Jewel (5 page)

“What?”

“I said, I’ll marry her,” he repeated, looking Adam square in the eyes.

“The hell you will.”

“I sell newspapers, Adam. People like scandal. No matter what we say about the ruse, some people are still going to believe the worst, and they’re going to talk about her from here to Chicago. I won’t allow it. She was just trying to do me a good turn.”

“You honestly believe I’m going to let you marry my only daughter?”

“Do you know of any other way to stop the gossiping, short of her moving away? The people in the Grove who are our friends will take our denials as truth, but what about the others. What about the people who hire her to grow their roses. Some have been willing to overlook her color, but salacious rumors about whether she’s married or not, or carrying or not, could cost her her business.” Eli pulled in a deep breath, adding, “This mess is entirely my fault.”

“Yes, it is, but at least you’re being honorable about it.” Adam studied him for a long time. “Sup
pose I say yes to your marrying her. What kind of husband are you meaning to be?”

“I’ll not shame her and I’ll be faithful to her. That’s really what you’re asking, isn’t it?”

“Damn right. This is my Jewel we’re discussing.”

“I’m not going to pretend that I love her, but I will care for her, and provide for her to the best of my abilities until death parts us.”

“She’s going to put up a whale of a fight.”

“I know.”

“Probably get out that bird gun of hers and shoot us both.”

They shared a look, and for the first time since Adam’s arrival, Eli allowed himself a small smile. “That is a given, too.”

Both men agreed that the sooner the vows took place the better everything would be, so while Eli went to get dressed, Adam rode off to fetch the reverend. Eli planned to meet them at the Crowley home in an hour. He imagined Jewel would explode when presented with his proposal, and expected no less.

“Hell of a way to start a marriage,” he mumbled as he did up his tie in the mirror.
Marriage
. He paused a moment to contemplate the word. It was going to affect his life like nothing had since his ill-fated affair with Nate’s wife, Cecile. After the disastrous results, he swore he’d never rain havoc down on the life of anyone he cared about ever again, and because he’d known Jewel all her life she qualified as one of those people.

No, he didn’t love her; he doubted he ever would, not in the way Nate loved Viveca, or the way Adam loved Abigail. There would be no grand passion in this, but he would treat her with kindness and respect. He’d told her she’d make some man a fine wife one day, he just didn’t know that man would be him.

That evening at the Crowley home, Jewel’s brothers were engaged in an arm-wrestling competition, one of the thousands they’d had since childhood, and their boisterous cheers filled the air. As always Jewel played judge. None of the brothers trusted the others not to favor one contestant over the other, so over the years, she became responsible for making sure the grips were fair, that no one had his elbow over the line on the smooth surface of the huge tree stump used for the matches, or started too soon.

Paul, being the oldest and the strongest, hadn’t lost to any of his brothers ever. His opponent this time around was Ezekiel, who was beginning to rival Paul in strength and determination.

Jewel’s serious face showed the import of her task as she checked their grips, elbows, and stances. Their eyes were focused on each other, their hands locked. Once she was assured everything was as it should be, she signaled with her handkerchief and the battle began.

Not that it lasted very long. The grinning Paul looked into his sibling’s straining face then slammed Zeke’s hand down flat for the win. Paul’s
supporters yelled in triumph while Zeke’s offered up resigned smiles and their money.

Jewel was just putting her winnings into the pocket of her denims when she saw Abigail drive up.

“What she’s doing out this late?” Paul asked as they all watched her step down. “Hope nothing has happened.”

Jewel could see by the stern set of Abigail’s mouth and the force of her cane against the ground as she crossed the field that something had. She hoped she hadn’t come to say Caroline Ross had been spreading more rumors.

“Evening everyone,” Abigail said, then turned to Jewel. “There’s something we need to discuss. Let’s go to the house.”

Jewel noted that her face gave nothing away. Paul and the others wore questioning looks but kept their curiosity unspoken.

Once inside, Abigail took a seat in the parlor and set her cane near. “Would you close the door, please, Jewel.”

Although Abigail’s face was still unreadable, Jewel got the sense that something was very wrong. “Pa’s not dead or anything?”

Abigail offered a wisp of a smile. “No, dear, your father’s fine.”

“Then what’s happened?” she asked, closing the door.

Like her husband, Abigail didn’t mince words. “Eli has proposed marriage.”

“To whom?”

“To you.”

Jewel was certain she’d misheard her. “Why?”

“Because its all over town that you’re carrying his child.”

“Everyone knows Caroline Ross is a busybody, no one’s going to believe her.”

