Charmed By Knight (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (27 page)

“Please, call me Jake. Since we will be working closely together, I think it’s only appropriate, don’t you agree?”

She nodded. “And you must call me Megan.”

His smile grew. “What a pretty name for a pretty lady. Are you Irish?”

“Thank you for your compliment, and yes, I do have Irish blood running through me.”

She would have blushed not too long ago when being paid a compliment, but Edmund had changed all of that. She stopped her thoughts from moving onto
that man
and smiled, walking toward the teacher’s desk.

“Mayor...I mean, Jake, are there more children coming than what are out front right now?”

“Yes. The few outside are the ones who live around here. More will arrive soon. In fact, you might feel overwhelmed with the number of children.”

Trailing her fingers along the wooden desktop, she checked for dust, but didn’t find any. Whoever cleaned this place did an excellent job.

“What is their daily schedule like?”

Jake turned back to the chalkboard and continued writing arithmetic problems.

“For the first hour, they do arithmetic. They take a ten-minute break outside, and then come in for another hour of reading. It’s really up to you whether you want them to read quietly or as a group. After that, you can excuse them for a half-hour lunch. The rest of the day you can pretty much make up your own lessons. I’ve been teaching history, and then I’ve taken them outside to play kick-ball or stick-ball.”

“When should I dismiss class?”

“Three o’clock.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Does that schedule sound feasible?”

“Indeed it does.”

He turned back to the chalkboard. “If you have any problems, the yard-stick is in the corner of the room, but I surmise the children will be good for you. I haven’t had a problem with them yet.”

She grinned.
Because you’re a man.

He set the chalk down on her desk then brushed his hands together, removing the powder. His blue eyes met hers and he smiled again, a dimple appearing right in the middle of his chin. “Do you have any more questions?”

She circulated the air with her fan again, silently cursing the humid temperature. “Yes, just one.” She paused only briefly. “How on earth did a man so young become Mayor of San Francisco?”

He tilted back his head and laughed. “You will not believe how many times I get asked that question.”

“What is your answer, may I ask?”

“My father was the previous mayor. He died one year ago. The town thought because I had accompanied him on several occasions, I would be the perfect replacement.”

“Do I sense regret in your voice?”

He shrugged. “Yes and no. I’m really fascinated with politics, but being mayor takes up most of my time. I would rather do something else.”

“What’s that?”

“Teach.”

She stopped fanning her face. She arched an eyebrow. “Indeed?”

“Yes. Believe it or not, I have always wanted to be a teacher.”

She smiled, admiration for him growing second by second. “And I’m certain you make a fine teacher.”

“I hope so. I do love children, and there are too many children in this country who don’t get the proper education. Here in San Francisco, I see a lot of uneducated families. I want very much to help them any way I can.”

“You are a caring man, Jake. I admire that.”

“Thank you.”

“What does your wife think about all of this?”

“I’m not married.”

She widened her eyes. “No?”

He chuckled. “I don’t have time to court. Between teaching and keeping this town civilized, I have no time for myself.”

“Then I’m pleased to take the load of teaching off your shoulders. Hiring me just gave you more time, did it not?”

“Yes.”

His smile relaxed and his gaze touched her hair, her face, then on the high collar of her dress. She brought her hand to that spot, which moved his attention back to her face. The look of interest was evident on his wide smile. But she didn’t wish to encourage him. Although she wanted to forget about Edmund, he’d stay in her heart for some time to come.

Picking up the timepiece around her neck, she checked the time. From outside, children’s cheerful voices rose as they entered the coatroom.

“Well...it appears as if school is in session,” she said.

* * * *

Life in San Francisco became better as the weeks blended together. Soon Megan grew accustomed to the humidity, the fog, and the dirt. As time passed, her temperament lightened. Of course, teaching gave her a feeling of importance, which was something she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Life in England was vastly different than here in America, but she loved the differences. She loved her students, and within time she became friends with more people in town.

Surprisingly, there were only a few women her age. They were married with two or three children. This didn’t bother Megan, but it made her wish for a family of her own. A frown tugged on her lips when she thought of what she’d left behind in England.
Edmund.
Would he have given her the children she would like to have? Perhaps one day her dream might come true. But, it wouldn’t be her true dream unless Edmund was in it.

Trying to put Edmund from her mind, she lifted her gaze from the book she was supposed to be reading and gazed out the window of the schoolroom. A small wind blew through the opened window, and the scent of hay from the nearby farm assaulted her senses. Her stomach lurched in protest to the pungent odor, as well as the foul smell of other animal unmentionables.

She placed a hand on her stomach. Since the middle of her voyage, certain smells had been bothering her. She blamed it on seasickness. When it continued, she blamed it on the humidity here. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and focused on easing the twinge.

Perhaps she was coming down with some kind of malady? But, the sickness had seemed to pass by midafternoon. Come to think about it, her body reacted in different ways to some things she ate, as well. And her breasts seemed a little more tender. Strange, that she’d feel this way when she never had before.

Reality hit her like a bucket of ice and she sat up straight.
Could I be pregnant?
Mentally, she counted the days since she had been intimate with Edmund. They added up – and she hadn’t had her monthly visit from
Mother Nature
yet, either.

She was going to have Edmund’s baby!

Happiness burst in her chest, yet at the same time she wanted to cry. It was only fair to tell him, but that would mean revealing where she’d been these past two months. She didn’t think she was ready to do that.

