“Father,” she whispered and then pressed her lips into a thin line, realizing her mistake. “May I call you father?”
“Of course you may,” he said, holding his arms wide to her.
She walked dream-like toward him, unable to fathom her good fortune. This was the stuff of fairy tales. But when his arms encircled her, she knew this was no dream. The heat of his embrace was as warm as the sun, and she sighed in his arms. Maribeth’s talent was extraordinary, indeed.
“Yes,” he whispered for her ears only. “I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle.”
She choked back her happy tears but eventually lost the battle.
“Come,” he said, placing her hand on his arm with a warm smile. “Beatrice, let’s walk our daughter to the chapel. Are you ready, my dear daughter?”
“I’m ready,” Eveline said. “Brother Anselm, please lead the way.”
Sunshine greeted them as they exited the mansion, and for once, the wind didn’t howl. It was unseasonably warm for early February, and she was never so happy to walk along the path with her arms entwined with her parents’. Eveline glanced at the lake, still half expecting to see sunlight glinting off of Neptune and shimmering water surrounding the statue. But the God of fresh water and sea was long gone, laying ignobly on the sandy bottom of the lake.
“It’s the right decision, you know,” her father said. “To drain the lake and replant the forest. I never should’ve disturbed the beauty of the land.”
Eveline peered at him and shrugged. “Easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. Josephine and Rosalie loved this land. It seems only right to restore the land to its former beauty. A peace offering of sorts.”
“One I believe she’ll accept,” Beatrice said, patting Eveline’s arm. “You’ve done your best to make amends. Burying her remains in the forest was honorable.”
“Josephine was evil,” Eveline said, “but I believe she truly loved Rosalie, and she loved her home, this land.”
Marcus lifted his brow, apparently not quite ready to view Josephine in a better light, though Eveline could hardly blame him. His death had been brutal.
“So the investigation is closed?” he asked.
She nodded. “The events were declared to be an unfortunate accident. Though I’m certain Constable Daniels was disappointed when all that could be found of Josephine’s remains were her human form. Lady Beaufort didn’t satisfy his thirst for uncovering the paranormal. I’m perplexed as well and can’t imagine why we didn’t find a half-woman, half-serpent.”
Beatrice pondered over the puzzle for a few moments. “Dominick dealt the initial deathblow while Josephine was still in human form. Perhaps it was Satan’s parting gift that she should die in the same form as her soul mate?”
She squeezed her mother’s arm. “Satan with a sentimental heart? I suppose one can dream of the day.”
They chatted lightheartedly for the remainder of the walk to the chapel. Eveline shared her excitement over Dominick’s plans to honeymoon in Italy. She would see the world with her husband, through her own eyes, and she couldn’t wait for the adventure.
Within minutes the double oak doors of the chapel loomed before them, and Eveline paused, allowing Brother Anselm and the rest of the party to enter the chapel and find their places. She was glad Dominick had agreed to make it a small, intimate affair, witnessed only by the staff of the manor and his crew.
“Will you play for me, Mother?” she asked.
Beatrice nodded and kissed her cheek. “With pleasure. Be happy, my love.”
As Beatrice drifted through the oak doors, Eveline turned to her father. “Thank you for doing this.” Gazing into his crystal-blue eyes, she saw love reflected back, and with it came inner peace. “I wish we’d known each other in your lifetime. But I’m grateful for the opportunity God has given us today. Take care of my mother.”
“I shall also take care of you,” he said, cupping her chin. “Thank you for allowing us to stay with you in the mansion. It’s our home, and I wish to know you better before joining our Maker.”
Turning her head, she kissed his palm and smiled as the first notes of Canon in D drifted over them.
“Ah, Johann Pachelbel,” Marcus said, placing her hand on his arm. “One of my favorites. Shall we?”
She opened the door, and they entered the chapel. Her eyes widened at the pews bursting with eager guests. Wreaths of pine and holly lent to the festive mood and filled the air with nature’s scent. As her father walked her down the aisle, she was oblivious to all but the man awaiting her at the end with a wide, welcoming grin.
