Page 48 of Moonshine and Magnolias (Just Add Peaches #1)

Yeah, like that would ever happen. No one would believe Wendy as the beautiful, vivacious Pansy Hamilton. “We can find someone else.”

“No one else knows the part as well as you. You’ve helped me run my lines.” Brandi reached for her gown. “Suit me back up. I can’t disappoint everyone, not when they’re counting on me. You taught me that.”

The fact that Wendy was able to get her to lean back again was enough of a confirmation that Brandi was too overheated to get into her clothes and finish the day as Pansy.

She scanned the other women in the room, but none of them were the right height or size to fit into the dress or age to be convincing.

Even Wendy would have to suck it in to get the tight corset and hold the dress up in order to walk.

But Brandi was right. There were people counting on Pansy Hamilton to save the town.

“And you’ve worked so hard to make this amazing event happen.” Brandi said. “Months of work all leading up to this, only to leave it unfinished? It has to be you, Wendy.”

Ooh, going after Wendy’s pride was playing dirty. It would be beyond epic if the reenactment crashed and burned during its grand finale. She could shove aside her own inner turmoil for a little bit longer. No one would believe a dour-faced Pansy Hamilton. “Fine,” Wendy growled.

As if her words were some cue, the women bustled her into the bedroom to help her shed her plain, serviceable blue dress and put her into Pansy’s clothes. Brandi mustered up enough strength to go over what Wendy had to say. They had studied the lines together so hopefully she’d be able to remember.

“And if something happens that’s not in the script, just go with it,” Brandi instructed. “You remember the time Beatrice’s phone rang? And when the Captain tried to help her silence it, he tore her dress with his ceremonial sword?”

Wendy held on to a bed post to keep from being yanked backward with each tug of the laces on her corset, then waited while the Pansy Hamilton dress was put over her head. Mrs. Hamilton tightened the built-in stays to give her the proper shape for the time period.

“How do you feel?” Brandi asked when Wendy was all suited up.

“Can’t breathe,” Wendy gasped.

“Lean forward,” Brandi instructed.

“In this thing?” Wendy narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

“Because you have to…” Brandi gave her breasts a little lift. “You know. Pump and fluff them out to give yourself some cleavage.”

“No one is going to be interested in my cleavage.” Except maybe the one person she didn’t want interested. Wendy stared down at the material that stopped below her shoulders. Her girls could use a little help. “Fine. Let’s do it.”

She bent over and stuck her hand inside the dress bodice, then scooped her breasts up. It had the added benefit of giving her more room to inhale as well. She added soft cotton gloves to the outfit and stood for inspection.

“Perfect. You look great.” Brandi handed her the empty prop satchel and pinned a hat on her head. “Go team.”

Wendy studied her cousin and frowned. The sweat and faltering had miraculously disappeared. “You’re looking much better. We can change back rea—”

“It’s time!” The woman playing her mother grabbed Wendy’s hand and led her to the door. “Let’s go save the town.”

Even though meeting the Captain was the highlight of The Winning of Pansy Hamilton, the sheer number of people surrounding Wendy’s path to the next performance stage almost made her turn back and shove the dress at Brandi.

Only the fact that six other Hamiltons blocked her way to the door forced her to continue.

Give her a bat and ball over a theatrical performance any day.

“I’m scared!” the youngest sister said .

“Everything will be fine.” Wendy lied to herself.

“I want Mother.”

“We’ll see her soon.”

People crowded around the walkway as the family crept to the enemy camp, but none of them stood out to her. No history professor with warm hazel eyes. Warm eyes that had looked at her with passion and longing. Eyes that had lied to her.

A soldier in blue approached from the other side. Showtime.

“Halt!” said a guard. “Who goes there?”

Wendy snapped open her fan with slightly less panache than she wanted and dipped her chin to look up at the guard through her mascaraed lashes. Behind her, her sisters gasped and gave small shrieks of surprise.

“Please don’t hurt us, kind sir,” she recited. “We are only travelers looking for safety.”

“The woods are no place for ladies at night, especially not one as beautiful as you. You will come with me.” The guard turned and Wendy followed him to the Captain, who waited with his back to her on the opposite side of the stage.

“Sir, these girls need shelter and security for the night.”

“Thank you, Sergeant,” the Captain said. “You are dismissed.”

The guard saluted and disappeared into the crowd.

