Read The Reluctant Bridegroom Online
Authors: Gilbert Morris
The Reluctant Bridegroom
© 1990 by Gilbert Morris
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Ebook edition created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-7033-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Cover illustration by Dan Thornberg
Cover design by Danielle White
To Daren and Teresa Reymeyer
God graciously gives us companions to help us bear our burdens and to encourage our hearts as we walk the narrow way toward the Celestial City.
None of my fellow pilgrims have refreshed my spirit more than you two—and your gift of friendship has made a place in my heart that will always be there.
CONTENTS
18. “As Long As We Both Shall Live”
23. Shootout at the Silver Moon
CHAPTER ONE
CINDERELLA AT THE BALL
Heavy brass lanterns cast a pale yellow light over the carriages that moved slowly down the long driveway leading to the governor’s mansion. The Governor’s Spring Ball, traditionally held on April first of each year, generally enjoyed mild weather; but the winter of 1838 had been unusually severe. A late blast of northern air had swept down the month before, paralyzing the whole countryside. The snow had melted a week before the ball, but a raw, cold wind lingered on.
A rush of frigid air probed inside the ornate carriage standing second in line. Rebekah Jackson shivered at its icy touch. Across from her in the carriage sat her cousin Nora Bayless, watching Rebekah’s nervousness with amusement and a hint of disdain in her greenish eyes. Nora’s father, a wealthy factory owner and member of the House of Representatives, had spoiled his daughter all her life, which only encouraged the aggressive spirit she had inherited from him. Nora smiled at her cousin’s obvious agitation.
“Are you cold, Rebekah—or just excited?”
“I—I think I should have worn my own dress, Nora.” A thread of uncertainty ran through the young woman’s voice as she looked down at her low-cut gown. “This is beautiful, but it’s too—”
“Too daring?”
“Perhaps not for
you,
Nora. But I feel . . . almost . . .
undressed!
”
“Oh, Rebekah, don’t be silly! It’s not immodest at all!
You’ll see women wearing dresses far more dashing than that.” Nora laughed at her cousin’s flustered face; and as their carriage rolled up to the front door, she added, “
I’m
the one who ought to be worried! All the men will be so busy trying to meet you that I won’t have a chance. Now—let’s go. You just forget your staid puritan ways and be the belle of the ball, you hear?”
There was no time to argue. As soon as a black servant dressed in livery opened the door and helped them out of the carriage, Nora led the way inside where another servant took their cloaks. The foyer was ablaze with lights, and the enchanting music filtering from the large ballroom that lay beyond the double doors beckoned them toward its source. As they entered the room, filled with laughter and the steady hum of voices, Rebekah remained near the doorway, looking miserable and uncertain. Nora, however, was immediately swept into conversation with a group of her friends. Then noticing her cousin’s reluctance, she broke away from them and came to stand beside Rebekah.
“Now, let me look at you one more time,” Nora commanded. Standing back to admire her handiwork, she thought how strange it was that this simple girl should be here. She certainly didn’t fit in with all the wealthy and important people there under the glittering lights!
Rebekah Jackson was the daughter of Nora’s mother’s brother, but the two had met only once, at a family reunion when they both were children. Nora had been angry when her mother had told her that she would have to take the girl to the ball. “But—Mother! I can’t take that blue-nosed Puritan!” This opinion had been formed in her by her father, who invariably called his brother-in-law by that epithet.
Spoiled as she was, this was one time Nora did not get her way. “Your father doesn’t want to offend my brother,” her mother had shrugged. “It’s a political thing, Nora. Rebekah’s father is becoming quite powerful in his part of the state, and your father needs his help with the next election. Rebekah
will only stay for a week, and it won’t kill you to entertain her for that long—nor to take her to the ball with you.”
“She’s probably ugly as a toad!” Nora had grumbled, and had prepared herself to be as distant as possible to the girl. When her cousin arrived for her visit, however, Nora had been pleasantly surprised. Rebekah was quiet, but had a keen wit that lay just beneath the surface. In the two days before the ball, Nora had grown very fond of her, especially once she discovered that Rebekah had led a life more restricted than Nora could ever imagine. Nora knew that her uncle was a strict man, but when she found out that Rebekah had never been to a ball, did not know how to dance, used no cosmetics, and had never been left alone with a young man, Nora stared as if her cousin were an alien creature.
