Elizabeth's Hope (A More Perfect Union Series Book 0.5) Page 5

  Elizabeth shifted the box to a more comfortable grip. “I’ll ask Solomon to give you a hand if you need me to?”

  “No, miss. I can manage. You go on, and I’ll come in when I’m done.” Jasmine spun on one foot to deftly sort the bundles and boxes and begin putting the items where they belonged.

  Elizabeth made her way outside and across the yard, noting the soft early spring air and the bright blue skies. Wisps of clouds drifted on the slight breeze that carried the scents of the sea and damp soil. As she neared the house, she espied a single candle in each window, unlit. What on earth? They didn’t have candles enough for light let alone to put one in every window.

  “Father?” She bumped the door closed with one hip and went to the small storage room under the stairs. Placing the box on a shelf and the packets on another one above the box, she strode into the passage to listen for sounds of movement. Hearing a chair scrape on the floor in the front sitting room, she hurried in that direction. “Father?”

  “In here.” His deep bass floated to her ears as she turned to walk into the room. He rose as she approached him and gave her an embrace in greeting. “I’m glad you arrived safely.”

  “We had no issues with the sentry. Though he contemplated taking the small quantities of smoked hams and preserves until he heard your name.” Even if it did rattle her comportment for a time, at least she’d managed to get inside the town limits. She had a more pressing question. “Why are there candles in the rear windows?”

  “In every window, I’m afraid. Front and back.” He raked a hand through his tousled hair, which uncharacteristically was left hanging loose instead of pulled into a queue with a ribbon. “For the illumination this evening.”

  “What is the occasion for a celebration?” It wasn’t a holiday as far as she was aware. She frowned, trying to understand what she was missing.

  “The British victory at Guilford Court House on the fifteenth.”

  “Why would you celebrate such an event?” She frowned at her father as she mulled over his words. Was Jedediah involved in the battle? Was that why she had not heard from him? “You’re not actually a loyalist, after all.”

  “No, but I’m acting as one to keep my home and business safe from British hands.” Joshua shook his head, his ebony hair sporting new gray strands brushing his shirt collar. “When the British commander orders an illumination, therefore, I put candles in my windows ready to light when it grows dark. Even if I do not agree.”

  Her betrothed was out there somewhere fighting for American independence, and her father was celebrating their defeat? Her brothers, too, risked life and limb while she stood in a house that professed to be siding with the British. Maddening. Her father’s newly graying hair suggested he felt the same stress of the deception. Oh, to return to the country where she could at least hope for a letter if not a visit from Jedediah. To see him again, safe and whole, remained her most fervent desire. No, mayhap her most fervent wish was to see the end of the war and peace returned to the people and the country.

  “How long do you plan to stay?” Joshua strode to the chair he’d vacated upon her arrival and sat, picking up the quill pen in preparation to continue writing. “I miss you and Emily more than I had thought possible. It’s quiet without you.”

  “I’d thought to stay a few days, but now I think I’ll return sooner.” Back to where she didn’t feel the press of British eyes and judgment upon her. “Jedediah has been writing to me at the plantation, and I haven’t heard from him in a while. With the news of Guilford Court House, I must fly back to the plantation. I need to be there.”

  Joshua twirled the feathered pen as he gazed at her, his eyes understanding and kind. “Indeed. What does he say in his letters? Anything of import or just how fond he is of you?”

  Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks. “The latter mostly. He has managed to obtain a pass once to visit for a spell.”

  Joshua raised a brow and nodded. “I see. I trust you treated him as he deserved for making such an effort?”

  “Verily.” The image of their lying together played through her mind, increasing the warmth in her cheeks. He had tenderly taught her about the pleasures between a man and woman. Pleasures that could lead to starting a family. The very same pleasures that awakened in her a new sense of what was important to her. Many a bride approached the altar with child from the very same activities she and Jedediah shared. Would she? There was no way to know. “He seemed well pleased by my attentions on his behalf.”

  “I’m happy to hear that.” He regarded her for several seconds and then smiled, dipping the quill into the ink pot. “I agree you should go back to your uncle’s to be available should he repeat his effort.”

  “I’ll go to-morrow.” She went to her father and hugged his shoulders from behind. She’d go back and wait for her love to come to her side, to show him how much she cared for him. “I’m sure he’ll favor me with another such visit when he can arrange it.”

  Chapter 9

  Abernathy Plantation – April 1781

  Love and duty warred in his breast as he galloped for the Abernathy plantation in the middle of the month. He’d finally wrangled permission for a lightning fast visit when the army neared the area. But it was only for a night and then he didn’t know if he’d ever obtain permission again. General Greene had intimated that the fighting season would be more active than usual. He needed to prepare himself and Elizabeth for that possibility.

  The usual ebony-skinned man called out to the house to warn of his approach. A good safety measure to his mind, one that reassured him of the family’s defensive practices. Reining to a halt, he leaped from the saddle and tossed the reins to the stable boy as he raced up the front steps. He rapped on the door, then tapped his leg in quick succession. The sound of cattle lowing in the rear of the house reached his ears. A hawk cried in the sky, floating on the spring breeze. After what seemed hours, footsteps approached from inside the house. The door slowly opened, and Jasmine smiled shyly up at him.

