by Arlene Lam
“Once we are married.” Jordan threw back sarcastically.
“You don’t love me and I won’t marry you.” Even as her heart screamed for her to take him any way she could, she turned her back on him. How could she fall in love with such an arrogant and cruel fool? “Get out of this house.”
“I will not.” Jordan knelt down to pick up the ring on the floor. Through gritted teeth he asked. “What will it take for you to say yes, to marry me?”
“For you to love me.” She spoke before she could think to stop herself.
“That is something you and I both know I cannot give.” He said icily and his heart panged at the words.
“And that’s why I won’t do it, even if it were legal.”
“I tried to give you the choice now I’m taking it from you.” Jordan walked over to the Pastor who still stood shocked into a mute state and said something to him Amelia could not hear.
She watched as the two walked over to her coffee table and from his briefcase the Pastor pulled out a beige piece of parchment. She watched still as Jordan took in hand a quill and scribbled down something or other. Then as Pastor in turn did the same.
Pastor Greggs straightened his spine and waking over to Amelia said. “It’s just my own wife she’s so ill and I needed more money than I had…sorry.” Pulling open the door he walked out and vanished.
Amelia stopped to consider his apology only a second before asking. “What is that?”
“Why it’s our marriage certificate signed and sealed my love.” With a wicked smirk on his lips Jordan walked over took her hand in his placing the gold band on her finger. “How does it feel to be Mrs. Jordan Bradford?”
“It feels as if I’ve just died. I will have this farce disclaimed tomorrow.” She uttered.
“Yes marriage does tend to have that effect; I’d say we are on the right track.”
“I didn’t sign anything. I didn’t say any vows.” Amelia reasoned.
“And it’s forbidden Princess, let us not forget that it’s against the law, yet here we are two married fools.”
“It’s not legal so it’s not valid they are going to have you committed you know. They’ll think you’ve taken leave of your senses.” Amelia suddenly snapped out of her stupor. “You get out of my house.”
“Awe yes, your house, presented by Margaret, bought by me.”
“Liar.”
“No, not in the least, I bought this house so in truth it is mine.”
“And what now, will you take it from me if you don’t get your way?”
“I did get my way, and taking this house from you would be taking from myself.”
“Leave.”
“Well Princess it is my house, and I don’t feel much like leaving just yet, at least not without my wife.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Turning on heel Amelia pushed past him and down the tiny hall to her room. It wasn’t long before she heard the knock at her door. “Go home Jordan.”
“Why Mrs. Bradford mind your tone.” Turning the knob he was more than vexed when he found it locked. “Open the damn door.”
“I will not.” She would keep the door locked and go to bed and by the time it was morning he would be gone she told herself and quickly began to disrobe.
Pulling open her dresser drawer she gave a loud gasp. “Where are my things!”
“I’ve taken the liberty of having them moved to the Maiden.”
“Maiden?” Amelia asked, blindly.
“Yes one of my ships, now open the door.”
“When hell freezes over.” Amelia threw back. “I want my things.”
“You’ll find your effects on the Maiden.” Jordan turned the knob again shaking the brass handle angrily. “Open the door.”
“Never.”
“I’ll break it down Amelia!” Temper rising Jordan banged on the door.
“Well you’ll have too!” Amelia screamed, appalled at the turn her day had taken. Always one thing after another, never any peace. Sitting on the edge of her bed she heard the first loud thud and saw the light splintering of wood.
He really was breaking her beautiful door. No matter she knew he would, he always did what he said.
“Damn it Amelia.” Jordan bellowed.
She ignored him and no more than a second later her pretty oak door burst open. Giving a sigh she fell back on the bed. “I won’t forgive you for this ever.”
“Duly noted.” Bending down he scooped up Amelia like a sack of potatoes in his arms already knowing she wouldn’t use her legs to walk. “Come now wife, it won’t be all bad.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Jordan walked the deck of the Maiden impatiently, he had sent for Jasper hours ago. The fool was probably still in bed with his cousin. Still he was more than ready to go and his sister was still under Jasper and Margaret’s supervision.
Raking a hand through his tousled locks, Jordan attempted to will away the throbbing in his skull. He’d stored away the stoic Mrs. Bradford below in their quarters after a screaming match and some shed tears on her part.
When he had brought her to the ship they were met by more than a few odd and disapproving stares, but understandingly no one voiced any opinions once onboard. Only a fool would bite the hand that fed them.
Amelia had not made the situation any better, yelling and carrying on. Airing out all of their dirty laundry and the fact that through lies and cheating she was his wife. Eventually he grew tired of her ranting and took her to their bedroom.
Theirs. It was a hard concept to wrap one’s head around, but he already had. She was his wife, and he was still waiting for a sinking feeling of dread to settle over him. He’d expected to have to force himself through every step but he hadn’t had too. Not once did he feel the urge to back out of his one-sided arrangement.
Shaking the thoughts from his head he forced himself to remember he was furious with her. Tried to hold on to the idea that she was a lying hellcat with no heart of her own, the only problem was that Jordan knew it wasn’t true.