The Captain was supposed to recite the next line, but the silence stretched out far too long for her to be certain. Maybe she was supposed to say something?

The Captain’s shoulders moved like he had sighed, furthering her belief she had messed up her line. But then he turned around, and she couldn’t speak.

She couldn’t breathe.

And she couldn’t blame the damn dress.

Rob and his stupid hazel eyes stood in front of her. She struggled not to react, but his sudden appearance sent a thrill through her and constricted her chest more than her clothes. How had he managed this?

“Ma’am.” Rob kissed the back of her hand, lingering too long for what was proper. The skin beneath her glove burned with his touch. “I am Captain Butler.”

Wendy forced air into her lungs as she dropped a curtsey. The pure male smell of him took over her senses and she struggled to remember her line. “Miss Pansy Hamilton, sir, and these are my sisters.”

“What are you doing in the woods? These are dangerous times.”

“But you and your soldiers, sir. You look like you can protect us.” She was going to kill Brandi for this.

He smiled then, a small lift of his lips, his face reflecting regret. Even sorrow. “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

The burning anger that had filled her for the past few weeks continued its slow decline at his words. She glanced at the audience to see how they were taking the new dialogue, but everyone stared at them with rapt attention. The place had never been so quiet.

Wendy drew her attention back to Rob when he began speaking again. “My soldiers and I had tried to approach the town previous to this, but there were some barriers that couldn’t be broken. I hope that time has made those barriers surmountable.”

Maybe they had. But she wasn’t going to figure that out on display for the entire O’Hara county. “The only barriers were of your own making, I’m sure. The path to town, in truth, has always been clear.”

“As you say.” His eyes gleamed with understanding, and he cleared his throat. “You are very beautiful, Pansy Hamilton. Perhaps we can talk a bit while my troops set up a tent for you and your sisters.”

Hearing Rob recite the actual lines brought her a flicker of disappointment. The marked interest in his eyes couldn’t be faked, not even by a skilled deceiver. And being in his company gave her the warm feelings she experienced so often when he was at the Hall.

“Allow me to take you for a stroll while my soldiers set up your quarters.” He offered her his arm. “I give you my word as a gentleman. You and your sisters will be safe. ”

The crowd did an impressive imitation of the Red Sea, clearing the way to the orchard.

The storyline said they were to walk around the grounds in full view of the audience. The Captain and Pansy were supposed to delve deep into each other’s souls in that scant half hour. A stroll away from them was not in the script, not what was planned.

But what the hell. Planning hadn’t been worth the paper it was written on. She hadn’t planned to fall in love this past summer, but look at what had happened there.

She tucked her arm under Rob’s and let him lead her away.

***

Wendy wasn’t resisting, or clawing Rob’s face, or trying to kick him in very delicate places. He considered these positive things.

The audience had readily accepted the change in the script and eagerly parted for them. Brandi must’ve spread the word about the new venue. The walk was supposed to give them time to pace the perimeter and heighten the anticipation among the patrons of what would happen next.

He kept silent until the crowds thinned out and they were alone. “Did you get the flash drive?”

“Yes.”

Her voice was clear and strong. Determined. Rob wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. “Did you read it?”

“No.”

He should have been more specific. Did that mean she hadn’t read the letter, or that she’d seen the flash drive and not put it on her computer? The drive contained everything he had learned in the past week. Everything he wrote about his family and hers, and the bond they had shared.

Best to come out with it. “My Uncle Louis was in love with your Aunt Caroline.”

Wendy gave a little snort. “And he left her, alone. Where she remained a spinster while waiting for him to return.” She pulled her arm free.

He let her go without protest and shoved his abandoned hand through his hair. “Your relatives and his job forced my uncle away, but he vowed to return.”

“For his greatest treasure.” Her tone held scorn. She had grown pale when she saw him on the stage, but now color seeped into her cheeks.

“I want to show you something.” He offered her his arm again and she gave him a narrow-eyed glare before she took it.

“I’m only taking this so I don’t fall,” she said. “I have no idea how you got Brandi and everyone else to go along with your little act, but you better believe there will be words later. Lots of words. Maybe even some shouting.”

The ever-present scent of peaches surrounded them as he steered her toward Fenwick’s tree standing guard behind the orchard. He stopped a foot away and slowly scanned the bark, lifting his gaze with each sweep.