Love Everlasting (24 page)

Her father frowned. “There's a possibility that he won't repeat what he told you for fear that someone will overhear. He's no fool. If he won't repeat it and insists on the wedding, then just comply and—”

“I will not marry that man.”

“I wasn't going to suggest you marry him,” Jay said. “I won't allow you to marry him. That's for certain. Wade added something to the plan just before I returned home. He suggested that if Welby won't listen, then you should tell him that you will yield and marry him. Make him believe you, just as you've done. Make sure he is willing to leave you alone for a few moments, and Wade will slip in and steal you away, if need be.”

“How adventurous. However, that would leave Mr. Welby able to hurt my aunts. I cannot do that.” Abrianna knew that Welby would have little trouble finding ways to torment and harm the old ladies. He would know that word would get to her, and he would make certain he caused just enough trouble to bring about her return.

“Father, I believe that this is a one-chance situation. If Mr. Welby won't repeat his words, I'll have no other choice than to see to it he can never do this to anyone again.”

Her father smiled. “As brave as you are, I really don't think you're capable of murder.”

Abrianna knew that, as well. “No. I'm not. But he is, and if it costs me my life, it will be worth it to keep the rest of you safe. I'll simply create a situation so he has no choice but to kill me. That way you and the witnesses can arrest him for my murder.”

“Wade would never let you do that,” her father replied.

“I know. And that's exactly why you will say nothing about it to him. I need your word on this, Father.”

“She's an awfully brave young woman to suggest such a thing,” Eloise Snyder said as she and Jay sat together on the porch swing later that night. “Do you suppose she would really go through with something so dramatic?”

“I do, unfortunately. I haven't known Abrianna long, but what little time I've spent here has proven to me that the girl is rather fearless when it comes to ensuring the safety of those she loves. Just look at all the nonsense she's gotten herself into already.”

Eloise nodded and took hold of Jay's hand. “Try not to worry. We'll pray and pray hard that Welby will have no fear in repeating his threats.”

Jay relaxed at the sound of her soft-spoken words and encouraging ways. He put his hand atop hers. “You know, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. Something other than my daughter's wedding.”

“All right.” She looked at him with a smile. “What is it?”

“Our wedding.” He grinned and held tighter to her hand. “I want you to marry me, Eloise. I've known it for a time now, but I felt it was the gentlemanly thing to wait. I wanted to give you time to be sure of your feelings. I've waited long enough, however. Seeing the mess these young folks have gotten themselves into, I want nothing to come between us.”

“Oh, Jay.” She drew his hand to her cheek and pressed it close. “You know I feel the same. I will happily marry you.”

“I'll never be a rich man.”

“I don't care. I'll happily live over the stalls with you. As long as we're together, none of the rest matters.”

“I'll work hard and see us fed and housed. I'm not a lazy man, to be sure.”

“I've never imagined you could be. Honestly, Jay, I've given the matter a great deal of consideration. I've been prepared to pose the question myself should you fail to do so. I've sold my house in Tacoma. It will give us a nice start. Unless, of course, you find it appalling to use your wife's money.”

He chuckled and drew her close. “As long as you come with the package, I'll take whatever comes with you. Riches or none. Health or sickness. I am prepared to love you no matter.”

“And I am prepared to love you . . . no matter.” She lifted her face and met his gaze. “And I do love you, James Cunningham. More than I ever thought possible.”

He pressed a light kiss on her lips. “I love you, my dear Eloise.”

D
are I hope that you're actually enjoying yourself?” Welby asked Abrianna on Thursday evening.

She shrugged. “The music is lovely and the food delicious, although I have no appetite. I suppose it's just my constitution, what with all that is happening.” They sat tucked in the corner of a beautiful restaurant where a small orchestra played classical music and the waiters were dressed as fashionably as the patrons.

Abrianna wore a gown of navy blue brocade trimmed out in black jet. It was one of the gowns Lenore had recently given her. The neckline was modest, and the long sleeves added warmth. The style was of the latest designs from Paris, although Welby thought it much too chaste. His perversions only served to rile her sense of dignity.

“I suppose you have considered that you'll need to have your things delivered to my house prior to the wedding, as we are to reside there immediately. Of course, I have much of your new wardrobe already scheduled to be brought there.”

The very thought filled Abrianna with horror. She did her best to keep from frowning. They were less than two days from
the Saturday wedding, and all she could think about was the one chance they would have to catch Welby in his lies.

