Undaunted Love (PART TWO): Banished Saga, Book 3.5 (12 page)

“I’ve heard quite a bit about you. It’s nice to finally make your acquaintance,” Uncle Martin said as he held out his hand.

Jeremy clasped it, a hint of a smile present before he sobered. “And yours, sir.”

“I’m Lucas. If you hurt her …”

“Lucas,” Savannah hissed as she jabbed her elbow in his side.

“It’s only fair he knows where he stands, Sav. We failed you once. We won’t again.” He watched Jeremy intently, a satisfied gleam entering his eyes as Jeremy nodded his understanding.

“A fine sentiment, young man,” Sophronia intoned. “Good to see you have sense along with an ear for music.”

Lucas settled on the stool in front of the piano whereas Uncle Martin sat on the settee next to Savannah. Jeremy sat next to me, and I could sense the nervous energy running through him. Sophronia watched us with amusement from her comfortable chair closest to the fire.

Lucas played random, yet harmonious notes on the piano, as though tinkering away at a new song. He watched Jeremy with avid curiosity. I bit back a smile as Lucas’s made-up song veered from a sweet romance to a dark tragedy to a soothing lullaby as he continued to study Savannah and Jeremy.

“How are things with your dreadful son-in-law?” Sophronia asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “We are all united in our concern for Savannah, and I hope you’re willing to speak frankly.”

“I would hate to burden Mr. McLeod with our family concerns,” Uncle Martin said.

“I never have, and never will, consider Savannah’s safety or happiness a burden, sir,” Jeremy said. “I would be honored if you would include me in your discussion and confidence.”

Uncle Martin watched Jeremy with grudging respect. “Jonas informed me last week that, due to unforeseen circumstances and influences out of his control, the original terms for the loans would be honored. Thus, my business is in no danger. Thank you for your aid, Mrs. Chickering,” Uncle Martin said with a nod to Sophronia.

“It was nothing. I’ve rarely found anything to be as diverting as disrupting that pompous man’s plans,” Sophronia said with a cackle.

Uncle Martin sighed as he traced a pattern on the settee’s fabric. “I’ve rarely seen a man as irate.”

“He nearly tore Father’s office door off the hinges when he stormed out,” Lucas said as he played a discordant note. “His bellowing could be heard throughout the store as I attempted to persuade our customers there was little to interest them from the back rooms.”

“I’m certain they ignored you,” Sophronia said with an amused lift of one eyebrow. “It’s rare to find such entertainment when shopping for linens.”

“I’m sorry, Father,” Savannah whispered.

“Don’t be. I’m thankful he’s realized that he’s been living under a false perception of the power he wields.” Uncle Martin clasped her hand and squeezed it.

“Unfortunately I doubt that man has truly come to that conclusion. He’s been thwarted, thanks to our collective endeavor, but I doubt he will give up on his objective,” Sophronia warned.

“Why would he continue to want me back?” Savannah asked. “I’ve given him no indication that I would ever return. He suffered one spate of negative press after his attack on you, Sophie. I shouldn’t think he’d relish more.”

“That is a mystery to me as well. He exhibits no regard for you or your well-being when he refers to you. Yet he doesn’t waver from his desire to have you returned to his home.” Uncle Martin released her hand. “Something I will never countenance.”

“I’m thankful you’re no longer within his sphere of influence,” Jeremy said in a near glower.

“A sentiment I can’t agree with heartily enough,” Lucas said.

“I do fear he would only become more irrational if he were to learn of your liaison with another,” Uncle Martin said with a pointed glance at Jeremy.

“I would never wish to bring more shame upon you or mother, but I must live my life,” Savannah whispered.

“Although it is a half-life?” her father asked. Savannah recoiled as though she’d been struck.

I felt Jeremy stiffen next to me, although he remained silent. He clenched his hands on his thighs, creasing and uncreasing the fabric of his pants as he listened to Savannah’s exchange with her father.

