Riverbreeze: Part 2 (27 page)

“Hmm.” Robert murmured, thinking. “This morning I observed Elizabeth in the same kind of trance.”

Jamie jerked to stare at Robert. “You did? Do you think they’re both possessed?”

“For Christ’s sake, no!” Robert declared. “Get that idea out of your head.”

“Then what do you think? What did you do?”

“Well…” Robert began, “At first I asked her if she was all right...”

“Of course she was all right!” Jamie interrupted, agitated again. “Did you happen to see her face? If she was having the same kind of feelings that Evelyn was having, she was more than all right. You only get that look when you’ve….” Jamie stopped short, an idea forming in his head. He stared at Robert. “What were you and Elizabeth doing when Evelyn and I were in the kitchen?”

“That is none of your damn business!”

“I think it is in this case.” Jamie persisted. “You said you observed Elizabeth in the same kind of trance this morning. Evelyn and I were in bed, making love, when you and Elizabeth were in the kitchen…”

Robert stared back, picking up on Jamie’s train of thought.“And Elizabeth and I were in bed, making love…” He emphasized, admitting the truth for Jamie’s sake. “… when you were in the kitchen with Evelyn just moments ago.”

“Oh God, do you suppose…? Do you think it is possible…?” Jamie stood up and starting pacing. “That they’re somehow sharing their…” Jamie waved his hand around, trying to come up with the right word. “…their…”

“Their sensations?” Robert finished for him, looking just as bewildered. “Their moments of completion?”

Jamie clapped his hand to his forehead.
What a fool I’ve been
. “Do you remember what Roger told us about his twin cousins?”

“I remember.” Robert answered, looking a little queasy. “How one went riding and fell off his horse and broke his leg and the other one in the house felt the pain as if he had broken his leg as well.”

Jamie was nodding his head. “That’s the story. But, evidently, our wives are feeling much more than each other’s pain, and once again, I’ve hurt Evelyn with my impulsive actions. She’ll never trust me again!”

“You didn’t know, Jamie.” Robert said sympathetically.

“Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?” Jamie felt sick with shame. When would he learn to control his impetuousness?

“Give her the pearl and diamond ring. That one has the most meaning for you and I know you’ve always wanted to give it to the woman you married. Now is your chance to apologize and show her you mean it.”

Jamie shot Robert a wry look. “Bribery?”

Robert shrugged his shoulder and one corner of his mouth crooked up. “Do you have a better idea? Besides, all women love jewelry. You should have seen Elizabeth when I gave her the emerald ring.”

“You gave Elizabeth the emerald ring?” Jamie asked, distressed. “When?”

“On our wedding night.”

“Oh God, Evelyn probably thinks I hate her.” Jamie bemoaned. “I haven’t given her anything and Elizabeth has probably already shown her the ring and….”

Robert interrupted. “Calm down! Quit moaning and just do it.” He pushed himself up, preparing to leave. “I’ll send Evelyn to you, dig out the ring and then bring it to you. Everything will be all right. You’ll see.” He took three limping steps past Jamie.

Jamie cuffed his arm. “Thanks, Rob.”

* * *

Evelyn listened to the racket in the hallway and huddled further into her sister’s embrace. She had never felt so rejected, so unloved. She wanted to go home; she wanted her old life back; she wanted the comfortable and warm feelings of her childhood home with her father, her sister and her governess, but she knew that was impossible. When she told Elizabeth of her feelings, Elizabeth commiserated with her, but gently reminded Evelyn of her own words from days ago—that God had a new plan for them and they must remain strong and have faith.

God and faith—Evelyn’s faith in God was strong and always had been, and clearly Jamie’s faith in God was strong also. But how so very different their ideas of God were. Evelyn and her sister had been taught that their ability was a gift from God and that He loved them and cherished them, but they had also been warned that there were people, many, many people who had different views—like Jamie. How could God condemn them when He was supposed to love everyone and when He had created them? She never understood the contradiction.

