So Fair a Lady (Daughters of His Kingdom Book 1)

by Amber Lynn Perry

Bile crept up her throat.

  Samuel continued. “I tried to get to you, but Watson was there first. I followed you . . . I saw everything.” A pitiful hurt knit his face.

  Oh, Dear Lord, what have I done

  He came closer to her and stroked her arms. “I know you love me, Eliza. We’re meant for one another. I can only assume he’s forced himself upon you and that’s the reason you refuse me, but I don’t want you to worry. When you and I—”

  “You’re wrong Samuel! He’s done nothing but help and protect me.”

  He continued his gentleness, tracing her face with his eyes and stroking her arms. “I heard you’d been hurt—stabbed. Is that true? Did he do it because you tried to escape him?”

  Eliza’s nerves pricked. How much did he know? How long had he been watching them?

  “No . . . yes . . . no!” The words wouldn’t come quick enough. “I was hurt, very badly, but it wasn’t Thomas who did it. It was the sailors, we saw them . . .” She shook her head and waved her hands in front of her. “It’s too long to explain, but Thomas rescued me. Samuel, he saved my life!”

  Samuel’s eyes brimmed with emotion. “And for that, I will always be grateful.”

  His arms encircled her and he brushed his nose against her ear, his lips tracing along her jaw.

  An icy chill wriggled over her spine as she tried to push away. “Stop, Samuel! Don’t!”

  He stilled, then stepped away and dropped his lifeless hands at his sides. His features went slack and the muscles in his face ticked.

  “I care for you Samuel.” Eliza straightened, pulling the shawl back around her shoulders. “But I do not love you. I’m sorry. I don’t believe I ever really did. And how could I marry you now, knowing what you’ve done?” She lifted her chin and straightened her posture. “I love Thomas. We’re to be married.”

  His face twisted and flooded with red as he stepped forward. Eliza recoiled as his shoulders heaved from his heavy breathing.

  “No. Never! You’re mine, Eliza!” His voice boomed as he spoke through his clenched teeth.

  He took a step closer reaching his hands toward her, a wicked desperation spinning in his gaze. “I know you are frightened to make such choices in your life. You could never come to a decision this easily. He’s forcing you to do these things. You don’t have to marry him, Eliza. You’re acting so different from the woman I know and love, and it pains me to see it. I will take you away and help you think clearly again.”

  “I am thinking clearly!” Eliza leaned into her words and clenched her fists, holding her arms rigid at her sides. “Samuel, I love Thomas and I am staying with him. I will be his wife! I’ll not go anywhere with you!”

  Samuel’s face turned to stone. “Yes. You. Will.”

  Eliza charged for the barn door, but Samuel overcame her and held her waist with iron muscles as she struggled to get free.

  He wrenched her around and gripped her body against his. “Thomas will be killed for what he’s done, make no mistake. And you and Kitty are coming with me!”

  Her knees buckled. She stopped moving and peered into Samuel’s cold stare. “Samuel, I beg of you. Don’t hurt Thomas. I love him. And if you love me, truly love me, you’ll leave us alone and allow us to live our lives in peace. You can end all this, tell them to stop looking for him and allow his cousin’s family to return back to their home.” Hands trembling, she gripped his crimson jacket. “Please, Samuel!”

  He held her too close and too tight. He stroked her face with one hand and kneaded her back with the other. “I do truly love you, Eliza, more than you’ll ever know. I can see what you cannot. And because of that, I will rescue you and take you back to Boston where you and I will marry, and we will live our lives in peace.”

  Eliza’s blood turned to fire and she pulled away. “Never!”

  Samuel leaned forward and jabbed a rigid finger into her chest. “Thomas will die, Eliza. There’s nothing you can do to stop it from happening.”

  The room whirled. Her legs melted. She fell to her knees and pressed her hands against her chest. Suddenly, she sucked in a sharp breath as a repulsive yet powerful idea possessed her mind.

  After a moment of pressing silence, she stood, keeping her voice void of the emotion that threatened to steal her strength. “If I come with you, if I vow to return to Boston and marry you, will you promise not to kill him?”