“That’s
medieval,
Rebekah!” she exclaimed. “Why, you’re not much better off than a slave!”
Rebekah said quietly, “Well, Nora, my sister—” She hesitated, then began again. “My sister Louise was wild. She ran away with a man, and it was terrible for my parents. Father
is
protective—maybe too much so. He just doesn’t want anything to happen to the rest of us.”
Nora was indignant, but held her tongue, determined to say no more—until she saw the plain brown dress that Rebekah had brought to wear to the ball. In an instant a scheme leaped into Nora’s mind, and she vowed to make Rebekah’s first ball one the girl would never forget. Plunging into the task with her usual enthusiasm, she insisted that Rebekah wear one of her own dresses and some of her jewelry. Rebekah had protested at first, but was soon caught up by Nora’s eagerness—until now. Now she stood uncertainly, confused by the lights and the music, and wishing she’d never come!
Nora’s critical eye surveyed the young woman of twenty—slender but well-formed, wearing a bright emerald dress that set off her abundant auburn hair. Rebekah’s eyes were large and of an unusual hazel hue, which exactly matched the stone that hung on a golden chain around her neck. She had
an oval face with a wide, provocative mouth, and her bare arms were smooth and creamy under the lights.
Beautiful!
Nora breathed, well aware that it was not the young woman’s shapely figure nor her attractive face that made her so attractive, but the air of vulnerability that enveloped her.
“Come on, Cinderella,” Nora laughed. “It’s time for you to find the prince and set him on his ear!”
As they moved into the ballroom, Rebekah giggled. “If my father saw me wearing this dress, I wouldn’t have to wait until midnight to become a poor, ragged girl! He’d take care of that!”
Nora led her around the room toward the large tables covered with food and drinks, her eyes scanning the room as they went. Nora soon found what she was looking for. “There’s Robert,” she said, and moved toward two men who were standing beside the tables, talking. Rebekah looked at them with interest, for Nora had talked of little else than the charm of Robert St. Cloud.
“He’s going to marry me—but he doesn’t know it yet,”
Nora had confided to Rebekah. Now she whispered, “I’ll have Robert introduce you to that handsome man he’s talking to.”
“Oh no! Please!” Rebekah gasped, but it was no use. Nora pulled her up to the pair and introduced her to St. Cloud, who bowed and murmured, “A pleasure, Miss Jackson.” He gestured toward his companion, saying, “Nora, you haven’t met my new associate—Tyler Marlowe. Marlowe, this is Miss Nora Bayless and her cousin, Miss Jackson.”
“A pleasure.” Marlowe was a tall man of about thirty. He had a florid complexion and a pair of sharp black eyes. His lips were full and red under a trim mustache, and he smiled easily. “If I’d known the ladies of Virginia were so attractive, I’d have come here much sooner.”
Nora responded easily, but the compliment had brought a glow to Rebekah’s cheeks. She avoided his gaze, uneasily hoping that she could retire to a secluded corner. Instead, she heard Marlowe say, “Miss Jackson, may I have this dance?”
“Oh, I—I’m not a dancer,” Rebekah stammered.
“I’m sure you’re just being modest. In any case, I’m a good teacher.” Somehow Rebekah found herself on the dance floor. Marlowe put one arm lightly around her, and she followed his lead as they moved among the dancers.
Nora and St. Cloud watched the pair until St. Cloud glanced down and caught Nora’s expression. He laughed. “Nora, you’re looking at Tyler as if he is the wolf that’s taken your only chick.”
“That’s not far wrong, Robert. You have no idea how
green
that girl is. Her father’s kept her locked up like a nun. If my father had done that to me, I’d have blown my brains out!”
“More likely you’d have blown
his
brains out,” her friend chuckled. Then he glanced at the pair again and mused, “I don’t know much about Marlowe. He’s got some leases on land in Georgia that may turn out well.”
“Well,
I
can tell you something about Mr. Tyler Marlowe,” Nora said. “He’s a man who chases women!”
“You think so?”
“Why, he almost drew a bead on Rebekah, didn’t you see? I could handle him, but poor girl—she’s never seen any like him.”