Page 36 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
After that, the conversation returned to other matters which are not important to us at this juncture for they came to an end quickly when Jonathan urged everyone to bed because of their early start the following morning.
“So, you expect to share my tent this night?” asked Amelia playfully.
“Yes, I do. But do not worry, I only wish to hold you in my arms and not let you go until the morrow. That other thing will have to wait until we are married proper,” said Jonathan holding up the flap to their tent.
“In that case, I have no reason to decline such a tempting offer,” said Amelia with the biggest smile on her face.
* * *
“Oh, it was the most magical night, Anna. Jonathan held me until dawn when we awoke. I just can’t believe I denied myself that pleasure for so long,” said Amelia with dreamy eyes half clouded over because of the memory.
“I know – there is nothing better.” Anna thought a moment as she rubbed a cloth with soap. “Did you…you know?” she asked.
Amelia frowned. “Do what?” she asked, innocently. When she saw her friend struggle with her words, her eyes opened wide as understanding dawned on her. “Oh, my goodness, Anna, most certainly not. We are not man and wife yet.”
“Oh,” was all Anna managed to say. After thinking some more on the matter, she added, “I thought that did not matter in the New World.”
Amelia rolled her eyes as she lowered herself into the stream to continue her washing. Somehow, she wished she was just as free-spirited as Anna.No,she countered in her mind.I wish to be married to Jonathan before we tread down that road.She lost herself more and more in the world of love as she washed in the creek that was not far from the camp.
“Good morning, ladies,” said a voice in an accent Amelia recognized at once.
She snapped her head up in its direction. Sitting astride of horses before her was a troop of at least thirty mounted men. They were attired in all manner of clothing, except for one of them. He wore the scarlet tunic of an officer in his majesty’s armed forces. It was a British officer and a detachment of colonial dragoons.
“Good morning,” croaked Amelia. She at the same time waved her hand to forestall any protests or cries of anguish on Anna’s part. She would not place Jonathan and Jake in peril because of their unfortunate situation.
Amelia was a lady and the daughter of a very wealthy man. She could handle this officer whom she prayed was a gentleman as well. It would take some cunning on her part, but she was confident that she would get Anna and herself through their predicament.
“You are English by the sounds of it?” asked the officer.
“I am,” said Amelia, lifting her chin. “Do you mind if my lady’s maid and I put on some more clothing. I feel quite uncomfortable in this state of near undress, Lieutenant…”
“Captain…it’s Captain Geoffrey Higgins, at your service ma’am. And yes, please do get dressed and then we can escort you back to a safer place than this. Yanks are all over the place ‘round here – not very pleasant.”
Amelia gulped as the young officer barked some orders that his men put up a perimeter around their position. She urged Anna to dress quickly while they were doing this. Her heart thumped at triple its usual rate. How far had she come that she was fearful of her own people? A few months ago, she would have praised the day.
“May I have your name, ma’am?” asked the captain kindly when he saw that they were fully clothed.
“I am the Honorable Amelia Carlyle,” she said haughtily. When she saw the curious expression on the militia captain’s face, she swallowed down her anguish.
“My Goodness, this is a propitious encounter. The garrison in Montreal is up in arms because of your betrothed’s machinations. He has offered a substantial sum for your safe return to his loving arms…fine gentleman that. I played cards with him on a few occasions. Damned lucky rogue, if you ask me…and not only at cards,” said the captain, eyeing Amelia closely.
“You will take me to him?” asked Amelia, nearly breaking into tears. Next to her Anna shivered. Amelia just managed to place a soothing hand on her before she screamed. “You must be quiet. If you scream Jake and Jonathan will attempt to free us – it would mean their certain death,” she whispered.
Anna nodded meekly. Already tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Yes, of course, ma’am,” said the captain, inclining his head a tad. He looked around and frowned. “Ma’am, are you alone and without escort?” he asked. Seeing two women, especially ones as lovely as Amelia and Anna, had momentarily robbed him of his senses.
Amelia felt her heart thumping in her ribcage. She had hoped that the captain might not have noticed them being two women alone. “The men we hired to escort us to Canada abandoned us here…”
“We barely escaped when their intentions became more…how shall I say…carnal,” said Anna, coming to Amelia’s aid. She had calmed down after Amelia’s words about Jake and Jonathan’s safety. All she wanted to do was get the British as far away from them as possible before they did anything foolishly heroic.
“I see,” said the English captain, understanding dawning upon him. “The rogues. When was this?”
“Last night. We slipped away under the cover of darkness while they were ruffling through our belongings,” said Amelia, feeling slightly more confident.
“I will send a detachment of men to hunt them down,” snarled the English officer.
“No! No need, Sir. They are long gone by now.” Amelia adopted the most helplessly feminine mien she could muster. “Please, Captain…all we want is to enter British territory and feel safe.”