When they stood before the altar, she took one last sweeping glance at everyone around her, blessed with the knowledge that she would cherish her wedding day for years to come. She accepted her father’s kiss on the cheek, her heart filled with joy. Dominick clasped her hand and pulled her to his side.
“You promised it would only be staff and crew,” she teased as they took their places before Brother Anselm.
“Those are my crew,” he whispered, squeezing her hand. “I command a fleet of three ships.”
Her brow shot up in surprise. She knew he was wealthy, but three ships? “And which one shall we take to Italy, Captain Sommerset?” she asked, rubbing the nub of his pinky with tenderness.
He gazed down with love twinkling in his steady blue eyes. “The newest of my fleet, My Saving Grace.”
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my loving husband for encouraging me to research paranormal creatures in his Dungeons & Dragons books, from which I drew the inspiration for Josephine. I’m also grateful to author Heather Novak for sharing an article of an abandoned ballroom that served as the original inspiration for my gothic romance, around which the rest of the story was developed. Also, I wish to thank all of my beta readers who provided outstanding feedback, especially Sawyer Belle. Finally, I’m grateful to my editor, Julie Sturgeon, for her courage in offering tough love; you took this story to the next level.
About the Author
R.C. Matthews was raised in the Metro Detroit area along with three sisters and a brother by deaf parents. Her father is a voracious reader, and that gene lives on in all of his children. Now the reading gene is sprouting in her own two sons, who love to read J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and many others. She enjoys traveling with her family (loving husband, two sons, and a stepson), reading, downhill skiing, and playing board games.
More from This Author
Little White Lies
R.C. Matthews
I’m going to hell!
The thought crossed Madalyn Russell’s mind for the umpteenth time since reading the article plastered over the front page of the society section in the morning paper: “Dumped at the Alter—Chicago’s Hottest Bachelor Back on the Market!” Had she really abandoned a church with nearly a thousand family and guests yesterday? Her stomach felt slightly nauseated just thinking about it. Poor Charles! He didn’t deserve to be humiliated that way. What had she been thinking?
Madalyn stood at the ship’s railing, staring out at the deep blue water, as The Cleopatra slowly made its way out of Port Miami and into the Atlantic Ocean. How in the world had Jeanine convinced her at the last minute to go on the honeymoon cruise alone? It felt so wrong. What would people think of her? But, difficult as it may be, Madalyn was going to try to take Jeanine’s advice and learn to live a little, not be so black and white in her thinking, and find the shades of gray in life. There would be plenty of time next week to worry over what others thought of her. An opportunity for a new beginning lay before her and she planned to take advantage of it.
If only one of her sisters could have come with her. But Jeanine had to be in Detroit for the grand opening of the new bakery, and Katie was off to London to study at a culinary school for several months. Looking around, Madalyn found quite a few passengers in their mid-twenties to mid-thirties. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so difficult to meet a few new friends. She turned her face up to bask in the warmt
h of the sun and marveled at the pure blue sky. A gentle breeze broke up the stifling humidity and carried a hint of the buffet fare already on display for the eager guests. She breathed in deeply—hamburgers and fries were definitely on the menu. She wavered about whether she should stop at the bar for another drink or go back to her room and take a nap in her spacious bed.
Another Rum Swizzle won out; she hadn’t come all this way to stay locked up in her room. She made a mental note to keep track of her calories or else risk going home ten pounds heavier. Placing her empty glass on the bar, she leaned over and caught the attention of the bartender, indicating she wanted another. He gave her the thumbs up.
She sat down on a bar stool and listened to the women directly next to her in the middle of a heated discussion. The corner of Madalyn’s mouth twitched into a smile. Their interaction reminded her of the lively debates she so often engaged in with her sisters.
The blond sitting next to Madalyn shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what you expected, Liz. It was a coffee date. If you wore that dress, then I’m not surprised. You may as well have tattooed desperate on your forehead.”
“Oh please,” Liz scoffed, discounting her friend’s opinion. “I looked hot! There was something wrong with him, Susie, not me.”