  Samuel wrenched his neck and looked toward the house through the opening of the barn door then turned back to her as a wicked smile tilted his mouth. “Of course, my love. That’s what I’d hoped you’d say.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Thomas worked with the last few buttons on his waistcoat and marveled at the events of last night. God had given him a miracle by turning ashes to beauty. A cursed situation had been changed to a glorious blessing in his life.

  He slipped on his dark brown jacket and pushed his feet into his boots. A smile slid over his face and a reassuring peacefulness settled over his shoulders.

  Eliza loved him. She had accepted his proposal and was to be his wife. Thomas could handle anything—even farming—so long as Eliza was by his side. The thought of it made his insides light as the sparse clouds in the stark blue sky.

  He left his room and entered the parlor. The regular clanking of utensil on pan drifted through the house along with the mouth-watering fragrance of fresh baked bread. Kitty must be at her usual post.

  But where was Eliza? Most mornings, if she wasn’t cooking the morning meal with Kitty, she cleaned or mended.

  He explored upstairs and checked the kitchen, his shoulders growing tighter with each passing second.

  “Kitty, have you seen Eliza?” he said, entering the warm, sweet-scented room.

  Kitty looked up, her hands covered in flour. “I don’t know where she is. Let’s hope she hasn’t disappeared again.” She stared for a moment. “Thomas?”

  “Yes?”

  Lowering her chin, she spoke quiet. “I do hope you can forgive me for last night. No matter our differences, I want you to know—”

  “Kitty.” He walked around the table and wrapped her in his arms. “You and I shall be brother and sister from now on. And though we may believe differently about certain things, our affection for one another will never be dimmed.”

  “What?” Kitty shot out of his arms, her bright eyes round and her mouth open. “Eliza didn’t say anything about it—that’s marvelous news—you’re engaged! I’m so happy for you both. I suppose I did see that coming.” She raised her shoulders with a chirping giggle.

  Thomas smiled, tamping down the worry that pushed into his gut. Eliza hadn’t mentioned it? Odd. Well, perhaps after their argument Eliza planned to announce the happy news when they were in better spirits.

  The click of someone opening the front door reached Thomas. He spun toward the main room from his position in the kitchen doorway. He expected Nathaniel sometime today with his regular bi-weekly visit, but it was far too early for that.

  Thomas rushed forward as frustration pierced him like a falling icicle. Eliza must be returning from wherever she’d been, and oh how she would get another earful from him. Now. He still hadn’t recovered from the thought of almost losing her. After her escape last night, he wanted to know where she was at all times, and she’d promised him she wouldn’t do anything impetuous.

  Eliza came into the room as expected, head bowed. She kept her eyes at the floor and gripped her shawl with both hands. Thomas pinched his brow as worry skidded across his spine. Why did she look so solemn? He walked toward her and stopped in his tracks.

  His lungs ceased to function, and the blood in his limbs refused to move. Entering the room behind Eliza was the devil.

  Once inside, Samuel closed the door quickly behind him and reached a gentle hand to grab Eliza’s arm. She looked up at Thomas for only a moment before looking down again. Her eyes were circled with red, her cheeks wet from tears. What had Samuel done? How had he found them?

  Thomas’s m
uscles refused to obey any command as he tried to make sense of what he saw. His peaceful, joy-filled world now broke into a devastating war, destroying everything around him.

  “What are you doing here, Martin?” Thomas kept his tone cool despite the fury that blazed through his veins.

  Samuel reached his arm around and tugged Eliza close. He nuzzled his nose into her ear, but she kept her eyes at the ground. Thomas’s stomach wanted to revolt at the sight. His biceps twitched with the desire to unleash the full measure of his strength, but he refrained. Doing so might put Eliza in more danger and he’d rather die than bring her any harm.

  “Would you like to tell him, my darling?” Samuel said. “I think it will be much better coming from you, under the circumstances.” He looked at Thomas, a vile grin clawing up his face.

  A paralyzing anxiety unleashed itself within Thomas’s gut as Samuel’s fingers whitened around Eliza’s arm.

  Eliza inhaled deep before she spoke and raised her chin. Her voice was quiet, but a look of stoic resolve wound over her features. “Thomas, I wrote to Samuel. I told him everything that happened and he understands it was nothing more than a grievous miscommunication.”

