Page 100 of Repentance and Absolution
He nodded sharply, satisfied. Then he turned in my grasp and gazed at me with eyes on fire. “If only they knew.”
“We’d better hope they don’t find out.”
He reached out trembling fingers and touched them to my starched white collar, then ran them o’er my royal blue cravat, as if t’were made of gold and not silk, which was fine enough.
“Do we really gotta go through with this? Can’t we just stay home and”—his gaze flew o’er my silver waistcoat and back to my face—“pretend we’re at a dance where we can be together the way we like?”
I backed up a step and took Oscar’s hand in mine, bringing it to my lips for a kiss. “We have to go, my love, but I reckon we’ve got time for a dance.”
Oscar blinked, his cheeks flushing in a delightful way. “But…we ain’t got any music.”
I shrugged, my gaze taking him in in all his fine, tailored glory. He looked like a prince to me in them fancy clothes that almost looked tailored because they fit him so well. His hair had grown out some and the wave had come back as the strands fell atop his ears and swooped o’er his forehead. He’d looked good with it cut short, but I preferred it this way.
“Who needs music?” I whispered, pulling him against me and taking his other hand as I waltzed him around our brand-new bedroom.
He inhaled and smiled as I led him across the wood floor.
“I didn’t know you could dance. Why didn’t you say you could?”
He truly seemed surprised, and I didn’t want to tell him that when you’re an outlaw, the days and nights can be monotonous. Ireallydidn’t wanna tell him t’was Spook who taught me, because I figured t’would upset him. So, I simply shrugged as if t’were nothing and carried on, since now he seemed like a princess who’d only just discovered she was royalty.
“Well, I’m a bit shy about it,” I said. I stopped, pinning him against the wall so I could press myself against him. “I ain’t that good.”
“Jimmy, you’re—” He parted his lips on an indrawn breath as we gazed at each other, our faces inches apart. “You’re the best thing I ever—”
He blinked rapidly, as though he was trying to keep his feelings in.
So I kissed him, slow and long and tender, and pretended not to notice the tears that tracked down his cheeks.
A faint jingling sound came from outside. I stepped to the window and moved the curtain to make sure t’was Clarence and Irene. We were all going in the wagon to keep our clothes from spoiling.
I kissed Oscar a final time, and we gazed at each other with sobering looks.
“You got your watch?”
“It’s here,” he said, reaching into the small pocket of his waistcoat and showing it to me. “By my heart.”
“Sweet, sweet boy.”
“I can be sweet when I wanna be.” He grinned.
“And saucy the rest of the time.”
“Because you like that.”
I laughed. “I surely do. Now, you ready? We gotta put on a good show, and we might as well start as soon as we leave this house.”
Oscar nodded. “I’m ready.”
We’d already discussed how we’d handle it if any women paid undue attention or wanted more of us than we wanted to give them. Luckily, the manners of the time were based on modesty and politeness, so I figured we’d be able to avoid any direct overtures.
I may have underestimated the determination of the young ladies of Port Essington.
Ten minutes after we’d arrived to the church hall, Oscar was surrounded.
Tim and Carson had been sure t’would be me getting all the attention from the ladies, but it turned out to be Oscar. I couldn’t help feeling somewhat amused by it, although Oscar seemed less so. He looked like a rabbit caught in a trap until I’d rescued him.
“Jimmy,” he said, gazing about the hall at all the people, and watching the group of young women who had accosted him going to search out the refreshments. “I’m not sure this was a good idea.”
