Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou) (33 page)

Amelia had been innocent. In truth he’d taken away that innocence knowingly, intentionally, pursued her with vigor. Yet instead of one night of ecstasy like he’d expected he’d planted a child in her belly and she put a fire in his veins, he’d started to yearn for her.

When he woke she was the first thing on his mind, the same when he went to sleep, his sweet Princess, his wife.

If only she had just told him about the baby, instead of hiding it from him. She would never have any idea of what that did to him. The memories it brought back, the pain.

He’d been panicked finding her gone that night, truly panicked and no woman had ever been able to put that kind of fear into him. When Margaret had told him about the child she carried, he couldn’t see reason. All he could see was that she had kept dire information from him, that she had lied to him about the most important thing in his life. All he knew was that she managed to get close enough to his heart to hurt him, like Regina, and it infuriated him.

He had regretted the things he had said to her at Nina’s that night as soon as the words flew out his mouth. Yet he couldn’t stop himself. It was as if someone else who was livid and uncontrollable had taken over his body. When it was all over, pride wouldn’t let him apologize.

He’d gone home and drank himself into a stupor. Cursed everyone and everything around him and then turned around and drank some more, because somehow he had to get this burning pain and weight off his heart.

Strange but from the moment he’d seen her again, felt her, the feeling became nonexistent.

“Jordan!”

The high pitched shrill of a young girl snatched Jordan back to reality. It was Georgia, and he felt his heart begin to again warm. “I missed you sweet, how was Margaret treating you.”

“Very well.” Georgia took the time to twirl around. “She bought me this new dress and I don’t really like dresses Jordan but this one is awful nice.”

Jordan watched his sister light up and smiled. “You look just like a pixie. Come here and give me a hug.”

Georgia jumped to him without hesitation. “Aunty Margaret brought a ton of trunks for the trip to London.”

“Excuse me?” Jordan stepped back baffled, only to just now notice Jasper who stood off to the sides looking sheepish.

“We’re traveling with you, one big happy family.” Jasper began while lending a hand to Margaret who was making her way on deck.

“I’ve no room to accommodate you.” Jordan began.

“Of course you do.” Jasper shot his friend a dirty look, before directing some of the ship hands down below deck. “I believe that you’ll find two empty cabins several doors down from the Captain’s. You can place those trunks in them. Margaret you know it, show these gentlemen to the correct cabins and help Georgia settle in. I’ll be down shortly.”

Margaret didn’t look to Jordan once but simply brushed past him as she took up an excited Georgia’s hand and led their way down to their sleeping areas.

“You married her.” Jasper said in a worried whisper.

“I did, and the whole ship knows from her display so there is no need to put on airs.” Jordan started below deck himself then. “I don’t need you to come to London.”

“But we are.”

Jasper let his feet fall heavily on the steps leading below. It had been awhile since he’d set foot on the Maiden. Still he knew it like the back of his hand, when they reached the bottom Jasper turned right without thought toward Jordan’s chamber. “How is your wife doing?” Jasper really was fond of Amelia and his concern was genuine. “You really don’t think Jordan— taking her on this journey is unsafe and selfish. What type of revenge is this where you marry your enemy?” With a sigh he pushed past Jordan and turned the knob trying to enter the room.” You locked her up in there!” Jasper couldn’t believe it. “Give me the damn key.”

Jordan pulled the silver key from a silver chain about his neck. “I have to keep it close just in case she tries to steal it.”

“And what, jump into the sea to freedom?” The whole situation was now beyond ridiculous. Snatching the key from the chain roughly Jasper was unapologetic as he watched the silver chain break. Turning the key in the lock he pushed open the door.

The large bed was the first sight he was greeted with and a sleeping Amelia curled up in an awkward position dark hair swept across her face and a distraught pout on her face. “Tyrant.” Jasper closed the door again softly.” Explain to me why you’re doing this, you don’t love her, hate her in fact, and swore to never marry again.  Now here you are married to a woman you don’t love, and despise.”

“I am married to a woman who will soon bear my child, besides there are some privileges to being married.” Jordan joked crudely.

