Elizabeth Meyette (23 page)

Pulling her into his arms, he kissed the top of her head breathing in the scent of her hair. She buried her face against his chest, and the tears she had been holding back flowed freely, dampening his shirt. She held him as close as possible, and a strong kick from the baby was even felt by Jonathon. He laughed and patted her belly. Smiling up at him through her tears, she saw the pride he felt.

“Our child is wishing me safe travels,” he laughed.

“Be safe, Jonathon, and hurry home to me,” Emily said.

Lowering his head, he pressed his lips to hers in a fierce kiss that spoke of his passion. Emily’s arms went up around his neck pulling him closer, answering in kind. Finally he released her, brushed a lock from her face and smiled into her eyes. She nodded; she must let him go.

They descended to the hall where the rest of the family awaited him. Andrew was seated by the front door, his first venture from his bed. Emily noticed how pale her brother was, but he had insisted on being there to send Jonathon off. Jonathon hugged each in turn, and then took Emily into his arms once more. Ignoring the others, he bestowed a long, lingering kiss and then released her. Her knees felt weak, and he left her breathless as he eased his embrace.

Turning he looked at each person, his gaze resting on David who nodded slightly in return glancing at Emily. She looked from one man to the other, but Jonathon hushed her with a light kiss, placed his tricorn on his head and walked out the door. Emily felt her heart drop and choked back a sob. Joanna stepped over and placed an arm around her shaking shoulders.

“Come, Em. Let us have some tea.” Joanna led her to the parlor where Dulcie had set the tea service. As Joanna poured, Emily heard the sound of horses’ hoof beats growing fainter. She wiped at her eyes.

“It seems as though we are apart more than together,” Emily said.

Joanna took her hand and held it. Emily felt comforted in that gesture and smile appreciatively at her sister-in-law.

“Your love is strong, Emily. You and my brother have suffered so much together, and it seems to only make you stronger. I know you are a gift to him.”

David entered and scanned the room, his gaze settling on Emily.

“Are you ladies well?” he asked.

Emily raised one eyebrow as she looked at her brother-in-law. His consideration did not seem to stem from her obviously distraught state, rather, it seemed somehow protective. David did not demonstrate sentimental feelings, and if anything, he was uncomfortable with them. So this sudden concern did not strike Emily as sentimental at all. She looked at Joanna, who was straightening a fold of her skirt.

“What is this about, David?” Emily asked.

David blushed and stammered. “About? Whatever do you mean, Emily? I was merely inquiring as to your well-being.”

“You must admit that events have been stressful of late, Em. David, that is very sweet of you. I believe we are just fine. Will you join us for tea?” Joanna asked, her voice light.

Declining her invitation, he left the women to enjoy the morning.

Drained from the emotion of the day, Emily retired to her room to rest before dinner. The staircase seemed unusually steep as she climbed it slowly. She knew her energy was low because of Jonathon’s departure, and in addition, the baby appeared to be growing bigger each day. She held the bannister as she ascended aware of her balance, sometimes uncertain. Reaching the top, she paused for a moment, and then walked toward her bedroom door. Glancing up, she saw Deidre glowering at her from the east wing.

Dawn crept into the room with a promise of a sweltering summer day. Faint sunlight teased the corner of the rug beside the bed, and before it had traveled across the rest of the rug, Andrew was awake and feeling restless. Mr. Gates had advised bed rest for at least two weeks, but Andrew had slipped out of bed several times already to sit by the window and watch the activities outside. He could not bear another day confined to his room, and decided he would rise and dress before anyone could protest.

He started at the sound of his bedroom door inching open, and rose on one elbow. His tousled hair fell over his eyes, and finding the cotton sheet, which he had kicked off during the night, pulled up it to his chest. No sense in scandalizing whoever was bringing his breakfast. The door opened wider, and in walked Jenny.

“Oh! You are awake.” Her soft voice sent a tremor through Andrew.

“Awake and feeling rebellious,” he said.

Her eyes were a silvery gray against her pale blue gown, and her hair was tied back loosely with a ribbon. She carried a tray to the table beside his bed avoiding any glance toward his sheet-covered body. He was fascinated by how gracefully she walked, and his eyes never left her.

