When Two Rivers Meet (Regency Romance)

by Deborah M. Hathaway

  "Well, you would never guess," the husband and father said as he swallowed the wad of meat in his mouth, "but my surprise did not end there. You see, in that very pile of letters was a note from my dear Mrs. Crosgrove. She, in fact, informed me of a gentleman quite in love with our daughter, and she told me she wished to give her consent to his marrying her.

  "I, of course, assumed it to be the same gentleman, Mr. Bainbridge, but to my great astonishment, I saw a different name written in my wife's lovely script, one I recognized instantly, one of Mr. Terrence Quigley!

  "I am sure you can imagine my shock. Not one, but two marriage proposals to my daughter? I could hardly contain my excitement. Shortly thereafter, I had informed my superiors that I would be departing for home for a few days, for this is a story I needed to hear in person.

  "So, Little Lily, dear, do tell me about these gentlemen who have captured your attention. Are you in love with both of them?"

  Lilyanna shook her head emphatically. "No, Father, to be sure. I am only—"

  "Lilyanna does not know what she wants, my dear," Mrs. Crosgrove interrupted with a sort of frantic smile upon her face.

  "I do, Mother. I am in love with Mr. Bainbridge, and I want to spend the rest of my life with him."

  Her words were firm, and Lilyanna felt a strange sense of calmness come over her as she saw Captain Crosgrove's brows raised from her declaration.

  Finally, finally he has heard me! she thought.

  "So it is Mr. Bainbridge then, and not Mr. Quigley, who you have fallen in love with."

  "Yes, Father," she said, nodding vigorously.

  "She does not know who she loves," Mrs. Crosgrove attempted again. "Mr. Quigley is a far more suitable choice."

  Lilyanna could see her mother's control rapidly fading, her eyes widening with fury at having to remain quiet with her husband's presence.

  "Why is that, my dear?" Captain Crosgrove said.

  "Mr. Quigley is a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He is wealthy and well-mannered, kind and courteous. He dotes on Lilyanna each time they meet. And the way he compliments her and those he comes in contact with is quite agreeable, I daresay."

  "Yes, yes," Captain Crosgrove said, his eyes holding a faraway look, "I remember the gentleman. He was the one who complimented my choice to join the navy."

  Despair filled Lilyanna's heart at her father's seeming favor for Mr. Quigley. "He is not entirely a gentleman, if you recall, Mother," she said, desperate for her father to know the truth.

  "Whatever do you mean, Little Lily?" her father asked.

  She closed her eyes to ignore the name once more, but it continued to grate on her nerves.

  "I overheard him telling the other gentlemen in Bath that I must be flawed in some regard for me to be unmarried at my age."

  Captain Crosgrove frowned. "Well, I cannot say I approve of that."

  "It would be better for Lilyanna to be married to a gentleman with as few faults as Mr. Quigley than to a man the likes of Mr. Bainbridge."

  Lilyanna looked to her mother whose gaze was directed at the warm fire.

  "Tell me, my dear, what faults has Mr. Bainbridge?"

  "He is quite abusive," Mrs. Crosgrove said, speaking quickly as if to let out all her words while she had permission, "with disagreeable parents, as well. Oh, but Lilyanna only thinks of him for his money, for it is true he makes more a year than Mr. Quigley ever could."

  Lilyanna's mouth gaped open. Elijah's fortune had not once crossed her mind in her opinion of the man, and her mother knew it.

  "Mother," Lilyanna said, "you know that is a falsehood, for I love him for many reasons, his kindness and behavior toward me, firstly. And you know the things they say about him are untruthful in every way."

  "What is this you said about the man being abusive?" Captain Crosgrove said as he placed a finger to his chin. "I do not like that at all."

  "Yes, dear," Mrs. Crosgrove said with a satisfied smile. "There are rumors all around Bath about how Mr. Bainbridge's prior engagement had been broken off, for the girl had been brave enough to leave him because of the way he treated her, even at the sake of being threatened more by the abrasive man."

