Page 127 of Conveniently Wed
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Something hard glittered in his gaze.
“I, uh, I’m not feeling well.” His scrutiny was too much. Leah dropped her gaze. “I thought I would retire early.”
Simon touched her chin with a forefinger, raising her face to his. He rested his thumb on the other side of her chin, in what would have appeared to anyone else as a tender gesture among sweethearts. But the pressure with which he gripped her chin left no doubt in Leah’s mind of his message.
“I trust you’re too ill to have a chat with anyone. I’ll come visit early tomorrow to check on you.” He dropped his hand but stepped nearer, drawing himself to his fullest height. Less than a foot of space separated them, making clear every damp pore on his face. “I’m sure no one would begrudge me spending every moment possible with my bride-to-be.”
His posture relaxed and Leah didn’t wait for a better opportunity. She turned and fled the room.
Emily, always the thoughtful one, waited until they were safely tucked into the carriage before she turned to Leah. “What in the world is wrong? I’ve never seen you so pale.”
Leah fidgeted with the silk ruffle on the hem of her coat. Should she tell the authorities? Tell anyone? Would they believe her over Simon? Papa had signed the contract with the man over six months ago, just before his death.
Leah had always been convinced Simon was most interested in her wealth. Not the modest dowry she would bring to the marriage, but the vast amount of money and holdings kept safe in a trust until her twenty-third birthday—next February.
With Simon’s money and extensive connections, not a soul in Richmond would believe a twenty-two-year-old woman over a respected business man like him. Why, at least fifty women in Richmond would switch places with her in an instant to have an opportunity to marry such a rich widower, despite the age difference.
Even Emily would be skeptical. She always had trouble believing the worst in people. But she would believe Leah. And maybe she could help.
“What happened, love?” Emily’s gentle voice was prodding.
Leah took a deep breath. “When I was leaving the powder room, I heard voices coming from one of the hallways. I was curious, so I walked a short way and heard Mr. Talbert speaking with another man. They were…talking about me.” She steadied her voice and told her friend about the tête-à-tête, and Simon’s reaction to her presence.
At the end of it all, Emily blew out a long breath. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you remember hearing how the first Mrs. Talbert died?”
Emily’s forehead wrinkled and her eyes grew distant as she rubbed two fingers over her jaw. “She always seemed healthy when I saw her. About a year or so after they were married, though, she stopped coming to most of the social events. I didn’t hear much more about her for a while, but about six months later I heard she had passed away. I always assumed it was complications from being…in the family way.”
Emily turned her attention back to Leah, eyes piercing. “Is it possible you misheard the conversation or misunderstood Mr. Talbert’s meaning when he spoke to you?”
Of course, Emily would be reluctant to believe such a horrible thing. Leah could hardly believe it herself. How could Papa have trusted this man?
Her jaw tightened with conviction. “I’m positive I heard them correctly. And Simon made himself very clear.” She turned to grasp Emily’s hands, choking fear rising in her chest again. “What am I going to do? I can’t marry him. I don’t think I can even stand to be near him again. He said he would call early tomorrow to check on me. I’m sure he’s planning to make sure I don’t go to the authorities.” Would Simon go as far as kidnapping her? But why not? A man who was plotting murder wouldn’t think twice about a little kidnapping in the process.
Emily freed herself from Leah’s hands only to wrap her arms around Leah’s shoulders and rock, just like Mama used to do. “Leah, love. I don’t know what we need to do just yet, except I know we need to pray. God will show you. He has a plan even in this, but you have to seek it. Seek Him. He loves you even more than I do.”
Leah fought the sting of tears as the warmth of Emily’s hug soaked through her fear.
Leah blew out her breath in a frustrated stream. Flipping through her Bible, she tried hard to fight the feeling her life was falling apart. Curled in a warm flannel nightgown against the late March chill, she sat tucked in bed, searching for direction.
Father, please speak to me. Do you have a way for me to escape this?
But was escape right? Hadn’t God said to honor her father and mother, that her life would be long in the land the Lord would give her? Yet obeying her father’s wishes appeared to be at direct odds with living a long life, in this case. Was God planning to save her through some miraculous act? Like he did with Daniel in the lions’s den?
Mind rambling, she opened the Bible again and began reading in First Samuel. The early days of the Israelites always fascinated her. No matter how many times they wandered, no matter how many really bad choices they made, God always brought them back. He always forgave them when they truly humbled themselves before Him. Leah found herself absorbed in the story of young David and how God used him to calm King Saul when the distressing spirit would come upon him.
And David was playing music with his harp. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence, and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.
Goose flesh covered Leah’s arms, and a tingle shot down her back. She kept reading.
Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, ‘If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow youwill be killed.’ So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped.
When Saul was trying to kill David, David fled and escaped.
Escape.
That’s what she had to do.
