Page 32 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
Lake Champlain, The United States of America, close to the Canadian Border March 1814
“Amelia, we are nearly there. From here on out, we must be careful and keep an eye out for the Redcoats or their colonial militia,” said Jake, staring ahead with a serious expression etched onto his features.
Amelia, who had decided on riding herself as of late, turned to look at her friend’s loyal and strong betrothed. She liked Jake a great deal. If things were different, she lamented; he could be a friend to me too.
Now, Jake probably despises me for taking away his love.I must stop this whining; ever since leaving Jonathan behind, I have turned into a shadow of myself – this cannot go on. I owe it to myself and to Anna to stay strong and leave honorably with the consequences of my actions, no matter how unbearable that may be.
“Jake, might we make camp here for the night?” asked Amelia, regaining her poise with great difficulty.
“But it is only a couple of hours past noon. If we push on, we could make it into Canada and a British outpost; it would be safer than them catching a group of Americans out here – we could be taken for spies,” protested Jake.
“I realize that. But there is no rush; not for me at least.” She smiled at the burly man with the scars on his face. “It would give you more time with Anna and I would have a chance to take in this beautiful scenery.”
Jake huffed. He had been sold at the mere mention of more time with his beloved Anna. “All right, Amelia.” He issued orders to the slaves to commence with the preparation of the camp. He moved closer to Amelia before she could dismount. “Yewill send her back to me, eh?”
“Of course, I will, Jake. Anna will help me for some time and then she will be free of her obligations to me; I promise.”
Jake appeared content with that. He made to dismount. A feral grunt escaped his mouth. “Amelia,yeare making a big mistake, I hope ye know that.” He didn’t wait for a reply. He dismounted, marched off and continued issuing orders to the men.
Amelia remained on the back of her horse. Tears threatened to seep out of her eyes and bring on the waterfall of sadness that she had become so accustomed to. She could not remember having cried so much in her life. She pressed her lips together forcefully.I will not remain a blubbering wreck. Pull yourself together. You made your bed; now lie in it.
Her gaze fell on the shimmering, watery expanse of Lake Champlain that sparkled occasionally when the winter sun kissed the surface. It was magnificent. However, the watery vastness to which Amelia directed her gaze was not blue or maybe even greenish blue, but white with dots of black where the rocks showed their heads above the snow and ice.
There was a large island aptly called Grand Isle in the center of the freshwater lake and some smaller ones to the north of it. Everything was so vast and infinite that Amelia had a hard time imagining that the land would end in some place, heralding the beginning of the Atlantic Ocean.
“Someone approaches,” yelled Jake.
Amelia snapped her head in the direction of his voice. All around her, the slaves dispersed, positioning themselves behind rocks, trees and any other cover available to them. She was frightened but hopeful at the same time. She was certain that no British soldier would venture so far into American territory alone.Maybe, he is an outrider and his fellows follow in hot pursuit?Once blossoming anticipation turned into a shimmer of apprehension.
“Amelia, dismount lest the stranger seesye,” ordered Jake who was already strategically placed by the carriage where Anna was hidden.
Amelia heeded his order without protest. She hastily dismounted, gathered her skirts and ran to the carriage and her friend.
“Who doyethink it is?” asked Anna once Amelia was ensconced beside her.
“I don’t know but we will soon find out.”
And just as Amelia’s words slipped past her lips, the man on horseback appeared over the crest of the nearby hill. He was big of stature and handled his black horse as if he formed a part of it. The amalgamation of rider and steed was so fluid that it could be mistaken for a centaur if such creatures existed.
He carried a musket held by a strap to his back. Another such weapon jolted angrily in a sheath by the flank of the horse. His sword jingled with the movement of his mount. On his head, he wore a black top hat that was the same obsidian black as his horse. A tightly buttoned black topcoat, neckerchief and grey trousers that vanished into his black riding boots graced his person – he was a gentleman of substance that was for certain.
“Jonathan,” cried Jake, getting to his feet.
Amelia felt a rush of excitement course through her at the mention of that so cherished a name. It came to her in a series of heady flushes. Her heart beat faster, her breathing became more irate, and her foot tapped on the wooden floorboards of the vehicle uncontrollably.
“I knew he would come; come along, Amelia, we must greet him,” said Anna with a trace of excitement in her voice.
Amelia stopped her before she could open the carriage door. Anna frowned when she saw the confused expression on her friend’s face.
“Yeknow why he is here, don’tye?
Amelia nodded. “I think so…I just can’t believe he came.”
“So much for that Shakespeare fellowyetold me about or maybe…he was right after all. It’s all the same with these things;yecan see them as ye like. I wager that is the beauty of writing and performing,” said Anna. In the meantime, she had been well versed by Amelia in the intricacies of Shakespearean verse.
“I think you are right, Anna,” said Amelia, giving the vivacious Scotswoman a hug. “Out into the fray, Anna,” she said, breaking away.
By the time they stepped out of the conveyance, Jonathan had dismounted and was talking with Jake. Amelia, tentatively at first, walked over to where they stood.
