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 enteredthe 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!”
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?
