The Shadows Trilogy Box Set: A Christian Romance

by Juliette Duncan

  She’d first laid eyes on him at his cousin Nessa’s thirtieth birthday party. A fine autumn evening, Lizzy had been looking forward to getting out after being house bound with all her school work. Nessa had befriended her at church, and was keen for her to make some friends. This was the perfect opportunity, she’d said.

  The party began with cocktails in Nessa’s garden. Lizzy wore a long Indian type skirt and felt almost bohemian. She stood with Nessa, chatting to a couple of girls she’d just been introduced to, when Nessa called a dark haired young man over to join the group.

  “Everyone, this is my cousin Daniel from Belfast. Daniel, this is Susan, Lizzy and Brianna.”

  “Pleasure to meet you lovely ladies.” He bowed with a flourish, and then asked if he could get the girls a drink.

  “Thanks, but I’m okay at the moment,” Brianna replied. Lizzy just shook her head and laughed. She’d never heard such an intriguing accent before. She thought it suited him. He was far too attractive to just sound normal.

  “How long have you been here?” Susan asked.

  “Oh, going on two weeks now. Bonny place.”

  “You really think so?” Brianna asked. “I’ve always thought it was rather a boring backwater type town, myself.”

  “I guess it’s what you compare it with. I think it’s grand. There’s the river, and the sea not far away, and the pubs. A lot of pubs.” He cocked one eyebrow and grinned. “Are you girls from here?” He looked at each of the girls in turn, but his cheeky eyes caught Lizzy’s and she was mesmerized by them for a fleeting second.

  She let out a huge breath when Susan answered first, because it took her a moment or two to gather herself. Susan and Brianna had both replied, so now it was her turn. She didn’t want to tell him she was from the south, but Lizzy figured he’d know as soon as she opened her mouth.

  “Oh, we’ve got a posh one here.” His eyes sparkled and then he winked at her.

  “I’m not really.” Lizzy lifted her chin to a haughty angle and glared at him. “My family might be, but I’m not. I’m just an ordinary person, doing an ordinary job.”

  “Posh and fiery! And what job might that be?”

  “I’m a teacher.” She looked him straight in the eye.

  “That’s a grand job. Teachers are the backbone of our society, don’t you agree?” Susan and Brianna both nodded. They appeared to be fascinated by this gregarious, cheeky man, but it was Lizzy he was interested in, so it turned out. He took her arm when dinner was announced, and led her to a table where they dined together and engaged in friendly banter for the next hour or so.

  When the music started, he led her to the floor, and literally swept her off her feet.

  “You dance very well, Elizabeth,” he whispered in her ear, causing her pulse to race. Being from a ‘posh’ family, she certainly knew how to dance, but she’d never danced like this before. What would Mother would think if she could see her now? Casting that thought aside, Lizzy decided to enjoy the moment. Perhaps he was holding her just a little too close, but she didn’t push him away.

  Lizzy didn’t know what he saw in her. She was plain, nowhere near as attractive as either Susan or Brianna, but he was taken with her, and she with him. Maybe her rebellious spirit had attracted him. Whatever it was, they spent the rest of the evening together, and when it came time to leave, he asked if he could see her again. She didn’t hesitate. She was ready for this. Maybe at last I can forget Mathew.

  “Lizzy! There you are! And what a treat for sore eyes, might I say!” Daniel strode towards her and was about to wrap his arms around her when his mate, Johnno, stepped between them.

  “Uh, uh - none of that yet. Wait until you’ve tied the knot, man.”

  “Get outta here, Johnno. Can’t I give my lady a peck on the cheek?”

  “Wait until you’re legally wed. It’s bad luck if you kiss her beforehand.”

  “Says who?”

  “Says me.”

  “Okay then. Well, let’s get this show on the road, and then I can kiss her all I want - right?” He looked at Johnno, and then at Lizzy. “Lizzy, you ready?”

  “Yes Daniel, let’s do this.” She smiled at him. How handsome he looked in his pin striped suit. He loved wearing nice clothes, but the suit made him look suave and sophisticated. A thrill of excitement ran through Lizzy’s body at the thought of being alone with this man later in the day.

  Only ten people were present, plus the officiating celebrant. Daniel, Lizzy, Sal, Daniel’s cousin Nessa and her husband Riley, Daniel’s mate John, Lizzy’s fellow teachers, Janine and Robert, and her friends from church, Colin and Linda. Colin had agreed to give her away.

  “Colin, let’s go.” She hooked her arm in his as Daniel and Johnno took their places beside the celebrant. Sal led the way, and stood to the side when she reached the front. Lizzy walked the whole ten metres with her eyes glued on Daniel’s. Colin’s hand on hers helped to steady her pounding heart, and she tried not to think of anything apart from marrying Daniel, but in those fleeting moments, images of Mathew and her parents flitted through her mind. Oh God, not now. I can’t deal with it. Later. I promise. Later.