  "They have all been proved false, Mother," Lilyanna said, "rumors that are indisputably unfounded!" Her voice continued to raise with frustration as she persistently defended herself and the one she loved. "I have told you such over and over, how kind and amiable he is. Father, please, you must believe me when I say Mr. Bainbridge is the most genteel man I have ever known."

  Panic seemed to rise in her throat as her father's frown remained unchanged.

  "You see, Captain," Mrs. Crosgrove said, her voice once again cool, "Mr. Quigley is a far more suitable and amiable choice for our daughter."

  "I can see your point, Mrs. Crosgrove," Captain Crosgrove said. "Even if the rumors are untrue, I do not know if I would ever risk our daughter's life in allowing her to marry such a man."

  "Yes, my point exactly."

  Lilyanna looked between her parents and wondered how, in such brief moments, her life had spun so out of control.

  "And if Mr. Quigley is as complimentary and kind as you say, then Lilyanna would surely be happy with him."

  "Oh, yes, dear," Mrs. Crosgrove said, a smile on her lips, "Mr. Quigley would bring her more happiness in her life than she could ever imagine, I am quite sure."

  "And to be happy in life is quite desirable."

  "Indeed, Captain."

  "And she would be much happier with Mr. Quigley than with Mr. Bainbridge, you think?"

  "Absolutely. All that insufferable man would bring her is a ruined name and a rumor-filled life."

  "Oh, yes, you must be quite—"

  "Please!" Lilyanna finally shouted as she stood from her chair.

  Her fingers clenched together in fists, and her heart swirled with emotion as her parents finally stopped, looking up at her with astonished silence.

  "Please, stop," she said, lowering her voice. "I am sorry to shout, but I feel as if it is the only way I am heard over you two planning away my future."

  "Why, Little Lily," Captain Crosgrove said, "what on earth has gotten into you?"

  Lilyanna shook her head, closing her eyes. "Please, Father," she said, "I do not wish to offend you, but I will ask you again to refer to me by my given name."

  She opened her eyes to see her father's shocked face, his bushy eyebrows high on his wrinkled forehead.

  "You see," Mrs. Crosgrove piped in, "you see what being around the Bainbridge family has done to our Lilyanna? She has become loud and outspoken, most unladylike."

  Lilyanna looked to her mother, this time holding her head high, her shoulders pulled back. "Yes, Mother," she said calmly, "spending time with the Bainbridges has changed me, but I like to think only for the better, for their kindness and love directed toward me at all times, even when I did not deserve it, has helped me become a better person."

  Mrs. Crosgrove opened her mouth to speak, but Lilyanna held up a hand. "Please," she said, "I do not wish to be rude, but I will not stand here any longer while you two decide my future for me as if I do not have a say in it. I have an opinion, and I believe I am quite old enough to express it. I would appreciate it if you could both listen to me for a moment."

  She looked between her father's still raised brows to her mother's scowl and flaring nostrils before beginning, lacing her fingers together tightly so her shaking would remain unnoticed.

  "I love Mr. Bainbridge," she began, "and he loves me. Despite your opinion of him, I know his true character to be nothing but gentlemanly and kind. He has made mistakes in the past, as have we all, but nothing so terrible as striking a woman. He has not hurt me, nor shall he ever hurt me, and I am, quite frankly, astonished how you have engrossed yourselves in such blatant lies.

  "I love him. I will never stop loving him. And I will marry him. However, I do wish for your blessing to do so."

  She looked at her father then her mother, praying she h
ad somehow gotten through to either one.

  Mrs. Crosgrove spoke first. "How can you possibly—"

  "Will you stop, Mrs. Crosgrove," Captain Crosgrove snapped, his words uncharacteristically firm.

  Lilyanna watched as her mother's face turned red, her mouth clamping shut, and Lilyanna thanked the heavens for Elijah once again who always listened to what she had to say.

  "I fear it has become too late to speak sensibly anymore on this issue tonight," Captain Crosgrove said. "We shall continue our conversation in the morning. Lilyanna, you may return to your bedroom now as your mother and I have some items to discuss. Goodnight."

