Authors: Suzette Stone
Jenna seated herself next to Jack on the velvet loveseat in Lady Emmeline’s study. Feeling perplexed by the coming news, she reached for Jack’s hand and entwined her fingers through his. She watched as Lady Emmeline stood up and reached inside one of the drawers of her mahogany bureau, pulling out a worn silver box. She opened it, retrieving Jenna’s locket and handed it to her.
“I am sure you wondered how I knew of your locket.”
Jenna nodded quizzically.
Lady Emmeline sighed. “I really do not know where to begin.”
“Just tell her as you told me” Jack offered, squeezing Jenna’s hand.
She hesitated for a moment before seating herself in her fireside chair, her hands still grasping the box. “My brother gave that locket to your mother as a gift."
“Your brother?” Jenna asked.
“Yes. William, my dearest elder brother. Your mother and he were…” Lady Emmeline hesitated slightly. “They were very much in love a long, long time ago before she married your father. Here, I have a portrait of him.”
Jenna moved closer to Lady Emmeline and, taking the picture from her, seated herself in the chair opposite. She gazed over the portrait of the man in silence, the only sound being the interrupting crackle of the fire in the still air. His eyes held a strange resemblance, a certain look to his face that filled her with a calm serenity.
“He was very handsome.” She handed back the photograph, unsure of its relevance to her.
“Yes.” Lady Emmeline smiled. “He loved your mother, but our father, being a stern man, had ideas for William that did not include marrying any woman without a dowry, let alone a commoner.”
Jenna nodded understandingly and smiled at Jack.
“And so he was forced to end his relationship with your mother, but he could not forget her and never met any woman to take her place. He continued life as a lonely bachelor, never putting down roots and staying as far away from this part of the world and the memory of your mother as he could. Your mother missed him, too, but life went on and she was lucky enough to meet your father. They married, their union blessing them with one daughter, Tamzin, followed a few years later by Karenza. After Karenza’s birth, my father became very ill, unable to take care of his properties and acquisitions and William came back to Cornwall from London. At the sight of each other, your mother and my brother felt their feelings return. For many years, they tried to fight it. She continued to be a good wife and mother and he absorbed himself in his work, but their fight was useless. One evening, they returned to each other in secret, a clandestine union that lasted only a couple of months before Isabel realized she was with child.”
Lady Emmeline stopped.
“Please, carry on,” Jenna urged, already sensing what would come next.
“That child was you, Jenna. You are the union of your mother and my brother.”
“But...but my father… he has always brought me up as his own?”
“He knew nothing of it.” Lady Emmeline shook her head sadly. “They kept it a secret from everyone, including my father. I didn't find out until William lay taking his last breath. You see, William did not possess the strength of someone who would fight for love.” She glanced over at Jack and smiled. “By this time his body was frail with consumption. He knew you were being born into a good and loving family with a father who would protect and love you better than any man could. When you were born, you bore some similarities to my brother, but no one noticed as you resembled your mother in so many ways. William saw you only once, held you only once, before he became too ill to see any visitors. He knew he would soon die and, on his death bed, he imparted the secret of your birth to me and made me promise I would protect you and make sure you were well taken care of.”
“Hence the reason for the lessons as a young girl and my early employment as your personal servant,” Jenna said finally, trying to come to terms with the astounding news.
Lady Emmeline nodded sadly. “And hence my involvement in wishing to protect you now. I fear I have failed you dismally, Jenna. I fear I could have prevented all of this from happening. I knew of Edwin’s perversions. I tried to keep him away from you, but I should have known he would get to you sooner or later. I am sorry – so very, very sorry.”
Jenna shook her head, her mind racing with all the questions she wanted to ask. She looked over to the fire, the orange flames burning up through the steep chimney. “My mother? When she drowned, it was no accident was it?”
“No,” Lady Emmeline said softly. “She could not live without William, could not bear to think of him so far away from her. I suppose in her deepest depression she thought that would be the only way to be with him again.”
