Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 (22 page)

“I don’t believe you.”

He let out a cynical laugh. “The things I’ve done make Jonas look like an angel.” He closed tormented eyes. Savannah squirmed in his lap, and he released her. “Leave. You have every right to.”

Instead, she leaned away to better study his face. She cradled it in her palms. “Tell me, Jeremy. Tell me why you would ever think that way.” She leaned forward and rubbed her nose with his.

“I killed men, tortured men, when I was in the Philippines. I raided villages, helped to burn them to the ground, hurt innocent people.” He shook his head with his eyes closed as though trying to quell the memories. “War is subjugating others to your will, and it is so ugly.”

“Were you following orders?”

“Yes,” he whispered.

“Then how are you to blame? You did what every soldier has to do.”

“You don’t understand, Savannah. When you’re in battle, a sick appreciation for killing can come over you. I was so good at killing.”

“Oh, my dearest,” she murmured. She leaned into him, kissing his cheeks, his closed eyes and his eyebrows. “I can’t say it doesn’t matter, because it does. It matters because it hurts you still.” She caressed his cheeks, waiting patiently until he opened his eyes and met hers. “Someday you will banish this agony. Let me help you.” She continued to stroke his back, his hair, his arms, ending at his hands.

“I don’t deserve you, Savannah.” He groaned as he clasped her to him and pulled her more firmly to him onto his lap. He bent his head, resting it against the curve of her neck and shoulder.

“I think you do,” she whispered before she kissed him softly on his head.

Jeremy held her tightly, lost in the moment and her.

***

JEREMY STROKED A HAND down Savannah’s back. She lay sprawled on top of his chest. “Savannah, Savannah, my love. You have to wake and dress. It’s already late for you to be returning to Mrs. Chickering’s.”

“I don’t want to go,” Savannah mumbled against his chest.

Jeremy sighed with contentment. “I don’t want you to either. But the last thing I want is to lose any esteem in that woman’s eyes. I would hate to be barred from you.”

“She would never bar you,” Savannah said, and he could feel her smile against his neck as she kissed him. “Though I don’t want to test that theory.” She leaned up, pushing away her disheveled hair. “Help me dress?”

“With the greatest reluctance,” he said, stealing a quick kiss.

When Savannah was fully dressed, he walked her to the door. “Savannah …”

She held up her fingers to his lips, silencing him. “Come see me tomorrow? Take me on a walk, have tea with me, anything?” Her voice rose hopefully.

“With the greatest pleasure,” he whispered, kissing her again. He opened the door, reluctantly released her hand and watched her walk toward the stairs. She smiled again as she paused at the head of the stairs, and then she was gone.

CHAPTER 20

“SOPHIE, I INVITED SOMEONE to have tea with us today,” Savannah said. Bright sunlight streamed in through the bow-fronted windows. A tea tray sat on a low table in front of the chairs and settee, largely untouched.

“No need to look nervous, Savannah. Florence is always welcomed here,” Sophie said as she settled into her chair.

“I didn’t invite Florence.”

Aunt Betsy sat, her cane falling to the floor with a loud
thwack
, and she leaned forward in her chair to study Savannah. “You’re more like Clarissa than you ever let on, aren’t you?”

“I think I must be,” Savannah said. “Mother would be most displeased.”

Sophronia squinted at Savannah for a moment. “You’ve invited that McLeod brother, haven’t you?”

“Yes. And he should be arriving any moment.”

“What do you hope to gain from such a liaison?” Aunt Betsy asked.

“I don’t know. But he treats me well. Truly listens to me,” Savannah said.

“You can’t hope for marriage while you’re still tied to Jonas,” Aunt Betsy said.

“I know, Aunt. I’m trying not to think too much about the future,” Savannah whispered.

