Riverbreeze: Part 1 (37 page)

“But perhaps he knows best.” Evelyn
suggested. “Perhaps he should bleed Jamie. After all, isn’t that
what they do for fevers?”

Robert’s reaction was startling. He jerked
back to gape at Evelyn, his face incredulous. “Are you mad?” He
demanded. Then he turned back to Jamie. “Do you agree with her? Do
you want to be bled?”

“Of course not!” Jamie answered.

“Did I say something wrong?” Evelyn asked in
a small voice almost at the same time Jamie responded. Her gaze
went from Robert to Jamie and back, clearing not understanding
Robert’s reaction.

Jamie turned his head on the pillow to look
at Evelyn. His expression softened, “No, you didn’t say anything
wrong, but Rob and I are…” He paused as though searching for a
word. He flipped his hand once or twice before saying,
“…different.”

Robert snorted, rolling his eyes, but Jamie
ignored him and continued, “We do not have the same faith in
doctors as other people do.”

“That’s putting it mildly.” Robert muttered
under his breath, but Evelyn heard him. She took that as a sign to
keep quiet. She suddenly remembered Robert’s violent reaction to
the doctor yesterday after her Uncle Francis had died. She and her
sister had thought that he was just upset over the death of their
adoptive father, but now she knew it was more than that. He truly
hated how doctors practiced medicine. She would remember that in
future, and she would warn Elizabeth too.

Robert handed Jamie the tankard filled with
the dogwood brew. “Here, drink this. This will help you more than
any amount of bleeding or purging will.”

Jamie took the tankard readily enough; Evelyn
assumed that he was used to drinking this stuff, but this time he
took one sip and immediately gagged. “I can’t.” He whined, turning
his head aside like a little boy and pushing the tankard back into
Robert’s hand.

“I know your stomach must still be sensitive
from this morning, but you need to try. Sally told me she added an
extra spoonful of honey to make it taste better. Now, come on.”
Robert brought the mug close to Jamie’s lips again.

“No, please…” Jamie whined some more and
turned his head again, trying to avoid the mug.

Robert sighed, hesitating a moment.

“Would you like me to try?” Evelyn asked.
“Maybe I can get him to drink it.”

“No, I have another idea.”

“I’m right here, you two.” Jamie pointed
out.

“Yes, you are.” Robert said. “And I have a
question for you.”

“What is it?”

“I assume you two have resolved your
differences?” He looked back and forth between Jamie and Evelyn
with raised eyebrows.

This new tactic worked like a charm. “What?”
Jamie’s face showed his bewilderment.

“I assume you two have resolved your
differences.” Robert repeated, enunciating every word clearly and
this time not as a question.

“Yes, why?” Jamie looked suspicious.

“You told me earlier that you still wanted to
get married this morning if Evelyn would have you. You told me that
I would only need to help you dress and hold you up but you could
say the words yourself. Do you remember that, Jamie?”

“I remember.” Jamie said, still looking
suspicious.

“Then drink. You know it will help with the
fever and make you feel better. Otherwise, I believe we’ll have to
postpone the weddings until you’re fully recovered.”

“You bastard.” Jamie growled.

“Jamie, you shouldn’t speak to your brother
like that.” Evelyn gently chided him.

Jamie ignored her, and Robert only chuckled.
“You know I’m right.” He said to his brother, smirking.

“I know.” Jamie agreed grudgingly. So, he
grabbed the tankard and forced himself to drink the bitter brew. He
threw up half of it, but finally managed to keep the other half
down and then Robert let him have the watered wine in the other
tankard. He even managed to eat a few nibbles of the brown bread
although the milk was left to sour in the pitcher.

Despite feeling sorry for Jamie, Evelyn felt
a thrill of excitement run through her. She was getting married
this morning! Today would be her wedding day.

* * *

Robert chuckled to himself as he left the
bedchamber and entered the hall. He was on the way to the kitchen
to return the tray with the empty tankards and then to inform the
minister that the weddings would go on as planned. He had known
that if he reminded Jamie of his own words about his determination
to marry Evelyn that he would drink that awful dogwood bark tea.
And it had worked. Jamie had had a difficult time drinking the
stuff at first but in the end had managed to keep some of it
down.

At the top of the stairs, he looked down to
see Phillip at the bottom step. It appeared that Phillip had either
been waiting for him or had planned to meet him at the top. This
annoyed Robert; he didn’t want to face Phillip at this time. He
wanted to return the tray to the kitchen, inform Maureen that the
weddings were to proceed as planned and then go find the minister.
But there was no avoiding him.

At least Robert was somewhat satisfied to see
that a nice bruise had developed on Phillip’s left cheekbone,
similar to the one Robert had on his own face. Phillip was wearing
his natty, highly embroidered doublet and breeches again, the same
as what he had worn yesterday.
Show-off
,
Robert thought to himself. Always the jack-a-dandy.

As Robert reached the last step of the
staircase, Phillip began, “Robert, can I have a word with you?”

“What do you want?” Robert was less than
cordial. They were alone in the hall, but Robert could hear voices
in the withdrawing room and the dining room.

Phillip was not deterred by Robert’s
attitude. “I want to apologize for yesterday.”

Robert snorted. “What was wrong with you? Why
did you attack me like that? You know my affection for Maureen is
only as a brother loves a sister.”

“I know that; I
do
know that, but yesterday…” He shook his head at himself. “Sparshott
brought his whiskey and I had too much too soon.”

“There’s more to it than that.” Robert
stated, eyeing Phillip impatiently.

Phillip hung his head in shame and some other
emotion that confused Robert. When Phillip looked up again, Robert
was surprised to see a touch of fear in Phillip’s eyes.

“You’re right.” Phillip admitted. “There is
more.” He hesitated.