“You look much improved today — stronger. What is your rebellious mind considering?” she teased.

Her single dimple showed, and Andrew felt desire stirring. He reached out to her; at first she demurred, and then she took his hand. Pulling her to the bed, he looked up at her. His heart thumped in his chest at her nearness, and the compulsion to draw her down to him, to wrap her in his arms, was unbearable.

“I owe my life to you.”

He saw the blush rise in her face as she looked away.

“Mr. Gates gave excellent instructions.”

“Yet you were the one who tended me, who stayed with me through the night, and who was there when I awoke.”

Her blush deepened as she remembered kissing him awake.

“You must be feeling better, Andrew, but I could easily break your grip and escape.” She laughed, swinging his hand back and forth.

“Jenny.”

His voice was low, and his eyes held hers as he drew her down to sit beside him on the bed. He saw her eyes soften, laughter replaced by desire and he pulled her to himself. Their eyes met. Her face was inches from his. He felt the warmth of her breath against his face, saw her lips, full and dewy, and slightly parted. Reaching up, he ran his fingers through her hair, loosening the ribbon and causing a cascade of jet black tresses to fall across his chest.

“Jenny,” he whispered.

He kissed her softly at first, brushing his lips across hers. Heat rose within him and his kiss intensified, his tongue sliding across her lips, and when she parted them, he felt himself tumbling into bliss. She made a soft noise in her throat and moved against him, stroking his face. His arms pulled her closer and she pressed against him answering his passion with her own. His mind reeled and he ran his hand along her side feeling the curve where her tiny waist arced out to her hip. Tracing fiery kisses along her neck, he cupped her breast and she gasped and found his mouth again. His desire raged and he felt as though his mind had abandoned him and all that was left was sensation — wonderful sensation.

Jenny pulled away. He reached for her, but she stood and stepped back. Noting the evidence of Andrew’s passion by the bulge beneath the sheet, Jenny blushed and looked away. Looking back at him, she laughed and wagged her finger at him.

“You are a rebellious one today,” she laughed.

Andrew’s mind was still reeling from their encounter, but he smiled at her ruefully.

“Does this mean you will not be rebellious with me?”

“I must be the voice of reason, Mr. Wentworth. Remember our promise to maintain appropriate behavior — for many reasons, as I recall. First, because you are a gentleman, though your behavior this morning disproves that.” She laughed and kissed him lightly on the forehead, and then quickly sidestepped his grab for her. “Second, out of respect for Uncle David and his kindness for hosting me. Third, to save Uncle David’s hide should anything untoward occur and cause my father to commit fratricide!” She bestowed a smile upon him that made obeying their promise that much more difficult.

“Well, I believe the only thing to do then is to rise and greet the day,” Andrew said as he began to lift the sheet.

“Oh, no! Please wait until I have removed myself from your presence!” Jenny face drained of color as she hastened to the door.

Andrew laughed and replaced the sheet.

“All right, Jenny. I will behave as a proper gentleman. But I am anxious to leave this room, and today I intend to do so.”

“I will await you in the parlor, Andrew.” She blew him a kiss and disappeared.

He smiled and stretched, feeling warm and happy. Instinct seemed to take over when Jenny was in his arms. Perhaps he was not schooled in the ways of love, but he did not need Deidre to instruct him in how to love Jenny, for she beckoned the passion from him without any need to think or plan. He laughed at how insecure he had felt and wondered how he could have ever considered Deidre’s offer. He knew it was because he wanted to be a good lover for Jenny. Now he realized that loving each other was something they would learn together. And it would be magnificent.

• • •

Gusts blew across the deck of the
Destiny
tempering the July heat that beat down on the crew. The trip to Philadelphia had been without incident, but business with the Sons of Liberty kept Jonathon there a week longer than expected. He was anxious to return to Virginia so he could reach Brentwood Manor for the birth of his child. His child. What miracle was this? All of the years he had spent sailing and tending to the Brentwood property seemed inconsequential now, though before meeting Emily they were all that mattered to him. He had once told Emily he had two loves: the
Destiny
and his land. How fickle a man’s heart turns when love enters his life. And now, when he thought he could never love more, a new life wrapped around his heart. But he must stop; he needed to concentrate on setting out to sea. For now, musings about Emily and their baby had to stay in the back of his mind for they would soon be in dangerous waters patrolled by the British.

