Doves Migration (5 page)

“And don’t you think I don’t know it, too. As soon as we reach New
York I plan to spend the rest of my life making both Joshua and Michael
proud of me.”
Miranda sheepishly said, “Well, all I can say is, Michael definitely
takes after his father and not his mother.” Shaking her head knowingly at
Felicity, she added, “Now, don’t look at me so disapprovingly, Felicity. You
know what I say is the absolute truth.”
Felicity softly chuckled and whispered, “Shh, Miranda. What if
Michael can hear you?”
Anxious to hear what Michael’s parents were really like, Elise smiled
encouragingly, knowing if she asked point blank that would be wrong, but
if Miranda volunteered the information . . .
Well, what could be the harm in
listening?
“Oh Felicity, you know perfectly well Vivian grates on your last nerve,
always comparing you to her precious Lavinia.” Realizing she had said too
much, Miranda quickly added, “I’m so sorry, Felicity. Will you ever
forgive me?”
“No harm done. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time, and Elise will be
told the whole sordid past regarding Lavinia, Benjamin, and me. After
Elise bared her heart to me, it’s only fair that I reciprocate. Besides, I
would rather Elise hear my side first.”
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Elise squealed softly, “I
knew there was something peculiar going on, regarding the Sterlings. Isn’t
that their names? I sensed it back at that restaurant.”
“Elise, you are truly amazing. I won’t even ask how we gave it away,”
Miranda whispered.
Slowly, Felicity began explaining to Elise how she came to meet her
husband, Benjamin, after her parents’ tragic deaths. She explained the
arrangements her uncle, Edwin Robbins, had provided for her--to live with
the Reverend Myles and his newly-wed wife, Lavinia.
Confused, Elise asked, “Excuse me, Felicity. Are you saying that when
you first went to England, Benjamin was married to this other woman,
Lavinia?”
“Yes. It’s very confusing, and since we have a long ride ahead of us,
I’ll try to explain everything to you.”
Elise sat silently as Felicity explained the details of her past. From the
look in Felicity’s eyes, it was clear to see this was something that brought
her deep pain.
From her first meeting with Benjamin, when Felicity had mistaken him
as the headmaster of the school she was to teach at, she saw in him a
tenderness she had never seen in any other man. And as good friends as she
and Benjamin had become, the opposite was true of Felicity and Lavinia.
A tender smile crossed Felicity’s lips as she spoke of meeting other
family members; her Aunt Gwen, the sister of Felicity’s late grandfather,
and her cousins Rupert Robbins and Anne Spencer. It was clear that
Felicity genuinely missed them and loved them dearly. As she explained
the rift that had kept the Phelps and the Robbins apart for so many years,
the tone of her voice betrayed great sadness.
“You see, my grandfather and grandmother had such a deep love for
one another that they risked everything to be together, forsaking their past,
their inheritances, and their families, just so they could be together.
Unfortunately, their love caused my dear Aunt Gwen a tremendous amount
of pain.”
Elise and Miranda remained silent allowing Felicity to continue. She
explained her beloved aunt’s pain was precisely why she and Benjamin
were together now. Seeing their look of confusion, Felicity began to
describe the night of the ball, when she was introduced to society.
“That was to be a magical night, bringing two families together.
Instead, it ended up being a night that separated another and nearly
destroyed an innocent man’s reputation--her Benjamin’s. The man with
whom she had fallen hopelessly in love with, despite knowing he was
never to be hers.”
As Felicity relived the Squire’s attack, she nearly faltered, her voice
cracked with pain and humiliation. Yet she continued.
When Felicity revealed it was Lavinia’s father--the Squire--who had
accosted her, Lavinia had risen to his defense, accusing her own husband,
Benjamin, of being the attacker instead. Within weeks of that dreadful
night, Lavinia disappeared, presumably to Australia with her married lover,
James Sterling. Benjamin had been sent away by the Church of England to
avoid further scandal, even though he had, by then, been proven innocent.
Felicity had no hope that her love for Benjamin and his love for her
could ever be accepted in British society. Benjamin’s reputation had been
tainted and she, as an heiress of two prominent families, must forget the
love she had found in her Ben.
