Riverbreeze: Part 1 (35 page)

Robert’s first thought was to storm back to
Jamie, grab him and demand answers. But his instinct told him that
Jamie’s illness was indeed due to a relapse of the swamp fever. So
he reined in his anger, remained where he was and questioned
Mathews instead.

“What happened exactly?” Robert demanded.
“Jamie did tell me that he had hurt Evelyn, but I didn’t believe
him.”

“So, he admitted it, eh? Well, he kissed her,
but only after he asked, mind you. But once she said yes, he became
rather aggressive. He had her pinned to the ground and George and I
had to pull him off of her.”

“You had to pull him off of her?” Robert
repeated slowly, shocked.
My God, what had
happened after I had left
? “He didn’t hurt
her too badly, did he?”

“No, she was just shaken up a bit.” Mathews
sounded matter-of-fact about it. “Like I said, when I returned
their dogs to them, I talked to her and tried to explain about
Jamie’s behavior. I apologized again and she seemed satisfied with
that.”

“I cannot believe he would do such a thing.”
Robert muttered, shaking his head, not seeming to hear what Mathews
had just said.

“Well, he was rather soused. That’s why I
thought when Sam told me Jamie was sick, I thought it was because
of the drink. Jamie’s never gotten drunk like that before, has
he?”

“No, but this is more than just a hangover.”
Robert said with conviction. “I’ve seen him too many times before
with the swamp fever to think this is anything else.”

“Well, then,” Mathews said with a sigh. “We
need to get him in the house and into bed. Where is he?”

“This way.” Robert said, taking Mathews’ arm
and steering him towards the back of the barn.

* * *

Jamie was never so humiliated. God, he hated
being sick. He couldn’t even stand on his own two feet when Robert
and Captain Mathews came to help him into the house. They had to
carry him much to his embarrassment. And of course as he was being
carried through the yard, everyone who was outside came rushing
over to see what was wrong. And despite Robert’s and Captain
Mathews’ reassuring words, the women still cried and blubbered and
fussed over him like he was at death’s door; and the men just shook
their heads and murmured words of woe.

Everyone even followed them into the house,
but at least they stepped back once they mounted the stairs. Jamie
was glad to be rid of them. All those worried faces staring at him
scared him.

The worst moment of all though came after
Robert and Mathews laid him down on the trundle bed in the master
bedchamber. Jamie was so weak he wasn’t able to stop Robert from
stripping him naked while Mathews and Maureen and Sally were still
in the room! Maureen and Sally had come up carrying pitchers of hot
and cold water, clean linen cloths and a ball of castile soap. At
least they were at the desk, placing the items there, with their
backs to Jamie. And at least Robert covered him up with a quilt
before the women turned around.

Thank heavens they finally all left except
for Robert. He was at the desk pouring hot and cold water into a
wash bowl, testing the temperature with his fingers. Jamie watched
him for a moment, remembering all the times Robert had hovered over
him when he had been sick before. There really wasn’t much Robert
could do for him except see to his personal needs and provide
comfort. Jamie knew there was no cure nor any medicines that could
ease his symptoms, and all the doctors ever wanted to do was bleed
and purge, bleed and purge.

The chills continued to rack Jamie’s body and
he huddled further under the quilt. His head still hurt like
someone had hit him over the head with a hatchet and being carried
into the house and up the stairs hadn’t done anything to settle his
stomach. He wondered if this was going to be the attack that would
end it all. He certainly didn’t want to die, especially now that he
had met Evelyn and anticipated a satisfactory life with her. But
then again, on second thought, Evelyn may refuse to marry him after
what he had done last night. Despair washed over him like a
waterfall.

He could only think of one thing that might
help. He began to pray, his voice just a whisper.

Robert came over to him, placing the wash
bowl on the floor next to the trundle bed. “What are you mumbling
about?” He asked, squeezing the water from the cloth.

“I’m p..praying.” Jamie admitted. His eyes
met Robert’s, daring his brother to say something. Jamie knew what
Robert thought about praying, that it was useless and that only
fools did it.

But Robert only let out a sigh. He felt
Jamie’s forehead and said, “You’re not going to die, Jamie. I won’t
let you.”

Jamie let out a weak laugh. “Th..thank
you—m…most p..p..powerful one.”

