Chapter 8
Jonathan stood at the front of the church, anxiously awaiting the appearance of his bride. What could delay the woman who’d all but demanded he marry her?
He stared at the back of the church, hoping the sheer force of his will would make Elizabeth appear. He’d been waiting for a good ten minutes, even though it seemed much longer. The crowd grew restless, their murmurs becoming louder as they shifted in their seats.
And just what was the bloody delay? Jonathan wanted to know.
As the minutes ticked away, an uneasy, prickling sensation inched up his spine. He didn’t like this one bit. Something had to be wrong.
Finally, Adam appeared in the doorway and motioned for Jonathan to come to him.
Immediately, Jonathan stiffened. I don’t like this, he thought as he made his way to the back of the church, ripples of whispering following him. He felt as if a hand were closing around his throat.
“I need to talk to you,” Adam said in a low voice as he pulled his friend over to the little side room where Elizabeth had been earlier.
As soon as Jonathan stepped inside, he saw Jewel standing in the corner, a stricken look on her face. The knot tightened in his stomach, and he immediately swung around to Adam. “Where is Elizabeth? Has something happened to her?”
Adam rubbed the back of his neck before he looked Jonathan in the eye. “That’s what I need to speak with you about. Elizabeth is gone.”
“Gone?”
Adam took a deep breath. “Elizabeth has left Four Oaks.”
“Left?” Jonathan asked with deceptive calm. “And gone where, might I ask?”
“That I cannot tell you.”
“What the bloody hell does that mean?” Jonathan exploded. “You cannot tell me? Or you won’t?” He gritted his teeth. “The woman I’m waiting to marry has suddenly left, and you can’t tell me where or why she has gone?”
“I’m afraid that is true, Jonathan.” Adam sighed. “There will be no wedding.”
“Did she not even bother to leave me a note?” Jonathan’s voice was cold and exact.
Adam shook his head.
After a long pause, during which Jonathan fought for self-control, he asked again, “Nothing?”
“No. I’m sorry.” Adam paused. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat. “I wish I could tell you more, but Elizabeth has her reasons, and she will have to be the one to explain her rash decision.”
“And, of course, I’d have to find Elizabeth to hear this so-called explanation,” Jonathan stated sarcastically.
“Well, that will not be necessary, because I already know. Your sister is a coward,” he ground out between his teeth.
“She can’t face me and tell me the truth.
She thinks I’m only half a man.” He glowered at Adam.
“She has lied to me all this time, professing how much she loved me only to run when the time grew near when she would actually have to marry me. She couldn’t bear the thought that I might touch her with this damaged arm. ”
Jewel rushed over and grabbed his good arm. “That isn’t it at all. I know Elizabeth loves you—”
“Then tell me the truth!” Jonathan cut her off.
Sadly, Jewel shook her head. “I can’t. Only Elizabeth can give you the answers you need.”
Jonathan shrugged away. “Please spare me.” He turned and started for the door.
“Where are you going?” Adam asked.
“To end the most miserable day of my life. Don’t you think the guests need to know there will be no wedding?”
Jonathan made his way to the church doors.
Once he got out of this embarrassing situation, he’d make damn sure he never made the same mistake again.
His father had always told him he didn’t raise a fool.
Well, apparently he had. But a fool didn’t repeat his mistakes.
He would never let another woman hurt him.
He could feel a creepy coldness invade his body, sucking out the warmth and leaving him dead inside.
He never wanted to see Elizabeth Trent again.
Standing in front of the altar, he cleared his throat. “Excuse me, ladies and gentleman. I’d like to thank you all for coming today, but you’ve come for nothing,” Jonathan said, his voice sounding like it came from a long way off. “There will be no wedding today.”
Everyone started talking at once as they stood slowly and started for the door.
Adam clasped a hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. Jonathan tensed. He didn’t want anyone’s pity, especially Adam’s. Elizabeth had not only made him look like a fool to strangers but also to his friends.
Jonathan stepped to the side as the congregation filed out of the church.
Most didn’t bother to look his way. He nodded politely toward the few who did.
His pride had taken a severe beating today, but no one would ever know.
He felt like his heart had been ripped out and only a cold, hollow shell remained.
As far as he was concerned, Elizabeth was dead. He never wanted to hear her name again.
Jean and Pierre Lafitte were the last to leave. They stopped as they came to Jonathan.
“Sometimes, women are very fickle, my friend.” Jean clasped Jonathan’s bad arm and, to his surprise, Jonathan actually felt the pressure.
