Riverbreeze: Part 3 (50 page)

“I am too, actually.” He balanced the baby in one arm while he rewrapped him. “I’m going to take him to Jamestown and to my wife. Will you tell Captain Neale that I became ill and had to leave?”

Rolfe raised an eyebrow at him. “I will, if that is what you wish me to do.”

“No, never mind, I’ll tell him myself, the truth, that I have found my son and I’m taking him home. If he wants to charge me with desertion, let him. I’ve done enough killing for the rest of my life.”

Chapter Fifty-four: Acceptance

Elizabeth wanted to go home, but the men hadn’t returned yet. Three long weeks, she and the women waited and worried. They were still in Jamestown, boarding with separate families. Abigail had stayed with Mistress Langdon; Evelyn had been taken in by a Mistress Woolery and her children and Elizabeth and Robin had been invited to stay at Samuel Mathews’ townhouse with his wife, Suzanne and his two sons. She was grateful for the generosity of these people, but she wanted to go home!

Two o-clock meant supper, but Elizabeth didn’t budge from her spot in the front yard under a big old sycamore tree. Robin was napping beside her and she herself felt her body and mind succumbing to the heat of the day. She kept nodding off; then waking up with a start. One time she thought she saw Robert in the distance, but then her eyes closed again, drifting off into a dream.

Her dream; the one of the future, only it was slightly different from the first. Now there was an extra child, a young man, standing in the background. Who was he? She turned to look; he seemed to be different; his hair as black as a raven’s wing, straight, long, beautiful in the candlelight. Tall, lean, impeccably dressed, looking out of place amongst this family of fresh-faced blonde and ginger-haired children.
Who was he?

“Elizabeth?”

She woke, startled. “Robert! You’re back!” She cried, jumping up and moving toward him to throw herself into his arms. But he was carrying something, stopping her.

“I came back early, ahead of my company.” He said.

She hesitated. He appeared nervous about something; as if he were afraid of her.
Why would he be frightened of me?
She thought. He also looked dead-tired and his clothing was filthy and tattered. Behind him, Apollo looked equally fatigued.

“Sit down, Robert. Do you want something to drink?”

He shook his head slowly. He stared at Elizabeth, his eyes imploring. “I found something.” He said quietly.

“What?” She asked, frowning. He was acting so strange.

He carefully lowered the blanket, revealing the baby’s face.

She gasped. She looked from the baby to her husband. “Who is it? Why do you…?” She trailed off, suddenly coming to a realization. Her dream… Now she understood. “Your…child?” She whispered, feeling like all the oxygen had been sucked from her body.

“Yes, my son.”

She almost fainted, but instead took a fortifying breath. The pain inside of her was almost as piercing as if he had stabbed her with his dagger. Another child, another son, but not from her own body. Remembering their lost baby broke her heart all over again. When would she give him a child? When?

For now she had to remain strong. She would not allow this shock to ruin her. She could not live through another bout of melancholia. With God’s love and Evelyn’s support, she could face any adversity. Clutching her hands together to hide her trembling, bravely she asked, “His mother?”

“Makki. She’s dead.”

She nodded, remembering the conversation when Robert had confessed to her about his Indian lover. At the time she never imagined this. Had he? Were there more children? No, he would have told her, wouldn’t he?

But this baby was here now. He was a part of Robert and obviously Robert wanted him or he wouldn’t have brought him home. It was her turn to open her heart to this innocent creature.

“May I?” She said, holding out her arms.

Robert looked surprised at first, then pleased as he placed the sleeping infant in her arms.

He hardly weighed anything at all and he was so small. He looked nothing like Robert. Black hair, tawny skin, almond shaped eyes. The complete opposite of Robin. She watched Robin for a moment, his face so peaceful in sleep. How could they be brothers? Could Robin accept him? Could she accept him?

It would be difficult, but yes, she could. Her dream had shown her a new future.

Robert spoke, “Elizabeth, I’m sorry. I know I’m asking a lot of you, but I couldn’t abandon him. I couldn’t leave him to die.”

“I wouldn’t want that either.” She answered truthfully. No, leaving a child to die, any child, would be a terrible sin.

“Then, we’ll raise him?” He asked, hope in his voice.

“Of course. But he needs to be baptized and given an English name as soon as possible.”

“I agree.” He said.

“And he’ll need a wet nurse. I’ve met several women with infants who might take him in.”

“But none of them may want to suckle an Indian baby after what this colony has been through.”

“He’s part English.” She said quietly, skimming her finger down his soft cheek.
Part my
husband
, she thought disappointedly,
but there’s not a spec of him in his looks
.

“He has blue eyes.” Robert said, as if reading her thoughts.

That surprised her, then again not. “All babies are born with blue eyes.” She said.

“Not Indian babies.”

“Then we shouldn’t have any trouble finding a wet nurse.”

“I hope so.”

At that point, Mrs. Mathews came out of the house to call Elizabeth and Robin to supper, effectively ending their conversation.

For the rest of the afternoon, Mrs. Mathews took control and Elizabeth was content with that. Her mind was filled with questions and she couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything at present. What should she do now? What was needed for the baby? How would Robin react to having a little brother? How would Jamie and Evelyn react to the news? And the community, how would they react?

