AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Amelia finally arrived at the church, torchlight gleaming beside the door, so she knew she was in the right place. She was breathless, and a little tired, but her resolve had not wavered. In the darkness, she could not see the beautiful church but only its dark outline. This is not the wedding day she had dreamed about in her mind. She shook off that thought before it threatened to weaken her determination, and she pushed open the heavy door to the church to find the aisle lit with candles, and Donald and the minister at the other end, waiting for her. She shut the door with a loud bang, and the sound echoed through the empty church, reverberating in a hollow way. She walked up to them slowly, feeling as though this was her last path to the executioner’s block. She stared at Donald’s sickening grin and the solemn features of the minister.
The minister was dressed in somber, white robes with gold fringes, and she saw Donald had made some sort of an effort to appear the handsome groom, although Amelia would never have seen him that way. He chose to dress all in black,perhaps to appear even more menacing and horrible, Amelia thought.
It felt as if time had slowed, and she moved ever so slightly forward with each step. She could hear her heartbeat in her eyes, slowly pulsing with a deep, heavy sound, threatening to stop any moment to free her from this punishment. She wished she had something to hold on to. She felt as though she might faint, and she thought about how much a glass of wine would do her well in this moment to calm her nerves which prickled and tingled in her belly.
But, then that made her think of Jamie, and her gait slowed even more, as the thought of that first night with him in the library with a glass of wine before the fire.No! You must work to forget him, Amelia! ‘Tis your duty, now. Put that man from your mind.And the image of Jamie faded away into darkness. After what seemed like hours, Amelia eventually made it to the end of the long church aisle and stood before Donald and the minister. Donald bowed obsequiously and after raising his flame-haired head and grabbed her hand with a sickening flourish. He pressed his wet lips to it and kissed it, and before Amelia could grimace at the shine his lips had left on her skin, said, “Happy Wedding Day, my most beautiful bride.”
Amelia smiled tightly, removed her hand from his grasp and then asked, “The contract? Have you everything you promised?”
Donald turned to the minister, “Ah, what an eager woman she is, minister. We do have a few things tae organize before the service, if ye could excuse us.” The minister nodded and walked away to exit through a side door.
Donald returned his gaze to Amelia. “My dear, do not rush such a special occasion. We will want tae remember it, so we can tell the children about it.” He grinned and winked at her, and Amelia nearly vomited on the spot. She grabbed on to the corner of a wooden pew to steady her and keep her resolve strong.
“I mean only to protect my family. That is the only reason why I would marry such a bastard as you. So, it is within my best interest to see the money and the contract before we begin the...proceedings.” She emphasized her disdain on that last word, hoping to injure him in any way she could.
Donald appeared not to have noticed, and continued smiling, while motioning to a box on the front bench. “Here, my dear. You may have a look at everything, if ye like. Then, we can sign the contract, and move forward. My contacts will be alerted, and your father will be freed. Then, we will also be free tae continue as man and wife.” His voice lowered to a sensual growl, and he gripped her waist to him as he spoke, his gaze roving over her face, his moist lips, shining in the church’s candlelight.
He paused his gaze on her lips, watching them for what seemed like minutes, and he began to lean forward to take a kiss from them. Amelia pushed him away as hard as she could and was left staring at a fury-eyed Donald. “Ye are my wife, remember? I will take what pleasures I want from ye.” He practically growled, and Amelia felt afraid of his growing anger. He moved from one emotion to another so quickly. One had not enough time to prepare for the onslaught. She swallowed her disgust, pride, and anger and placed a hand gingerly on his arm. Donald looked down in surprise at this quiet intimacy.
“Donald. ‘Tis not time yet for such...pleasures.” She began, quietly. “I am not yet yer wife, you understand. Everything has its proper time.”
She hoped this would pacify him for the moment until the marriage was complete, and he had sent the money. She may have to avoid him until then, or...would she have to go through with such a disgusting act with such a man? Would she go so far if it meant saving her family?
She thought back to Donald’s silver knife, glinting in the sun, as he opened his coat to show it to her. She had no doubt he would do what he’d threatened. Beneath is obsequious and unctuous exterior, there seemed to be something dark, something that did not care what others normally cared about. It was as if he was the only man in the world who deserved good things, and he would use whoever he could to get those things. She needed to behave well to earn his trust. That way, she could get her father back AND plan her escape without his suspicion.
Donald cooled, and placed his oily palm on top of hers. “Ye are quite right, my dear. We donnae want tae be hasty and rush such a…” he licked his lips, “delectable moment.”
All that Amelia could muster was a quick nod, and then she turned her face to the front bench and its contents. She kept up her facade of kindness and calm. “She pointed to the box, and said, “May I?”
Donald bowed slightly and held out his hand, pointing to it. “Of course.”
Amelia sat beside the box and opened it. Inside was a marriage certificate to be signed as well as a new contract. Amelia read it over, her heart quickening, as she felt his stare upon her, waiting for her to accept and begin the ceremony. She didn’t see any problems with it. It claimed to make the payment after the marriage was performed as well as secure her father’s release. But, then, as she read the last line, she froze.“If the bride purposefully leaves the laird’s residence without his explicit and written permission, all further agreements will be annulled, and the debt will then lie upon her head, and if she cannot be found to place into debtor’s prison, then her father shall be the one to either pay the amount or return to gaol.”
Amelia felt the room heating up and getting smaller. She closed her eyes to remove the feeling of the walls closing in on her. She knew she would suffocate. All her plans had been foiled. If she could not leave, that means she would have to stay with Donald...forever. How could she endure that life? But then, she opened her eyes, breathing slowly, trying to regain her balance. She glanced down to the see the money lying beside the certificate, in crisp notes. It reminded her of her goal.
Donald raised an eyebrow in question. “Do ye agree, woman? Shall we begin?” All that Amelia could do was keep her eyes down and nod, almost imperceptibly. Donald clapped his hands and went to the side door to knock. “Minister Sheffield, we are ready now, my good man.” The minister opened the door and walked out, his features still poised in solemnity. He nodded and walked towards the altar, the book in his hands. He placed himself at the front, and Donald grabbed Amelia’s hand to pull her towards the front, in front of the minister. He looked like an excited schoolboy, his cheeks shining with red anticipation, on the verge of opening a large present.
The minister began speaking, his sonorous voice echoing through the cold, empty chapel. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” Donald bent to grab both of Amelia’s hands in his own. She tugged slightly, trying one last weak attempt at resistance against her fate, but he clung on tightly, stilling her with his dark, threatening eyes. The minister droned on. Amelia barely heard him. She looked away at the empty pews, her expression plain and calm, her mind elsewhere, thinking of green hills, gray sea, white writing paper, and then she smelled it: rosemary and peppermint. It was faint, but it came to her mind, and her brows furrowed with the unusual addition to her daydream. She could actually smell him. It made her smile; it was as if he was right there with her. But then she looked up at Donald’s grinning face, and a shudder went through her.This is my life now. This is my fate.
Amelia had lost track of where the minister was in his marriage service, and she saw Donald opening his mouth to say something. Just then, before he could utter a syllable, a slam sounded from the opening of the church. Both Donald and Amelia turned to see a breathless Marianne, a scowling William, and a fury-filled Jamie.