Pausing, Felicity looked earnestly at Elise, saying, “When you
explained the depth of your pain, not knowing where Joshua was or if he
was alive or dead, I understood exactly what you felt. I knew from my own
experience, the depths of such pain. Unless you experience it first hand, no
one, no matter how sympathetic they are, can ever truly understand. You
see, that is what I felt when I was separated from Benjamin. Fortunately,
my Aunt Gwen had known such pain and brought us back together. She
risked her own life, so I could live in true happiness.”
“And have you?” Elise asked softly, genuinely moved by what Felicity
had been through.
“Elise, there are no words to describe the utter peace and joy I have
experienced since I became Mrs. Benjamin Myles. I know this may sound
strange to some. Nevertheless, when two people have struggled as you and
Joshua, Michael and your dear mother, my dear grandparents, and my Ben
and I have, I truly believe God blesses them with an extraordinary gift. And
that gift is bliss in loving one another completely and freely. And I know
that with all you and Joshua have been through, you too, will have such a
marriage.”
“Oh Felicity, that’s so kind of you to say. Mama said something very
similar to me, many years ago, when I couldn’t decide between my loyalty
to my countrymen and the man I loved . . .”
Her voice trailed off, recalling the day Joshua had told her he didn’t
trust her. That day, fearful she would lose him forever, Elise had chosen
love. A frown crossed her brow and she said, “Felicity, there’s just one
thing I don’t understand. How is it that Lavinia is in New York and married
to James Sterling?”
As Felicity explained, Benjamin sat silently on the back of the coach,
smiling.
My dear Felicity
. . . he mused,
What a treasure you are
.
With all
her wealth and position rightfully due her, the only thing that matters to
her still, is our love.
Looking up at the darkened sky filled with twinkling
stars, Benjamin bowed his head and earnestly said a prayer of thanks to
God. Ending his prayer he asked,
Dear Lord, please grant dear Felicity the
child she so desperately wants.
As Felicity and Elise finished sharing their tales, Miranda looked at her
friends and said, “Both of you are so fortunate, to find someone to share
your lives with, while I’m convinced more than ever that I’ll end up an old
maid.”
“Oh pish-posh Miranda,” Elise exclaimed. “Why, you are lovelier
today than I’ve ever seen you. Surely by now, someone has taken a fancy
to you.”
Before Miranda had a chance to answer, Felicity interrupted. “Oh,
believe me, someone has. A most desirable gentleman, too . . .”
“Oh, and you haven’t said a word. Why you naughty girl. Tell me who
this lucky man is,” Elise said, bubbling with excitement.
Miranda rolled her eyes as her cheeks turned bright red, and she
protested in embarrassment. “There is nothing to tell. I’ve told you dozens
of times, Felicity,” Miranda scolded, turning her head to the woman beside
her. “I’m not the least bit romantically interested in Tad.”
“Tad?” Elise blurted, her curiosity getting the best of her. “You can’t
mean Michael’s son, can you? Oh that would be perfect. Then we truly
would be sisters.”
“As lovely as that would be, Elise . . . There is no future for Tad and
me.”
Confused, Elise asked, “Why? You made a comment earlier that
Michael’s mother is . . . perhaps difficult. Is she preventing such a union?”
“No, not at all. As difficult as Vivian can be at times, I honestly believe
she has grown fond of me in her own way. In answer to your question, no,
Mrs. Honeycutt is not preventing a romance between her grandson and
me.”
“Is there something wrong with Tad?”
“No. He’s extremely good looking, very educated, always charming
and exhibiting the finest character.”
“Well, Tad sounds perfect, for goodness sake Miranda. What is wrong
then? Surely, it can’t be because of him being a Northerner. Is that it?”
Elise’s back stiffened, taking offense to the implication, suddenly feeling
very protective of men from the North. “Does this have anything to do with
your Papa? Surely, he wouldn’t deny you . . .”
“Stop! Father has no objections to Tad. Why, he has even hinted that as
difficult as it would be for him to accept any man, least of all a Northerner,
he would never stand in the way of my happiness.”
Elise looked at Felicity and Miranda, completely puzzled. “Then what
in tarnation is wrong? You say Tad is wonderful and neither of your
families is opposed to your union. Why, then? I don’t understand.”
“Well, as polished and as debonair as Tad appears to be in public,
there’s something about him . . . Let’s just say Tad definitely takes after his
grandmother rather than his grandfather, Alfred, or even Michael.”
