Rebecca went to hug her friend. “Thank you,” she whispered. She stepped back and asked, “How long have you known Rory?”
“Hmmph! That scoundrel?” Mawsy scowled again. “More years than I care to recall. He was reckless when he first started working for the committee, and he’s still reckless. We even thought he got caught on his first mission. Poor Ben went searching for him, risked his own life for that no good... And do you know where he found him? Playing poker with the plantation owner who he later snatched the package from.”
“I believe it,” Rebecca said. “He cares for no one but himself.”
“A gambler through and through.” Mawsy looked toward the doorway, waited a minute, and turned back toward her. “He likes to run with those painted women,” she whispered.
Biting back her smile, Rebecca nodded. “I know. He took me to one of their establishments.”
Mawsy laid a hand over her heart. “That man needs salvation from himself,” she declared. “And only the love of a good hearted woman will turn a man like Rory into a redemptive soul. And the merciful Lord above to get him into Heaven.”
“I’m afraid he hasn’t yet met the woman who can do that,” she said sadly.
Mawsy took Rebecca’s hands between hers. “Then we should pray he meets her, and soon, before he loses his life and spends eternity paying for his sins.”
They bowed their heads and silently prayed for Rory’s soul.
“Amen!” Mawsy handed her the plates as Ben and Jared came back into the kitchen.
“Rebecca,” Ben said. “I believe you’ve found yourself a good man. I’ll perform the ceremony.”
She sat the plates on the table and rushed to hug him. “Thank you. I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d want performing my marriage. May we do it now?”
“Yes. I have the necessary documents for you both to sign. Do you have the rings?”
Jared nodded, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He took the rings out and handed them to the parson.
“Not so fast, Ben.” Mawsy stepped forward and spoke to Rebecca. “You go into my room and freshen up. Don’t come back until I call for you.”
Rebecca nodded and turned to leave the room, but Mawsy grabbed her arm and led her into the hall. She leaned close to Rebecca and whispered, “Don’t worry, child. Tonight will not be that horrible, though young women have the right to be fearful going to a man’s bed for the first time.”
Heat flooded Rebecca’s cheeks and she hurried from the room grateful the pitcher in the bedroom was still full. She poured water into the washbowl, splashed her face, and blotted it dry with a clean towel. Staring at her reflection, she took a long slow breath to steady her wildly thumping heart. “There’s nothing for you to be nervous about. You’re marrying Jared.”
“You certainly are,” he said from the doorway and she jumped, turning toward him. “But if getting married tonight feels rushed, we don’t have to do it. We can wait until we return to Jackson, plan a small wedding, and invite our friends.”
She shook her head. “No. I want to do it now. I-I think I’m excited about it to the point of distraction. It’s hard to believe and yet it’s happening. A girl waits for this day all her life. When I woke this morning I had no idea I’d be going to bed as your wife tonight.”
He came forward to take her hands. “If you’re sure?”
She smiled up at the man with whom she intended to spend the rest of her life. “I am.”
“Then Ben is ready when you are.” They slowly walked back to the parlor, and Mawsy began playing the small upright piano in the corner.
Ben stood in front of the mantel and waited for the music to stop. “On this special occasion I have the honor to unite you in marriage. It’s a sacred bond. Neither of you should enter into lightly.”
Rebecca looked at Jared, carefully watching his expression. Ben’s words filtered through her ears and into her heart where she felt them with much joy. When they exchanged vows, she repeated the words as instructed and slipped the gold band on Jared’s finger. It was a piece of metal that had no meaning before she put it on, and now it meant he was hers. She watched as he put a similar band on her finger where he’d placed the emerald that afternoon.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Tennessee, I pronounce you husband and wife,” Ben concluded.
Jared didn’t wait for the traditional command, “you may now kiss the bride.” Instead, he pulled her into his arms and gave her their first kiss as husband and wife. She wrapped her arms around his neck and eagerly returned it. From this day forward they’d face the trials of life together.