“Strange how history repeats itself,” Jenna mused.
“But it doesn’t have to,” Jack interrupted. “We do not face the same opposition anymore. My fortune is of my own making. I am not dependent on anything or anyone for it. I can marry whom I choose regardless of dowry, status and other such nonsense.”
“Will you tell your father of this?” Lady Emmeline asked.
“I don’t think there is any need,” Jenna replied. “What good could that possibly do? He knows nothing of my true birthright or, if he does, he has never indicated so. He is the only father I have ever known and the only father I have ever wanted. Why would I divulge this to him now, at this time of his life?”
“That is sensible,” Lady Emmeline said. “And now for you, now you realize why I wish to protect you from all of this?”
Jenna nodded, opening the locket she held in her hands and gazing at the portrait of her mother looking back. “I do.”
“Then you will not confess to the authorities.”
Jenna paused, deep in thought. “If we go to America, Jack, we will make sure father and my sisters are well provided for before we leave?”
Jack smiled, moving over and kneeling before her. “Well provided for. I promise you they will never have to worry about money or your father’s illness ever again.”
She lifted her hand and smoothed his face. “Then I will do whatever you want me to do.”
He reached inside the pocket of his jacket, pulling out a small, black, silk covered box. “All I want you to do,” he said opening it, exposing the vibrant glitter of the large pear shaped diamond, “is to say you will marry me.”
Jenna watched as Charlie collapsed on the mound of trunks and boxes in a state of exhaustion.
“I don’t know why he just doesn’t pack up the whole of England to take with him,” he admonished, pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his brow, mimicking the porters who were loading the boxes onto the ship.
“Don’t be cheeky.” Jenna winked, adjusting the new cream satin traveling outfit Jack purchased for her.
“Oh, I am not being cheeky, just excited. Do you think they will like me in America?”
“I’m sure they will find you very unusual.” She laughed, taking him by the hand and walking over to where her family gathered on the Plymouth Docks.
“Now don’t be running like a wild thing over that ship,” Tamzin admonished Charlie. “If you fall overboard you’ll know all about it.”
Jenna laughed as he enveloped Tamzin in a big hug. “Oh, I do wish Karenza and Billy could have been here.”
“Well, at least she made the wedding before the little ‘un popped out!” Tamzin laughed.
They all jumped as the ship’s foghorn rang out in the early morning air.
“Best say our goodbyes and make our way aboard.” Jack kissed her family and Lady Emmeline goodbye, before moving off to the side to give Jenna her privacy.
“Bye,” she cried. “I will miss you.” She placed her arms around her father’s neck, letting out a small sob.
“Now, now,” he choked. “Don’t go getting all teary eyed or you’ll have me crying.”
“I’ll be home next year. I promise.”
“You just look after yourself and that there husband of yours. Don’t you go worrying about me! With Karenza and Billy moving back to the village I’ll have enough people to worry about me.”
Jenna laughed and kissed him gently on the forehead. “I love you papa,” she whispered, clutching his hand in hers.
“I love you, too. Now you go on and have an adventure your mother would have been proud of.”
Jenna moved over to where Tamzin stood, dabbing her eyes and kissed her loudly on the cheek. “Now, don’t go bossing poor Karenza around when she moves back.”
“I won’t.” Tamzin sobbed. “Oh, look at me, I’m a wreck! Anyone would think I wouldn’t see you again by the sights of me!”
“Give Karenza a big kiss from me and the new baby.”
“I will,” Tamzin promised. “And you do forgive me don’t you? I was skeptical of Jack’s feelings towards you. I so wanted to protect you. But I was wrong, Jenna. It is obvious to everyone how much he loves you.”
“Of course I forgive you.” Jenna lifted her arms around her neck, removing the locket from beneath her hair. “I want you to have this.” She handed the necklace to her sister.
“Thank you,” Tamzin cried, placing it around her neck. “I shall wear it always.”
