Jubilee Bride

by Jane Peart

  "We could change our sailing date," she had even suggested.

  "No, Faith, one thing would lead to another, and we'd be stuck here for another month or more while everyone else got into the act. Your mother would insist on a big wedding and a reception with hundreds of guests. No. It's not as though we were children, after all—we're both of age and we don't have to ask anyone's permission for what we want to do."

  Faith had never thought about it like that. She had always gone along with her parents' wishes. But Jeff was right about her mother. Garnet would have wanted to take over, change, and rearrange everything—

  Just then, Jeff came running up the path and into the cottage with a great stomping of his wet boots, shaking his thick, curly hair out of his eyes, and setting down their luggage.

  "What did you pack in yours—-the family silver?" he joked. Then, seeing that she was shivering, he gave her a bear hug. "You're chilled, aren't you, my poor darling? I'll see if I can get a fire going," he said and disappeared into the small parlor.

  Faith followed, still shivering, her dampened cloak held tight around her.

  Outside, the rain pattered steadily. The little cottage seemed dark and somehow unwelcoming. What were they doing here? Maybe, they should have gone to a hotel in London and spent the three days before their sailing date in luxurious surroundings, enjoying a real honeymoon—

  But Jeff had told her he was taking her to a fairy-tale cottage in the woods—well, St. John's Woods—

  "You'll love it, Faith! It's just your imaginative cup of tea." He had laughed. "We'll be like Hansel and Gretel—snug and cozy in our wee cottage in the big woods."

  But Faith was already having second thoughts about the wisdom of what they'd done. Perhaps instead of behaving as adults, as Jeff asserted they were doing, they were acting like runaway children.

  Faith took a step farther into the center room and looked around. The fireplace before which Jeff squatted, using bellows to start a fire, was wide and of cobbled stone, and there was a rough-hewn wooden mantel displaying a framed motto cross-stitched in Olde English letters: God Will Provyde.

  This message cheered Faith somewhat. Maybe God really would provide for them. Hadn't He brought them this far?

  As the fire caught and flared into flame, some of the gloom disappeared. The flickering light threw a soft gleam on the mellow wood of the furniture, the faded chintz of the pillowed sofa and chairs. Faith moved closer to the hearth, and Jeff put his arm around her and pulled her close.

  Gradually the dampness lessened and, warmed by the excitement of their elopement and their love, they began to laugh and joke in the old familiar ways.

  In Scotland, Garnet stood at the window of the Etheridges' lodge, staring out at the rolling mists and waiting for Jeremy's return from his day's fishing. At rare intervals the sun broke through, sending myriad sparkles on the river beyond and turning the wild purple heather on the hillside into glistening amethyst.

  Unmindful of the wild beauty of the scenery, Garnet's hands twisted, pleating the telegram she was holding. What was keeping Jeremy?

  She saw him at last, his unmistakable figure clad in a rough Scottish tweed jacket and plaid beaked cap, carrying his creel over one shoulder and his fishing rod in his hand. From the satisfaction on his wind-burned face, Garnet knew he had had a good day's catch.

  But his expression changed as soon as he came into the room and saw her.

  "What is it, darling?" he asked. "Has something happened?

  " She held out the telegram.

  "Read it for yourself." The paper fluttered out of Garnet's numb fingers. "Faith and Jeff have eloped."

  Jeremy put down his rod carefully and, shrugging off the strap of his creel, placed it on the tile hearth, then bent and picked up the crumpled yellow paper. His eyes moved over it, then he spoke gently.

  "Well, my dear, they are in love—have been for a long time. Anyone could see that—that is if they had looked." There was an implied reproach in his words.

  "But she could have made such a brilliant marriage—" Garnet's voice broke. "Or she could at least have had a beautiful wedding—" She pounded one small clenched fist into her open palm. "Oh, that foolish child! Married! And to Jeff Montrose, of all people! He's so immature, so irresponsible—"

  "Garnet, don't upset yourself so. What's done is done. There's nothing you can do about it now," Jeremy said soothingly. "What matters is that our daughter has the man she adores. Yes, of course, they're young, but they have all their lives ahead of them—years to be wise, responsible, and mature. We should be happy that Faith is getting her heart's desire. Jeff has always been her knight in shining armor, you know. Wish them happiness, give them your blessing, dear."

  "Blythe and Malcolm's son," Garnet said almost to herself. "How ironic."

  Once she had deeply resented Blythe, the woman who had robbed Garnet of her own heart's desire—having Malcolm, whom she had loved most of her life. She had lost him twice—once to Rose Meredith and then again to Blythe, the beautiful young girl from California.