“Unfortunately, that isn’t true. Edna said you and Eli are being talked about just about everywhere. Your father is very concerned.” Abigail added, “As am I.”

“You spoke with him, then?”

“I did and he’s fit to be tied. Challenged Jim Miller to a fight a short while ago because of his disparaging remarks about the child being conceived out of wedlock. When he said you should be banned from the church, Vernon had to step in before they came to blows.”

Jewel sighed her frustration. This was disastrous.

“So, Eli will be here shortly, and your father’s on his way to get Reverend Anderson.”

“What?” she shouted.

When Abigail nodded, eyes sympathetic, Jewel stated tightly, “I’m honored that Eli wants to be honorable, but I don’t want to marry him any more than he wants to marry me.”

“I know. It’s your reputation, dear. Maybe in another hundred years such things won’t matter, but they matter very much in this world today. And my son is a good man.”

A frustrated Jewel put her hands over her face and peered at Abigail through spread fingers. “This is not what I want to do.”

Abigail nodded. “I’ know, and I’ve spent the last hour trying to figure a way around it but nothing else comes to mind.”

“And I’m supposed to be his wife,
forever?
”

Abigail’s face told all.

“There has to be a way out that doesn’t include this.”

Gail met the stricken eyes of her stepdaughter, and noted how much she favored her late mother. “If you can offer a solution, it would be welcomed, but in the meantime, you should go and get dressed. The men will be here soon.” With caring in her voice, she asked, “Do you need assistance?”

Jewel shook her head. “No. Thank you, though.” And with her back tense and her face stony, she exited the parlor.

In her room, Jewel wanted to break something, shoot something, climb on the roof and wail like a child. She knew it was a terribly unchristian of her to think this, but was Eli drinking again? In her mind, he had to be, to come up with something this farfetched and think it would work—but then again, he’d thought fooling Hicks would work. She sighed at the injustice of it all. In spite of her silly adolescent feelings for him she had no desire to be his wife. She knew he had a penchant for the ladies, so would he be faithful to her and his vows? He’d boasted of his ability to be true
with the right woman—one he hadn’t met yet, he’d been quick to admit—so where did that leave her? Realistically, it left her at the mercy of a society that refused to consider the idea of a woman being intelligent enough to make her own decisions, decisions that shouldn’t be driven by the aftereffects of gossip and innuendo.

She opened her wardrobe and cynically eyed her choices. Her attention settled first on the stylish black walking costume she wore to funerals, but thought that would be a very childish way to protest. Almost as childish as considering running away from home, which had crossed her mind. But she wasn’t twelve years of age; she was twenty-four, fully grown, and a Crowley. She needed to act accordingly, even if she found the idea of the approaching wedding appalling.

As she sorted through her dresses, a part of her continued to search for a way out of the noose. Then the answer came to her. It was going to cause the top of her father’s head to fly off when he heard it, but truthfully, she didn’t much care. It was a way out and she’d take it.

Filled with relief, she decided on the same blue outfit she’d worn earlier. The gown would always be associated with that evening’s disastrous dinner and there was no sense in attaching fresh bad memories to another set of clothing.

She’d just finished brushing and retying her hair when a soft knock on the door made her turn. Walking over, she opened it to find her father on the other side.

He looked grim. “May I come in?”

She wanted to deny him but he was her father. “Certainly.” She stepped back to let him enter.

“Are you ready?”

“No,” she offered bluntly.

“Jewel, I’m sorry, but Eli’s doing this for you.”

“So I’m told.”

Father and daughter eyed each other for a moment, then Adam said, “I know you’re angry but I won’t have your name dragged in the dirt.”

“I understand that, but understand this—I’m going to be angry for some time, Pa.”

“He’s promised to be faithful.”

Not wanting to discuss her own fears on the subject, she turned from him and said coolly, “It doesn’t matter. This won’t be a love match, so he’s free to venture where he will as long as he’s discreet.” She pulled on her gloves.

He stared.

“I’m being realistic, Papa. I know men have their needs, and besides, I plan to have him divorce me in a few years anyway.”

His eyes widened farther. “Divorce? What are you talking about?”

“It’s my way out of this mess. I read about divorce in a pamphlet I saw at the Intelligence Society meeting last month.” At the time she’d no idea how valuable the article would be to her personally. “Divorce is a lot more widespread and accepted these days, especially out west.”

“We’re not out west,” he growled ominously.

“No, we’re not, but we’re not in the eighteenth century, when women had no voice in their futures, either.”

