by Betty Bolte
Evelyn's Promise
A More Perfect Union Series
Book Four
by
Betty Bolté
Award-winning Author
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ISBN: 978-1-61417-818-7
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Chapter 1
Charlestown, South Carolina–1783
"Will this day never end?" Evelyn Hamilton cast a sidelong glance at the lean man standing beside her, hoping he hadn't heard her childish grumbling.
No, he apparently hadn't. Her pulse throbbed in her ears at Nathaniel Williams' proximity, a sensation she'd only experienced when in fear of her late husband's next actions. She held still, though actively attempting to calm the alarm inside her chest. She'd learned to mask her inner strength, what she possessed, by bowing her head, studying her hands or even her feet if necessary. In her experience, men could be cruel without a second thought, and she wouldn't give them a reason to inflict said cruelty upon her person. She surveyed the happy gathering, the friendly mood of the group working its magic. She relaxed a bit, though having the tall, powerful man standing so close caused a fine tremor in her gut. He wouldn't harm her, not in the present situation at a minimum. Nathaniel's attention lingered on the three happy couples as they received congratulations from the guests snaking past the newly married. She was exhausted and longed for a quiet room, but remained amidst the jocular gathering.
"Looks like the entire town turned out for the triple wedding and the festivities afterward." He glanced at her and then returned his gaze to the room at large.
"Yes, food tends to lure people out of their homes." She kept a smile on her face as she observed the multitude of people milling about in the candlelit and lavishly decorated home.
"I understand you are to thank for the handsome decorations?" He lifted a brow and folded his arms across his chest, shifting his weight to rest on the hip closer to her.
"Thank you." She'd enjoyed applying her talents to making the house reflect the importance of the day's event. In truth, the triple wedding made Twelfth Night a livelier and more joyful occasion than in previous years, especially those under British rule, from what she'd been told. "I relished the honor of dressing the house for the happy occasion."
Nathaniel regarded her with a gentle smile. "After all the horrors of war, the opportunity to enjoy such merriments is a delight to the senses."
She nodded slowly, shifting the bundle in her arms. "Even during the war, life has a way of pushing through to keep hope alive."
She looked down as her baby son squirmed in her embrace. A white cap, made with her own hands from fine linen, covered his wispy red-brown hair. His eyelashes fanned on his cheeks as the little mouth pursed in his sleep. The white dress he wore had been handed down from his cousin when he'd outgrown the garment. Even Walter, her deceased husband, had expressed pride in Jim. She'd promised herself that she'd do all in her power to ensure Master James Christopher Hamilton grew up to honor his name. No matter what she must do, she'd prepare Jim for whatever opportunities life brought his way.
She and Nathaniel, a stranger to her up until the rector performed the weddings a few minutes ago, had already paid their compliments to the three pairs of smiling husbands and wives. Her new friends and her sister stood together. Each bride shone with happiness, their smiles vying with the candles for lighting the room. The happy couples made a striking and impressive group.
Candles flickered throughout the newly redecorated house, illuminating bouquets of flowers tied with long curling ribbon secured to the banister and resting on tables. In the parlor, a string quartet played softly. The feeling in the home seemed magical and dreamy, like something out of a play. Even her old gown of silk and taffeta, with its embroidered stomacher and flowing cerulean skirts, appeared revitalized and beautiful. She'd been relieved when the dress fit upon her matronly figure after birthing the baby a mere two months previous.
Nathaniel caught her attention with a tilt of his head and wave of his hand. "Do you know all of these people?"
Evelyn shrugged. "On Twelfth Night, everyone is invited. I hope we don't run out of the rum punch and egg nog."
"Would you care for a cup of either, before such a tragic event occurs?" He winked at her, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth. "I'm happy to oblige, if so."
"No, but thank you. My hands are already full." She tucked the light blanket around her son's sleeping face.
"I imagine they will remain so until your son is grown." He stepped closer to her as guests pushed behind him on their way to the virtually groaning table of refreshments. "It appears the party is just beginning."
"Yes, it should last for several days as long as the food and drink hold out."
Nathaniel towered over her petite frame, a giant dressed in fine clothes. She lifted her chin, despite her unease, and studied the stranger's scarred yet striking features. If not for the still red lines stretching across his right cheek, he'd appear to be of adolescent age. His luxurious chestnut brown hair, shot through with gold, tempted her touch, but she resisted the urge. His earlier brief conversation with Benjamin, her sister's new husband, revealed he had fought in the state militia. He had come to town at Benjamin's express invitation. What kind of business could he possibly have with the major? And, more urgent, why did he need to stand so close?
He smiled, a gentle expression. His steel gray eyes searched her face, his gaze flitting from mouth to nose and finally resting upon her eyes. "Unfortunately, I don't expect to stay for the duration."
"You'll miss the celebration of the end of the holidays." She drew a slow, unsteady breath as he continued to study her with the ghost of a smile. She lowered her eyes, smoothing the baby blanket as an excuse for looking away.
