Into the Wilderness
Page 99

In the months Elizabeth had spent in the city of New—York waiting to travel north, and the four months she had been in Paradise, she had slowly become familiar with what Yorkers called straightforwardness of purpose. But still, Mrs. Schuyler's directness took her by surprise. Elizabeth glanced at Nathaniel and saw that he was not in the least worried by the nature of the question. On the river he had been cautious and watchful and tense, but here he was relaxed. He shrugged at her, as if to push her off on her own in this conversation.
"We are—were—on our way to Albany," she began. And then, realizing how important it was to remain calm and to keep Mrs. Schuyler's gaze firmly in her own, she continued. "I have some business to attend to. And we are to marry there." And then, calmly: "Nathaniel and I."
"That much I assumed," Mrs. Schuyler replied. "Are you eloping?"
"I am twenty—nine years old," Elizabeth replied slowly. "And I have decided to marry."
Mrs. Schuyler's round face had been calm, even impassive, but now there was a little tic at the corner of her mouth.
"Your father does not approve of your choice?"
"I haven't sought his permission," she said. "For reasons that I do not wish to share." Too late, Elizabeth realized what Mrs. Schuyler would most certainly assume as the most probable reason for wanting to marry in haste. In the same moment, she also realized that this might in fact be the case. She had been calm, but now she felt herself coloring, but she kept her gaze on Mrs. Schuyler and would not look away.
"Well, Miss Middleton," Mrs. Schuyler said. "I think very little of elopements, I must tell you. Our eldest daughter eloped and it was a terrible day for me. A terrible day. But then again, these are different circumstances and you strike me as an intelligent woman."
She addressed the men without looking away from Elizabeth.
"Is she that, Nathaniel?"
"She is," he said, almost grimly.
"Does she get on with Hannah?"
He nodded. "Aye."
"And Bears, what do you think?"
"I think she has earned the name Chingachgook gave to her, Bone—in—Her—Back," said Runs-from-Bears." But today I gave her the name Looks—Hard."
This was the longest sentence Elizabeth had ever heard from him in English, and certainly the most startling thing she had heard him say as well. She thought of the canoe, and her careful study of Nathaniel, and she bit down hard on her cheek, determined not to say a word.
"But she thinks hard, too," he finished with a rare grin.
Mrs. Schuyler seemed to come to a conclusion. "I would say she must," she said with a sudden smile that transformed her face into something almost pretty. "To see the value of Nathaniel Bonner where other Englishwomen would see only buckskin and hands that know the meaning of work." She nodded to Elizabeth. "Your father is a business associate of my husband's," she said. "And we owe him our friendship. But Cora Bonner was more than a sister to me, and my eldest son would not be alive today without Nathaniel's help in a most difficult time. He has a home with us, whenever he should wish to claim it. Now, so do you, as his wife."
"She ain't my wife yet," Nathaniel said. "But we was hoping you could lend a hand and call in the preacher."
There was a scuffle at the door, and a giggle. Mrs. Schuyler sent a disapproving look in that direction. "We hadn't planned on a wedding today," she said. "But we would be honored, Nathaniel. I believe that the preparations have already commenced." There was another stifled laugh from behind the kitchen door. She rose.
"I have some things to speak to the housekeeper about if there's to be a wedding—”
“We don't need anything too fancy," said Nathaniel. "Just a legal ceremony and your good wishes'd be appreciated."
"Is that so?" Catherine Schuyler smiled. "I think it will take a bit more than that. I need to talk to my Sally about shifting the girls around so that we can provide Miss Middleton with a room."
"We won't be staying the night," said Nathaniel. "We've got to be on the way to Albany."
Mrs. Schuyler had been moving toward the kitchen passageway door, but she stopped, and drew herself up to her full height before facing Nathaniel.
"Nonsense," she said. "You will have your wedding dinner with us, and retire here, like the civilized people you are. Whatever business you have in Albany can wait until tomorrow." Her look dared Nathaniel to challenge her.
Elizabeth knew that Nathaniel's worries were well founded. In the hurried conversations with Hawkeye before they left, it had become clear to all of them that it was not enough for Nathaniel to marry Elizabeth. It was crucial that they file the paperwork in Albany and that Nathaniel pay the taxes as her husband, so that there could be no challenge to the validity of the deed of gift, or her status as a married woman. All this had to happen before Richard Todd or her father could raise suspicions that might slow down any part of the process.
"We should be on our way," Elizabeth agreed, regretfully. "Although your kind offer is greatly appreciated." She would have liked to spend her wedding night here in the privacy of a room of her own rather than out in the open with Runs-from-Bears nearby.
"There's business needs doing in Albany, and it can't wait," Nathaniel added.
Mrs. Schuyler's bright blue eyes narrowed just slightly as she looked back and forth between them.