Adam grabbed tufts of his graying hair. “I knew Abigail starting that Society would be the death of me. Do you think I want you to marry this way?”

“Apparently you do, Pa, because you didn’t say no to him.”

“But the gossip!” he snarled.

“I know about the gossip,” she shot back. “And I know how it can ruin a woman’s name which is why I’m agreeing to this foolishness, but I don’t have to like it and I don’t have to stay married until death.”

He looked ready to explode.

She held on to her own temper. “Now, unless you want to argue more, I think we should go get this done.”

Adam looked at his youngest. She’d always been feisty, had to be in order to survive in the all-male Crowley household, but leave it to her to find a novel way out of her predicament. He didn’t care for her solution. Divorce carried it’s own stigma, but he could only shake his head in awed amusement. He had no idea if she’d really go through with the divorce and trade one stigma for another, but she was a Crowley if nothing else and she was not going to go meekly like a lamb led to slaughter. “Eli has no idea what he’s in for, does he?”

She allowed herself a small smile. “I’m sure he doesn’t.”

“I’ll pray for him.”

“That might be good. Pray for me, too, because I’ll probably rue this day for the rest of my life.”

Tight-lipped at her pronouncement, Adam held out his arm and Jewel let herself be escorted to the parlor.

“I
now pronounce you man and wife.”

Reverend Anderson’s words fell between the now married couple. Eli had never seen a more frozen-faced bride in all his days; Jewel just wanted it all to be over so she could return to the solitude of her room.

“Under normal circumstances, this is where I invite the groom to kiss his new bride.”

Jewel shot him such a hot scowl that he added hastily, “But in this situation, I believe we’ll simply applaud.”

In attendance were her surprised brothers and Adam and Abigail. All applauded politely. When the clapping faded, the reverend looked at the newlyweds and offered sagely, “Sometimes God sees possibilities where we see none. I ask that you give this union a chance. May you both be blessed.”

Because there’d been no time to plan for the event there was no celebratory wedding dinner prepared or even punch. After giving his daughter a solemn kiss on her brow, Adam excused himself
to take the reverend home, leaving everyone else to stand around in the awkward silence.

Gail finally said, “I’m sure the two of you have things to discuss, so we’ll leave you to it.”

Her brothers mumbled their agreements. Everyone filed out, the parlor door was closed softly, and Mr. and Mrs. Eli Grayson were alone.

After a long silence, Jewel’s chin rose and she trained her eyes on his. “Now what?”

“Not sure. I suppose we should see about getting your things moved to my cabin.”

“Why?”

“Because married people usually reside under the same roof.”

“This is not a usual marriage, so I plan to stay here.”

“I’m not moving in with your brothers.”

“I’m not suggesting you do. You’ve given me your name and I’m thankful, but that’s all. I’m going to return to my life and you to yours. In a year or two you can divorce me.”

“Divorce?” he asked, sounding like her father.

“Yes, divorce. It’s not as if this is a love match, so feel free to dally where you like as long as you are discreet.”

Eli cocked his head at her. “You want me to be unfaithful?”

“I’m being realistic, Eli. A man has needs.”

“Needs usually enjoyed with his wife.”

The tone of his voice set off alarm bells in her head. She searched his face and saw patient
amusement. “Surely you don’t want to share a marriage bed—with me?”

“Why not with you?”

“Because we both know I’m not one of those pampered, soft-skinned women you prefer.”

“And what makes you think you know what kind of woman I prefer. Has it occurred to you that I might find the task of picking a rose covered with thorns a challenge?”

Jewel blinked. In his eyes and stance she read trouble of a kind she wasn’t certain she knew how to fight.

He told her softly, “And, no, this isn’t a love match, but it could be fun if you’d let it.”

“I don’t want fun. I just want to be who I was, and what I was before you showed up this afternoon.”

“A spinster.”

“An unmarried young woman.”

“Same thing.” On the ride over to the Crowley house that evening, Eli had decided not to fight the choice he’d made to marry her. Jewel was beautiful, intelligent, and strong spirited; all qualities he’d have wanted in a true wife, so why not make a go of it. Granted, he usually steered clear of innocents; he preferred his women as experienced as he, but at this moment, the idea of drawing passionate sighs from Jewel’s lips instead of vinegar had him already envisioning the pleasure he wanted to give to his virgin bride. “So you don’t want a wedding night.”

“No.”

“We’ll save it, then.”

The light of amusement in his eyes did not help her mood. “You’re not taking this seriously enough for me.”

