Chapter 7 #2
“He may never admit to being old, but his body is telling him a different story. I think his fourth wife robbed him of what was left of his energy.”
Adam and Derek started laughing, then Derek said, “Takes a lot of stamina to have one wife, much less four.”
“Amen,” Adam added.
“That’s my father, gentlemen. I could not hold a candle to him, nor would I try. Elizabeth will be enough for me,” Jonathan admitted. “It has taken me a long time to finally take the step. Once will be plenty for me.”
“Said by someone who already knows his place,” Adam teased. “Now let’s get some work done before my friend here goes back to daydreaming of his upcoming wedding.”
Finally, the week of her wedding arrived . . . and Elizabeth’s euphoria ended.
Her nausea had returned—sometimes in the morning and sometimes at night. At first, Elizabeth tried to pass her unsettled stomach off as nerves. She was just overly excited about the wedding, she tried to convince herself. She also realized she was using that excuse more and more.
The only person who knew about her sickness was Sally. She had never commented, but she was always there to soothe Elizabeth and to assure her that everything would be fine.
A cloying uneasiness followed Elizabeth as she moved through the week.
And again, she had the strange foreboding that something terrible was about to happen, something she wouldn’t be able to control.
She’d always been able to control most things in her life and she felt safe and secure, but what if something happened that she couldn’t stop .
.. something that might change her happiness. The thought scared her.
Then reality struck.
The night before her wedding, Elizabeth was very sick.
“I’m so tired of feeling like this. What’s the matter with me?”
Sally held a cool cloth to Elizabeth’s brow. “Now don’t go gettin’ excited. It’s only natural. Some women don’t ever get sick, but honey, yo ain’t one of them.”
“Are you saying everybody gets this sick before their wedding?”
“Ain’t the wedding that’s makin’ you sick,” Sally said softly and looked at her with knowing eyes. “I’ve done seen this many times.” Sally nodded her head. “Let me go get you something cool to drink,” she said before she left the bedroom.
This time Elizabeth knew that she wasn’t sick due to nerves. It was something much more permanent.
She was pregnant.
Captain Lee had left her with more than nightmares.
She shut her eyes, hoping to stop the tears burning her eyes. What was she going to do? Standing up, she swiped at her tears and began to move about the room.
She hated Captain Lee and all the unpleasantness he’d caused her family. She wanted no part of his child.
Yet the child also belonged to her.
She had to tell Jonathan. But what would his reaction be?
Could he accept another man’s child? Would he feel sorry for her and marry her out of pity?
Or would he simply walk away? She remembered his words the other night: If another man ever touched you, I don’t know what I would do.
Elizabeth sighed. She would have to tell him the whole ugly truth and hope for the best.
She couldn’t bear the thought that she might never see him again. He’d been so loving these last two weeks, and she couldn’t help thinking that she was responsible for easing his bitterness over his arm.
Elizabeth dropped down onto a green velvet chair. Just when she thought everything would be all right, this had to happen. She couldn’t bear to throw everything away. She had loved only once in her life and that man was Jonathan. Somehow, she had to keep him.
Finally, she stood and moved over to the wardrobe and took out her nightgown. She threw the gown on the bed and then started unhooking her dress. When Sally returned, Elizabeth took the drink and Sally finished helping Elizabeth undress. Then she dismissed her, preferring to be alone.
As she climbed into bed that night, she knew what she had to do. She would go through the ceremony, then try to convince Jonathan that the baby was his. It might be deceitful, but at the moment she couldn’t see any other way.
She couldn’t lose Jonathan.
When she finally closed her eyes, sleep was not peaceful. It was filled with nightmares of Captain Lee taunting her.
Captain Lee had finally gotten his revenge.
After three hours donning petticoats, satin, and lace, Elizabeth was finally dressed. She stood in a small room near the front of the chapel where the service was to be performed. Sally spread out her skirts, smoothing the material with her hand.
“You sure is purty, Miz Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth turned and looked at herself in the mirror. She saw a beautiful dress, but she didn’t like the person who stared back. Her face was very pale and dark rings circled her eyes. The happiness that should be shining through was missing.
She couldn’t do this!
“Sally, please get Annie and Jewel,” Elizabeth said quickly before she changed her mind.
“Are you sure, Miz Elizabeth?” Sally asked as she stood. “It’s about time for you to go into the church.”
“Yes, I’m sure.” Elizabeth took Sally by the arm and pushed her toward the door. “Now hurry!”
After several anxious minutes, Jewel and Annie appeared in the doorway at the same time. “You’re beautiful!” Jewel exclaimed.
Elizabeth looked at the two people she loved as much as Jonathan and only hoped that they would understand her decision. “I can’t do this.”
“Of course ye can,” Annie said, moving over to pat Elizabeth on the hand. “ ’Tis nerves.”
“Annie is right,” Jewel agreed. “I felt the same way.”
“No! You don’t understand,” Elizabeth protested, pacing as she tried to find the words to explain. “I cannot go through with this!” she said a little more forcefully.
“What do you mean?” Jewel raised her brows in surprise. “Jonathan is out there waiting for you. He’s very handsome, I must admit, and you’ve told me over and over again how much you love him. You have waited so long for this day. So what is the problem?”
Elizabeth suddenly stopped. “I—I’m pregnant.” The words tore from her mouth with a rush as the tears gathered in her eyes.
“What?” Jewel and Annie both said together.
“All the more reason to get married,” Annie said quickly. “Jonathan will make a fine father.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “You don’t understand. Jonathan doesn’t know,” Elizabeth hesitated, not wanting to tell the whole truth.