“Is that fair to him?” Sophie asked. “Although I worry you are becoming entangled too soon after your separation from your husband, I’m also concerned for him. He seemed to be someone who needed … to come back to himself after his misadventures in the Philippines. There are plenty of worthy causes to devote your time to, Savannah. I would enjoy having another friend and confidante at the weekly suffragist meetings.”

“Thank you, Sophie, but I do not see myself agitating for the vote. I wouldn’t know what to do with it.”

“Think for yourself for a change, that’s what. Be able to fight for your rights, rather than waiting on a courtroom full of men. Wouldn’t you rather have had the ability to be seen as Jonas’s equal in the eyes of the law rather than as his chattel?”

“I think you go too far, Sophie,” Savannah said.

“I don’t go far enough. It’s about time you realized that, if you’d had more rights, rights that men take for granted every day, then you would not be in the predicament you find yourself in. You’d have the money your grandparents set aside for you. You would not be a social pariah. You would be able to chart the course for your life as you see fit, not as the men of this world see it.”

“Sophie, no matter how much you argue for the vote, I will not be swayed. I can only see harm coming from women believing they have the same rights as men. Women don’t, and never will, have the same rights.”

“Of course they will, Savannah.”

All three women spun toward the doorway at Jeremy’s voice. Savannah flushed at him overhearing their conversation.

“Mrs. Chickering, nice to see you again,” Jeremy said. He nodded toward Aunt Betsy, “Mrs. Parker, nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Sit, young man, and cease with the social niceties,” Sophronia barked. “Are you saying that you believe that women have the same rights as men?”

“No, I’m not. They don’t have the same rights as men. But they should,” Jeremy said as he accepted a cup of tea from Betsy with a smile. “And with women like you, they will.”

“Why would you believe that?” Sophronia asked.

“My mother was forward-thinking. I don’t know if she would have called herself a suffragist, but I’m confident, if she had lived, she would have joined the movement. She believed in education for all, not just for the wealthy or for men.

“I heard her and my da discuss politics regularly. He always listened to her opinion, argued with her as though what she said had merit. And the irony was, although she was the more educated of the two, she was the one who couldn’t vote.”

“Ah, so you had a good example,” Aunt Betsy said with a satisfied nod.

“Yes, until they died unexpectedly. I was quite young, and yet I still remember those discussions. They believed their boys should be members of the world and of Boston, and should be aware of what occurred in the world as well as in this city—although I’m sure they sheltered us from the truly horrible news.”

“As all parents should,” Sophie said.

“I’m confused by you, Savannah. Why don’t you believe women will have the same rights as men?” Jeremy asked.

“If the movement can’t even convince me, who has as strong a reason as any woman to strive for more rights, that an increase in my rights will lead to an improvement in my life, then the movement will always falter,” Savannah said. “Why should I believe that men such as my husband would ever allow women to vote?”

“Not all men behave as your husband or Cameron,” Jeremy said, his mouth tightening with displeasure.

Sophie scowled. “I can never foresee a time when a woman is as strong physically as a man. But she can outsmart him. And when she has the same protections as a man under the law, can work the same professions as a man and is seen to have as much worth as a man, then she will be his equal. Not all strength comes from brute force or violence, dearest.”

“I understand what you are saying, Sophie. But what you envision will bring discord and disharmony.”

“Has the current situation brought you peace?” Sophie asked, unable to hide her impatience. “You must start to see your life in a new light. You can’t continue to allow the old teachings to blight your future. Nor the future of the women of this country.”

“I can’t believe Clarissa had as radical ideas as you,” Savannah said.

“You’d be surprised,” Sophie said with a satisfied smile as her gaze became distant. “I shocked her regularly of course. It’s one of my many talents.” Sophie raised an eyebrow at Jeremy as he bit back a chuckle. “However, she knew that women needed more rights in order to live more fulfilling lives. Why should Florence have to lose her teaching position merely because she was seen in a tea shop with a man not of her family? Or Clarissa hers because she is now a married woman? Men can see whomever they choose and carry on any sort of lurid act they like and keep their teaching posts. Married men can teach. They aren’t seen as a threat to the purity of the young minds they instruct.”