“The life I would like to live would never be a half-life, Father. It would be a much fuller life than any I could ever have imagined with Jonas.” Savannah squared her shoulders as though readying for battle.

“What is it that you envision, Sav?” Lucas asked.

“I plan to live with Jeremy. Share a home with him. Build a future with him,” Savannah said.

“Even though you would be living outside the sphere of acceptable behavior? Inviting ridicule and scorn?” Uncle Martin’s brown eyes were clouded with concern.

“I refuse to spend the rest of my life as a virtual shut-in, as though I were embarrassed by my actions. I’m proud of what I’ve done. I escaped the reality of a life lived with a man who only wished to shower pain and torment upon me.” Savannah’s eyes lit with passion.

“I will only ever feel grateful for your strength, my darling daughter,” Uncle Martin said before turning his attention to Jeremy, a challenge in his brown eyes. “Is this enough for you, Mr. McLeod? Living with my Savannah, out of wedlock, free of any obligations to her?”

Jeremy squinted as he studied Savannah’s father. “Since the moment I met your daughter, I have desired for nothing more than to care for her. To show her that she is cherished. I do not need a piece of paper or a man in a robe intoning a prayer over our joined hands for me to feel a responsibility to protect and to provide for her. She never has been and never will be an obligation, sir.”

An agitated flush highlighted his cheekbones, and I stroked a hand down one of his arms in an attempt to calm him.

“And when that man seeks her out? Because I know, without a doubt, someday he will. What then?” Uncle Martin demanded.

“I will do anything necessary to protect her,” Jeremy said.

Uncle Martin smiled, nodding with satisfaction.

“What are you doing to thwart the newspapermen?” Lucas asked as he continued to tinker away on the piano. “I would think they’d relish the telling and retelling of your story.”

“We’re going to sell our tale to the highest bidder,” Savannah said with a glance of entreaty to Jeremy. He met her gaze and frowned for a moment, before smiling and nodding his silent agreement.

Uncle Martin frowned as he watched Savannah and then gave an assessing glance at Sophronia. “This has the markings of your idea.”

“One way or another, their story will become known. Too many people, including the customers of your store, are aware of her defection and are curious as to the real reason behind it. Rather than line the pockets of the newspapermen, I see no reason why Savannah and Jeremy shouldn’t benefit from it. And control to some extent what appears in the papers,” Sophronia said.

“This isn’t something to proclaim to the world as though rejoicing,” Lucas argued. “It’s as though you’re baiting the man.”

“Why not?” Savannah demanded. “I rejoice, daily, that I am away from Jonas. That I dared to love again and find a man like Jeremy. Why should I be forced to feel a moment’s worth of shame?”

“Not shame, Sav, but caution,” Lucas said. “You don’t know what he could do. He …”

Savannah laughed mirthlessly. “You’re telling me, the one who lived through his beatings and brutality, that I can’t conceive of what he could do?” She looked from her father to Lucas. “It’s because I know exactly what he can do, and what it means to live a life devoid of joy or hope, that I refuse to ever be forced to live that way again. After living a lie and creating an illusion of a perfect life to hide the reality I suffered, it’s why I must now live a fulfilling life. An authentic life.”

“Savannah, he could still hurt you,” Lucas warned.

“I know, but I can’t live my life controlled by fear. I can’t allow him to have that victory over me. I suspect the only reason he’s left me alone for so long is because he believes I’ve continued to be the mousy little woman he converted me into.”

“All that will change when the articles come out,” I said, finally joining the discussion. “He’ll be publicly shamed, not by sly gossip, but directly by you, Sav, and will want to find a way to save face.”

“I would think you’d seek divorce rather than infamy,” Lucas said. “Be fully free of him.”

“Every detail of abuse would need to be known, Lucas. I can’t abide that. With the newspaper stories, they will only learn what I want them to,” Savannah argued.

“I think Savannah also fears there would be those who would construe her a madwoman for believing her daughter lived when her husband and a physician claim she had died,” Jeremy said.