She was so disappointed in Jamie. So far he had attacked her and humiliated her in front of scores of guests at the party; then he had come down with a relapse of the intermittent fever, (although that really wasn’t his fault), and now he was rejecting her by accusing her of being a witch. She felt like she had been stuck with the flawed brother.

“At least your husband didn’t have a savage lover!” Elizabeth said softly.

Evelyn was stunned at this. The things they were learning about these men! “How do you feel about that?” She asked, looking deeply into her sister’s eyes.

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t like it at first, but I told myself that his life before our marriage was his business. What matters to me is keeping him from going back to her.”

Evelyn nodded her head in agreement. “So you seduced him.”

Elizabeth smiled proudly. “Yes…” But then her smile faded. “But unfortunately my triumph gave Jamie cause to denounce you. You felt it when I experienced
la petite mort
, didn’t you?”

Evelyn nodded gravely. “It took me by surprise and I couldn’t hide my reaction. Jamie thought I was possessed by the devil.”

“We’ve got to explain this connection between us.” Elizabeth declared.

“I know but I’m not sure Jamie will listen.”

Elizabeth suggested then that perhaps Robert could change Jamie’s mind and the both of them clung to that thought. Evelyn laughed ruefully at herself, realizing there wasn’t going to be any contests between the men now.

Unexpectedly, Abigail arrived in the doorway, looking sympathetic but resolute. She wasn’t going to be dismissed this time. She said she felt a kinship with the girls and Evelyn believed her. There was something about the expression on her face and in the tone of her voice that inspired confidence.

Abigail knew she shouldn’t stay long, but asked if she could help in any way. She offered to make a soothing cordial for Evelyn made from chamomile and peppermint. She said the drink would relax Evelyn and make her sick stomach feel better. Evelyn accepted and Abigail left.

As Abigail was leaving, Robert returned. Evelyn looked warily at him, wondering if he had succeeded in convincing Jamie that she was not a witch. He wasn’t giving anything away by the neutral expression on his face.

Surprisingly when the dogs ran to him, barking in greeting, he scooped both of them up and brought their heads close to his face. “Shush, you little devils.” He said, but realizing what he had just said, his face went pale. “I’m sorry, Evelyn.” He quickly apologized.

She waved away his blunder. “Jamie?” She asked tentatively.

“He’s waiting for you.” He said, a satisfied look on his face. “I think you’ll be pleased.”

Evelyn let out a small cry of gratitude and exchanged a hug with her sister. Then she jumped up and hastened to her husband, but she didn’t forget to thank Robert. On the way past him, she grabbed him for a hug, even while he was still holding the dogs, saying ‘thank you’ with tears of joy in her eyes.

Once she reached her bedchamber, she stood in the doorway, unsure of herself. She trembled a little, her heart beating double-time in her chest. Despite what Robert had said, she was still cautious of how Jamie would react to seeing her.

Candles had been lit on the mantelpiece and on the bedside table. There were no coverings on the windows and moonlight shone in, lighting the room enough for Evelyn to see Jamie crouching in front of the fireplace, feeding kindling one stick at a time to the small fire he had started. He was gazing into the flames, lost in his own thoughts. He hadn’t even heard her enter.

She was able to watch him for a few moments, studying the way his thick hair had been tied haphazardly back with a leather thong and the way his supple buckskin clothing stretched across his square shoulders and clung to the long, lean line of his back and buttocks. Dressed as he was, from this angle he looked rough and wild, and in a way he was. He certainly hadn’t treated her like any gentleman she had ever known.

Still, she found him extremely attractive and he was her husband. She had vowed to love and cherish him, to honor and obey him. She had been raised to keep her emotions in check, except with her sister, and was taught that a wife should be temperate, to always strive to be pleasant and amiable towards her husband and to keep her opinions to herself and never contradict his views. Her life was set now; she had no choice but to make the best of it.