Perhaps Mistress Mathews’ behavior would be a precedent, or at least she hoped it would be. At first sight of Robert, the older woman was all atwitter, thinking the men had come home, but when she learned they hadn’t, that Robert was alone, she pulled herself together and it was all serious business from then on. Even the news of Robert’s son didn’t rattle her, although she did give Elizabeth a look of sympathy when Robert wasn’t looking. She sent her youngest step-son to fetch Mistress Hale and the Reverend, and while they waited, warm water was provided so Robert and son could bathe.

The boy woke up, letting out weak mewls, not the lusty wails expected from a healthy baby. “The poor thing.” Mistress Mathews said, expertly cradling the frail infant in one arm while she washed him from a large basin of water. “He’s so weak and small. And look, underneath all this grease and grime, he’s the color of buttermilk. ”

Robert abandoned his own sponge bath to look. After a moment, he murmured, “He’s beautiful.”

Elizabeth looked too, and when she saw the actual tone of his skin, she felt the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. She and Robert exchanged a smile.

“I want to see.” Robin said, crowding close to Mistress Mathews.

“See?” She said, lowering the baby for Robin’s sake. She spoke in a soothing voice to the lad. “This is your little brother. You’ll need to grow up now and help your mother and father take care of him.”

At this, Robin looked up at Robert and Elizabeth, his expression questioning.

Robert spoke gently to his firstborn son. “Yes, Robin. He is your brother.”

“What’s his name?” Robin asked.

“Ah…” Robert couldn’t answer. He looked to Elizabeth for help.

But she couldn’t come up with an answer either.

Mrs. Mathews came to the rescue. “Your little brother will be given his name when he’s baptized. For now you may call him laddie.”

“Laddie! My laddie.” Robin cooed, and kissed the baby on the forehead.

That little scene nearly sent Elizabeth running out of the room, crying. Her son was supposed to be Robin’s little brother, not this Indian baby.

The Reverend arrived then, with Mistress Hale and several other women, including Evelyn. Word had spread quickly about Robert’s unexpected return and the shocking news of his son.

All hubbub surrounding these events faded into the background as Elizabeth and Evelyn fought through the crowd to reach each other. Remember, Evelyn was Elizabeth’s strength.

“Are you all right?” Evelyn asked, as she and Elizabeth slipped out of the kitchen and into a back bedchamber.

“No.” Elizabeth answered, finally breaking down.

Evelyn gathered her sister into her arms and held her for a moment while Elizabeth wept.

“’Tis true then? About the baby being Robert’s son?”

Elizabeth nodded, still in her sister’s embrace. She couldn’t seem to let go.

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no choice.” Elizabeth said, finally stepping back and drying her tears. “I’ll raise him along side Robin.”

“Oh, Bess…” Evelyn sympathized.

“The first year, though, he’ll have to live with someone who can suckle him.”

“Mistress Hale is willing, I believe.”

“I’m sure Robert will be most appreciative.” Elizabeth said with a tinge of bitterness.

“Bess, that attitude is not going to please Robert.”

“I know, but I’m so frustrated! I wanted to have his next child. ‘Twas supposed to be me! His wife!”

“Then do something about it. Tonight.” Evelyn advised.

“You’re right. I will. Tonight.” Elizabeth declared.

* * *

She waited for him in the bedchamber she had been using these past three weeks. Robert had gone to Mistress Hale’s house to say one last good night to his newborn son and Elizabeth expected him at any moment. She had bathed with a ball of expensive castile soap provided by Mistress Mathews, but alas, she didn’t have any of her almond scented lotion. No matter, the soap had left a pleasing scent behind.

The coverlet had been turned down and a pomander of sweet-smelling herbs hung from a nail in the wall. A single candle stood ready on the bedside table for when the sun set. All was in readiness.

There was only one little problem with this perfect setting…Robin. He was fast asleep on the trundle bed, and while Elizabeth and Robert had engaged in marital relations before with the sleeping boy in the same room with them, there was always the chance that he could wake up. Thankfully he was a sound sleeper though.

Sitting by the open window, listening to crickets and bullfrogs in the distance, she prayed that she and Robert would be blessed with another baby tonight. So many events had kept them apart recently. Both of them becoming ill after Jamie, Evelyn, and Abigail had brought that sick man to the house, then the Indian attack and Robert’s injuries, then this call to war. With all that behind them, hopefully this was the time for a child to be conceived.

Without any warning, Robert opened the door and Elizabeth’s heart sped up. In a flowing nightgown, but on bare feet, she tiptoed towards him, a finger to her lips. He acknowledged the need to keep quiet, only taking two steps into the room. Surprisingly, he didn’t close the door. Obviously, his plans didn’t match hers.

For a moment she was disappointed, but nothing was going to stop her tonight. She went to close the door, but he stopped her which confused her. “I have an idea.” He said.

“Yes?” She responded, trying to be patient.

He smiled a secretive smile, then without warning, scooped her up. Naturally she gasped, and he kissed her briefly before saying, “I’m going to take you to a lovely little place.”

“But Robin, he shouldn’t be left alone.” She said like a responsible adult should, but deep down, her body was all atingle.

“Worry not. I’ve already spoken to Mistress Mathews.” He said, as he stepped out into the hall.