Jenna moved over to where Lady Emmeline stood, clothed in the brightest red silk gown she ever saw, a happy smile on her face. “Thank you,” she said softly. “Thank you for everything.”
Lady Emmeline nodded, squeezing Jenna’s hand.
“Will you be alright?”
Lady Emmeline smiled, a glint in her eye. “For the first time in my life I am actually excited about the future. Who knows, I may even take a beau.”
“A beau!” the countess admonished as she climbed ungracefully from Lady Emmeline’s carriage. “A beau! Oh, what is this world coming to?” She fanned her flustered cheeks. “Next thing I know you will be running off with the stable hand or, worse still, the gardener!”
Jenna laughed and walked toward the ship. As she approached the gang plank, she turned, raising her lace glove to the shore and waving it.
“Are you ready?” Jack asked, taking her hand and leading her on to the ship.
“Absolutely.” She followed him to the ship’s bow, standing over the railings and waved to shore as the ship began to pull away from the docks.
“Wave goodbye to England, Charlie,” Jenna laughed as he extended his little hand over the railing and began shaking it frantically. They stayed there waving until the shore gradually became a speck in the distance and the coastline became lost from view.
With Charlie tucked in to the adjacent cabin, Jenna and Jack retreated into their own first class cabin, equipped with a large and beautifully dressed double bed, a bucket of chilled champagne and fresh lobster.
“Are you ready to start our honeymoon?” Jack popped the cork and poured a crystal glass full of the bubbly concoction.
“Here’s to our honeymoon and home for the next few weeks,” Jenna giggled, raising her glass in a toast.
“I have been waiting for his moment since I met you,” he said, suddenly becoming serious. “The moment where I take you in my arms and become the first and only man to make love to you. Only I….”
She smiled as his voice trailed off in disappointment. “Oh, but you are the first and will be the only.”
“What?”
“I am still intact, my love, very much intact. It would seem alcohol saw to that!”
“Then you better get over here right now, Lady Bartholomew!” He patted the bed and placed the bucket of champagne on the bedside table.
As the ship rolled over the Atlantic waves, Jenna lay wrapped in Jack’s arms, savoring each delicious moment as he undid the silk covered buttons of her gown. Loosening the ties, her corset fell to the floor of the cabin. She heard him gasp with desire as her naked body revealed itself to him. Bending his lips to her soft skin, he covered every inch of her with a stream of soft kisses, before he covered her with the weight of his masculine, toned body. Slowly and tenderly, he moved himself inside of her, his touch upon her skin bringing her to the very heights of ecstasy as he brushed his lips over her naked breast, his hands roaming every inch of her body. She groaned with desire, her body aching to feel him deeper inside of her, She arched her golden hips up to meet his, letting his full manhood fill her with the passion they kept hidden for so long. Billowing ripples swept over her body as he brought her to the climax of pleasure, her body shuddering beneath him as the feverish momentum overcame her.
As her body moved slowly in rhythm with his, the exaltation of what she just experienced filled her with even more passion than before. He groaned, whispering her name, his body vibrating against her skin as his passionate climax unfurled itself. Afterwards, they lay in a tangled heap, their bodies entwined as she lazily ran her fingers across his bronzed and masculine chest.
“So that’s what they were talking about!” Jenna laughed softly, remembering the visit from her sisters.
“Hmm?” Obviously exhausted, Jack sprawled unmoving across the bed.
“Oh, nothing, just something I remember my sisters telling me.”
Jenna nestled her head in the crook of Jack’s neck, listening to the sea wind rush around the portal holes of the ship. “It was a fateful wind that led us to each other that day on the moor. A wind of destiny that couldn’t be quelled even when I thought the wind died completely. And now listen…that same wind, a fortunate wind…leads us to America together. Did you ever believe in fate and wishes coming true?”
“Always,” Jack smiled, kissing her tenderly on the forehead. “You can never fight the winds of fate.”