****
When they entered the Exeter Hotel later that evening Rebecca went up to her room to collect her things while Jared stopped at the front desk. He spoke with the clerk and settled the bill on Rebecca’s room.
“Congratulations, Mr. Hollingsworth,” the clerk said. “I heard about the excitement in the dining room earlier today. We didn’t realize you’d be making it official so soon. If you’ll kindly reregister as husband and wife there will be no problem.”
“Thank you.” Jared took the pen and signed the book again. When he finished, he looked at the clerk. “There is one other service you can do. I’ve learned another guest is asking questions about me. His name is Stuart Delaney. I’d appreciate our privacy until we check out.”
“O-of course,” the clerk stuttered. “I-I beg your pardon, sir. It was a simple mistake. He said he knew you, but couldn’t remember where you were from.”
“Neither my wife nor I want anything to do with the man,” Jared said firmly. “Is that clear?”
“Y-yes, sir. Bu-but you won’t have to worry about Mr. Delaney bothering you. He checked out this afternoon.”
“He did?”
The clerk nodded.
“Did he say where he was going?”
“No sir, but he did say something about going to collect on a debt owed him.”
Any sense of relief knowing Delaney wouldn’t bother them further vanished, and Jared swallowed the bile rising in his throat. Good God, if Delaney was headed to Oak Hill, he had to get there before the man arrived. He didn’t trust him to do the honorable thing anymore than he trusted Rory not to gamble the money away before he paid his debt.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” the clerk asked.
Jared grabbed the pen and drew a line through his signature. “Change of plans. I need to settle my bill. Do you know when the next train to Mississippi leaves?”
“Sir, did I say something wrong?” The clerk asked. “I never meant to make you want to leave the Exeter.”
“No. I thank you for telling me that Delaney left.” Jared tried to put the clerk’s mind at ease. “It’s where he’s headed that concerns me. I need to get there before he does. Now, about the train schedule? When is the last train leaving Memphis today?”
The clerk opened a drawer and fumbled with its contents before holding up a railroad timetable. After glancing over it, he said, “It left at four-thirty this afternoon. There isn’t another one until noon tomorrow.”
Damn.
If Delaney was on that train then he’d have high tailed it out of town after he learned Rory was at Oak Hill with the money. Jared never should have told him that. “Is there a stage?”
“There is, but it won’t leave until morning. But if you must leave tonight, you can hire a coach to take you as far as Grenada where you can catch the connecting train to Jackson. That should get you there before Mister Delaney if that is your intent.”
“Where can I hire such a coach?” Jared asked.
“Let the Exeter arrange it for you while you pack your bags. It’s the least I can do, sir.”
“All right. I’ll be ready to depart in half an hour. Will that be sufficient?”
“Yes.”
He paid his bill and headed upstairs to pack. He arrived at his door at the same time as Rebecca. “Perfect timing, Mrs. Hollingsworth.”
She smiled. “I like hearing you call me that.”
“I like saying it.” He took her bag from her, opened the door, and sat the bag inside the room. Turning back to her, he grinned because she hadn’t moved an inch. Before she could protest, he swept her up into his arms and carried her into the room.
“Jared!”
He kicked the door closed with his foot and leaned against it. She kissed him and he wanted to carry her over to the bed and make love to her, but that wasn’t going to happen. He put her down, breaking their kiss. “We have to go back to Jackson tonight.”
Alarm widened her eyes. “Why? What’s happened?”
“The clerk told me Delaney checked out this afternoon to go collect a debt,” Jared said grimly. “That means—”
“That means he’s headed to Oak Hill,” she finished for him.
“But how did the clerk know all of this?”
“Delaney boasted about it.” Jared went to the closet and got his bag from the top shelf. Putting it on the bed, he quickly packed, and shut it. “I’m afraid our wedding night will have to wait.”
Her cheeks pinked, and he went back where she stood at the door. He pulled her close and kissed her until she sighed.