“You look perplexed.”

“I suppose I am. You haven't given me very much time to accomplish everything needed. I'm afraid I haven't even begun to pack.”

He chuckled. “Well, you'll have tomorrow. I can send over some servants to help you with it.”

“That's not necessary.” Abrianna forced herself to sound nonchalant about the matter. “We have a houseful of people who can help me. I just didn't think about it.”

“It's all I've been able to think about.” Welby leaned closer. “I have to admit that when all of this started, I merely wanted a means of getting back at a lot of people. My father in particular. Now, however, well . . . I don't suppose you'll believe me, but I find you impossible to put from my mind.”

Abrianna shook her head. “I hardly see how marriage to me will help you in that situation. I don't know your father, and he definitely doesn't know me.”

“True enough, but that will soon be rectified, as I will explain. You are of a sterling reputation, and while your ministries to the poor have caused some to think you rather reckless, most of the people who know you hold you in high esteem. Added to that, your family in Seattle has also been highly esteemed.”

“But what of my father? You have taken great pleasure in reminding me of his twenty years in prison. That can hardly impress your father. Won't it harm your standing?”

He laughed. “Not at all. You see, once we are married, I intend to make a great show of the grave injustice done to James Cunningham. I will have newspaper stories covering what happened to him and how he found himself falsely accused. It will
lay a good foundation for me as I press for better laws requiring additional evidence in all murder cases. This, I've decided, will be the perfect lead into my political career.”

“Political career?” She looked at him in disbelief. “With all you've got going on—illegally, that is—how can you even think of politics?”

“Oh, my dear Abrianna. You are sweetly naïve. All politicians are masters of the illegal. How else do you suppose they accomplish all that they do?”

“I presumed that men who put themselves into positions of elected office accomplished the will of the people.”

“Granted, there are some who do. However, for every honest politician there are at least twenty others who are in their offices purely for personal gain. I intend to be among their number and see to it that the office serves me instead of the other way around.

“As for my father, there is a long-standing debt he owes me. I have worked very hard all these years to finally see that old man put in his place.”

Abrianna frowned. “You must hate him a great deal.”

“I do. He threw me out of my home without a penny to my name, and all for what he perceived as an unforgivable lapse in judgment.” Welby sat back in his chair, and his expression grew hard. Abrianna did her best not to shiver at the look of pure hatred in his eyes.

“I have carefully invested my money and bought my support where it could be had. Once we are married, we will go to him and I will deliver to him the truth of his failures face-to-face.”

“I still don't see how that has anything to do with me.”

“Well, perhaps it doesn't have as much to do with you as it used to. I once felt certain that showing my father that a
respectable woman of society would have me as a husband would prove something to him. It came purely as a welcome surprise that you turned out to be an heiress, as well.” He gave her a smug look of satisfaction. “A very welcome surprise. I believe it will show those friends of his a thing or two after they all boasted of their connections when I was young. Ultimately, I will show my father that I have gained far greater wealth than he will ever know. And finally, I will reveal to him that I have had his business associates and friends in my control for some time.” He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. “Then he will regret not only what he did, but he will despair of his very life before I'm through with him.”

Abrianna thought to tell him that he would never have any benefit from her money, but she knew it was best to let him think whatever he wanted. Instead, she questioned him about his father.

“Do you really suppose it was easy for your father to take a stand? It sounds to me that he had his values and wanted to teach you something about them. Perhaps he always intended for you to come back and seek forgiveness.”

“I will never ask any man for that. Nor any woman.”

She shivered at the implication. “And what of God's forgiveness, Mr. Welby?”

He shook his head. “I won't ask for His, either.”

“But why not?”

Welby picked up his wine goblet and swirled the contents for a moment. He tossed back the remaining contents, then shrugged. “I won't give Him the satisfaction of rejecting me like my father did.”

Abrianna tried to focus on the meal but found that what little appetite she had mustered up was now gone.

She suppressed a yawn that drew Welby's attention. He offered a sympathetic smile. “I suppose I haven't given you a great deal of time to rest during all of this. You must understand, of course, that I couldn't risk leaving you too much time to yourself. You might have plotted against our marriage and me.”

“I'm not really as horrible a person as you believe me to be. Not that you care to know my heart.”