Amelia had been innocent. In truth he’d taken away that innocence knowingly, intentionally, pursued her with vigor. Yet instead of one night of ecstasy like he’d expected he’d planted a child in her belly and she put a fire in his veins, he’d started to yearn for her.
When he woke she was the first thing on his mind, the same when he went to sleep, his sweet Princess, his wife.
If only she had just told him about the baby, instead of hiding it from him. She would never have any idea of what that did to him. The memories it brought back, the pain.
He’d been panicked finding her gone that night, truly panicked and no woman had ever been able to put that kind of fear into him. When Margaret had told him about the child she carried, he couldn’t see reason. All he could see was that she had kept dire information from him, that she had lied to him about the most important thing in his life. All he knew was that she managed to get close enough to his heart to hurt him, like Regina, and it infuriated him.
He had regretted the things he had said to her at Nina’s that night as soon as the words flew out his mouth. Yet he couldn’t stop himself. It was as if someone else who was livid and uncontrollable had taken over his body. When it was all over, pride wouldn’t let him apologize.
He’d gone home and drank himself into a stupor. Cursed everyone and everything around him and then turned around and drank some more, because somehow he had to get this burning pain and weight off his heart.
Strange but from the moment he’d seen her again, felt her, the feeling became nonexistent.
“Jordan!”
The high pitched shrill of a young girl snatched Jordan back to reality. It was Georgia, and he felt his heart begin to again warm. “I missed you sweet, how was Margaret treating you.”
“Very well.” Georgia took the time to twirl around. “She bought me this new dress and I don’t really like dresses Jordan but this one is awful nice.”
Jordan watched his s
ister light up and smiled. “You look just like a pixie. Come here and give me a hug.”
Georgia jumped to him without hesitation. “Aunty Margaret brought a ton of trunks for the trip to London.”
“Excuse me?” Jordan stepped back baffled, only to just now notice Jasper who stood off to the sides looking sheepish.
“We’re traveling with you, one big happy family.” Jasper began while lending a hand to Margaret who was making her way on deck.
“I’ve no room to accommodate you.” Jordan began.
“Of course you do.” Jasper shot his friend a dirty look, before directing some of the ship hands down below deck. “I believe that you’ll find two empty cabins several doors down from the Captain’s. You can place those trunks in them. Margaret you know it, show these gentlemen to the correct cabins and help Georgia settle in. I’ll be down shortly.”
Margaret didn’t look to Jordan once but simply brushed past him as she took up an excited Georgia’s hand and led their way down to their sleeping areas.
“You married her.” Jasper said in a worried whisper.
“I did, and the whole ship knows from her display so there is no need to put on airs.” Jordan started below deck himself then. “I don’t need you to come to London.”
“But we are.”
Jasper let his feet fall heavily on the steps leading below. It had been awhile since he’d set foot on the Maiden. Still he knew it like the back of his hand, when they reached the bottom Jasper turned right without thought toward Jordan’s chamber. “How is your wife doing?” Jasper really was fond of Amelia and his concern was genuine. “You really don’t think Jordan— taking her on this journey is unsafe and selfish. What type of revenge is this where you marry your enemy?” With a sigh he pushed past Jordan and turned the knob trying to enter the room.” You locked her up in there!” Jasper couldn’t believe it. “Give me the damn key.”
Jordan pulled the silver key from a silver chain about his neck. “I have to keep it close just in case she tries to steal it.”
“And what, jump into the sea to freedom?” The whole situation was now beyond ridiculous. Snatching the key from the chain roughly Jasper was unapologetic as he watched the silver chain break. Turning the key in the lock he pushed open the door.
The large bed was the first sight he was greeted with and a sleeping Amelia curled up in an awkward position dark hair swept across her face and a distraught pout on her face. “Tyrant.” Jasper closed the door again softly.” Explain to me why you’re doing this, you don’t love her, hate her in fact, and swore to never marry again. Now here you are married to a woman you don’t love, and despise.”
“I am married to a woman who will soon bear my child, besides there are some privileges to being married.” Jordan joked crudely.
“Privileges you’re used to without such a commitment.” Jasper would not let Jordan ruin Amelia or himself. Margaret would kill him if he did.
“Never a more truthful statement have you made. Still I married her, Amelia is my wife and all conquests of old are now obsolete.” Opening the door Jordan slipped in. “You can plainly see she is unharmed, I would never hurt her.”
“You have.” Jasper argued.
“Never physically, you don’t need to follow me to the English countryside.”
“My taking a sabbatical from life if long overdue.” Bowing comically Jasper grinned wide up at Jordan. “Until tonight then friend.”
Shutting the door on Jasper’s smug face Jordan began to disrobe. They would be on their way within the half hour and he still was doing battle with his decisions. Sitting on the edge of the bed he could feel the heat from Amelia’s sleeping form.
Chancing a glance at her he pushed aside the feeling he felt seeing her tear-streaked face and lay back on the overstuffed pillows.
“My friends will wonder where I am, will you ever let me see them?” She had felt him sit down beside her and though she was tired she was not asleep.
