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.”