Robert returned the smile. “You’re welcome.”
He quipped, as he proceeded to wipe Jamie’s face and neck. There
were two little red flea bites where Robert had picked off the
fleas earlier in the barn, and he was careful not to rub them too
hard lest he make them bleed. “Mathews said you got drunk last
night.”

Jamie, too ashamed of himself, only nodded
and turned his face aside.

“And you really did hurt Mistress
Evelyn?”

Jamie nodded again, closing his eyes.

“Well, maybe this was meant to be.” Robert
said. “Maybe Evelyn is destined to marry someone else.”

“No!” Jamie burst out, coming alive at that
horrible thought. “No.” He repeated, grabbing Robert’s arm. “She
c..can’t m…marry someone else. F..father’s will….”

“True.” Robert said thoughtfully. Then his
voice turned sympathetic. “But Jamie, it wouldn’t be right to force
her if she no longer wants to marry you.”

“I know.” Jamie whispered, feeling defeated.
He turned onto his side, his back to Robert. He felt utterly
hopeless, like yesterday had been the highlight of his life and now
there were only dark and empty days before him.

Behind him, Robert sighed. “I hate to see you
like this, Jamie.” He said, squeezing Jamie’s shoulder.

“G..g..go away.” Jamie muttered, not wanting
his brother’s pity.

“What should I tell the Reverend? And the
twins?”

“J..just go away.” Jamie repeated,
dejected.

“Tell them to go away?” Robert asked,
incredulous.

Jamie just nodded, too miserable to
speak.

Robert sighed again. “If that’s what you
want.”

Jamie did not respond. Too ashamed and
heart-broken, he felt tears well up in his eyes. He had fallen in
love so quickly and then ruined it just as quick. He had nobody to
blame but himself.

Eventually Robert would leave, Jamie knew,
although he would be reluctant to do so. Jamie listened as Robert
slowly left his side, taking the wash bowl back to the desk. He
took an inordinate length of time cleaning up, wringing out the
rag, hanging it up to dry. He was stalling, Jamie knew, afraid to
leave his little brother in this pitiful state.

But finally Jamie waited him out and Robert
headed towards the door, however, just at the last moment, he
stopped. Jamie sensed him looking back, debating whether to leave.
Why couldn’t he just go?

“What are you th...thinking, Rob?” Jamie
asked, fed up with his brother.

“I’m thinking I may have spoken out of
line.”

That caught Jamie’s attention. He turned
over. “What d..do you m..mean?”

Rob moved closer. “You’re correct about
father’s will. Even if Evelyn has changed her mind about marrying
you, maybe she can’t object. And you still want her, do you not?
You still love her.”

“I d..do, with all m..my heart.” Jamie said
emphatically.

“Maybe she’s had time to settle
down…maybe…”

Jamie interrupted, full of hope again.
“W..will you t..t..talk to her, Rob? Please?”

Robert patted Jamie’s shoulder and smiled.
“I’ll do what I can.”

“And if Evelyn will st…still have m…me, I
want to g..get m..married th..this m..morning as pl..planned. You
will j..just have t..to help m..me get dr..dressed…and hold m..me
up…I ca..can s..say the words m…my…self.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Jamie said firmly. He was not going to
allow this incident to come between them or to allow this relapse
of the great debilitater to stop him. If Evelyn wanted their
marriage postponed or canceled, he would accept that, but he would
be damned if he succumbed to this disease. But there are some
things that are out of one’s control; therefore, there was another
matter he wished to discuss with his brother. “And one m..more
th..thing, Rob. If I sh…should d..die, I want Evelyn to have m..my
n..name and pr..property. I want her taken care of…”

For just a moment, Robert looked surprised,
but then he nodded. “I understand, Jamie. We’ll get you married as
soon as possible.”

Just as Rob was about to walk out the door,
the beagles started barking up a storm. “What the hell?” He
exclaimed.

“Th..the dogs.” Jamie said, a wry look on his
face.

“Are you sure you still want to marry
Mistress Evelyn?” Robert asked sarcastically.

Well, at least they knew the twins were
up.

* * *

The four girls were jolted awake by an urgent
knocking on the bedchamber door and someone calling, “Mistress
Evelyn! Mistress Evelyn!”

The dogs started barking like crazy and
immediately ran to the door, their toenails sounding like hail on a
windowpane. The twins scrambled out of bed, tossing quilts and
pillows willy-nilly. They ignored Jane’s and Alicia’s wide-eyed
looks as Evelyn went for the dogs while Elizabeth went to pull open
the door.