  Lilyanna did not wish to leave, knowing very well it could be the last time she saw either of them in a long time. Her mother would not meet her gaze, and her father had closed his eyes as he rubbed his temples.

  She slowly turned around, doubts flooding her mind. Would they ever forgive her?

  As soon as she had closed the door behind her, Lilyanna heard her parents' voices pick up.

  "Now, Christiana," Captain Crosgrove said from behind the door, "do try to—"

  "You do not get to speak, Gregory."

  Her mother's sharp tone made Lilyanna pause in her movements. She held her breath and listened carefully as her mother continued.

  "You have been gone since Lilyanna was born. I know her. I know her behavior, her temperament, better than you could ever assume to imagine. I have spent every day of my life trying to better her, trying to secure a happy future for her. I love her, and I want her to be happy."

  Tears flowed freely down Lilyanna's cheeks as she heard the truth in her mother's words.

  Why does she not say such things to me then? she wondered.

  "And since I have been there for her every step of the way," Mrs. Crosgrove continued, "it is I who gets a say in the matter. You have chosen the navy over your family, your men over your wife and daughter. And because of your choices, you have lost the privilege of understanding what is going on in your daughter's life. She may think she knows what she wants, but she will thank me later for diverting her away from Mr. Bainbridge. He is a terrible man, one who…"

  But Lilyanna heard no more as she made her way back to her room, sadness enveloping her. A small hope had blossomed in her heart at hearing her mother's love for her, a small hope that maybe Mrs. Crosgrove did understand, but it had quickly dashed away as Lilyanna's opinion was once again discounted.

  She spent the next hour pacing her room as her mind raced.

  "Are we to postpone our travel to Gretna Green now?" she thought aloud. "Or is it risking our chance to ever be together?"

  The last words brought her to her senses, so she pulled out a small piece of paper and scribbled out a few words to her parents, knowing the maids would find it and deliver it to them long after she and Elijah had left.

  She placed the note on her pillow and looked over it once more.

  To my Loving Parents,

  I hope you will understand one day how much I love you both and how I am so very sorry it has come to this. I am with Mr. Bainbridge. I love him. I am making the right decision. I will be happy, for that is what I know both of you want for me.

  Forever your loving daughter,

  Lilyanna

  She tried not to let her doubts flood her mind as she put on her traveling clothes and pulled up her hair with a few pins, taking a quick peak in her looking glass to ensure she did not appear too disheveled.

  As soon as she was satisfied with her reflection, she stayed busy to keep her mind from running rampant. She checked every bit of her room to ensure she had everything she needed, and she read and reread the note to her parents, making certain the words on the paper were the right things to say.

  When the time drew closer, Lilyanna blew out her candle and stood near the window with her tied-up shawl in one hand, her small reticule in the other, and she waited for the signal, rehearsing in her mind what Elijah had written.

  On the night we shall leave, I will come to Heatherhill and accompany you to where the stagecoach will depart. I will meet you near the opening of the trees, but you must wait for my signal. If you look from your window, you will see the light of my candle letting you know we are ready. It will be quickly extinguished, for we only wish for you to see the light. I will be there waiting for you.

  She stood still, waiting for Elijah to light the candle for nearly ten minutes when finally she saw it, her heart flipping at the small, glowing light in the distance.

  Excitement filled her until the light disappeared, then the dread of sneaking through her house, of being potentially spotted by her parents, nearly crippled her.

  She thought of Elijah, his handsome face and his caring, brown eyes, and her desire to be with him forever gave her the courage she needed to continue on.

  Before closing her bedroom door, she gave one last sweeping look across the room that had held her memories for so many years, and she wondered if she would ever be allowed back inside.

  Letting out a slow breath, she closed the door soundlessly behind her and tip-toed her way through the long corridors.

  A few candles had been left lit, and Lilyanna's heart threatened to stop beating. They have not yet retired? she thought.

  She reached the bottom of the stairs only to find a glimpse of light shining forth from under the door of the parlor.