“I’m not taking this seriously at all, to be truthful. We are man and wife, and I’d like to make the best of it.”

“Meaning you’d like to bed me.”

“You’re a beautiful woman, Jewel. No getting around that, but there’s more to marriage. Look at Viveca and Nate. Look at our parents.”

“They love each other. We don’t.”

He had to admit, she had him there. “A point for your side.”

She rolled her eyes. He was way too handsome for his own good and she was certain there were women who’d take him under any conditions. She was not one of them.

Eli scanned the tight set of her chin. Admittedly, divorce was a way out—and trust her to come up with such an outrageous solution. His decision to try and make the marriage at least tolerable was apparently all for naught. “The reverend has agreed not to divulge the true date of the wedding. That way we can tell our nosy neighbors we were married some time ago, but wanted to keep the news from your father.”

“That’s as good a lie as any, I suppose. Anything else?”

“Yes. We’re married. You’re going to have to act as if you care for me when we’re out together.”

“I can do that.”

He knew how angry she must be; no one liked being forced into a situation not of their choosing. Truthfully, he wasn’t happy either, but he’d done the honorable thing whether she appreciated it or not. “I’m going to meet with Hicks in the morning and then I’ll come back here so we can iron this out.”

Jewel knew she’d have to surrender sooner or later, but she preferred the latter. “Fine,” she said, not bothering to hide her displeasure. “Anything else?”

He shook his head.

“Then I’ll say good night.” Without further word she walked to the closed parlor door and opened it.

“Good night, wife.”

The tone of his voice made her stop. Turning back, she found herself snared by the directness of his gaze. Her realization that women probably succumbed to him at the drop of a hat finally made her break the contact and continue her exit, but on legs far less steady than she cared to admit.

Eli watched her go. Life certainly wasn’t going to be dull or easy from now on, but he had something his prickly new bride lacked—patience. He’d simply have to wait her out.

Before leaving to return home, Eli wanted to talk with her brothers and to his mother, in that order. He found the brothers upstairs in the big book-lined study that had been Adam Crowley’s
during Eli’s youth. At his entrance all conversation stopped and every eye turned his way. Not sure where he stood with them now, he plunged ahead. “I just came to tell you all the same thing I told your father. I plan to care for Jewel and provide for her to the best of my abilities as long as we are married.” He then added, “Which according to her may not be for very long.”

Seeing the confusion on their faces, he explained. “She wants a divorce as soon as things settle down.”

“What?” her brothers bellowed in unison.

“My feelings exactly. And she doesn’t plan to live with me either it seems. She’s in her room now even as we speak.”

Paul chuckled and shook his head. “Here you are offering to do the honorable thing and I’m betting you feel like you stepped into a bear trap.”

“She is something.”

Zeke said, “But she has to live with you. She’s your wife.”

“Explained that. She didn’t buy it.”

The brothers shared amused looks.

“So what are you going to do?” Abe asked.

Eli shrugged. “Can’t simply throw her over my shoulder and drag her off.”

“No you can’t,” Noah pointed out.

“Not and live to talk about it come the morning,” Jeremiah added.

Paul said, “Abigail says you’re going to tell folks
that you and Jewel have been secretly married. How’s anybody going to believe it if she continues to live here?”

Eli shrugged again.

“Maybe she’ll come to her senses in the morning,” Zeke offered.

Eli thought turtles would fly first, but he kept that to himself. “I’m meeting with Hicks in the morning, then I’ll come back and see if she and I can agree on anything.”

“Good luck,” Jeremiah said.

Paul added, “You’re an honorable man, Eli.”

The others nodded their agreement.

The five men in the room were the closest Eli had to brothers and he responded with a heartfelt “Thanks.”

He found his mother sitting outside on the porch bench. She looked up and said, “I’m very proud of you.”

He took a seat on the railing. “Jewel sure isn’t. She’s refusing to live with me.”

Abigail smiled in the darkness. “She comes from stubborn stock.”

“And she wants me to divorce her once things have quieted down.”

“Now why didn’t I think of that?”

Amusement filled him. “Of course you’d think that a good idea.”

“No, I think it’s brilliant idea. Divorce has its stigma but I know a few divorced women in Kalamazoo and Muskegon who are living life
on their own terms, and doing well. Frankly, by century’s end, I believe divorce is going to become more and more acceptable.” She added solemnly, “Had that option been available during my first marriage, I’d probably not need this cane.”