  Her words were relaxed and calm, a dichotomy to the language that showed in her body. “I told him how miserable I’ve been. I asked him to come take Kitty and me back to Boston. He’s promised to allow you to go free. Also, Daniel and his dear family. All is well. Is not that wonderful?”

  Thomas’s gaze jumped between the two of them as he tried to piece together the alarming puzzle. This wasn’t right. She was lying. How could she have sent word to Samuel without him knowing of it?

  Somehow he found his voice. “Eliza, don’t be afraid to tell me the truth,” he said, hoping she would sense the urgency in his stare.

  Eliza pursed her lips and blinked as if straining to stay composed. She rolled her shoulders and lifted her chin, but not her gaze. “Samuel has renewed his sentiments to me, Thomas, and I’ve accepted him. The truth is, I love him. I always have.”

  The words slammed into Thomas with such force he took a step back. Impossible. Then again . . . the detached look on her face unraveled every tightly woven emotion around his heart. His breathing became ragged and he reached for the chair at his side.

  Samuel drew Eliza closer and tilted her face upward, kissing her on the mouth as only a man in love can do. She didn’t resist, didn’t try to pull away.

  Thomas’s stomach lurched and his heart hammered his ribs until he thought his bones would break. She didn’t love Samuel.

  She couldn’t. Could she?

  His mind raced. Last night when he’d proposed to her, she’d said she would marry him but never that she loved him. And she’d never even told Kitty the news of their engagement. He’d believed her response to his admiration was real. Had he wished something into existence that was too good to be true?

  Eliza clearly did not want to look at him. She kept her gaze at the floor. It was so unlike her. His skin began to crawl. Samuel appeared calm, but the deep shadow over his face told Thomas he was angry enough to kill.

  At that moment Kitty emerged from the kitchen, towel in hand. “Samuel! What are you doing here?” She looked between Samuel, Thomas, and Eliza as she wiped her white hands on her apron.

  Samuel released his hold on Eliza and reached out to Kitty as one would to a little child.

  “I’ve come to take you and Eliza home. There’s no need to hide any longer. The danger’s past.” Kitty rushed forward, hugging him around the neck as he lifted her off the ground. “Thank you, thank you, Samuel! We’ve been waiting so long!”

  Thomas stared at Eliza, praying she would look at him. She didn’t. An endless abyss forced its way down Thomas’s middle. He tried to swallow the lump of painful realization that swelled in his throat.

  Eliza didn’t love him.

  “When can we leave?” Kitty asked, as Samuel set her on her feet.

  “Right now, if it pleases you.” Samuel shot a sinful smile at Thomas, but Kitty didn’t seem to notice.

  She went to embrace Eliza, as if she expected her sister to be just as merry at the news, but instantly froze. “Are you . . . are you staying here, Liza?”

  Eliza inhaled a choppy breath. “No, I’m coming with you. Samuel and I are to be married.” The crack in her voice pulled at Thomas’s heart. Perhaps she was being forced?

  “What?” Kitty pulled back, her brow crinkling and she shot a look to Thomas. “But I thought—”

  “Go gather your things.” Samuel cut her off with a tap on her arm. “And would you be so kind as to gather Eliza’s as well?”

  Kitty’s lips pinched, and she shook her head. She straightened her arms at her sides. “I don’t understand, Samuel. Eliza and Thomas—”

  “Please, dear Kitty.” Standing straighter, Samuel’s voice deepened. “We must be going.”

  “Of course.” Kitty’s tone remained heavy as she tossed a few concerned glances between Thomas and Eliza before doing as commanded.

  Thomas still could not move. His feet were heavy as ships anchors, but he couldn’t take the silence another moment. He walked straight toward her and moved to touch Eliza, but Samuel slapped his hand away.

  “Don’t you dare touch my future wife. You’ve done enough damage,” he seethed.

  Eliza whipped her head at Samuel, speaking through her teeth. “Let him be, Samuel.”

  Thomas clenched his fists. His arms ached to pull her away from the vile soldier. “Eliza, why are you doing this? I know you’re lying. You don’t love him.” Please say it. Say you don’t love him.