The
Destiny
glided out of the harbor and into the open water. Men climbed the rigging adjusting the sails to best utilize the winds. Jonathon strode the deck watching his men work, offering words of encouragement or joining in a jest. They were all in high spirits as a result of the gathering in Philadelphia where the members of Congress had adopted and signed Jefferson’s document, “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America”. They had broken ties with Great Britain. Jonathon felt exhilarated, too, having worked toward this moment for many years, sailing for the committees and working for the Sons of Liberty. It seemed unreal, but the reality was being illustrated in skirmishes throughout the colonies. And in battles at sea.

The wind blew them east out into the Atlantic and then south toward Virginia. Jonathon hoped the winds would continue and so speed the trip back to Yorktown. He leaned against the railing, hands clasped and looked out at the sea. He had doubled the watches knowing that the British were sailing these same waters. For now, the men carried out their tasks, and the
Destiny
sliced through the water, stately and powerful. Jonathon’s hopes rose.

• • •

They had been at sea for several days, the wind steady, their progress good. Gates approached Jonathon as he was reading a chart.

“We are making good time, Captain,” he said. His gray hair was tousled by the wind, his cheeks ruddy from the sun.

“Yes, Mr. Gates. The wind has been steady, and for that I am thankful.”

“I know you are anxious to reach Yorktown, Captain, and then on to Brentwood Plantation. Emily’s time is nearing.” Gates smiled and clapped Jonathon on the back.

“Indeed it is, and I have made a solemn vow to be there for the birth.”

Gates frowned slightly. “That is noble, Captain, and of course you want to be there, but it may not be in your hands to decide.”

“I will do everything in my power — ,” his words were cut off.

“Ship, ho! British ship approaching from the north!” yelled a voice from high above them in the crow’s nest. Both men looked up, shading their eyes against the afternoon sun. Men clambered to position and Jonathon shouted commands as he rolled up the chart and stuffed it into its tube. He tossed it to a passing crewman and leapt into action. The frantic movement on deck belied the actual organized activity that was occurring. Every crewman knew his station and his responsibility in the event of an attack, and each was scrambling to his post. Jonathon looked through the spy glass and saw the ship descending upon them. It was a British navy frigate, and he knew it held more guns than the
Destiny
, but the
Destiny
had the advantage of speed and agility even loaded as she was with cannon. It was possible he could outrun the British ship, but the temptation to rid them of one more vessel was too tempting.

“Come about!” Jonathon shouted.

Men adjusted the rigging, and the ship slowly changed direction. The British frigate closed in quickly and fired two of their cannon; one overshot the
Destiny
and the other slammed through the ship’s rail. Jonathon gave the signal, and the
Destiny
let three cannon fire in return. One shot fell short of the frigate, but two landed on the deck. Jonathon felt his blood pumping through his body; his mind cleared, and his focus cut right to the frigate: where it lay, how it was positioned, even where the British stood on the deck. It was as if a higher sense came to life and he could see each drop of water as it sprayed against the ship. Another cannonball hit the fore topsail of the
Destiny
, and a man screamed as he dropped like a rag doll to the deck. The falling timber impaled a crewman into the gunwhale. Jonathon checked both men; they were dead.

Cannon answered cannon and the battled raged. Jonathon strode the
Destiny’s
deck yelling orders, helping where needed and encouraging his men. A cannonball hit aft spilling two crewmen over the side, their screams muted by the next cannonball that hurtled across the deck. Other men were wounded by flying debris.

Jonathon knew they could hold out against the frigate, but they needed to deliver a fatal blow. He maneuvered the
Destiny
to maximize the range of his cannon. He gave the order and three cannon fired in succession; the shot from the first ripped through the main sail, the second one devastated the forecastle, and the third shot landed on the deck, striking the captain and two other crewmen.