“Few would believe me or my maid over Jonas and a physician.” Savannah blinked away tears. “They’ll always side with the viewpoint of men.”

“For now, Savannah dearest. For now,” Sophie intoned. “But times will change. And I believe you aren’t giving the public the benefit of the doubt. I’m certain there are many who would be sympathetic to you.”

“Which is why you want her to divulge everything to the newspapers?” Lucas asked in confusion.

“Love is a wonderful thing, Lucas, but you still need money to live on,” Sophie said.

“A suffragist who’s a pragmatist,” Lucas said with a smirk.

“I’d caution you, Sav, to not seek too much notoriety. I’d hate for you to attain it through these stories even though you’d attempted to avoid it with a divorce,” I said.

“I know, Rissa. But this is something I have to do. For me. For my sense of worth.” Savannah shared a long glance with Jeremy before smiling fully.

“Tell me, Mr. McLeod, what sort of business you have,” Uncle Martin said after a long moment. “How do you plan on supporting Savannah?”

I smiled, rising from my seat next to Jeremy to sit on the piano bench next to Lucas. “Quit taunting us with wisps of songs, Lucas. Play us something.”

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt their getting to know each other,” Lucas said with a nod to the room. “Besides, if I concentrate too much on music, I won’t hear his answers, and I won’t learn what type of man he is.”

“Then why are you sitting over here, rather than among them?” I asked, watching as Jeremy leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he discussed the nascent success of his business.

“Playing the piano, even just a few notes here and there, calms me. Helps me think better. It also makes those in the room think I’m not focusing on what they’re saying or doing, and I can see how they truly are.”

“And what have you discovered about Jeremy?” I whispered as I watched Jeremy motion with his hands as he talked about carpentry before discussing his family.

“He’s a man in tune with the emotions of others. I’ve rarely seen someone able to hold their counsel and listen as he did. He has a singular focus on Savannah and her welfare, and yet he’s aware of the room. Every time I hit an off-key note, he flinched.”

“Lucas,” I chided, “you shouldn’t have toyed with him.”

“At first I wasn’t, but then I wanted to see if he’d ever turn his attention away from Savannah. He never did.”

“So you approve of him?” I asked.

“For now. Savannah’s been through too much for me not to be concerned about her moving on too quickly.”

“You’ll soon come to realize he’s a good man,” I said.

“You’re biased because of Gabriel,” Lucas said with a half smile as he now played “Fur Elise.”

I closed my eyes as his music flowed around me. I listed from side to side gently as he played, my concern for Savannah and Jeremy momentarily eclipsed by the joy I found in his music. When he finished, I sighed, opening my eyes.

“Don’t cry, Rissa,” Lucas said with a tender smile. He swiped at my tears and then played a bawdy song, causing me to laugh. He nudged me with his shoulder as he whispered, “It’s called ‘The Bouncer at the Blazing Rag.’”

“Oh, Lucas, I miss this. I miss living near you. I wish we could all live near each other,” I whispered.

“All that matters is that you are happy, Rissa. I can see, by the way you speak about Gabriel, that you are.”

“I am, Lucas. I just hope that Savannah will find such happiness,” I whispered.

“It appears that she will,” Lucas said. “Father likes Jeremy, and, although it’s unconventional what they are planning, I know he will support her.”

“Will you?”

“Of course. Convention never brought her peace. Or joy. If this will, then I will champion her.”

“But you doubt it will bring her the joy she envisions,” I said, exchanging a worried glance with Lucas.

“I fear she’s yet to fully understand the extent to which she is going against societal norms and how much that could affect her. She claims she no longer cares about good society, but she’s never had to live under the brunt of its censure.”

I shivered. “She’ll learn not to care.”

“It doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt you though, does it?” Lucas asked with an insightfulness that startled me.

“No,” I said. “It always stung. But, when I realized I could live a proper life, with little future hope for joy, or leave it all behind for Gabriel, there really wasn’t much choice.”