It was the first time his arm had responded to anything.
He’d thought he’d felt a prickling sensation in his fingers yesterday, but he had shrugged it off when he couldn’t move them.
“I’m through with women. You give them your heart, and they rip it to shreds,” Jonathan said with the certainty of a man scorned. He had to fight not to show his sense of betrayal any more than he had so far, but bitterness was building in him at an alarming rate.
“Oui,” Jean said. “Pierre and I have experienced such pain, I’m afraid.
” Jean folded his arms across his chest. “If you have nothing better to do, my offer still stands. My men grow restless with this peaceful occupation. They are more than ready to return to smuggling.” Jean chuckled and held up his hand when Jonathan was about to speak.
“Such a course is not possible at this time.”
“I hear that your home was destroyed,” Adam said.
“Not only my home, but my ships. Mon Dieu, I am not happy about this. The government is but a thief.”
Jonathan leaned against the wall, relieved to talk about something other than Elizabeth and the wedding that didn’t happen. “What have you done to rectify the situation?”
“My first thought was to lead a raiding party to take back what is mine,” Jean said with a grin.
“I have filed suit, of course. I’m truly learning to be civilized.
My attorneys, Gryes and Livingston, have filed the necessary papers to recover damages from the United States.
And Livingston has written to the President.
I have confidence that he’ll leave no stone unturned, my friend.
And if all else fails,” Jean paused with a sly grin, “then we take matters into our own hands.”
“When do you set sail?” Jonathan asked.
Jean smiled a knowing smile. “In five days. The ships are being readied.”
“Jonathan, are you sure you want to go to sea?” Adam asked his friend, then pointed out, “You’ve never been interested in my ships.”
“Adam does have a point,” Jonathan said tentatively, as if testing the idea. This just might be a damned good way to rid himself of Elizabeth. He couldn’t be any more miserable than he was at this moment. “I am more of a land lover, and don’t know the first thing about sailing.”
“Ah, but you will learn very fast, I guarantee.” Pierre chuckled. “Or Jean and his crew will toss you overboard.”
Jonathan couldn’t help his smile, and he felt some of his tension ease. “That’s what I’m afraid of. But I’m game, if you think there is something I can do.”
“I guarantee”—Jean winked at Jonathan—“that you will return a different man. There is something about Mother Nature and the sea that cures all wounds.”
The group turned to leave the church. “Where are we sailing to?” Jonathan asked, even though he really didn’t care. Anywhere but here would be a blessing at the moment.
Jean moved ahead of Adam and Jonathan. “Does it matter, my friend?”
Jonathan laughed sarcastically. “I don’t suppose so. Just as long as I don’t see any women.”
Jean grinned and looked back over his shoulder at Jonathan. “There will be none at sea. But I’ll wager you’ll be glad to see a pretty mademoiselle upon our return.”
“Or an ugly one,” Pierre added.
“Would you like to make a wager?” Jonathan’s voice was heavy with sarcasm. A woman was the last thing he wanted to see. He’d be careful to keep his heart well protected.
Jean gave a parting sly grin. “Oui, I always bet on a sure thing.”
Elizabeth had done two stupid things in her life: First, she’d left the only man she’d ever loved, and second, she’d climbed on this infernal rocking ship.
It had been two weeks since she’d left New Orleans ... two long, miserable weeks. Between the pregnancy and the ship’s tossing, she’d thrown up constantly. And now she was so weak, Annie had confined her to bed.
“I’ve brought ye some bread, lass,” Annie said as she entered Elizabeth’s cabin. “Look at ye. Yer sittin’ up.”
“Yes, but for how long? That is the question,” Elizabeth joked for the first time in days. “I even feel I might live.”
“That’s my lass.” Annie patted Elizabeth on the hand. “I know exactly how ye feel. I was sick on the voyage over, ye know.”
“Well, I wasn’t on my trip over, so to be this sick surprised me,” Elizabeth admitted.
“Ye weren’t expecting a wee one before.”
Elizabeth frowned. “I guess you’re right Surely, this can’t go on for nine months?”
“I think maybe we’ve seen the worst. Now we have to build yer strength back so ye’ll be strong for the baby.”
“Baby,” Elizabeth whispered. “I’ve never thought about being a mother before.”
Annie’s mouth curved into an unconscious smile. “Ye’ll make a fine one. Just like yer own dear mother. Do ye realize it will be the third generation o’ Trents for me?”