"I'll miss more than that, I imagine." He lifted the edge of Jim's blanket, peered at the sleeping infant before he speared her with his black-rimmed eyes. "He has your nose."
She giggled, then sobered, annoyed with her immature reaction to the man. What was it about him that provoked such a reflex? She pressed her lips together but a smile forced its way through. "Perhaps he should give it back to me, do you suppose?"
Nathaniel's smile widened to reveal his teeth. "Mayhap you can share it."
Laughter bubbled out of her mouth and she quickly stopped it. "That would prove unsatisfactory."
He chuckled, eyes twinkling. He glanced away and then back. "Looks like we're about to have some company."
Evelyn followed his gaze. Her sister Amy and Benjamin led the others to where Evelyn stood with Nathaniel by the cold fireplace, its firebox laid with kindling and tinder for later in the evening. With the press of so many bodies during the middle of the day, Evelyn had decreed no additional heat necessary. She'd been right, too. The doors and windows stood open to let in the cold January air, helping to mitigate the warmth created by the crush of guests.
The ladies had chosen beautiful gowns of their own for this special day. Cousin Emily's pale yellow gown suited her to perfection, with white roses embroidered around the scooped neck of the bodice and then reaching out in rays down the skirts. She wore her blonde curls in an smooth bun beneath a matching pale yellow hat made from lace and decorated with white silk roses. Amy wore a midnight blue dress overlaid with lavender netting. Her dark locks had been tamed into an intricate hairdo, a few curls left to hang beside her rosy cheeks. Samantha, her new friend and adopted sister, had boldly chosen an emerald velvet gown, with a deep plunge of the neck and scattering of rhinestones across the bodice, which suited her coloring and green eyes. Her ebony hair had been fashioned into an elegant braid for the occasion, with wisps of curls left to dance about her face. Gold bobs hung on her earlobes and a matching chain graced her neck. A lovely trio indeed.
"Evelyn, I cannot thank you enough for your efforts to make the house so beautiful and welcoming." Emily drew her husband Frank Thomson closer to stand with her at Evelyn's side. "Everyone is talking about the beautiful flowers and ribbons, oh, and the array of branched candlesticks."
"You created a beautiful and romantic setting for our special day." Amy lightly hugged Evelyn, careful to not wake the baby. "A simple thank you cannot convey the depth of my gratitude. Especially after the terrible losses you've endured over the past month or so."
Amy's comment raised the memory of the gun shots, the violence, and the violations Evelyn had experienced. Her late husband Walter had been a difficult man to please. When she had not produced an heir within a few months of their marriage, he'd turned violent. Fortunately, she conceived a baby and his tirades abated. Until the renegades and scouts took turns scavenging the property. He held his tongue while the invaders took all they wanted, but then he had unleashed his anger upon her. She sniffed and shook off the misery threatening to dampen her spirits. She wouldn't permit anything to interfere with her happiness on her sister's wedding day.
"One must look to the future and move on when adversity strikes." Evelyn joggled Jim as he began to stir. Soon he'd be wide awake and hungry. He must be her focus, not the death of her abusive husband, nor the conflagration that consumed their manor house. Looking forward meant figuring out how she'd provide for her own household.
"I'm pleased you chose to accept our parents' offer. Since I'm moving out soon, they would be lonely without having one of us with them." Amy clasped her hands before her as she nodded. "It's some form of a miracle our father's finances are sound after all of the trials he's been through over the course of the war."
"Indeed. I'm fortunate they do not mind my return to their house." But Evelyn minded, more than she'd shared with anyone. Her first task was to find her own place to live and raise her son. But how could she afford a house? The money Walter had set aside would last a few months with the current rate of post-war inflation and the devaluation of paper money. Then what?
"At least you have a roof over your head." Nathaniel shifted his weight, closing the distance between them so his hip nearly touched hers. "I've just arrived in town and must find lodgings until I can locate a suitable domicile."
"I'm certain someone will open their home to you." His nearness sent shivers through Evelyn's midriff. He exuded a force she sensed but couldn't define, one tempting her to touch him. What was wrong with her? She barely knew him. She took a half step away, covering her movement with a peek at Jim.
"We're a friendly city, now that the bloody Britons have departed." Frank slipped his arm around Emily's waist. "What do you think of having a guest?"
Emily glanced at Evelyn and then back to Frank. "If he'd like to stay with us, I'm sure we can make him comfortable."
Nathaniel inclined his head in thanks. "Very kind of you. However, what about your trip abroad?"
Frank shook his head, his blond hair neatly held in a queue for the occasion. "We've decided to remain at home and enjoy our newly refurbished abode instead of traveling at this time of year. But in a little while, we will make a journey."
"All the more reason for me to decline your generous offer." Nathaniel shrugged as he glanced at Emily. "I wouldn't wish to interfere with a newly married couple."
