Into the Wilderness
Page 93

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. There was, after all, nothing more to say. Her father's motivations, whatever they might be, would not be made clear to her today. He gave her no choice; he would not trust her with the whole truth. His treatment was not so much that of a loving and concerned father, but of a panicky businessman. Threats, right now, could only raise his suspicions. Tears would do the same, as he had never seen her cry. If she went down to Mr. Bennett and flatly refused, before him, to marry Richard, what then? The deed would not be signed, and God only knew what other plan her father might be hatching. She wondered if his concern for the management of the property was sincere. Family feelings were, after all, not so very strong in her father; only twice had he come to England while she was growing up. A thought occurred to her which might at least gain her a little time.
"I would like to see the letter from my aunt Merriweather."
Unexpectedly, the judge colored. "Yes. Of course. It's in the study; I'll have it brought up to you. Please excuse me now, for the moment, daughter, I must return to my guest. We will expect you later this evening, when you are feeling more yourself." But he was already halfway out the door.
* * *
Elizabeth was close to despair when Curiosity appeared again, this time carrying more tea, which she deposited unceremoniously on the dresser.
"Get up, now, Elizabeth, and get dressed. We got to get you downstairs."
"What?"
But Curiosity had grabbed the covers and flung them back, and had moved off to select a dress from the few hung on pegs behind the dressing screen.
"I can't go down there!" Elizabeth shouted in a whisper. "Richard will corner me immediately."
"Get dressed," Curiosity said, thrusting a chemise into her arms. "Trouble down to the Gloves' place, somebody hurt bad."
"The Gloves?" Elizabeth asked. "I don't understand."
"Child." Curiosity stood with her hands on her hips and her elbows and chin thrust out. "Wake up now. You can't always be daydreaming when the fat in the fire. Somebody hurt down to the Gloves', and they need the doctor."
"They need Richard?" asked Elizabeth. And then: "They need Richard! But how—"
Curiosity yanked Elizabeth's nightgown over her head, and grinned. "For a smart woman, Elizabeth, you thick as custard at times."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Curiosity. "Tell me—" she began, but she was interrupted by the sound of a horse in full gallop approaching the house.
"Never mind," she said, suddenly full awake. She thrust her arms into the chemise and began to button it. "How long do you think this emergency will occupy Dr. Todd?"
"Oh, by the time they get him there, pretty much all night," Curiosity said, as she worked Elizabeth's buttons with quick fingers. "Enough time for you to see to business, at any rate."
* * *
When Richard had ridden off with Julian in attendance, Elizabeth decided that a fifteen—minute delay before going downstairs was absolutely necessary. While she waited, Elizabeth made a bundle, in which she packed two changes of clothing, some sewing things, an extra pair of walking boots, her hairbrushes, soap, a small hand mirror, writing materials, her mother's cameo, and the bit of jewelry she had owned, and after long deliberation, three books. This was an absorbing and even frightening task, but when she was done she saw by the clock on the mantel that only five minutes had passed.
The bundle was too large; there was no doubt of it. She discarded the boots and the nicer of the two dresses, the hand mirror, and with some regret, the books. She would leave the jewelry and the cameo at Lake in the Clouds in Hawkeye's care. Then she sat looking into the fire, and thinking of the way the day had begun.
Elizabeth touched her mouth with a cold finger, feeling rather than seeing that her lips were still puffy and a bit tender. As was the saddle of flesh between her legs. She didn't know if thoughts of Nathaniel could sustain her in the next hour, or if they would distract. In any case, he could not help her.
She must do what she needed to do to secure her own future; it was one she hadn't imagined on coming to Paradise, but it was what she wanted.
Is it?
Instead of moving into her beautiful new schoolhouse tomorrow, she would be on her way south, eloping. Eloping. The enormity of it struck her, and she felt her mouth go dry and sticky. Her students would think terrible things of her; they would probably hear them from their parents. Nathaniel was well liked, in spite of his connection to the Mohawk, but they wouldn't like him helping himself to the judge's daughter, and her property.
Life would be easier if I had never met him, she whispered to herself, and was shocked at the sound of the words in the room. At the truth of them. Without Nathaniel, she could lead a good, important, rewarding life, teaching the children who came to her with a routine of books and work. Quiet, peaceful, safe.
Boring. Lonely. Mastered.
Things would be hard when they came back to Paradise, but she would build up her school, slowly. People would get over it, and then life would settle down to a routine.
Elizabeth drew a deep breath, touched her handkerchief to the perspiration on her brow, and went down to the parlor.
* * *
Suddenly and without a struggle, the judge acquiesced to fate. Richard had been called away to see to one of the Gloves' slaves who had got his leg wedged underneath a falling tree on the far side of Hidden Wolf and no one knew how long he would be gone; Mr. Bennett had obligations in Johnstown and must be away in the morning. And here was Elizabeth, out of her sickbed to comply with her father's wishes. There was no excuse the judge could offer that would not look strange and perhaps occasion questions from Mr. Bennett that he didn't care to answer.