  “Mr. Thomson, sir, please come in.” She opened the door wider and stepped back to allow him inside.

  “Greetings. Is Miss Sullivan at home?” He doffed his tricorne and held it between his hands in front of his tattered hunting shirt and stained breeches. His appearance had deteriorated with the prolonged amount of time spent in a tent in camp. But his attire didn’t matter as much as his desire to see his love. “I wish to see her, if so.”

  “Yes, sir. If you’ll wait in the parlor, I’ll fetch her for you.” Jasmine ushered him into the room and then hurried out.

  Cooling his heels, he paced. The clock in the tall case at the far end marked each passing second, the ticking seeming to crescendo with each movement of the hands. He counted the knotholes in the floorboards as he walked around the perimeter of the colorful rug. Waiting had never been his strength.

  The patter of slippers hurrying along the floor alerted him to someone nearing. He paused his circuit to focus on the open door. Elizabeth fairly skipped into the room, a welcoming smile on her lips and in her eyes.

  “Jedediah.”

  His name on her lips speared desire straight through his heart. He reached out to accept her hands in his, clasping them firmly. “Elizabeth, how fare you?”

  “I am well, thank you. What of you?” She inspected him with her gaze. “I was worried when I did not hear from you for so long.”

  “My apologies, my love. We moved so frequently and were at such a distance that I had no means of sending word.” He pulled her close to him, drinking in her pretty features and reveling in her eager acceptance of his touch. But he’d reached a decision in the intervening span. He would respect her enough to deny himself his desire to lay with her again. They’d risked too much the other time. He’d not besmirch her reputation for his carnal needs. “We can hope such will not be the case in the future, but there is no way to guarantee I will be able to send a note or visit again.”

  “What do you mean?” A sli
ght frown marred her happy countenance. “Where are you going?”

  “General Greene has his own idea of how to fight this war. As much as I wish I could dictate where I spend my time, I have to go where he tells me.”

  “Until September, is that not right?” She peered at him, slowly blinking as she waited for his response.

  “Indeed. Then we can marry.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, forcing himself to restrain his passion to something polite and decent.

  “Is that a promise?” She tilted her head to one side and squeezed his fingers. “You will leave the fighting then?”

  He’d have fulfilled his duty to his country as he had committed to do. He’d fought and bled right along with the other thousands of men defending their cause. He could walk away knowing he’d done what he said he would do to the best of his ability. Then look forward to the rest of his life with the amazing woman gazing up at him with love shining in her eyes.

  “That’s a promise. But for now, let us enjoy spending some time together before I must away to-morrow.”

  They spent the rest of the afternoon riding around the fields surrounding the manor, talking about whatever came to mind. Making plans for their future while walking along a merry stream flowing across the corner of one meadow. Hawks screamed as they soared high in the azure sky. A small herd of deer, guarded by a buck, meandered in the distance. He enjoyed the lilt of her voice and the trill of her laugh, foreseeing a pleasant life ahead with her as his companion. They ended up at the manor in time for a late dinner they shared on the back portico overlooking a sweep of lawn as the sun descended.

  Lucille Abernathy had assigned him a bed in an upstairs bedchamber at the opposite end of the manor from Elizabeth’s room. The woman’s expression revealed her continued suspicion of their activities during his previous visit. He had no intention of a repeat performance, so she need not worry. When they all made their way up to their separate chambers around midnight, he pressed a quick kiss good-night to Elizabeth’s lips before turning toward his bed.

  After he removed his outer clothes, he slipped under the spread and pulled the cover halfway up his torso. It had been a good day, one to remember after he returned to camp. He closed his eyes, listening to the night sounds surrounding the house. How different they sounded from within walls compared to when he slept in a tent, Frank beside him in his bedroll, tossing and turning. After a time, he started to drift off to sleep until he heard a floorboard creak in the hall. Then his eyes flew open and he stared at the door, listening.

  The door pull lifted slowly, quietly, and light seeped between the wood door and jamb as it opened bit by bit. He sat up, braced to defend himself from the intruder if necessary. Only, Elizabeth poked her head around the door and grinned at him, one finger held to her smiling lips. She eased inside, wearing a robe over her shift, and then closed the door as silently as she’d opened it. Turning around, she pressed against it, waiting.

  “What are you doing here?”

  She sauntered toward him, one slow step at a time. “I want to be with you, Jedediah. Like before.”

  He shook his head slowly, amazed at her audacity and not wanting to hurt her feelings but needing to keep to his vow to respect her until they did marry. “We shouldn’t have lain together last time, my love. I do not believe we should do so again. Your aunt would most definitely object.”

  She sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at him with expectation in her eyes. “Yes, we should. I want to enjoy our time together as much as possible. Please?” She untied the belt to her robe and slipped the thin material from her shoulders, laying it across the foot of his bed. The moonlight illuminated her face, making her look like an angel.

  The little temptress. Oh, how he wanted to as well. But what if she got with child as a result? And then what if he died fighting? How unfair such an event would be for her. He couldn’t do it. Not again. He couldn’t be that selfish. Not knowing how perilous the next months could prove to be.