Trent raised both brows and shook his head. "Do not worry. We'll help you find lodgings. Perhaps Captain Sullivan will have a place, like he did for Benjamin."
"Nonsense, my friend. What of southern hospitality? Mr. Williams, you are welcome to stay with us. Isn't he, dear?" Benjamin, tall, dark haired, and handsome in an elaborately embroidered waistcoat peeking out from under a bright blue coat and trousers, peered at Amy, who slowly nodded. "See? We'd be pleased for you to share our house as long as you might need."
A host of conflicting emotions flashed across Nathaniel's face before he shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, but I simply cannot believe the newly married would wish a stranger in their midst. I'm sure if I were in your shoes I'd be reluctant to entertain guests."
Evelyn avoided meeting Nathaniel's eyes as he contemplated her with his last words. She hugged Jim close, her cheeks warming under his regard, and looked anywhere but in his direction. He seemed to hint at the underlying meaning of his words to her, provoking the tumult raging in her mind. She needed to remove herself from his presence, and soon.
"That is a valid point." Benjamin grinned at Nathaniel. "It may be hard to sleep nights."
Amy swatted Benjamin's arm, blushing as his meaning spread through the group. "Mind your manners."
"Where will you stay then? If you won't stay with any of us, I mean." Samantha clasped her husband Trent Cunningham's arm as her gaze shifted from one to another of the group.
Evelyn liked Dr. Trent, and rejoiced that her dear friend had found the love of her life in the sandy-haired handsome man. Like the others, Trent had donned his finest suit, the dark blue setting off his crystal blue eyes and a discreetly patterned waistcoat, both of which showed his strength and elegant carriage.
The rustle of taffeta and the thump of leather shoes on the wood floor drew Evelyn's attention to the elderly couple approaching. Her parents, Richard and Lucille Abernathy, had aged gracefully, though her mother's ramrod straight back had bowed a little more each year. Neither head boasted any gray, and their love revealed itself through the angling of their bodies toward each other as well as the looks they shared.
If Evelyn could one day find a man who would treat her with the same respect and concern as her father shared with her mother, she'd be content. But the pickings proved slim after so many men had lost their lives securing the independence of America from British tyranny. Societal expectations weighed on her mind. She should find another husband, one to provide for her two-month old son. If she only had herself to support, she'd manage with sewing or perhaps by being a governess. Jim, her mother had reminded her, needed a father to teach the boy how to be a man, and to ensure he received the requisite care and education to grow to his full maturity. Yet part of her wished to remain unmarried, independent of the needs and demands of a husband. But even knowing of the dearth of eligible bachelors, the next time she accepted a man's attentions, she'd be very careful and certain of his personality. She'd promised herself no one would hurt her ever again.
"I couldn't help but overhear. We have room for you and no recently wed occupants to worry about." Richard Abernathy slapped Nathaniel on the back. "Interested?"
Nathaniel smiled, his attention fli
cking her way and then back to her father. Evelyn held her breath, squeezing Jim until his murmur of protest made her relax her grip. Would this man be staying under the same roof? She desired distance between them, and suddenly the absolute opposite results hovered in the air. Definitely time for her to find another place to reside.
Nathaniel studied her for two beats of her heart before turning and stretching out his hand to shake with her father. "I'd be honored to accept, as long as it does not inconvenience any one."
"Not at all. If you'd like, you can ride in the carriage with us back to the house." Richard grinned and rested his large hand at the small of Lucille's back. "We intend to leave in a little while. We tire easily as the years go by, so we're off to say our farewells and then we can depart."
"Very good." Nathaniel nodded to Richard as he led his wife away, then fixed his attention on Evelyn. "Do you mind that I accepted your father's offer? I have no wish to make you uncomfortable in your own home."
"Why would I mind?" Evelyn kept her eyes on the handsome yet dangerous man regarding her with a serious expression. Dangerous first with regard to the scars he'd suffered during the fighting, indicating he resorted to aggressive behavior when pressed. Dangerous in that he'd also been a party to the raid on her house, a violent invasion of her home by the American militia in search of sustenance for the soldiers. Finally, dangerous to her equilibrium by his mere presence. She straightened her back, stiffening her resolve at the same time. Handsome is as handsome does, after all. "As long as you keep to yourself, we shall get along."
He nodded slowly but his charming smile slipped back into place. "I shall endeavor to honor your request."
"See that you do." A flicker of humor flashed in his eyes and she drew in a breath. "I'm in mourning, so your attentions would be, if not welcome, at best inappropriate."
The sparkle in his eyes went out. "I see."
Amy took Benjamin's hand in hers as she addressed Evelyn. "My dear sister, you, of all people, know how fearful it is to be without a home to live in. Now that your worries are behind you, please don't begrudge the young man shelter from the elements for a short stay while he makes other arrangements."