  Lilyanna moved quietly to the door to where she could hear her parents' voices, and she listened once again, her hope fighting for some evidence of her parents' changing as she ignored any possible consequences of her actions.

  "…aware of the full situation," she heard her mother finish saying.

  "Certainly," came Captain Crosgrove's voice from behind the door. "I must admit, after what I have heard, I would be loathe, indeed, to find myself allowing such a union to take place."

  Her father's words caused Lilyanna's heart rate to increase, and she quickly moved away from the door, down the hall, and across the entranceway, pulling the front door open only enough for her to squeeze through, hoping she did not make too much of a noise as she did so.

  As she closed the large doors firmly, her heartbreak increased. She had hoped her father would have understood. She had hoped since she shared her true feelings, showed him she was old enough to make her own decisions, he would have agreed with her and somehow persuaded her mother to do the same.

  But she had been dreadfully wrong, and the thought crushed her. She knew the only thing that could help her feel better amidst such grief was seeing Elijah, so she lifted her skirts and hurried in the direction his candle had been lit, hearing only her legs swishing back and forth against the fabric in the silence until the sound of trickling water informed her she was close.

  Her fear of being caught, of making the wrong choice, of leaving her family in such a way, came to a peak until they finally melted away when she spotted Elijah's large figure in the distance silhouetted slightly by the moon above as he stood amidst the oak trees.

  She waved in the darkness, and seeing him remove his top hat and wave back at her eased her troubled mind instantly.

  She ran the rest of the way to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

  "Are you all right?" Elijah asked, concern evident in his voice. "Did anyone spot you?"

  Lilyanna shook her head, still embracing him as her heart beat fiercely. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she felt the weight of everything lifting off her shoulders.

  "I do not believe anyone saw me. Only…"

  "What is it?" he asked, pulling back to look into her face. "You have been crying."

  "Yes, but there is no time to speak, Elijah," Lilyanna said. "I shall tell you about it when we reach the carriage."

  "Lilyanna," Elijah said, pulling her back to him, "tell me why you have been crying. If you have changed your mind, we do not have to go through with this."

  "It is not that at all. I desperately wish to marry you, but we must go. We cannot afford to waste a single mome
nt."

  She grasped his hand, heading off in the darkness until she heard a raspy voice behind them.

  "Miss?"

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lilyanna turned around to see Mr. Lowick approaching them on his horse. "Mr. Lowick," she said as the elderly man dismounted spritely, walking straight up to them and looking at Elijah with anger in his eyes.

  "You, sir," Mr. Lowick said, "what do you think you are doing?"

  His voice was loud, and Lilyanna noted his fists pumping.

  She immediately stood between the two men with her hands raised. "Please, Mr. Lowick!" she said quietly. "Please, wait a moment."

  Her heart warmed as Mr. Lowick's fists immediately relaxed, his wrinkled eyes scanning every inch of her. "Are you all right, Miss?"

  "Yes," Lilyanna said, lowering her hands, "thank you, Mr. Lowick. I am fine."

  "What is going on then, Miss?"

  Lilyanna looked behind her as she reached for Elijah's hand to pull him to her side. "I know what you must be thinking, Mr. Lowick, at seeing us in such a way, but I must ask you to please trust me before I speak openly with you."

  The old groom merely nodded, his suspicious eyes still on Elijah who stood next to Lilyanna.

  "We are running away, Mr. Lowick," she said, noting the look of alarm in her friend's face, "but you must believe me when I tell you I have thought a great deal about this, and I have made my decision. I am going to marry Mr. Bainbridge, and this is the only way I can."

  "But…" the man hesitated, scowling at Elijah, "but why must you run away? From your home, your family?"

  Lilyanna knew Mr. Lowick held a great concern for her, otherwise he would never speak so openly.

  "Why must you leave now," he continued, "especially when Captain Crosgrove has returned?"

  "Your father?" Elijah interrupted. "He is here?"

  Lilyanna could hear the hope in Elijah's voice, but she shook her head. "I will explain later, Elijah," she said, knowing they were running out of time. "Mr. Lowick, please, listen to me."