He considered her a moment. “You're wrong. I hope you might believe me when I say that I am sorry that things had to take this course. I would much rather have had you fall in love with me and desire this union.”

She could almost believe him. His words and expression seemed genuinely contrite, but Abrianna wasn't going to allow herself to feel anything for him but regret. “I'm sorry, but I'm so very tired. I wonder if you might consider taking me home.”

He nodded. “Of course. I want you well rested for Saturday.” He signaled the waiter. After arranging for the bill, Welby got to his feet and helped Abrianna to hers.

She let him help her with her cloak and didn't move away from him when he took hold of her elbow. Abrianna figured once they were in the carriage, he might try to kiss her or worse and so decided to approach the subject of her purity once they were alone.

The carriage had barely begun to move when Abrianna spoke. “I want to thank you for understanding my desire to remain pure until we . . . until our marriage. I could not face myself, much less a church filled with people, and wear white, if I were not . . . not unspoiled.”

He chuckled. “You have some strange notions, my dear.”

“Nonsense. I think you would find most women think as I do,” Abrianna said. “Besides, you must consider my belief in
the Bible. The Bible makes it clear that fornication is a sin.” She tried not to be embarrassed about the topic of their conversation but to stand on the truth. “I desire to come to my husband without blemish on my reputation or my convictions.”

“Yes, but were we to . . . fornicate, as you put it,” he said, sounding amused, “it would be less than two days before we were legally wed.”

“I understand that, but what if one of us were to die? Any number of things might happen, although I certainly do not anticipate it.” She tried to sound casual about the entire idea. “If I were to allow your desires, we would be forever changed. At least I would be. And if I were the one remaining and you were the one who died, I might even find myself with child. I could never find acceptance in the public eye as an unmarried woman having a baby.”

“I suppose you make a good point. However, I think you overestimate your unmarried sisters around the world. Believe me when I say that many a young woman finds herself happily engaged in amorous games prior to her wedding.”

“Well, I'm not one of them. And I only brought it up to thank you. I know it was not your desire to put off such things. But I do appreciate that you have acted in an honorable way . . . for the most part.” She cringed. She hadn't meant to add the latter and could only hope it hadn't offended him.

“If being a virgin on your wedding night is that important, then I will give that to you as my gift. It hasn't been easy knowing that I could have forced the matter, given all that I have available to me.”

“I realize that you could have threatened someone I love with an accident or death. Perhaps it shows some decency in you that you have considered my feelings on the matter.”

He laughed most heartily. “Your naivety knows no bounds, Abrianna. There is nothing decent about me.”

The carriage came to a stop, and Abrianna breathed a sigh of relief as the groomsman opened the door and Welby climbed out. She had no idea how she might have answered Welby's last statement. It quite amazed her that the man took such pride in being evil. She drew a deep breath and rose. She only had to get through tomorrow and then her ability to play a part would determine her entire future.

“No,”
a still, soft voice seemed to whisper to her heart.
“I hold your future.”

She smiled and nodded as Welby helped her down. God held her future. Her actions were of little consequence if God was not in control.

Abrianna entered the house to find her aunts awaiting her return. Her father had told her that he would inform her aunts of the wedding-day plans so they would not despair of the situation. She knew they had been very hurt by her unwillingness to confide in them.

“We would like to speak to you for a moment, Abrianna,” Aunt Miriam declared.

“Of course.” Abrianna draped her cloak on the banister before following the trio into the small private sitting room. A fire was burning out in the hearth, but the room was still toasty and warm.

“We were going upstairs to prepare for bed, but your father came to us and explained what has been going on.” Aunt Miriam sat down beside Poisie on the settee. Aunt Selma took the chair opposite them and nodded.

“I am sorry,” Abrianna said in a hushed voice, “that I could
not say more. In fact, I doubt it is wise for us to say much even now. I find that Mr. Welby has spies in the most unlikely places.”

“Surely not here!” Aunt Poisie put her hand to her throat. “Goodness, but I couldn't sleep at all if I thought that. Perhaps we should all take up weapons?” She posed the thought as a question and looked to her sister for confirmation.

“I don't believe he has anyone here, but I would practice caution,” Abrianna replied. “I never meant to hurt any of you, and I have been most grieved by the fact that I have. Please know that I am sorry, and I hope you will forgive me.”

“Of course,” Aunt Miriam said. “We could never hold anything against you. We love you.” Aunt Poisie bobbed her head in approval.