Susie turned to Madalyn, her long curls bouncing from the movement. “Please tell my friend that a guy who runs after a first coffee date isn’t worth the time of day!” Turning to Liz she added, “Why are you still talking about him? It was two months ago. Don’t give that jerk the satisfaction.”
“So true,” Madalyn said, gazing at the women.
Liz looked like she had stepped off the set of Sex in the City with auburn hair down to the middle of her back, a black party dress, and sequined high heels. Had Liz really worn that dress to a first coffee date? Susie was right; it did seem a bit desperate.
“But Liz makes a good point,” Madalyn said. They both stared at her with questioning brows. “That bartender can’t keep his eyes of you Liz! There was definitely something wrong with Mr. Coffee Shop guy.”
Liz turned to look at the bartender when he approached with Madalyn’s cocktail. His white blond hair, fair skin, and bright blue eyes seemed out of place on a Caribbean cruise ship. Where were all of the dark haired Latino men with sun-kissed skin that she had fantasized about? Madalyn smiled at him and handed over her “Sailing Card,” the cruise ship’s equivalent of a credit card, which was linked directly to her stateroom account.
“Welcome aboard, Madalyn,” he said with a slight accent, reading her name off the card before he swiped it in the credit machine. His eyes swept over to the other ladies and rested on Liz. He gave her a dazzling smile.
“How about another round, ladies?”
Liz nodded her head and looked down at her hands, anywhere except into his eyes. Where was her bravado now?
“I have a feeling these cards can be pretty dangerous,” Madalyn laughed, putting the card in her purse and offering her hand to Susie. “I’m Madalyn. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“I’m Susie and this is Liz,” the blond said, shaking her hand. “Believe me, this is our third cruise and I wince every time the final bill arrives. It’s like gaining weight; one week to pack it on and ten weeks to work it off.”
Madalyn chuckled and pointed to her drink. “Double whammy! I’m dreading the amount of weight I’m going to gain this week.”
Susie nodded and looked around. “Who are you here with?”
“I’m alone,” Madalyn said, staring at her drink before turning a sideways glance at the women. “My sister had to back out at the last minute and I couldn’t find anyone else to come along. It’s a real bummer.”
Madalyn wished she had a camera to capture the way both their brows rose in unison. She shrugged her shoulders, hoping she pulled off the little white lie, unwilling to tell them the truth. Jeanine would be so proud.
“You’re veteran sailors,” Madalyn said. “What can I expect?”
“There are so many things to do during the day—swimming, putt-putt, massages, bingo or just relaxing in the sun,” Susie said, pausing to sip her margarita. “But the evenings are the best—live shows, comedians, discos—you name it.”
“They should pay you,” Madalyn said with a chuckle. “You’re better than the advertisement I read. What about the shore excursions?”
“You should go check out the list at the concierge desk before dinner,” Susie said. “We plan to go shopping at the first port of call. We’re only in Old San Juan for the evening. You’re welcome to join us.”
“That sounds great!” Madalyn said and then looked at her watch to gauge how much time she had before dinner.
Liz gasped and reached over to grab her arm. “Madalyn, what time is it?”
“It’s six thirty. Why?”
“We’re meeting Mike and Jason to play table tennis in fifteen minutes. I can’t bend over in this dress,” she giggled. “Let’s hurry up and go change, Susie.”
Susie turned to Madalyn and confessed they had met two guys on the bus ride over from the airport. “Hey, would you like to join us?”
“Oh, no thanks,” Madalyn said. Nothing like being a fifth wheel. “I’ll just stay around here for a while and relax in the sun before dinner. How about meeting up at the disco at eleven o’clock?”
“Sounds good,” they said in unison.
After downing the remainder of their drinks, they gathered their things and stood up to leave. Liz towered over Susie by more than a head. And while Liz could compete head on with the best runway model, Susie was all about comfort in her khaki Capri pants and cowl-neck knit shirt.