  Eliza finally lifted her lashes and showed him her distant brown eyes. “I’m not lying Thomas. I’ve told you the truth. I’m sorry for what’s happened between us, truly I am, but I’ve made my decision.” She stopped and turned her eyes away for less than a second before locking with his gaze. “I’m going to marry Samuel. I love him. This is what I want.”

  Her words burned a gaping hole in his chest. Thomas straightened and leaned toward her. She could not be speaking the truth. “Don’t do this. Let me help you.”

  “She doesn’t want your help!”

  Samuel pressed a powerful hand into Thomas’s shoulder and tried to push him away, but Thomas stood stronger. Samuel’s fist raced through the air. Thomas deflected it and raised his own, ready to slam it into his enemy’s jaw when Eliza rushed in front of him.

  “No!” she pleaded. “Thomas, don’t!” Her volume rose as she blocked his aim. She stood straighter and resolve owned her features as Thomas lowered his arm. “Thomas, you must believe me. I don’t want to be with you. If I did, I would stay. I’m sorry. I’m going away with Samuel and you must stay here. Don’t come after me.”

  “That’s enough, Eliza,” Samuel said, pulling her back.

  Her words slapped Thomas with dizzying compulsion. He stepped away and continued curling his fists as he tried to make the room stop swaying around him. He flinched when the door flew open again and spun to see who was now invading his home.

  Nathaniel. His shoulders slumped as relief bathed him. At least he’d have someone on his side.

  Nathaniel entered, his stance stiff. He glared at Samuel then looked at Thomas, his brow dark. “Good morning.”

  Thomas tilted his head toward Samuel and kept his words even. “We have a visitor.”

  “So I see.” With his hand still on the door, he continued. “Is everything all right?”

  “Aw, if it isn’t the bold and daring Dr. Nathaniel Smith,” Samuel said, stepping forward. “I spoke with you regarding Eliza’s accident. You said she’d died. But as you can clearly see, she is alive and well.”

  Nathaniel stepped into the room and closed the door with reserved force. “This is true.”

  “You lied to me.” Samuel approached him, stopping only inches away.

  Squaring his posture, Nathaniel’s eyes shot arrows. “You blackmailed my friend. Therefore, you didn’t deserve the truth.”
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br />   A sinister grin scratched at Samuel’s mouth, and he took a step back. “It’s too bad you gentlemen don’t understand what it means to be a traitor to the Crown. I could have you both arrested.” He looked back at Eliza and smiled, then turned to them again. “But, I’ve a good heart. I’m willing to let your actions remain in the past. And I really should be thanking you. Without that rally of yours I would never have found Eliza.” He moved back and slipped his poisonous arms around her, placing another kiss on her temple. “I have my future bride with me, that’s all that matters. I will take her back to Boston and the two of you can go on with your very valuable lives without any additional interference from us.”

  Thomas couldn’t stop his muscles from twitching and flexing, or his pulse from pounding in his ears. What did that rat think he was doing? Thomas shared a glance with Nathaniel. His friend seemed to understand every emotion that played over Thomas’s body and stepped closer to him, touching his flexed arm.

  Samuel moved to the stairs and called up to Kitty. “Come Kitty, we must away.”

  “Coming.” Kitty called, her steps growing louder as she descended. Her gaze landed instantly on Nathaniel and a pained smile graced her lips.

  Samuel took the bag from her hands. “Say your goodbyes.”

  Thomas’s heart lurched to a stop. Dear Lord, help me find a way to keep Eliza from going with him.

  “Not the gowns, Kitty,” Eliza said, as Kitty stepped into the main room, the evening gowns draped over her arm.

  “Oh . . . of course.” Kitty laid them over the back of the chair where Thomas stood. Eliza stroked the silk for a moment, before pulling her fingers away and wrapping her waist. She continued to survey the floor beneath her feet. Did that mean she didn’t want to leave?

  Thomas stepped forward, needing to be as close to her as possible. “Eliza, please,” he said, lowering his voice. “I know you, Eliza. And I know you don’t want this. You don’t have to go with him.”

  A frantic thread laced Kitty’s voice. “Thomas, what are you talking about?”

  Samuel stepped forward and growled, pushing him away again. “Let Eliza make her own decisions, Thomas. Stop trying to manipulate her.”