“Yes…” Robert urged him on,
unsympathetic.

Phillip let out a sigh. “These past few weeks
at church a new settler to the colony has been eyeing Maureen…”

Robert tried not to laugh in the man’s face.
“She’s an attractive woman.”

“I know!” Phillip said through clenched
teeth. “But I do not like it when other men ogle my wife. She is
my
wife and she’s
not
available!” He declared.

“Did she look back?” Robert asked
matter-of-factly, knowing perfectly well that she did not. She was
wholly devoted to her husband and children.

“She was polite to the man when he joined us
after church to discuss the sermon. She’s always polite to
everyone.” Phillip grumbled.

“Look, man, I accept your apology, but do not
let it happen again. There is no need for you to be jealous of me
or any other man in this colony. Maureen loves you and you alone.
She would do anything for you.” He was thinking that it was a rare
woman who put up with rough sex, let alone like it! Phillip didn’t
know how lucky he was, or maybe he did.

“I know.” Phillip said softly.

Robert continued, “You’re a fool, you know,
and if you do anything to displease her….” He let the threat hang
in the air.

“I hear you!” Phillip said angrily, glaring
back at Robert. “It won’t happen again.”

“Good. Now, I have news for you.”

“Oh? Is it about Jamie? Did he drink all the
tea?”

“He did and he’s determined to go through
with the wedding today.”

“Good for him!” Phillip was pleased. “Then
he’ll need one of these…” He added, unbuttoning one button of his
doublet and reaching into the opening. He pulled out a small, black
pouch and held it out to Robert. “…and you’ll need the other one.
This is the other reason why I wanted to talk with you.”

“What is it?” Robert asked, putting the tray
down on one of the treads.

“Maureen and I would like you and Jamie to
have these rings for your wedding. Our gift to the four of
you.”

Robert accepted the pouch and gingerly opened
it. He pulled out two plain, gold rings. He looked back at Phillip
in surprise. “I never even thought about rings.”

Phillip chuckled a little. “Leave it to
Maureen to think of them. She also has veils for the girls to wear.
Business has been so good at the store lately that we’re trying to
keep more things like this in the inventory.”

“Thank you, Phillip. Thank you indeed.”
Robert said with genuine feeling. “I do appreciate this and I know
Jamie will too.”

Phillip laughed. “Well, Maureen said you
couldn’t get married without rings.”

“Should I hold on to them or should you until
the ceremonies?” Robert asked.

“I should hold on to them, I suppose.” He
took the pouch back and slipped it back into his doublet. “I just
wanted to let you know about them.”

“Thank you again. The girls will be pleased.
By the way, do you know where Elizabeth is?”

“She’s outside walking the dogs.”

“Oh God, those dogs.” Robert moaned. “What am
I going to do with those dogs?”

Phillip chuckled sympathetically. “You could
always
accidentally
let them loose in the
woods.”

“Elizabeth would have my head for that.
Evelyn too, for that matter, and probably Jamie too.”

Phillip laughed again. “Ah, the burdens of
marriage and family.” He bemoaned good-naturedly.

Robert snorted. “Dogs are not family.”

Phillip continued, “Well, I wish you the best
of luck, Rob. I can see you’re not too happy about these
arrangements…”

“Well…” Robert grudgingly capitulated. “’Tis
true ’twas a shock at first, but I’ve come to accept them now,
despite what I say about the dogs.” Robert answered quietly.

“I’m glad to hear that. Maureen has been
worried about you.”

“She worries too much.” Robert said fondly
with a smile.

“She loves you…” Phillip mouth twitched in a
wry smile. “As a brother.”

“As a brother.” Robert repeated. “I love her
too.”

“You know, we were once officially related by
our marriages to sisters and then the death of Kathleen ended that.
But I still think of you as my brother-in-law and hope that you
feel the same way. I know I acted deplorably the other day and I do
apologize again. It won’t happen again.”

Robert knew how hard it had been for Phillip
to say those words. He nodded congenially. “I accept your apology,
Phillip. Thanks.”

There was a moment of awkward silence then as
Phillip seemed to appear suddenly uncomfortable, but then he got a
hold of himself. “Well, let me take that tray into the kitchen for
you while you go find the minister. I’ll tell Maureen the good
news, then I’ll start to assemble the guests.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.” Robert said,
pleased with the conversation with his brother-in-law.
One less thing to worry about
, he thought, although he
hadn’t been
that
worried about his
relationship with Phillip. He just hadn’t liked the strain it put
on Maureen.

But she’ll be happy now, just like Evelyn,
Elizabeth and Jamie. Jamie will be the happiest of all. His little
brother was getting married, not under the best of circumstances,
but it was happening and he would help in any way he could to make
the day memorable.

He had to admire Jamie. He was certainly
determined and Robert hoped that the dogwood tea would help him get
through the ceremony before he collapsed again.

Chapter Thirteen: Holy Matrimony; Together Forever

Elizabeth was walking the dogs down the path
to the river, enjoying this early morning time to herself. The air
was thick with humidity and patches of fog hovered like ghostly
clouds in the dips and valleys of the land. It was quite cold
despite the bright sun in the clear, blue sky and she took delight
in the fact that she could see her breath when she exhaled.

She was dressed in simple clothes this
morning, a light blue bodice made out of dimity cloth and a navy,
wool skirt over her chemise, drawers and stockings. Her hooded
cloak was scarlet red and lined with fox fur, and she treasured it
because it had almost been seized along with the rest of her fine
clothing, but in the end, it had been the kind sheriff who had
conveniently left it behind.

She hadn’t felt the need to dress in her one
good gown again after hearing Mrs. Jenkin’s news about Jamie being
deathly ill. She assumed that there would be no weddings today and
was disappointed, but she also had no fear that the weddings would
be cancelled altogether.