“Privileges you’re used to without such a commitment.” Jasper would not let Jordan ruin Amelia or himself. Margaret would kill him if he did.

“Never a more truthful statement have you made. Still I married her, Amelia is my wife and all conquests of old are now obsolete.” Opening the door Jordan slipped in. “You can plainly see she is unharmed, I would never hurt her.”

“You have.” Jasper argued.

“Never physically, you don’t need to follow me to the English countryside.”

“My taking a sabbatical from life if long overdue.” Bowing comically Jasper grinned wide up at Jordan. “Until tonight then friend.”

Shutting the door on Jasper’s smug face Jordan began to disrobe. They would be on their way within the half hour and he still was doing battle with his decisions. Sitting on the edge of the bed he could feel the heat from Amelia’s sleeping form.

Chancing a glance at her he pushed aside the feeling he felt seeing her tear-streaked face and lay back on the overstuffed pillows.

“My friends will wonder where I am, will you ever let me see them?” She had felt him sit down beside her and though she was tired she was not asleep.

It was the first time she’d spoken to him in hours and Jordan couldn’t help but perk up. “Of course I will, you are my wife not my prisoner.”

“When?” Amelia asked calmly.

“After the baby comes sometime after that, we will send for them.”

“I see, what if they do not come, am I ever to return back home to see my family?”

“When the time is right.” Jordan reached for her but she jumped away and his heart burned from the rejection.

“Who decides?”

“Who decides what?” Jordan snapped, mad at his body’s betrayal. He decided who he felt for, not his heart.

“Nevermind I already know the answer.” Her voice was hopeless.

Jordan again softened against his will. “I do not want to make you unhappy. You are my wife and whatever you can think to ask for I will give you.”

“If I were to ask to go back to my home…”

Jordan cut her off quickly. “Whatever you can think to ask for within reason.”

“Your reason.” Amelia blurted, scrunching her legs up close to her body she moved away from him.

Jordan tossed his shirt carelessly to the floor and kicking off his boots soon he made his way in between the sheets. “Are you going to stay curled up there all night, it gets drafty in here trust me.” She didn’t answer and Jordan turned to her. “Suit yourself.” Resting his head on his arms, Jordan cringed, a second wedding night spent with a cold wife.

Amelia let her legs slide down and they made the slightest contact with his thigh and that small contact made her soften toward him. He was her husband even if it was by foul play. Her husband, looking down on him she still could not believe it. Even the glittering ring on her finger seemed unreal.

She didn’t understand him. He was sweet and kind and that was the part of him that she loved but this darker side of him was so foreign and it seemed to her he forced himself to display the latter traits. She wanted her Jordan back, not this imposter. “Is it warm where we are going?”

Jordan inclined his head her way. “It can be but not like it is here. But it is beautiful; you will love the English countryside. I know you will.”

She shook her head in agreement on the area unseen. “When I was younger I had dreamed about traveling all over.” She was trying to be pleasant, trying to be understanding, but mostly since it was now her position, she was trying to be a wife.

Her efforts were not unnoticed and Jordan smiled up at her. “After the baby is born you can travel the world.”

“I wouldn’t want to travel right off, I want to spend time with the baby.” Amelia slid down beside him. “But we have a long time before then, and I’m tired.” She watched him nod his head and sit up to blow out the candle leaving them in the dark.

She lay there in silence a long time eyes closed but not sleeping. She wasn’t sure if Jordan was awake. Turning on her side to lay on her back and gave a deep sigh. “I’m sorry I hurt you Jordan.” She whispered to his back. Moments later she felt his hand curl about her own linking their fingers.

“I know.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Jordan lay awake staring blindly up at the ceiling. He couldn’t sleep. The past three days they’d been at sea he couldn’t. Amelia was not a seafarer, not that she didn’t try to be. In fact she tried very hard to act as though the swaying of the boat didn’t effect her. Still she was green and couldn’t keep most of her meals down.

He felt concerned but mostly he felt guilty. Things were not settling in on him like he thought they would. He wanted more than anything for her to be comfortable but she wasn’t. Even now she sat up on the edge of the bed pale and miserable. “Lay down I’ll get you some water.”