  How was it that none of her dreams had ever come true? Why had she not received her heart's desire?

  Then Jeremy's low voice broke into her thoughts.

  "My dear, my very dear—" He held out his arms.

  With only a slight hesitation, Garnet went into them gratefully, realizing that perhaps, after all, she had.

  On the morning before they were to sail, Faith awakened before Jeff. She slid out of bed quietly so as not to disturb him, pulled on her robe, and tiptoed out to the tiny kitchen. She stirred up the ashes from the fire they had banked the night before, then filled the kettle and put it on to boil, feeling very "wifely" in this small domestic act.

  The rain had stopped during the night, and a pale sun was struggling valiantly to push through heavy gray clouds, still hovering overhead.

  Faith peered through the criss-crossed windowpane and looked out on what must once have been a pretty garden leading out into a small orchard. In spring, the gnarled apple trees were surely smothered in pink blossoms.

  Subconsciously, a yearning sprang up within her to stay in this snug little country hideaway, do all the simple, homey things a place like this required. One of the two rooms upstairs could be converted into a studio for Jeff, and she could bring the garden back with flowers and grow vegetables and—

  The hissing of the kettle announcing that the water had come to a boil snapped Faith back from her daydreams as she felt strong arms go around her waist and Jeff's rough cheek brush against her own.

  "Good morning, my early bird," he whispered in her ear. "You shouldn't have let me sleep in. This is the day our great adventure begins!"

  With these words Faith realized with a certain sadness that Jeff did not share her wish to remain in this little world apart they had fashioned for themselves for the last three idyllic days. He was excited and eager to be on their way to a new life.

  Within hours, they found themselves in the frenzied hustle of the dock, getting ready to board the giant ship that would take them across the Atlantic to America, to Virginia.

  While Jeff went to see about a porter for their trunk, Faith, heart pumping wildly, took in the scene surging about her. This was it. Here was the moment of departure—no turning back, no change of mind. Whatever qualms of conscience or doubts she had must be put behind her now.

  In her heart of hearts, Faith knew Jeff was all the things her mother accused him of being—impulsive, reckless, irresponsible. But he was also compassionate, sensitive, talented, and had a firm belief that he was following a divinely decreed goal for his life. And what's more, he loved her—needed her.

  Then there was no more time. Jeff was back, and his excited anticipation was contagious. She could feel it pulsating through her entire being. Holding his arm, she mounted the gangplank as he pushed a way for them through the other passengers crowding to the railing.

  The huge ship began to move slowly, irrevocably out of the harbor. Fa
ith watched the grayish water chum away from the hull. The figures on the dock waving good-byes became smaller and fainter.

  A pang of the finality of it all struck Faith. Suddenly she recalled a painting in an exhibit Jeff had once taken her to see. The painting, entitled 'The Last of England," was by one of the later pre-Raphaelite artists, Ford Madox Brown. In it, a young couple sat in the prow of a boat, presumably a tender, taking passengers to board a ship. Everything Faith was feeling—fear, hesitance, sadness, hope—was reflected in the face of the woman as she gazed on her homeland for the last time.

  Jeff's arm tightened around Faith, and she looked up at him, love for him swelling her heart, tightening her throat.

  Oh, God, Faith prayed, Help us as we begin this journey.

  And the reassurance came, flowing into her mind from the book of Joshua: "I will not fail thee nor forsake t h e e . . . . Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee wherever thou goest."

  Family Tree

  In Scotland

  Brothers Gavin and Rowan Montrose, descendants of the chieftain of the Clan Graham, came to Virginia to take possession of an original King's Grant of two thousand acres along the James River. They began to clear, plant, and build upon it.

  In 1722 Gavin's son, Kenneth Montrose, brought his bride, Clair Fraser, from Scotland, and they settled in Williamsburg while their plantation house—"Montclair"— was being built. They had three children: sons Kenneth and Duncan, and daughter Janet.

  In England

  The Barnwell Family

  George Barnwell first married Winifred Ainsley, and they had two sons: George and William. Barnwell later married a widow, Alice Cary, who had a daughter, Eleanora. Eleanora married Norbert Marsh (widower with son, Simon), and they had a daughter, Noramary.

  In Virginia

  Since the oldest son inherits, George Bramwell's younger son, William, came to Virginia, settled in Williamsburg, and started a shipping and importing business.

  William married Elizabeth Dean, and they had four daughters: Winnie, Laura, Kate, and Sally. William and Elizabeth adopted Noramary when she was sent to Virginia at twelve years of age.

  Kenneth Montrose married Clair Fraser. They had three children: Cameron, Rowan, and Alan.