“But he’ll understand,” Annie insisted.
“I don’t think so.”
“Then you don’t know Jonathan very well,” Jewel argued. “He even offered to help me if Adam threw me out.”
“The baby isn’t Jonathan’s,” Elizabeth said with quiet but desperate firmness. “It’s Captain Lee’s.”
“Oh, my God!” Jewel gasped at the same time her hand flew to her mouth to keep her from saying more.
“I’m so sorry, lass.” Annie took Elizabeth in her arms. “I’d never wanted anythin’ like that to happen to my girl. And if the man wasn’t dead already, I’d do it myself.”
“I—I thought I could marry Jonathan,” Elizabeth sobbed. “And make him think the baby was his. But I can’t do that to him. It isn’t fair. He’d probably hate me and the baby when he found out who the father was.”
“My poor lass,” Annie whispered, rubbing Elizabeth’s back.
Elizabeth pulled back and clutched both of Annie’s arms. “Don’t you see ... I’ve got to leave. It’s the only answer. You told me Derek was ready to sail? I must go with you. I won’t be able to look Jonathan in the face,” Elizabeth said sadly.
“For heaven’s sake!” Jewel cried. “This isn’t right. You must speak with Jonathan.”
“I—I can’t. I just can’t” Elizabeth shook her head firmly. She clutched Jewel’s hand. “You have to promise not to say anything to him about this. He must never know.”
“I won’t,” Jewel assured. “But you have to talk to Adam.”
“Yes, you’re right. Go get him,” Elizabeth instructed as she reached down and picked up the train of her skirt, tossing it over her arm.
“I’m going back to the house. Tell Adam to meet me at the carriage.
” She pulled off her veil and looked at Jewel for a final time.
“Please take care of Jonathan for me. Tell him I’m sorry. ”
Jewel gave her a teary smile. “I really wish you would think about this and speak with him.”
Elizabeth hung her head in shame. “I can’t. I can’t bear to see the look on his face when he finds out I’m having another man’s child.”
“But it wasn’t your fault.”
“Men don’t think like we do,” Elizabeth said.
“I guess you’re right,” Jewel whispered, then gathered Elizabeth into her arms. “I’ll miss you, but at least you’ll have Annie taking care of you.”
“I’ll miss you, too. You have really become my sister.” Elizabeth turned around to flee, but paused and looked back over her shoulder. “Please ask Jonathan to forgive me.”
Then, barely holding back her anguished tears, she hurried from the room.
Jewel entered the church on wobbly legs. She clutched a pew to steady herself. All eyes turned to look at the bride, but saw Jewel instead. She looked straight ahead as she slowly walked to Adam, then whispered into his ear that she needed to see him in the vestry.
“For God’s sake, Jewel. A wedding is about to take place,” Adam hissed.
“Keep your voice down,” she whispered, not wanting to draw everyone’s attention any more than she already had. “There is a problem that needs your immediate attention.”
“Is something wrong?” Jonathan leaned over and asked.
“Yes. I need Adam for a moment. We’ll be right back.” She clutched Adam’s arm and swiftly walked him to the back of the church and out the side door to the carriage where Elizabeth waited.
“Elizabeth!” Adam stuck his head in the carriage’s door. “Why are you out here, with a church full of people waiting for you?”
“I’m leaving, Adam.”
“Leaving? What the hell is that supposed to mean? There is a man inside that church,” Adam pointed, “waiting to become your husband.” He looked from Elizabeth to Jewel, who stood beside him on the outside of the carriage, then back to Elizabeth. “Someone had better explain and quickly.”
Elizabeth started in a shaky voice and didn’t stop until she’d blurted out the whole story. She watched the anger build in Adam’s eyes. A muscle twitched in his cheek as he tried to hold his temper in check.
“I should have killed the man before we ever left England,” he ground out through clenched teeth.
“That’s in the past, Adam. I can’t undo what has happened, but I can prevent another mistake. I will not ruin Jonathan’s life.”
Adam’s large hands took Elizabeth’s face and held it gently. “I love you, Elizabeth, but you’re making a terrible mistake. Jonathan loves you. He’ll understand.”
“But he won’t accept me when I’m carrying another man’s child.
He won’t understand that I’ve been with another man even if it wasn’t by choice,” Elizabeth told her brother.
She clutched Adam’s hand tightly. “You must respect my wishes. Do not tell Jonathan where I’ve gone.
I must have this baby,” Elizabeth said, trying to hold the tears back.
“I’ll have Annie and Derek with me. And I will write to assure you that I’m all right.
” Her eyelids felt like lead weights and her lips quivered.
“I’ve already sent someone for my things. We’re going to the ship now.”
Adam backed out of the carriage and straightened. “Is there nothing I can say that will make you change your mind?”
“N-no.” Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ve made up my mind. Jonathan needs someone worthy of him. Someone who can be truly his. I won’t ruin his future.”
“I think you are making an enormous mistake. One that you’ll regret for the rest of your life.”
“It will not be my first,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
She watched Adam shut the carriage door and motion for the driver to leave.
That’s when she realized she would not be seeing her brother for a long, long time.
As the carriage pulled away, the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
Adam couldn’t move. He watched the carriage rambling down the road until all he could see was the cloud of dust. Turning to his wife, he said, “I don’t know how I’m going to tell Jonathan.” Adam sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
Jewel stood shoulder to shoulder with her husband. “Captain Lee has caused us all so much grief, and he still does, even after his death. What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. But first, I must tell Jonathan that there will be no wedding.” Adam started for the doors of the chapel. “I wish to God I knew the right thing to say. This will be one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do....
“God help me!”