“Thank you.” Amelia swung her legs back into the bed and lay down a little lightheaded. Yet she wasn’t feeling as bad as she let on she wanted him to feel culpable and it was working. “Do you think today I can go up with you on deck.”

Jordan poured the tepid liquid into a whiskey glass and thought about what she had said. “No, I don’t think that would be wise.”

“It is wise for Margaret and Georgia, but not for me.”

“You are with child.” Jordan argued.

Amelia began fastening her hair into a wavy ponytail.” And Georgia is a child but she is allowed.”

He was a fool to think that his explanation would appease her that easily. “There is nothing to see but waves and dirty men.”

“I want to see the waves, and the sunlight and if dirty men are a part of the equation I will take them too.” Amelia gave him a wicked wink. Running her hand down her simple blue skirt, she then loosened the top button of her crisp white blouse. “I’m going cabin crazy.”

He sympathized for her. Yet he felt uneasy with the prospect of her going above deck. Some of the men had been talking. Many were very defiant. Jordan felt that she needed to be within his eyesight every moment when up there and he wasn’t alone in the notion.

Not all of the men cared enough to let their Captain’s marital situation rile them beyond verbal outrage, but for a few it was as unnatural and sordid as anything ever could be. His knuckles were still raw and sore from a confrontation with a man who thought it was okay to ask for a turn with her in the staff’s corridors—several men then chimed in bidding they be allowed a roll in the sack too.

Jordan had never been so enraged. If not for the men pulling him off the bastard he’d be dead now, instead of bloodied and broken boned. Jasper himself sported a stiff jaw from an encounter of his own.

Jasper had taken the women along with Georgia on a tour of sorts explaining all the ins and outs of sailing when a man purposely ran into Amelia nearly knocking her to the floor. When the man did not apologize and Jasper demanded one he replied. “I never apologize to the likes of a nigger.” Needless to say the boy was walking about with a black eye and broken nose and Jasper a stiff jaw only because after being restrained by several men he decided to accidently throw an elbow in defense when Jasper was not looking.

Amelia eyed Jordan knowingly as he gave her the glass. “I promise to stay within sight.”

“That’s not the problem.” Jordan began.

“Then what is? I just want to be outside. I will stay close.” She begged.

“I do not trust everyone on this ship don’t you understand?”

“I understand perfectly.” Amelia frowned up. “But I did not ask to be on this ship, but I am here, however I refuse to be a prisoner of it, a slave.” Taking a deep breath she slipped on her shoes in determination. “What can they do but call a few names. I’ve heard every one by now anyways.”

“No, I don’t need you distracting my mind along with everything else. Stay below and rest, at noon ill have the cook send you down some lunch.”

“I don’t want the cook to send me anything. I want to go above deck and I am.” With more determination than ever, Amelia pushed past him quickly to the door pulling the heavy wood back, she turned to him. “I will see you later.”

Jordan really didn’t have time for this. Why didn’t she just understand he only had her best interests in mind? He was after her in a flash, but when he turned to the stairway all he could see was the hem of her skirt as it disappeared above.

Taking the stairs two at a time Jordan peaked out above deck soon after and a pain hit him when she was not in sight. Straining his eyes against the sudden bright sun Jordan took heavy steps on deck. His wife was winning him a headache fast.

Amelia crouched down low behind a large cargo box and couldn’t help but smile at Jordan’s distraught pout. Poor man would just have to learn to trust her good judgment. She had said she would be safe and she would. Waiting until he had walked clear out of sight in the opposite way, she finally straightened her spine and for the first time in days stretched and took a deep breath of fresh air. Smoothing back her unruly pony tail Amelia smiled from deep down inside. It was a beautiful day. The sun was bright and it felt delightful on her skin.

Walking toward the edge of the ship Amelia lay her hands on the banister and looked over at the ocean below. She had never seen so much water in her life. No shore, no islands nothing.

“Pretty ain’t it.?”

Amelia turned with a start into the chest of a tall, dark and very handsome black man. “Excuse me.” Taking a deep breath she regained her wits and gave him a bright smile.