Eli knew of the abuse she’d suffered at the hands of his father. He’d married her not for love but as a way to get at her fortune. Since her fall down a flight of stairs during one of the man’s rages, the cane had become a necessity. The thoughts brought Eli a rage of his own, so he set them aside and concentrated on the matter at hand. “Any suggestions?”

She shrugged. “You’re the Lothario.”

“She doesn’t want a wedding night.”

“Of course not, Eli. Would you if you were in her shoes?”

He thought it over. “Probably not, but I’ve convinced myself to try and make this marriage work.”

“Really?”

“If I were in the market for a wife, she’d fit the mold.”

“Interesting. I was under the impression you were doing this under duress.”

“I am. No man wants to be forced into marrying, but I am at an age where thoughts of settling down with one woman don’t give me hives anymore.”

“And you’d be true to her?”

“Yes, Mother,” he said firmly.

“Arranged marriages have been known to blossom.” She eyed him in the darkness. “Give her time. Maybe use some of that legendary charm I keep hearing so much about.”

Embarrassment caused his head to drop. “If I tried that she’d probably blast me with her bird gun. I’ll opt for appealing to her logic for now.”

“Whatever you think is best.” She placed her hand affectionately over his. “You’ve done a good thing here this evening, Eli. The reward will come.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.” He sighed wistfully. “We can hardly act married if she’s living here.”

“She may have a change of heart come morning.”

Again, he didn’t think so, but rather than beat a dead horse he stood then leaned down to give her a soft kiss on her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, son.”

That next morning, Jewel woke up in a foul mood. Because she’d tossed and turned all night she’d hadn’t gotten a lick of sleep. As she set breakfast on the table for her brothers, they took one look at her sternly set face and didn’t say a word outside of “Good morning.” No one wanted the storm to break over them. In light of that, they ate as quickly as their stomachs would allow, then hightailed it out of the house for the drive to work.

Alone in the house, Jewel finished up the dishes then sat at the table to sip her coffee and
to mull over her fate. Eli kept sliding into her thoughts and she kept pushing him away. She didn’t want to think of him any more than she wanted to think about them being man and wife. Having to face the questions and the inevitable congratulations sure to come from the Grove’s residents was something else she wanted to avoid, even as the parts of herself that had been sweet on Eli were quietly elated by yesterday’s turn of events. But the practical, no-nonsense Jewel was appalled by that side of herself, and was determined to keep those silly feelings from growing and taking charge. She needed to be stoic and emotionless if she were to survive until the divorce. Otherwise all she had to look forward to was a broken heart, and she refused to be that woman.

With that in mind, she put her empty cup in the sink and went out to the barn to get the roses she planned to plant for Maddie.

Eli awakened with Jewel on his mind, and although he knew he had no business doing so, he thought about what it might be like to awaken with her warm against his side. He’d bet he was the only married man in creation ever to spend his wedding night alone. Grim but resigned he got out of bed to get ready for his day.

On his way into town, he set aside thoughts of his recalcitrant wife and focused his attention on the meeting with Hicks. At least he would no
longer be lying about having a wife, he thought sarcastically. Redirecting his mind away from his marriage again, his first hope was that Hicks would purchase new printing presses for the
Gazette
. The one presently in the office, an Albion handpress, was an 1862 model that he kept running with rigged parts and prayer. With a proper press, he could produce a proper paper formatted more in line with the times, thus making it more attractive to the advertisers that kept a paper afloat. Maybe by year’s end, if the new
Gazette
proved to be a success, he might even turn enough of a profit to repay some of his creditors. Obviously he was putting the cart in front of the horse but as his mother was fond of saying, If you don’t have dreams, they won’t come true.

Hicks was waiting for him on the Quilt Ladies’ porch. “Is there somewhere else we can meet, Grayson? Mrs. Ross is making a pest of herself. Keeps going on about her late husband as if she wants me to take the poor man’s place.”

“Let’s use the mayor’s office.”

As they walked back down Main Street, Hicks asked, “How’s your wife this morning? Feeling better I hope.”

“Much better,” Eli lied. “Thanks for asking.”

They passed a few people on the walk and acknowledged them with nods.

“She’s quite a beauty, and intelligent as well. You’re a lucky man, Grayson.”

“Luckiest man in the world, sir.” Hoping to steer the conversation away from Jewel, he asked, “How many papers are in your syndicate, Mr. Hicks?”

“Call me G.W., since we’re going to be working together.”

“Thank you. Please call me Eli.”

He nodded then answered the question. “I own eleven papers. Most are back east, but two are in California and one is in Canada. Don’t get out to see the California operations much, but they’re pulling their weight financially.”