A Touch of Scarlet

by Renee Ryan

Luke. Her Luke.

  Her husband.

  So handsome, so upright. With him by her side, and her by his, their life together would be full of love and laughter, an example to their children of what marriage could be.

  In pure Luke fashion, he sent her a spontaneous, captivating smile. The breath backed up in her throat.

  Oh, my.

  With his charming brand of arrogance firmly in place, he stretched out his hand and summoned her to him.

  Her heart took a quick, solid tumble.

  And then . . .

  She simply . . .

  Sighed.

  No matter what hardships arose, no matter what challenges God brought their way, they would face each and every one of them together. Two cords linked as one.

  When the traditional vows were complete, and Elizabeth wore Luke’s ring on her finger, he continued holding her hand and said, “I’m yours, Elizabeth St. James Griffin. Heart and soul, forever.”

  She had to gulp several times in order to regain her voice.

  “I’m yours, Lucian Griffin,” she pledged. “No matter the place, the circumstance, or the season, I will always stand by you.”

  “My love.” He lowered his forehead to hers. For a long moment, they simply stood there, unmoving, neither speaking, both breathing deeply. Elizabeth heard a shuffling of feet as everyone moved a step forward in anticipation of what the bride and groom would do next.

  Elizabeth wondered that herself.

  “I love you, Elizabeth. I will never leave your side.”

  “I love you, Luke,” she said in return. “I’ll always love you, through good times and bad, to the end of our days.”

  They parted, stared into one another’s gazes. The moment of quiet solidarity was the most precious one they’d shared so far. And then, with their family and friends looking on . . .

  Luke sealed their union with a kiss.

  Epilogue

  There was no traditional reception, because the bride and groom had to board a steamship. Elizabeth was traveling to England after all. Not to seek a husband, as originally planned, but as a bride. As Luke’s bride.

  A collection of wedding guests had gathered on the dock to send them off in style. Aunt Tilly would follow them to England a week later. She would not be traveling alone. Luke’s mother had decided to join her new friend. They would stay in London a fortnight, then continue on to the Continent for a grand month-long tour.

  With her new husband’s arm wrapped around her waist, Elizabeth surveyed the assembled group.

  Most smiled at them, while others—namely Elizabeth’s grandfather and cousin—attempted to hide their teary-eyed emotion behind booming words of wisdom, in Richard’s case, and a handkerchief, in Caroline’s.

  Elizabeth would not cry. She would not cry.

  Oh, what did it matter? She let out a sob.

  Misinterpreting the sound, Luke pulled her close. “We don’t have to leave today. We can always wait a week or two—”

  She kissed the rest of his words away.

  “We’re going on this adventure,” she whispered against his mouth, then drew back and smiled into his beautiful amber eyes. She prayed every child she bore her handsome husband would inherit that stunning characteristic.

  Later that afternoon, with New York fading in the distance and the sun fast approaching the horizon, Luke and Elizabeth were finally alone in their stateroom.

  The sky was no longer an unblemished blanket of blue. Rain clouds had begun moving in from the east. With the balcony doors thrown open and a light breeze drawing the rain closer, Luke presented his wedding gift to his new bride.

  “It is my greatest joy and honor to call you my wife. I look forward to each and every adventure we—”

  “Share,” Elizabeth finished for him, kissing him once, twice, three times.

  A distant roll of thunder rent the air, pulling them apart.

  “Open your gift, Little Bit.”

  The backs of her eyes stung at the way he spoke the nickname, as if he were promising delicious things to come.

  Delighted at all they had to discover together, Elizabeth smiled up at her husband. The wind had tousled his hair, giving him a roguish appeal that called to the rebellious part of her. He was so handsome, so strong, so . . . hers.

  She took the box wrapped in pretty white paper and a big red bow.

  Bottom lip clasped between her teeth, she sat on the edge of a brocade-covered chair and placed the package on her lap.

  “I hope you like it.”

  “I know I will. It’s from you.”

  He chuckled. The sound sent a chill of expectation through her. Reminiscent of another time, and another package, Elizabeth tugged on one end of the ribbon. The knot instantly released.

  Ignoring the tiny flutter in her stomach, she peeled away the paper and stared at a brand-new keepsake box with bold, bright flowers scrolled across the edges.

  “It’s lovely.”