At this Jeremy was unable to hide his laughter. “You are very forward in your thinking, and I know it will be some time before society believes as you do.”

“That is true, young man. I’m afraid I am ahead of my time.” She took a sip of her tea. “Your visit here today is fortuitous. I have news to impart that affects both of you.”

“Does it concern the divorce?” Savannah asked.

“In a way. Because you are unwilling to detail the extent of your abuse at your husband’s hands, it’s impossible for the lawyers to put forth a motion for cruelty. They cannot depend on the testimony of third parties. Thus, I am now certain that any divorce proceedings against Jonas would only fill the coffers of the city’s many papers and lead to an undesired infamy.”

“So this means Savannah will be tied to Jonas forever,” Jeremy said.

“Yes. She will continue to be perceived as his wife. She will remain Mrs. Montgomery.” Sophie pinned Savannah with a fierce stare with her aquamarine eyes. “And, as long as you are, visits to a warehouse on Canal Street need to cease.”

“You can’t dictate what I do, who I’m friends with or where I go, Sophie,” Savannah said with a defiant tilt of her chin.

“No, but I am willing to buy off only so many newspapermen. Do you know how much they are charging for their silence about your illicit visits?” Sophie asked.

Savannah paled as Aunt Betsy gasped.

“Who are they?” Jeremy asked.

“I will not tell you, as I enjoy your company and do not wish to see you act in an irrational manner,” Sophie said. “However, those intrepid men know there is a story behind your defection and are intent on determining the exact cause as to your abandoning Mr. Montgomery. They would like nothing better than to have a reason to entice you to tell them the truth. Preferably in a serial format so that they could bleed their readers of more of their hard-earned money.”

“What am I to do?” Savannah asked, rising from her chair and pacing to the front window.

“Cease your visits to see Mr. McLeod. If you must, visit Florence when he might be home. But do not give them a reason to continue their interest in you. There is only so much I can do to protect you.”

“You’ve just added to my belief as to why women and men will never be seen as equal, Sophie,” Savannah said, bitterness lacing her tone.

“Simply because you are unable to do as you please now doesn’t mean the future must always remain as it is,” Sophie snapped. “Don’t become petulant. You’ve fought too hard for the life you are now leading.”

“What do you think, Jeremy?” Aunt Betsy asked after an awkward pause.

“I believe Savannah should listen to the advice of those who mean her well, consider what it is she wants and then do as she believes is best for her. Advising Savannah on how she must act, and then becoming, well, petulant”—he gave a wry smile to Sophronia—“when she questions that advice, only undermines her faith in her ability to make her own decisions.”

Sophie barked with laughter. “Well said, young man. Well said. However, it does not diminish the threat from the reporters.”

“No. You also presume Savannah wishes to continue her visits to Canal Street.” Jeremy clenched his hands in his lap.

“Do not insult my intelligence,” Sophie said. “Savannah, come and join us again.”

Savannah walked from the window area to her chair and sat. She gazed with a distant expression at the empty fireplace. “I want to continue to have the freedom to move about Boston as I choose. However, if I’m not pursuing a divorce because I don’t want the infamy, I also have no desire for the newspapermen to take an interest in my personal life.”

“Nor would I imagine you want Jonas aware of your interest in Mr. McLeod,” Aunt Betsy said.

Savannah looked toward the windows. “He’s been aware of my friendship with the McLeods for some time.”

“What?” Jeremy asked.

Savannah met Jeremy’s worried gaze. “When you were sick with malaria, I met him in the North End. He demanded I return to him that evening.”

“That was a few weeks ago,” Jeremy said. “Why did you never mention it?”

“I don’t know. I’m tired of being afraid of him. Of having every conversation be about him. I had hoped he’d leave me be.”