  She leaned toward him, bringing the scent of vanilla and lavender to his nose. The fall of her long hair across her shoulder called him to run his fingers through the fine tresses. She smiled at him, an enticing gesture suggesting he plant a kiss on her mouth.

  “Elizabeth, I do not think it wise.” He had to remain strong, to deny his longings and wishes. For her.

  “Jedediah…”

  The pleading in her eyes was his undoing. He had to find a way to please her without destroying her. “Very well. We can hold each other, but nothing more. I don’t want to harm your reputation by creating a child before we are married.”

  “I’ll take what I can get.” She moved to slide into the bed with him. “I need to be with you. That is the most important thing.”

  He wrapped his arms around her; her back pressed to his chest. Felt her breathing gradually slow and his eyes droop. His last thought before sleep claimed him was that he wanted to lie like that forever.

  Chapter 10

  Abernathy Plantation – June 1781

  Sunshine fell upon the blackberry bushes, illuminating the deep purple berries hanging from the fully leafed branches. Elizabeth grasped a plump one and gently tugged it free to place in the basket hanging over her other arm. Emily worked nearby as they slowly moved along the fence row supporting the bushes. Her long muslin skirts dragged across the thorny branches, and she pulled them free with a quick movement.

  “I can practically taste the blackberries and cream we’ll have for dinner.” She quickly slipped berries from their stems and added them to the large basket.

  “Too bad Jedediah had to leave weeks before they ripened enough that we could pick them.” Emily eased between several long branches to reach the abundance of fruit among them. “Do you fear for his safety like I do for Frank’s?”

  “Every moment.” Elizabeth picked and placed the berries, but her thoughts remained on what her betrothed might be doing at that moment. After their last night together, holding each other until dawn, she had only the occasional short missive to calm her swirling thoughts. “I worry he’ll allow his duty to his country to compel him to take risks he need not.”

  “Both of them are very brave and have vowed to die for the cause if the necessity presents itself.” Emily shook her head as she added to her collection. “I do not believe that means they will be foolhardy.”

  “Men can be boys at times and think they are invincible.” The source of her biggest concerns related to Jedediah and Frank, and of course her brothers. At least her sister would not act rashly. Being twins, they enjoyed a deep connection unexplainable by words, only shared feelings. “I’m glad you’re here with me, Em. You keep me calm no matter what is transpiring around us.”

  Emily paused in her berry picking to regard Elizabeth with a serious expression. “My dear sister, you must know that I would do absolutely anything to ensure your happiness and contentment. We are as one in so many respects. You just need to name it and I will always do what I can.”

  “I know, and I feel the same way. Whatever you need, Em, I’m here to see that it happens for you.”

  “Now that we have that settled,” Emily said, resuming her task, “did you and Jedediah discuss your plan to marry when he was here last?”

  “In detail. We must wait until September to have the banns read at church.” Such a long time to be forced to wait but she would honor his promise to both the army and to her. “I’ll ask that they be read beginning the first Sunday of that month, so the third reading will be completed by the time he is released from his obligation. We’ll be joined at the earliest possible date.”

  “I see you’ve thought a lot about it.” Emily laughed as she moved to work at another bush. “What about your dress? Have you thought about that?”

  “I’ve thought about it, but haven’t decided yet on a style let alone the color of the fabric.” She sighed, annoyed at her indecision. She wanted the perfect gown, but what constituted the perfect one for her? Then there was the other little con
sideration. One she had wrestled in her mind for weeks on end before finally coming to a decision of her own. “I’m not sure what size I might need.”

  Emily turned quizzing eyes to her and halted her hand in midair, abruptly stopping her picking. “What do you mean?”

  “One never knows when one may conceive a child.” She waited for the shock to register on her sister’s countenance. “If it should happen, I mean, then I shall accept my fate with good grace.”

  “You think you may be with child?” Emily’s mouth didn’t quite close after she spoke. “You’ve lain with him?”

  “No, and one time. I hope to again, the next time Jedediah visits. If he’ll consent as well.” She smiled at Emily’s surprised features, raised brows, open mouth, suspended hand. “I must convince him of my sincerity in my desire to do so. After all, carrying his child would enable me to have his love with me forever.”

  “Father will not be pleased with you if you pursue this course of action.” Emily recovered from her surprise, her brows drawing into a frown. “I cannot condone your plan.”

  “As we’ve discussed, what if he were to die? Then I’d have nothing if not his child to love and nurture. What is amiss with such a desire?”

  Emily considered the question for several moments while she plucked berries and laid them on the growing mound in the basket she carried. “I think I understand. While I pray that none of our men die, if Jedediah did then loving his child may be some consolation.”

  “Indeed. I’d have a part of my betrothed at my side, evidence of my love for him.” Elizabeth hesitated as she reached to grip a berry, glancing at Emily. “But I’d rather have them both.”

  “Naturally.” Emily met her gaze. “But one of them is better than none.”

  Elizabeth nodded, hoping that she would indeed have both. When and if Jedediah came to her again, she’d set the wheels into motion.