  “There’s more inside.”

  Flattening her hand over the pretty floral design, she removed the lid. A thin layer of tissue covered the contents of the box.

  Excited now, Elizabeth dipped her hand beneath the paper and wrapped her fingers around soft, silky fabric. With a flick of her wrist, she shoved the paper aside.

  “Oh, Luke. It’s . . . oh!”

  She retrieved the shawl. The floral pattern matched the one painted on the box, spring flowers of every shape and variety, much like the ones in the gardens of Griffin Manor.

  Elizabeth lost her breath at the meaning behind the precious gift. Luke understood her in ways no one ever had. How could she not love him?

  She dragged her fingertips along the fringed edges. A second later, she gave in to temptation and draped the garment around her shoulders and moved to the mirror.

  Her breath caught. With the light stronger in this section of the room, she was able to see the crowning glory of her new shawl.

  Red thread had been expertly woven throughout the design, all the way to the very edges of the fringe. The thin cord was barely visible, merely a touch of scarlet, and all the more powerful for the subtlety.

  Sighing with pleasure, Elizabeth spun around and leapt into her husband’s arms and pressed her lips to his.

  It was a kiss, only a kiss, simply another wonderful moment among all the other wonderful moments of the day. What a glorious life they had ahead of them.

  They pulled apart at the same time and smiled knowingly into one another’s gazes.

  The rain began then. Nothing more than a light drizzle, a refreshing spring shower that landed on the balcony floor in a soft, delicate patter.

  “It’s raining,” she said.

  Luke gave her the kind of grin that proved a portion of his rebellious nature still existed. “I have a sudden passion to take a walk around the ship’s upper deck.”

  “I share that same passion.”

  “How fortuitous.”

  As they exited the room arm in arm, laughing, Elizabeth couldn’t think of a better way to start their life together as husband and wife.

  Discussion Questions

  Why does Elizabeth seek out her grandfather in the opening of the book? What happens during the interview that upsets her? What does she decide to do about it?

  How is Elizabeth viewed by others in society? Does this cause her concern? Why or why not? Have you ever tried to break free from what others thought of you? Explain.

  Who does Elizabeth encounter in the gardens during her friend’s engagement party? What about this encounter encourages her to continue on her quest to become more than the “finished product” of her mother’s grooming?

  Describe Luke’s relationship with his father. Why do you think it has become so tense between them? Why does Luke want to start his own motorcar company? What does Warren reveal during their conversation at Penelope’s engagement party? How does this create a problem for Luke?

  Who does Elizabeth visit the day after the party? What happen
s during the visit that changes Elizabeth’s view of herself and her future?

  When Elizabeth tells Luke she wants to try a bit of harmless rebellion, he tells her there’s no such thing as harmless rebellion. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

  What gift does Elizabeth receive from her former governess? How does this item play into her quest for adventure?

  Why does Elizabeth seek out Luke at his home? What is his response to her proposition?

  What does Elizabeth discover about her father and mother when she returns home from Luke’s? Why does this upset her? Have you ever tried to forgive someone but couldn’t find it in your heart to do so? Explain.

  After witnessing the rehearsal in his father’s private opera house, who does Luke encounter at the Harvard Club? Why is this troubling for him?

  What happens when Luke discovers Elizabeth in his motorcar? How is this afternoon a turning point in their relationship?

  When Luke arrives at the Waldorf-Astoria, who is Elizabeth talking with? How does he react?

  Who does Elizabeth encounter when she goes dress shopping? What happens when she recognizes the young woman? What does she do immediately after leaving the department store?

  What two women show up at the production of Carmen? Why does this set off a scandal? Why does Luke refuse Elizabeth’s support? Have you ever tried to protect someone but only ended up hurting them instead? Explain.

  How does Luke fix his mistake? What is Elizabeth’s response to his declaration? What does Luke give Elizabeth as a wedding gift? Why is this special?

  About the Author

  Photo © 2012 Caroline Akins / One Six Photography

  Renee Ryan is the author of twenty inspirational, faith-based romance novels. She received the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense in the Inspirational category for her novels Dangerous Allies and Courting the Enemy. She is an active member on the board of the Romance Writers of America. Ryan currently lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, with her husband. For more information on the author and her work, visit www.reneeryan.com.