Before Miranda had an opportunity to expand on that, Sarah--still
awake and unable to bear the thought of Michael overhearing anything
negative about his son--started to stir. Raising her head up straight and
opening her eyes slowly, Sarah smiled at the three women, saying, “My, I
must have dozed off. Surely, we’re well out of danger by now. Perhaps we
should inquire if we could stop and rest for the night? Michael and Joshua
must be exhausted by now, driving from Fairfax and now this.” Without
waiting for a response, Sarah tapped on the roof of the coach.
Within minutes, they came to a halt. After determining it was unwise
for them to seek lodging, possibly arousing suspicions needlessly, Joshua
found a location nestled deep in the woods where they could pass the night
unnoticed.
Benjamin and Felicity, clinging close to one another a few yards from
the coach, whispered their goodnights while Sarah and Michael found
shelter under a tree close by. Lying in her husband’s arms, Sarah assumed
from his quiet demeanor that he had overheard the conversation earlier.
Rather than saying anything, she cuddled closer to him, whispering,
“Darling, I’m so sorry, but after lying in these damp weeds and leaves I’m
afraid I’m going to ruin the lovely dress you bought me.”
“Don’t give it another thought, dear. As soon as we get to New York, I
will take care of everything.” Sarah knew he meant more than just
replacing her dress.
With Miranda across from her, fast asleep in the carriage, Elise could
hear Joshua pacing alongside and she crept off the seat where she had been
trying to sleep. Peering out the window, she saw Joshua leaning against a
tree. As she watched him, her heart soared and she thought of that first
night so long ago, when he was leaning against the French doors of her
mother’s parlor.
Sneaking out of the coach as quietly as she could, she saw him
grinning at her from the shadows. As she approached, he shook his head.
“What are you doing skulking about, Miss Hamilton? Seems I’ve caught
you again. You’re not going to try and wiggle your way out of this by
claiming you’re sleepwalking are you?” he whispered, teasingly.
“Oh no, I know precisely what I’m doing. I’ve learned my lesson long
ago. You were always more clever than I, anyway.”
Pulling her close to him, their eyes met. “Oh Elise, I still can’t believe
we’re together.” Wrapping her in his arms he whispered, “Why aren’t you
resting? I thought you were fast asleep hours ago.”
“I couldn’t sleep. Darling, you must be exhausted, too. Why don’t you
rest for a spell and I’ll keep watch.”
“You little spitfire, always afraid you’re going to miss something.”
Joshua chuckled softly.
Pouting, she said, “No, I’m not. Honestly . . .”
Before she had a chance to finish, Joshua whispered, “I know.”
His head bent toward her and from the look in his eyes, Elise knew
how raw his passion for her was. As their mouths hungrily found one
another in the dark of the night, Elise wrapped her arm around the nape of
his neck, moaning slightly. Joshua tenderly pulled back from kissing her
further, whispering, “As captivating as your charms are my dearest, you are
a distraction. Why not return to the coach while I stand guard?”
Defiantly, Elise begged, “No. Oh please, let me stay here with you,
Joshua. I promise I’ll be good.”
Lovingly, he smiled at her. “I’ve never been able to refuse you, have
I?”
Sheepishly, she grinned. “Well, that’s not exactly true. Why, as I recall,
two times in particular, you certainly did turn down my advances. Shall I
refresh your memory, Major Carmidy?”
“No, that won’t be necessary, you little minx. Now, if you insist on
staying out here, come sit beside me. That is, only if you promise to behave
yourself, you shameless hussy,” Joshua whispered teasingly at her.
“I promise to
try,
” Elise replied, enjoying their playful bantering. They
took a seat against the trunk of the tree. For the better of an hour, Elise
nestled in his arms, while Joshua gingerly brushed her hair along her
forehead. Feeling her breathing steadying, he knew at last that his beloved
had fallen asleep.
Joshua stiffened slightly as a male figure approached, and Michael
Honeycutt, hearing the chilling sound of the hammer being cocked on
Joshua’s pistol in the still of the night, whispered,
“Hold on there, son. It’s only me. By the looks of it, perhaps, I should
be drawing my rifle on you,” Michael said jokingly, nodding toward Elise,
still nestled in Joshua’s arms. Joshua released his hand from his gun and
placed it back near his side.
“Sir, I can assure you nothing happened. You know how determined
Elise is . . .”
Raising his hand, Michael smiled. “Oh, I know only too well, Joshua.
Get some rest now and I’ll stand guard for a spell. We’ve got a lot of miles
to cover tomorrow.”