“Jamie?” She finally called out to him, walking further into the room.

He turned around so quickly, he lost his balance and fell right on his bum. But he jumped up fast enough, wiping his hands on his leggings. “Evelyn!” He croaked, his face red with embarrassment. He cleared his throat and stood awkwardly, nervously cracking his knuckles.

They spoke at once, stopped and laughed a little. Then Evelyn allowed Jamie to speak first.

“I’m sorry for lashing out at you...” He said, sincerity in his voice, but then he became defensive. “But what was I supposed to think when you acted so strangely?”

Evelyn cringed again at his tone. “I’m sorry for not telling you about me and my sister. I should have told you about the dreams as soon as was possible, but even Bess and I didn’t know about this…” She struggled with how to put her thoughts in words. “…this thing that is happening between us. We had never been with men before.”

“Well, I ‘m glad to hear that.” He said sarcastically. Evelyn blushed furiously. “And yes, you should have told me about the dreams. Maybe all this could have been avoided.”

Evelyn bristled but remained silent. It was true she was partly to blame, but even if she had explained her ability to Jamie, he still might have overreacted to her strange behavior.

There was a knock on the wall right outside the doorway and they both turned to look, but upon seeing Robert, Jamie shot forward and rushed to meet him. They exchanged a small cloth pouch without speaking a word and then Robert squeezed Jamie’s shoulder before taking his leave.

Jamie walked up to Evelyn, handling the pouch nervously. Evelyn had an idea of what was in the pouch after seeing the ring Robert had given Elizabeth. She wished she were receiving this under different circumstances.

“I have something for you.” Jamie said directly, moving to stand in front of Evelyn. “I hope this makes up for my despicable behavior.”

He handed over the entire pouch and watched her as she turned the little bag around in her hands. The pouch was made of royal blue velvet. The fabric was very soft and of excellent quality, and tiny initials had been embroidered in one corner. Most likely Jamie’s mother’s initials, she guessed.

She could feel the ring inside but some rebellious spark in her made her ask, “What is it?”

He took the pouch from her, saying, “A ring.” He pulled it out and held it gingerly between his thumb and forefinger. His voice was serious as he continued, “One of my mother’s rings. I would like you to wear it as a wedding ring.”

The ring was magnificent and Evelyn blinked as tears came to her eyes. She saw a large creamy white pearl flanked on each side by three pyramid-shaped diamonds. How beautiful but how impractical. “’Tis beautiful.” She whispered, sniffling.

“My father gave this ring to my mother the day I was born.” Jamie said, softly. “Unfortunately she died only hours later.”

“I’m sorry.” She said, peering at him. He had a faraway look on his face and she empathized with him. “Elizabeth and I didn’t know our mother either even though we were three years old when she died.”

Jamie gently cupped her face. “I pray to God our children never have to grow up without their mother.”

“Or their father.” Evelyn responded quietly.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a gentle smile. “You humble me, Evelyn.”

“We both have made mistakes. I regret not telling you about me and Elizabeth. I was wrong to delay telling you.”

“Shall we start anew?” Jamie asked. “Will you wear my ring?”

Evelyn nodded, her eyes blurring and unable to speak. She held out her trembling hand and Jamie, his face as solemn as a preacher, slipped the ring onto her finger, snuggling it next to the thin gold band from their wedding day. He held her fingers for a silent moment, looking into her eyes as if he wanted to fix this moment in his memory. And then he pulled her close, so close he was squishing her and she felt the pulse in his neck as her lips rested against his skin.

“I love you, my angel.” He suddenly said in a choked voice.

Evelyn was so surprised, she almost laughed.
My angel
? He had called her ‘my angel’ that night he was drunk and attacked her on the ground. And now he was calling her an angel again after calling her ‘witch’ only minutes ago! Well, she wouldn’t complain. Angel was certainly better than witch. And he loved her! Her heart soared.