Jewel of the Pacific (18 page)

There actually was no letter from Eden, but knowing what Rafe had written made it a pleasure for Bernice to write the girl’s response. It was fortunate that Celestine hadn’t been wearing her reading spectacles when she’d taken the envelope and placed it on the salver in Rafe’s room. All Bernice had needed to do was go back later and pick it up. If all went as she’d planned, she’d be the one to read it to him, and hopefully tonight. She even had her excuse for taking the letter.

Rafe would then close the door to Eden. This would set him free to give her time to win his commitment. Love would come later in their marriage. She would see to that. She’d never yet lost a man she wanted. Nor would she lose this time.

If only Zachary would cease troubling her …

After dinner Rafe returned to the library for his meeting with Bernice Judson. He had managed to speak to her just as they were seated at the table earlier, and she’d agreed to meet him in the library to discuss the letter from Eden.

She came to the silent library as softly as a summer’s breeze in the garden. Rafe knew it was Bernice from the fragrance she wore when she was around him. Before he’d become seriously committed to Eden he’d bought Bernice perfume for her birthday. He believed she was intentionally wearing the same fragrance now.

Bernice turned quietly and slid the bolt into place to make certain no one would interrupt.

“Good evening, Rafe.”

“Did you bring the letter?”

His tone was quiet and polite.

“Oh, yes. Celestine asked if I’d read it to you. She’s still playing hostess. You see, she opened the envelope when it first arrived. Miss Derrington must have thought it more appropriate to address the letter to your mother. I hope I’m not being too bold. I’m a little embarrassed, Rafe.”

“Don’t be.”

“Celestine wasn’t wearing her glasses when the postman came. I told her she had a letter from Miss Eden Derrington and, well, she asked me to open it at once. She asks me to do that sort of thing since we’ve come to trust each other so well.”

She continued. “So I do apologize for opening the envelope this afternoon. As soon as we understood it was actually a private letter to you, we ceased reading—”

“You needn’t worry about it. Unless she confessed to stealing the crown jewels, I don’t think it matters whether you saw her confession.”

“Oh I’m certain a wonderful girl like Miss Derrington would never steal jewels. She’s quite a selfless person, I must say.” She sighed. “I’m quite impressed with her courage and spirit of adventure. Giving so much of herself to others in need. And so devoted to Dr. Jerome Derrington.”

Bernice saw the reaction she’d hoped for from her words. His jaw flexed. She had heard that Eden’s feelings for Dr. Derrington had proven a problem in their relationship.

She walked over to him and laid a hand on his arm. “Shall we sit?”

When seated, she left her hand on his arm a moment, waiting to read his response. She could watch him as carefully as she wanted, but he could not read her expression. He knew what she looked like—“fair as a white rose,” was how Zachary liked to put it. Meticulously groomed blond hair and blue eyes.

“Rafe, this is very difficult for me,” she said with a rather breathy gentleness. “I’m sorry, but it isn’t the news you may have expected from her, a lovely girl you thought you understood so well. It’s—it’s almost cruel of me to read it to you.”

A moment of tense silence hung between them until she feared she’d made an error, and wondered how she was going to recover from the long pause.

“No need for all that,” he said. “Go ahead. Read it. Thank you.”

Thank you, indeed.
She smiled faintly. Then, for a moment she was surprised at how her conscience was pricked by his trust.

“It’s a brief message. I suppose she’s busy on the island with Dr. Derrington. She sends her best, and—her love, and well, here it is:

Bernice hesitated, rather proud of the way she wrote with the zeal of someone like Eden believing in religious matters such as “God’s will.”

Bernice waited a few seconds for effect, and then said softly, “Then she signs her name,
Eden.”

She allowed another minute to slip by and then placed her hand on his, curling her fingers gently around his strong ones. She edged closer against him, making sure their bodies touched. “Rafe … I—”

He drew his hand away and abruptly stood.

She too, stood. She narrowed her eyes.

“I’d like to be alone if you don’t mind,” he stated.

“No, no, of course I don’t.”

But she did mind. His reaction hadn’t been quite as she’d expected. He was angry, not melting with a broken heart. In fact, she could see just how angry he was with Eden by the pulse beat in his throat. She would like to think it was her nearness that affected him, but she knew better.

Bernice turned away toward the door, tightening her mouth, when his terse voice halted her.

“That letter, please. I’d like to keep it.” He held out a hand.