  Cameron Montrose married Larabeth Whitaker, and they had one son, Graham. Later Cameron married Arden Sherwood, and they remained childless.

  After the death of his first wife (Luelle Hayes), Graham Montrose married Avril Dumont. Although they had no children of their own, they adopted his nephew, Clayborn Montrose.

  The Montrose Family

  Clayborn Montrose married Sara Leighton, and they had three sons: Malcolm, who married Rose Meredith; Bryson (Bryce), who married Garnet Cameron; and Leighton (Lee), who married Dove Arundel. Bryce and Lee were killed in the War-Between-the-States. Clayborn and Sara's daughters-in-law were Rose Meredith (widow of Malcolm) who left one son, Jonathan; Dove Arundel (widowed, with one daughter, Druscilla); and Garnet Cameron (widow of Bryce Montrose), who remarried, this time to Jeremy Devlin.

  Jonathan Montrose, son of Rose (Meredith) and Malcolm—was reared in Massachusetts by Rose's brother, John Meredith, and his wife, Frances. Jeff Montrose was Malcolm's son by his second wife, Blythe (Dorman).

  The Cameron Family

  Douglas Cameron married Katherine Maitland. They had twin sons, Roderick and Steward, and one daughter, Garnet Stewart was killed in the war.

  Faith Devlin was daughter of Garnet (Cameron-Montrose) and Jeremy Devlin, Garnet's second husband.

  The Brides of Montclair Series

  . . . is a sweeping saga of a single American family, from before the Revolutionary War to the twentieth century. The thirteen volumes are:

  1.Valiant Bride

  "If you enjoy reading romances, you'll enjoy reading Valiant Bride"—Jane Mouttety book reviewer, KHAC radio

  2.Ransomed Bride

  "Earns a rousing A A + "—The Bookshelf WBRG 3. Fortune's Bride

  3. Fortune's Bride.

  "Excellent. . . another triumph for Jane Peart!"—Christian Readers Review

  4.Folly's Bride

  This is the stunning "prequel" to Jane Peart's Civil War epic, Yankee Bride/Rebel Bride.

  5.Yankee Bride/Rebel Bride: Montclair Divided

  This novel is a newly revised expansion of the book that won the 1985 Romantic Times Award for Best Historical Fiction.

  6.Gallant Bride

  "Such a splendid book!"—a reader in Ontario, Canada

  7.Shadow Bride

  A continuation of the story of Blythe Dorman (many readers' favorite Jane Peart heroine) and her struggle to find lasting happiness.

  8.Destinf's Bride

  Druscilla Montrose finds love unexpectedly among the sun-drenched hills of nineteenth-century Italy.

  9. Jubilee Bride

  A Cameron and Montrose family reunion amid all the joy and romance of Victorian England.

  10.Mirror Bride

  Twins—alike yet not alike—search for their hearts' desires. (Due June 1993.)

  11. Hero's Bride

  A novel of epic faith and endurance during World War I. (Due June 1993.)

  12. Senator's Bride

  Love, politics, and abiding faith in this "between-the-wars." (Due spring 1994.)

  13. Montclair Homecoming

  The final volume of the Brides of Montclair Series, in which the last secret of the Montrose family saga is revealed. (Due autumn 1994.)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jane Peart, award-winning novelist and short story writer, grew up in Asheville, North Carolina, and was educated in New England. Although she now lives in northern California, her heart has remained in her native South—its people, its history, and its traditions. With more than twenty-five novels and 250 short stories to her credit, Jane likes to emphasize in her writing the timeless and recurring themes of family, traditional values, and a sense of place.

  Ten years in the writing, the Brides of Montclair series is a historical, family saga of enduring beauty. In each new book, another generation comes into its own at the beautiful Montclair estate near Williamsburg, Virginia. These compelling, dramatic stories reaffirm the importance of committed love, loyalty, courage, strength of character, and abiding faith in times of triumph and tragedy, sorrow and joy.

  About the Publisher

  Founded in 1931, Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Zondervan, a division of HarperCollinsPublishers, is the leading international Christian communications company, producing best-selling Bibles, books, new media products, a growing line of gift products and award-winning children’s products. The world’s largest Bible publisher, Zondervan (www.zondervan.com) holds exclusive publishing rights to the New International Version of the Bible and has distributed more than 150 million copies worldwide. It is also one of the top Christian publishers in the world, selling its award-winning books through Christian retailers, general market bookstores, mass merchandisers, specialty retailers, and the Internet. Zondervan has received a total of 68 Gold Medallion awards for its books, more than any other publisher.

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