Page 34 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
“Oh, it does…but that other thing was a lot of fun too. Not to mention how right it felt…oh, Jonathan, I am so sorry I pushed you away. I wanted you so badly that I didn’t know what it meant. I was so confused.” Amelia stared back at Jonathan with wide eyes, their moss-greenness, like emeralds, sparkling at him.
“Love follows many paths until it reaches its final destination. We just decided to make things difficult for one another. All that matters is that we are here, now, and together. I will love you always, Amelia…never once doubt that. No matter what might happen, I will never stop loving you.”
Again, the tears threatened to overwhelm. Amelia swallowed deeply. “It does me good to hear that, my sweet love. For, there is no other man from whom I would wish to hear that…I love you now and forever, Jonathan Mitchell.”
As if they had read the moment to perfection, the other people around the half-finished camp sprang into action. Anna was the first to reach out to Jake in hot pursuit.
“Amelia,yefinally haveyerhead screwed on in the right place. Now, had ye said no to this fine specimen of a man, I would have let ye go to England all byyerself.”
“You wouldn’t have,” protested Amelia, accepting her embrace eagerly.
“Oh, I would…there is nothing I can abide less than stupidity in the face of a love so perfect.”
“Well done, Jonathan. If I may say so, I am proud ofye.Yecame back with flying colors like the true captain of theTriton yeare,” said Jake, shaking Jonathan’s hand vigorously.
“We never lost a fight yet, eh? And I was not about to begin,” said Jonathan, beaming at his powerful friend.
After both Anna and Jake had congratulated Jonathan and Amelia to exhaustion, the slaves joined in the fray. A silent spectator, standing by the side, would never have construed that it was a master and his possessions. Such was the harmony and happiness surrounding the camp.
Love had been declared, a proposal accepted, and friends and others cheered on that one thing which transcends all – love.
Chapter 17
Love Lost
Lake Champlain, The United States of America, close to the Canadian Border March 1814
“It was about timeyeand Amelia got hitched. I had nearly lost all hope,” said Jake. He slurred slightly. The occasion had merited the opening of a cask of whiskey Jonathan had insisted they take along on the journey when they were still back at Fair Weather Heaths’.
“Yes…we did do a merry dance. All that is in the past now,” said Jonathan, casting a fond eye at the back of Amelia’s head. She sat in front of him, nicely embedded in his strong arms.
The fire before them hissed and sizzled as the occasional bit of wood shifted in the flames. The four people surrounding it had orange tints on their faces that flickered along in harmony with the lively dance of the fire.
“Does that mean we can turn back?” asked Anna. She looked at Amelia whom she knew was the one who would ultimately decide on that matter.
“Yes,” said she without a moment’s hesitation.
Jonathan pulled Amelia in closer to his frame when he heard her response. “Had you answered differently, we would have left you here for the wolves.”
Amelia laughed. “Would you now – most ungentlemanly behavior if you ask me.”
“Stupidity must be punished,” said Jake, who continued to enjoy his whiskey more than the others.
“We are still not out of the woods quite just yet. There is a British outpost not that far from here. Judging by what I heard on the way up here, the British do not shy away from venturing south onto American soil,” said Jonathan, getting serious.
“Always the captain,” said Amelia. Hearing his words did not scare her. She had never felt safer in her life. His arms around her were like a fortress.
“I prefer to be prudent. I will not lose you again because of some ill-fated decision.” Jonathan spent a moment to gather his thoughts. “We leave on the morrow at daybreak with great haste.”
Everyone nodded their agreement. All of them were keen to get as far away as possible from the hostilities. The longer they stayed where they were camped, the more chance existed that they would fall victim to a British scouting party. If that happened, they would not have a chance no matter how martially adept both Jake and Jonathan were.
“What happens when we get home?” asked Amelia. She turned around so that she faced her betrothed.
“I will send word to your mother and father about your change in circumstance. It is only fair to inform them about your whereabouts and that you are well.”
It was not what Amelia wanted to know. She was more interested in the good captain’s intentions concerning the war. She was aware of the fact that his ship was ordered to remain in port. But knowing Jonathan, Amelia was certain that he would not sit out the war acting out the gentleman plantation owner. He was far too patriotic and manly for that. Jonathan would most certainly seek out a commission in the land forces.
“I still wonder to this day why your family in Canada never responded to my letter.” Jonathan pleated his brow. “I did not word it too insolently. I was courteous and frank. They sent nothing; it was as if they didn’t care.” He shook his head. “Even if the letter never reached your family, someone official in Montreal should have sent it on to England to inform your parents…we should have had word by now.”