It was the first time she’d spoken to him in hours and Jordan couldn’t help but perk up. “Of course I will, you are my wife not my prisoner.”
“When?” Amelia asked calmly.
“After the baby comes sometime after that, we will send for them.”
“I see, what if they do not come, am I ever to return back home to see my family?”
“When the time is right.” Jordan reached for her but she jumped away and his heart burned from the rejection.
“Who decides?”
“Who decides what?” Jordan snapped, mad at his body’s betrayal. He decided who he felt for, not his heart.
“Nevermind I already know the answer.” Her voice was hopeless.
Jordan again softened against his will. “I do not want to make you unhappy. You are my wife and whatever you can think to ask for I will give you.”
“If I were to ask to go back to my home…”
Jordan cut her off quickly. “Whatever you can think to ask for within reason.”
“Your reason.” Amelia blurted, scrunching her legs up close to her body she moved away from him.
Jordan tossed his shirt carelessly to the floor and kicking off his boots soon he made his way in between the sheets. “Are you going to stay curled up there all night, it gets drafty in here trust me.” She didn’t answer and Jordan turned to her. “Suit yourself.” Resting his head on his arms, Jordan cringed, a second wedding night spent with a cold wife.
Amelia let her legs slide down and they made the slightest contact with his thigh and that small contact made her soften toward him. He was her husband even if it was by foul play. Her husband, looking down on him she still could not believe it. Even the glittering ring on her finger seemed unreal.
She didn’t understand him. He was sweet and kind and that was the part of him that she loved but this darker side of him was so foreign and it seemed to her he forced himself to display the latter traits. She wanted her Jordan back, not this imposter. “Is it warm where we are going?”
Jordan inclined his head her way. “It can be but not like it is here. But it is beautiful; you will love the English countryside. I know you will.”
She shook her head in agreement on the area unseen. “When I was younger I had dreamed about traveling all over.” She was trying to be pleasant, trying to be understanding, but mostly since it was now her position, she was trying to be a wife.
Her efforts were not unnoticed and Jordan smiled up at her. “After the baby is born you can travel the world.”
“I wouldn’t want to travel right off, I want to spend time with the baby.” Amelia slid down beside him. “But we have a long time before then, and I’m tired.” She watched him nod his head and sit up to blow out the candle leaving them in the dark.
She lay there in silence a long time eyes closed but not sleeping. She wasn’t sure if Jordan was awake. Turning on her side to lay on her back and gave a deep sigh. “I’m sorry I hurt you Jordan.” She whispered to his back. Moments later she felt his hand curl about her own linking their fingers.
“I know.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Jordan lay awake staring blindly up at the ceiling. He couldn’t sleep. The past three days they’d been at sea he couldn’t. Amelia was not a seafarer, not that she didn’t try to be. In fact she tried very hard to act as though the swaying of the boat didn’t effect her. Still she was green and couldn’t keep most of her meals down.
He felt concerned but mostly he felt guilty. Things were not settling in on him like he thought they would. He wanted more than anything for her to be comfortable but she wasn’t. Even now she sat up on the edge of the bed pale and miserable. “Lay down I’ll get you some water.”
“Thank you.” Amelia swung her legs back into the bed and lay down a little lightheaded. Yet she wasn’t feeling as bad as she let on she wanted him to feel culpable and it was working. “Do you think today I can go up with you on deck.”
Jordan poured the tepid liquid into a whiskey glass and tho
ught about what she had said. “No, I don’t think that would be wise.”
“It is wise for Margaret and Georgia, but not for me.”
“You are with child.” Jordan argued.
Amelia began fastening her hair into a wavy ponytail.” And Georgia is a child but she is allowed.”
He was a fool to think that his explanation would appease her that easily. “There is nothing to see but waves and dirty men.”
“I want to see the waves, and the sunlight and if dirty men are a part of the equation I will take them too.” Amelia gave him a wicked wink. Running her hand down her simple blue skirt, she then loosened the top button of her crisp white blouse. “I’m going cabin crazy.”
He sympathized for her. Yet he felt uneasy with the prospect of her going above deck. Some of the men had been talking. Many were very defiant. Jordan felt that she needed to be within his eyesight every moment when up there and he wasn’t alone in the notion.
Not all of the men cared enough to let their Captain’s marital situation rile them beyond verbal outrage, but for a few it was as unnatural and sordid as anything ever could be. His knuckles were still raw and sore from a confrontation with a man who thought it was okay to ask for a turn with her in the staff’s corridors—several men then chimed in bidding they be allowed a roll in the sack too.
Jordan had never been so enraged. If not for the men pulling him off the bastard he’d be dead now, instead of bloodied and broken boned. Jasper himself sported a stiff jaw from an encounter of his own.
Jasper had taken the women along with Georgia on a tour of sorts explaining all the ins and outs of sailing when a man purposely ran into Amelia nearly knocking her to the floor. When the man did not apologize and Jasper demanded one he replied. “I never apologize to the likes of a nigger.” Needless to say the boy was walking about with a black eye and broken nose and Jasper a stiff jaw only because after being restrained by several men he decided to accidently throw an elbow in defense when Jasper was not looking.
