Page 27 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
“You remembered,” said Amelia when the waiter was gone.
“Of course, I did; I remember everything you tell me. You will love the Virginia oysters. I never had them anywhere else, but they are the best.”
“How do you know they are the best then?” asked Amelia.
Jonathan shrugged. “I just do.” The expression on his face became serious. “I have something I have been meaning to discuss with you.”
“Oh.” Amelia waited for Jonathan to taste the wine. After, they took a sip without making a toast. The ruby liquid was exquisite and like anything she had tasted back home.
“Jake has asked me for my permission as to whether he may ask Anna for her hand in marriage. Of course, he doesn’t really need it. He is my friend and very much his own man. He just asked for it out of respect for me and the mutual affection our late fathers shared.”
For a heartbeat, Amelia felt an icy shudder claim her. She was aware of the fact that Anna had strong feelings for Jake, but she had never spoken to her of their plans. All manner of thoughts came to Amelia’s mind: does that mean Anna would not return to England with her when the time came; of course, she wouldn’t – her place was with her husband.
The notion of being back home without her made Amelia feel slightly nauseous. Life just wouldn’t be the same. Anna was the only person who would’ve kept her sane. Now, the prospect of leaving was completely unappealing. The thought of missing Jonathan had been taxing enough but Anna too.
“You were unaware of this?” asked Jonathan, reading her inner turmoil. “I could of course refuse to give my blessing, but it would only cause a rift with my friend and they would go through with it anyway.”
“No, I wouldn’t want that. Anna deserves to be happy and she loves Jake very much.” Amelia refused to be selfish. Anna was more than just a lady’s maid. She was her friend.
“All right, that is settled then. I will tell Jake the good news when we get back to Fair Weather Heaths’. He will be overjoyed.”
Jonathan nodded at the waiter when he brought the oysters. He smiled at Amelia and indicated with his head that they both delve in and enjoy the saline taste delivered by the sea creatures.
They ate in silence. Amelia was lost in her own little world that consisted of the salty taste of the oyster and the worry she felt at losing her friend.
Jonathan felt for her. Even though Jake and Anna were very obvious about the way they felt, it still must have come as a shock that Anna would be staying in America. While he ate, he weighed up the options in his mind. He could ask Amelia to stay but for what reason? They had grown close, but it was nowhere close enough for him to propose such an alternative.
When their plates were cleared away for them, Jonathan decided that it was time. He would do what was right. He cleared his throat. “Amelia…”
She looked up hopefully. A frown materialized on her forehead when she saw how serious he had become. “Yes, Jonathan?”
“As you know when we arrived in Baltimore, I sent word to your family in Canada regarding your release.”
“My ransom, you mean.” Amelia did not mean to sound so icy. Being reminded of those days still rankled her.
“Yes, quite – your ransom. Well, I still haven’t received word,” said Jonathan, taking a sip of wine.
Trust that maggot, Templeton French, not to respond. He’s probably found another woman to punish with his inept advances.“What will you do now?” she asked. “Will you still let me return home?”
“Yes.”
Amelia could not help recoiling. All this time, she had dreamt of England and returning there. However, the dreams had weakened as time went by. Her memories of her parents and her life there had become but a blur as if none of it had ever existed. Fair Weather Heaths’ had taken center stage, the slaves, the magical land and him, Jonathan Mitchell.
It astounded her that he wanted to return her to her family. It saddened her more that he had not asked her first. Amelia looked at Jonathan who peered back at her. He seemed as if he was in pain.He does not want this, she thought.I am certain of it.
Say that you wish to stay with me and I will gladly accept. Say it, Amelia. We could have a beautiful life here and better than anything you could have in England.Jonathan willed her with his gaze to say something, but she didn’t. All Amelia did was stare back at him, expecting the same from him. The arrival of their main courses broke the spell.
Once more, they ate in silence. The meat was tender, the sauce excellent and the gratin daupinoise just how Amelia remembered it. Neither of them risked another look at the other. All focus was on their plates that rapidly emptied as if they were sharing their last meal together. The sad irony was, it may well have been.
“When do you plan on taking me back?” asked Amelia. The silence was killing her. With the plates gone, there was nowhere for her to look, no place to focus her attention, other than on the handsome man that had robbed her of her otherwise sensible comportment.
“Soon, I was thinking in a few days time. I will, of course, accompany you. I will ask Jake to come too.”
His manner was so matter-of-fact, it had Amelia thinking that she had misread all of the signs – nothing had passed between them other than possible friendship. Jonathan abided her and now he was getting rid of her.
His aloofness hurt Amelia more than she thought possible. She tried to think of all of the times they had shared together. In a heartbeat, her fretting brain jumbled them all together in a blurry presentation of laughter, light touches and heated discussions. She realized, there and then, that no other man existed who would accept her for who she was. Jonathan was unique, and soon she would never see him again.
Chapter 14