She turned and looked at him. His hand was held out to receive it. A steady hand, she noted. He wasn’t broken up over this perceived dismissal by Eden Derrington. He was as resolved and formidable as an oncoming duelist. For the first time she feared what she’d done. Suppose he confronted Eden? What if he found out the letter was not real?

I’ll think of something
.

“Yes, of course,” she murmured.

They heard a tap on the door. “Miss Bernice? Are you in there?”

Zachary. Now Rafe would know she’d locked the door.

“The letter,” Rafe said his hand still held out.

She laid it on his palm, thinking how she’d like to smack his handsome face with it instead.
Keep calm, Bernice.
She whipped about and went to the door, but before she slid the bolt back, she turned her head and looked over her shoulder.

I need to get that letter again and destroy it, in case he regains his vision soon
.

He placed it in the pocket of his dinner jacket.

Well that should be easy enough to retrieve later
.

She slid the bolt back and pulled the door open. Her cool gaze met Zachary’s even cooler one. He glanced past her and saw Rafe standing with his back toward them.

Bernice took hold of Zachary’s arm.

“He doesn’t care for company right now,” she whispered. “Let’s go out into the garden, shall we?” She gave him her sweetest, most promising smile, then pulled the door shut.

Alone, Rafe endured the pain of Eden’s rejection. She might as well have thrust a knife into his heart. One thought came to mind. He remembered reading the story of the hymn writer George Matheson who’d been engaged to a lovely young woman from a good family in England. When he told her he was going blind she ended their relationship, saying she did not wish to be married to a blind man. Later, Matheson had written the hymn
O Love that Will Not Let Me Go
, which celebrated the unchanging nature of God.

He felt his way to a chair and sat down. God’s love was faithful and steadfast. He would never leave one of His own. God’s love did not depend on talent, physical appearance, strength, or goodness.

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly
.

I will never leave you, nor forsake you
.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up
.

The Scriptures filled his mind. But the one woman he loved had betrayed him, because he no longer measured up to her needs.

As Bernice walked with Zachary through the garden, she told him of how Rafe and Eden had broken their relationship permanently.

At first he merely shrugged.

“Oh they’re always doing that,” he said. “I don’t know how many times their engagement was broken and a new marriage date set. I admit, though, that this last one I really thought was going to cross the wedding line.”

By the time Bernice ended her tale, she’d not only dampened Zachary’s jealousy, but also raised his concern for his “dear brother Rafe.”

“Eden always put Molokai and her mother, Rebecca, ahead of Rafe,” he said. “I’m surprised she actually came out and told him she no longer loved him, though. Especially at a time like this. It seems cruel. And Eden isn’t anything close to being heartless. She was depressed when she couldn’t see him,” he said as they walked back toward the house. “I’ve never seen her as depressed as she was when he was in the medical ward in Honolulu. At one point none of us thought he would come out of that coma. If it hadn’t been for Ambrose and the mission church holding round-the-clock prayer vigil for him, I don’t think Rafe would have awakened.”

She looked at him. “Do you actually believe that?”

“Sure I do. There was a time when I didn’t … but Eden brought me to understand who Christ is, and what He’s done for us. His mission when He came to our little earth was awesome.”

Bernice almost yawned.

“God gave His Son for us, didn’t He? Don’t you believe in Christ?” he asked.

She looked at him. Was he this naïve? In the reflection of the garden lamps she could see the sincerity in his face.

“Why of course. I go to church most of the time,” she said. Then she changed the subject. “Well, Miss Derrington does seem to be wholly dedicated to her work. Anyway, Zachary, do be kind to Rafe, won’t you? And whatever you do,
please
don’t let him know I told you Eden no longer wishes to marry him.”

“I won’t. Rafe has more than enough problems right now.”

“Let’s go indoors, shall we? The fog is coming in and I forgot my wrap.”

E
den could hardly sleep that night after visiting Rebecca.
Her mother’s journal.
A hope was coming to fruition. From the moment she had learned her mother was alive and Eden determined to meet with her and discover and safeguard her story at Kalawao, she had hoped for at least a diary!

The road that brought her to this moment of satisfaction and renewed purpose had been demanding. Even now, it hardly seemed possible that she had been successful. The satisfying meeting with her dear mother, though sad, had fulfilled a greater portion of her goal.

Now, to learn there truly was a substantial journal on hold for her was as rewarding to her heart as a miner finally coming upon a strike of gold.