches. We can't get them very often up here-they spoil too easily on the trip. But sometimes I make you peach pie with canned peaches, and you think that simply grand."

"Peaches," Lydia said, as if weighing the truth of the statement.

"You seem fond of deer roast," Kjell offered. "And fresh bread."