Closing his eyes, he slowly breathed to regain his composure. “I promise to make it up to you.”
“I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Hollingsworth.”
Chapter Eighteen
In the early morning light, Josephine rocked Lucas and thought about when she’d held Mariah like this many years ago. It had been difficult at the time having given up the child as her own at birth, but she’d been grateful to her brother and sister-in-law for taking her to Europe during the pregnancy so no one at home knew of the transgression. She leaned her head against the back of the rocker, closed her eyes and sighed. She hadn’t allowed herself to even think about that time, even after Mariah’s death. She’d stayed away from Lucas as much as possible even though she wanted to hold him, to heal her wounded heart.
With Rebecca gone these last few days, she’d finally allowed herself to feel something for the child, her rightful grandchild. She’d never imagined the love she could feel for him in so little time, but now that she did, she didn’t know if she could give him up so easily when Rebecca returned. Would it be selfish to want to take him as her own?
Yes. She feared it would. Rebecca loved him, and she couldn’t hurt her niece by taking him from her.
“Goodness, Miss Josephine.” Charlotte stumbled into the dimly lit room. “I was worried when I didn’t find the babe in his bed. Have you been here with him all night?”
“Only since about two. I woke and heard him stirring. I believe it’s his teeth again.”
“Would you like me to take him now so you can go back to bed?” she asked.
“I’m fine, and he’s no trouble at all.” Josephine smiled.
Charlotte slowly nodded. “I-if you’re sure?”
“I am.”
“I’ll go order up breakfast.”
“No need. I’m not hungry. Only coffee.”
“As you wish.” She curtsied and left.
Josephine rocked back and forth and hummed softly as her mind drifted to the London townhouse where she’d given birth to Mariah. It had been a cold overcast day. The doctor had arrived shortly before midnight and didn’t leave her side until nearly seven the following night. It had been a long and difficult birth, but Mariah had been perfect.
Two weeks later once she was back on her feet, they left London and traveled to France for four months before going to Italy. By then Mariah was getting all fat and sassy.
“That’s when you sent me away, Samuel. You and Emily sent me away so your little family didn’t have to deal with me.”
“Did you say something, miss?” Charlotte asked, coming back into the suite with the coffee service. She closed the door behind her and carried a tray over to the small table.
Josephine didn’t respond. She rocked in silence as warm tears rolled down her face, remembering how she’d sailed back to the United States alone.
“Would you like your coffee black?”
Josephine closed her eyes and continued to rock. She’d lost her first love and her child and what did she have to show for it? Nothing. She was well past her prime. In all rights she was on the shelf and had no prospects.
“Miss Josephine?” Charlotte’s call jarred her back to reality.
“Black. I’ll take it black.”
“Yes ma’am.” The girl fixed the coffee and brought it to her, but there was nowhere to set it. “Perhaps I should put the child to bed now? And you can have your coffee in peace?”
“Forget the coffee.” Josephine shifted the sleeping child in her arms so she could easily get out of the rocker. “I’ll put him down.”
“Bu-but-”
“Don’t stammer, Charlotte. I am capable of doing some things for myself.”
“Certainly. Have you been cryin’, ma’am?”
She swiped away the moisture with the back of her hand. “Nothing to fret about. Is that clear? I think I will lie down for a while.”
With a worried look, Charlotte set the coffee cup back on the tray and curtsied. She collected it and scurried out of sight.
Josephine carried Lucas into her room, put him on the bed and lay down beside him. She hummed a soft tune, watched him sleep until her own eyes grew heavy, and she too drifted off to sleep.
Tiny hands, patting her cheeks and wet, slobbery drool dripping on her face woke her a few hours later.
“Ma-ma.”
She opened her eyes and smiled. “Mama isn’t here now. She’ll be back soon.” She sat up and he crawled to her.
“Ma-ma.”
He’d been calling her that off and on since Rebecca left and each time it made her heart ache. Mariah had never called her that, nor had she ever wanted it back then, but now, if she could only have had that memory.