Madalyn waved goodbye as they strode off and was reminded of her own encounter with a man on the transfer bus earlier in the day. Her stomach tingled thinking of her reaction to the mystery man; she had never felt such a raw attraction to a stranger before. He embodied everything she had ever dreamed of physically in a man: wavy hair that was black as midnight, mesmerizing green eyes with thick lashes she’d kill for, and a tall, muscular frame with strong arms to cradle and protect her. Maybe it was his proximity as he reached for her suitcase to haul it onto the bus, combined with the scent of his cologne that had sent her pulse racing. Or the way his jeans hung off his hips until he bent over to set her luggage on the lower rack, revealing a nicely rounded butt. Too bad the bus had been packed, forcing him to the back and her to the front before she could even find out his name. Was he meeting someone here or had he come alone? She could use a good distraction this week and wondered if she would bump into him again.
Oh, who was she kidding? Being brazen in theory was a breeze; but could she carry through with a fling if faced with the opportunity? She had no idea, but she wasn’t opposed to finding out. After years of working hard towards her career goals and doing what was “right”, she was ready to let loose a little and step out of her shell.
Madalyn settled down in a lounge chair by the pool and closed her eyes while listening to the children laughing and playing. A couple sitting next to her were whispering back and forth. She couldn’t quite make out their words but the woman giggled and Madalyn could hear her playful slap on his arm. She and Charlie used to be playful, but those playful times had been short-lived. They were both so driven to become successful in their careers as lawyers that there was little time for having fun. And as soon as they had moved to Chicago that bitch, Veronica, had dictated their social calendar in her continual effort to propel Charles into Chicago society. Madalyn felt a sense of regret and wished she could relive those days. Perhaps she would have seized the day more and pushed back harder for what she wanted out of life. It had been so long since she had made her own decisions that she wasn’t certain she even knew what she wanted out of life anymore.
Maybe Jeanine was right and Madalyn was too confined by her ideals of what was right and what was wrong. Guiding principles had made her into the successful attorney she was today, but did they limit her growth as an in
dividual? Did she dare turn off the highway to take a side road as her sister suggested? Or venture out onto a dirt path in search of the scenic view?
Madalyn was startled from her reverie when something bounced off her shoulder. She jerked up. Opening her eyes, she saw a young boy punching his friend in the arm and pointing for him to fetch the beach ball lying next to her. She threw the ball back and then glanced at her watch. Crap! It was ten after eight. She must have fallen asleep. If she hurried, she would have just enough time to run back to her cabin and freshen up before dinner.
Making her way to the exit, she glanced over at the bar and was mesmerized by a familiar pair of dark green eyes. She tripped over a lounge chair and nearly face-planted on the deck, but quickly steadied herself and giggled. Her mystery man stared brazenly at her with a smirk creeping across those gorgeous lips of his. Was he laughing at her too? Flashing him a dazzling smile, she waved, shrugged her shoulders, and headed off to her cabin. She didn’t want to be late for dinner.
• • •
Twenty minutes later, she entered the Valley of the Kings Dining Room with stories of the exquisite and elegant dining experience on a cruise ship bouncing through her head. Warm hues of red, orange, and yellow covering the bi-level room walls were reminiscent of a burning sunset in the desert night. Together with the soft background music, the dining room was warm and inviting. The colorfully dressed wait staff bustled about in celebration of “Fiesta” night. Her mouth was already watering from the lingering smell of refried beans and sizzling fajitas. What other tantalizing dishes awaited her?
Looking around, she wondered if Susie and Liz were assigned to sit in the same dining room. She made a mental note to ask them later. Was it too late to request a change in seating arrangements? She hoped not. If only she had thought of this earlier when she had time to kill by the pool.
She could hardly contain her curiosity as she approached her assigned table, but when she caught a first glimpse of three glowing couples, an inexplicable feeling washed over her. One of the women extended her hand to the couple seated across the table, showing them a huge rock on her finger. In that moment, Madalyn noticed the banner hanging on the wall: “Congratulations Newlyweds!” Her light mood suddenly evaporated as a tornado of emotions swept her up into her own personal hell. Her stomach lurched and twisted in the maelstrom.
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