Sinking back in her chair, she rubbed at the slight pound in her forehead. She’d have to think about everything later. Soon class would be over and she’d return home to lie down and relax...and to be alone. Bertha wasn’t much company any longer since she’d started working at the laundry closer to the mines. Bertha would arrive home very late in the evening, eat something small, and then climb in bed, exhausted. Megan didn’t have the heart to keep Bertha awake just for conversation.

Yet, if Megan were pregnant, in less than seven months, she would give birth to Edmund’s child. She placed her hand over her stomach and smiled.

The chiming of the clock on the wall next to the potbellied stove brought her attention back to the classroom. The children raised their heads, eager smiles on their faces.

She grinned. “Have a good weekend, and I will see you Monday morning.”

Cheers rose from the children as they scampered away from their desks, making her laugh. She grew close to them in a small amount of time. She knew how important Friday was to the children. But for her, Friday only meant two more days of solitude.

She groaned, pushed away from the desk and stood. She collected her books, stacking them in her arms before proceeding from the room. As she turned the corner to the cloakroom, she ran into a hard body. Surprised, she let out a little cry, especially when books toppled from out of her arms.

“Mayor Williams.” She placed her hand on her chest and caught her breath. “I didn’t hear you enter.”

“I’m sorry to have startled you, Megan.” He knelt and gathered her books off the floor.

Once her heartbeat was under control, she let out a chuckle. “I’m sure it wasn’t your intention. Of course, if I had kept my mind on what I was doing, I might have heard you.”

He stood. The grin on his face stretched from one ear to the other, making the dimple in his chin appear. “The teacher has her head in the clouds, eh?”

She laughed. “I suppose you can say that.”

“Would it be very bold of me if I asked what occupies your thoughts?”

She hesitated. Dare she tell him? No, she couldn’t. It would ruin her false identity. “I was just thinking about how different my life would have been if my husband were still alive.”

Laugh lines around Jake’s mouth disappeared. The humor in his eyes left and was replaced with sorrow. “Please forgive me for prying.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Oh, I know you weren’t prying.” She tried to take the books away, but he pulled back.

“I will carry them for you, as long as I can escort you to your house.”

She nodded. “That would be lovely.”

He motioned his head toward the door. “After you.”

They stepped outside and she reached around him to pull the door closed. Beside her, Jake kept in step. His scent of tobacco drifted around her, making her think of Edmund. A pang started in her heart.
Why did it hurt so much to think of him?

“Megan?”

She slowed her pace, allowing him to remain next to her. “Yes?”

“Do you mind if I ask how your husband died?”

Her heart stopped, at least she thought it did, especially when fear gripped her insides. Her stomach tossed violently again. Would she lose what little she had in there? She hadn’t yet thought up the lie to explain Edmund. Her mind scrambled to think up one now.

Glancing heavenward, she prayed the Lord wouldn’t strike her dead for telling yet another lie. “It happened a week after we were married.”

His light brown eyebrows drew together in worry. “That’s horrible.”

She nodded. “He had to travel to Scotland on business. During his travel, his horses were spooked and lost control of the carriage. The driver was the only one who jumped off before the vehicle fell over a cliff.”

She’d burn in hell for this outlandish lie, she just knew it.

Jake placed his hand on her arm. “Forgive me again for dredging up tragic memories.”

She looked away. A deep frown touched her mouth whenever she thought of Edmund. “I expected sooner or later someone would ask.”

“I shall not speak of it again.”

Megan glanced at him over her shoulder and nodded. When they reached the house, she pulled out the key from her reticule. Slipping the old iron piece into the keyhole, she turned it until it clicked.

She took the books from his arms. “Thank you, Jake. I really appreciate your friendship.”

“Megan? Are you busy this evening?”

Her gaze bounced up and met his blue eyes. A different rhythm started pounding in her heart, an unnerving feeling settled in her chest. “Why?”

“I thought you might like to have dinner with me.”

“Well...I don’t know...”

“I have spoken endlessly about you to my mother, and she’s eager to meet you. She has invited us to dine with her. Would you be interested in accompanying me to her house tonight?”

She lowered her gaze. “But Jake, I’m still in mourning.”

“I know, but we’re friends. Think of me and my mother as your family.”

Silently, she debated. His mother would be there...and she did want real company tonight. She gave him a timid smile. “That sounds splendid. I would love to meet your mother.”

A wide smile claimed his face again, his dimple flashed in his chin. “Shall I pick you up around seven?”

She nodded. “Seven it is.”

As she watched him walk – no, practically strut back to his buggy – she creased her forehead. What were his true intentions? Hopefully, he wasn’t trying to woo her.

Freedom felt so good right now, but then again, loneliness had started to darken her independence. At night in her dreams, she remembered Edmund’s touch and yearned for it again. She also needed to think about her responsibilities to her child.

Would her torment ever end? Would her love for Edmund ever die?

* * * *

“You look lovely, Megan.”

Jake’s gaze slid over her yellow dress, from the square neck down the tight-fitting bodice. His eyes darkened with desire, but it didn’t stir any excitement in her the way Edmund’s gaze did. She lifted her hand to her neck to hide the exposed skin. Although this dress displayed nothing close to the amount of bosom she’d shown while living in England, it still bothered her to have someone other than Edmund look at her in this manner.

He straightened and held out his elbow. “I’m sorry I’m late. A man in town stopped me to ask me questions about you.”