It was Mrs. Jenkin and her wrinkled face was
lined with distress. She had been crying and as she hurried in, she
clutched a handkerchief to her mouth. “They had to carry Master
James into the house.” She cried, wiping tears from her cheeks.

“What! Who?” Evelyn gasped from her kneeling
position on the floor. The dogs had quieted, but Evelyn continued
to hold them, knowing that if she let them go they would instantly
run to the old woman and start to stiff her shoes.

“My poor James.” Mrs. Jenkin said, sobbing
loudly.

“What has happened?” Evelyn cried. “Please,
tell us what has happened.”

“He is dying…” The old woman wailed.

The girls still lying in bed gasped out loud.
Evelyn let out a cry. She turned to Elizabeth who appeared
stricken. “I didn’t mean it, Evie.” Elizabeth whispered in remorse.
“I’m so sorry. Oh, please God, I didn’t mean it.”

But Evelyn wasn’t listening. So many
questions and thoughts were running through her mind.
Jamie was dying? How could that be? People didn’t die from
drinking too much
,
did they? Oh my God!
What if he had done something to hurt himself after what had
happened last night?
Despite his deplorable
behavior, she should have forgiven him; she shouldn’t have left
him.

She had to go see him. Right now. “Bess, hold
the dogs, please.”

“Did you not hear me?” Elizabeth said, moving
quickly to obey her sister.

“You are not to blame.” Evelyn responded. Not
once had she thought that God had heard Elizabeth’s words and had
unleashed his wrath on Jamie.

Once Elizabeth took hold of the dogs, Evelyn
started pulling on clothes over her chemise, a simple golden brown
skirt and a buttercup yellow bodice. She splashed cold water on her
face and tried to comb her hair, but it was full of snarls and she
threw the comb down in a fit of frustration. Mrs. Jenkin was
blubbering the whole time, saying that Master Robert and Captain
Mathews had carried Jamie from the barn into the house and had put
him in the master bedchamber. She said that Jamie had looked
terrible, that his face had been deathly pale and that his body was
shaking as if he were possessed. That caught Evelyn’s attention and
she glanced at Elizabeth who was now sitting on the floor with the
beagles. Their eyes met and Elizabeth cried in a small voice, “I’m
so sorry, Evie. I really didn’t mean what I said.”

“I told you, you are not to blame.” Evelyn
said firmly. “Take care of Mrs. Jenkin. I must go now.”

And she ran out the door, her bare feet
silent on the hardwood floor.

Out in the hallway she ran directly into
Robert who was headed in her direction. She was as shocked to see
him as he was her. She grabbed his arms, surprising him even more.
Clutching him, she started to talk fast. “Oh, Robert! Where is
Jamie? Is he all right? Is he…he’s not dead, is he?” She was nearly
in tears.

“Of course he’s not dead.” Robert reassured
her. “Why would you think Jamie had died?”

“Mrs. Jenkin told us he was dying. She said
you and Captain Mathews had to carry him into the house and that he
looked awful. She said he was shaking as if he were possessed.”

Robert made a scoffing noise in his throat.
“That old busybody.” He grumbled. “’Tis only a relapse of the swamp
fever.” Robert said.

“Swamp fever?” Evelyn asked, confused. She
didn’t know what that was.

“The ague, the tertian ague, you know, the
fever and chills that come and go.” Robert explained. “It does kill
some people but Jamie has always recovered.”

“Oh.” Evelyn said, considering. So, Jamie
wasn’t as sick as she had been led to believe. He was not going to
die; in fact, he would recover, so there was really nothing to
worry about.

“Evelyn,” Robert said, urgency in his voice
and taking her hand into his. He spoke quickly, “I need to speak
with you…”

“About what? About Jamie?”

“He asked me to speak to you.”

“What did he say?” She asked quietly. She
hoped it wasn’t about last night, but feared it was.

And just as she assumed, he said, “Evelyn, I
know not exactly what happened last night…”

She suddenly blushed and looked down. Robert
was the one man who hadn’t been witness to her humiliation and she
felt she could at least meet his eyes when speaking to him, but
now…She felt foolish, realizing that, of course, Jamie would have
told Robert what had happened. Maybe even boasted about it.