Elizabeth Meyette (38 page)

“Who do you think you are that you can presume so much? My happiness will never be dependent on you! I think it is best that you leave at once!”

“Oh, I cannot leave, Em. I am staying for supper.”

“You are what? How — ?”

“Andrew invited me. He, at least, has some manners.” He hid a smile.

“And I do not, I suppose?” Emily rose from the settee placing a hand on each hip. Her blue eyes had darkened to violet with her anger, and a blush heightened in her cheeks. Her jaw was set, and her full soft lips clamped into a firm line.

Jonathon replied easily, “Well, he did have the courtesy to ask a new member of the family to supper. After all, if we are to spend weeks together in the close quarters of a ship, I would deem it necessary to become better acquainted. I am sure that by the end of the voyage we shall know each other
very
well,” he smiled wickedly. “But things will go much more smoothly en route if we develop a closer relationship now.”

“I have no intention of developing anything with you, Captain Brentwood. And as for the family, I consider all of this to be a totally unnecessary, legalistic mix-up and nothing more. If I never get to know you better, it will be fine with me. Mrs. Dennings was right; you are a rake. Why, you probably have a woman in every harbor. I should have accepted Michael’s proposal. He knows how to treat a lady with decency and respect.”

“And now you are without the benefit of Mother Dennings’ exhortations, too. You’ve told me of her strong opinions and disdain for anything not of England. Oh, I can picture all of you gathered ‘round the cozy hearth listening to her prattle on about the immorality of the savage colonies and their provincialism,” he laughed. “No, Em. No such life for you. You have too much spirit, too much drive for what Michael Dennings and his mother could offer.”

Emily was startled at how his remarks mirrored her thoughts of just minutes earlier. Could he read her mind?

“And I suppose you could offer so much more? Tell me, sir, would traipsing off to some backward land with you be so much better? Will you then find me a suitable mate who will offer me all I deserve? Hah! You will probably deny me any suitable young gentleman who is courteous and kind. You will keep me a spinster. To what end, sir? What game do you play?” She had paced across the room during her tirade, unaware of admiring eyes that followed her graceful gait.

“Aye, Em, I could offer you more than your Mr. Dennings. I could show you places of such beauty and wonder as to take your breath away. Mountains that soar up and kiss the floor of heaven. Lush forests that stretch as far as the eye can see, full of trees so big that two men with arms outstretched would be hard pressed to span the diameter and touch their fingertips end to end. Our ‘backward’ land, as you call it, has cities with shops to rival London’s. What is more, we judge a man, not by what his ancestors were, but by what he can wrest out of life and shape into his own. A man can build his worth from nothing; he can become wealthy, influential, anything he wants, on his own merit, not someone else’s. It is a rich land, Em, full of promise for people with spirit. People like you and Andrew who draw strength from an inner reserve. Come with me because you
want
to, Em. See for yourself what Virginia is like. I believe one day you will love it as I do.” Jonathon’s eyes were shining as he spoke passionately of his land. Emily felt sudden warmth for him. But he was asking so much.

“I cannot say that I
want
to go, Captain Brentwood, but I have no choice in any event,” Emily sighed.

Jonathon saw the confusion in her eyes. She seemed to look deeply into the realm of possibilities before her, and complicating it all was the still-fresh grief for her father. He began to realize his own growing hope that she would indeed
want
to go with him. He understood her pain and the enormity of her decision, for he knew it must be her decision. He tried to lighten her mood.

“Emily, must you be so formal? Please call me Jonathon.”

Andrew burst into the room. “I have been down to the wharves, Jonathon. Everything is progressing smoothly. What a beautiful ship the
Destiny
is! Mr. Gates sends word that the mizzenmast is repaired and we should sail on schedule,” his eyes danced with excitement.

Jonathon grimaced. They had run into a pirate ship far north of the Barbary Coast, and the
Destiny
had sustained considerable damage. But the pirate ship had suffered her wrath and limped off the worse for wear. Jonathon would have pursued her had he not been on his way to England at the behest of George Wentworth’s will. He hoped their crossing to Virginia would be without incident.

“That is good news, Andrew,” he replied.

Emily noticed his concern. “Did you encounter trouble, Captain?”

“Nothing we could not handle,” he grinned.

Supper was announced, and Jonathon offered his arm to Emily. She could think of no reason to refuse without appearing rude, so she tucked her hand through the crook of his arm. She felt the firm muscles of his forearm through the fabric of his sleeve. She glanced sideways at his strong profile with its aquiline nose and square jaw. He caught her glance and winked at her. She quickly looked away. Why did he disturb her so?

Discussion at the table was lively with Andrew firing a myriad of questions at Jonathon about Virginia. His excitement was apparent, and he was anxious to set sail. Jonathon answered his questions patiently, laughing at his enthusiasm.

“I wish your sister was as eager about this voyage as you are,” he laughed gently, glancing at Emily. She had enjoyed listening to his tales of the colonies, but had remained silent for the most part. Now she raised her eyebrows at Jonathon.

“Captain Brentwood, I am leaving everything I know and love. Allow me my reluctance, sir.”

“But, Emily, have you not been listening to Jonathon? It sounds like paradise over in Virginia. Can we set sail earlier?” Andrew’s eyes shone.

“No, Andrew,” Jonathon laughed, “I need time to ready my ship. And to convince your sister that she really
does
want to come.”

“You have a difficult task ahead of you, Captain Brentwood,” she replied. Andrew chuckled at her proper form of address.

• • •

Emily watched in the mirror as Mary brushed out her hair. She had to admit that the evening had passed pleasantly enough in Captain Brentwood’s company. He had piqued her curiosity with the tales of his homeland. And he was even more handsome, if possible, when he was caught up in stories about Virginia as his eyes sparkled and his smile showed straight, white teeth against skin bronzed by the sun and the sea.

Emily climbed between the lavender-scented sheets and closed her eyes. It had been a trying day. Michael’s proposal had been her goal on rising this morning, but the day had not gone at all as she had planned. None of her plans were working out lately. It was as if someone were interfering with her destiny …
Destiny.
She slipped off to sleep.

• • •

Jonathon had stopped off at the Golden Pheasant Inn and sat in the corner table of the common room drinking his ale. He needed time to think before returning to his ship. It had been an enjoyable evening. Andrew was an enthusiastic as well as knowledgeable boy. George Wentworth had hoped Andrew would follow in his footsteps when his education was completed. He was already well versed in the ways of sailing, and seemed to have the natural talent of his father.

Emily was an enigma. She vocalized clearly her reluctance to sail to America, yet her eyes had glowed as she listened to his stories, leaning forward, chin resting in her hand, concentrating on every word, then catching herself, sitting up primly, feigning indifference. He caught her lost in thought once and wondered if she were reconsidering Michael Denning’s proposal. He thought not. Searching her eyes today he had seen only firm resolution. No, Michael Dennings was not the man for Emily Wentworth.

“’Scuse me, Captain Brentwood, can I git ya another ale?” A plump, pretty girl was smiling down at him. Millie leaned forward to take his empty tankard revealing much of her ample bosom. “Can I git ya anything else, Love?” she asked invitingly. Jonathon had been at sea a long time, and normally this invitation might not have been unwelcome. But his mind was preoccupied with his new station in life — that of a guardian.

“Not tonight, Millie,” he replied. He watched the girl turn and sway her hips provocatively, no doubt in the hopes he would change his mind.

Jonathon rose and went out into the night. Settling George’s estate and readying the ship for departure were enough to busy a man. But the problem of what to do with Emily taxed his mind the most.

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