  Colin placed her arm in Daniel’s when they reached the front, and gave her a reassuring squeeze before taking his place beside Linda. She heard very little of the ceremony. Like an out of body experience, happening to someone else. Not to Elizabeth Walton-Smythe of Wiveliscombe Manor in Taunton Deane.

  The familiar words pulled her out of her trance, and back to the here and now. She’d heard the words many times before at the endless weddings of distant relatives she’d been forced to attend, but now it was her turn.

  “Do you, Elizabeth Anne Walton-Smythe, take Daniel Rorey O’Connor to be your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?”

  She looked at Daniel and saw the sparkle in his eyes. She took a deep breath.

  “I do.”

  Daniel got his way at last, and kissed her long and hard in front of everyone. She felt her cheeks flush, and pushed him away gently. He stole one more brief kiss before he turned her around and pumped his arm in the air.

  Someone wolf whistled. She thought it was Johnno, and then everyone clapped. She saw the smiles on Sal’s and Nessa’s faces. It was real. It had really happened. She was now Mrs Elizabeth O’Connor.

  The wedding breakfast was a noisy occasion. Daniel was in his element, and Lizzy could tell he was happy. He kept hugging and kissing her, and whispering words in her ear that made her blush. She knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d want to leave, but to be honest, she wasn’t in that much of a hurry now the time had come.

  Sal sat on the other side of her, looking stunning in her green suit. Lizzy reached out and squeezed her hand.

  “I wish you could stay longer, Sal.” Lizzy’s eyes teared up a little, and she quickly wiped them away, hoping Sal hadn’t noticed.

  “Oh sweetie, we’ll catch up again soon enough.” Sal returned her squeeze and smiled tenderly, almost causing Lizzy’s tears to break free.

  “I wish I could have come up earlier. Such a bother, this work business!” Sal’s laugh lightened the moment, and Lizzy breathed easier.

  “I agree. At least we’ve got a week off now. We’ll have to catch up again soon, Sal. I don’t know I can bear not seeing you.”

  “Come on, Liz. You’ve got Daniel to keep you company now.” Lizzy caught Sal’s eyes, and in that instant, what she’d done hit her like a ton of bricks. She was now married, for better or for worse, to Daniel O’Connor.

  Chapter Three

  Daniel and Lizzy left soon after. Daniel had planned their honeymoon, and all he’d told her was not to bring much. That wasn’t very helpful, so she’d packed for almost all possibilities, just in case. As it turned out, she really didn’t need much at all, as they stayed in their hotel room most of the following week.

  He was a skillful lover, tender
and kind, and their first week together was bliss. Lizzy had never imagined that married life could be so wonderful. Her mother had never spoken to her about what happened behind closed door. The limited information she had as they began their marriage had been gleaned from the odd magazine and hushed whispers amongst her circle of friends at University. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she could be so close to another human being.

  They ventured out once or twice to get some fresh air, but the chill wind of the north east coast soon drove them back inside into the warmth of each other’s arms.

  The week passed all too quickly, and before long they headed back into town to start their real life together.

  Not once had she thought of Mathew.

  “Come on Daniel, I’m going to be late!” Lizzy grabbed her coat off the hook and opened the door. “I’ll go without you,” she called out playfully.

  “Coming! Just give me a minute.”

  She looked back inside and saw him tying his shoe laces. His hair was rumpled and his shirt still undone, and as he stood, the sight of his bare chest made her insides quiver. She almost forgot she was in a hurry.

  “I’m sorry, Lizzy. I’ll be right there.” He raced into the bathroom and she soon heard water splashing, and thought with dread about the mess he was making. Living with a man was certainly different to sharing a flat with a girlfriend, but it did have its benefits. Her mind started to replay their lovemaking of the previous night whilst she stood at the door waiting for him. Daniel had completely won her over with his constant tenderness and eagerness to love her at any hour of the day or night. It was no wonder he slept in.

  “Well come on then, what are you waiting for?” He snatched a quick kiss as he flew past her.

  Lizzy locked the door and ran down the steps, catching him as he reached the car.

  She threw him the keys.

  “You’d better drive today. I might be a bit late finishing this afternoon.”

  They climbed into the car, and took off towards Hull Elementary. She looked at her watch. They might just make it. The traffic seemed to be getting worse every day, but maybe it was because they were late every day. She’d never been late to school when she was single, but now, most mornings the bell was ringing as she jumped out of the car and sprinted to her classroom in an effort to beat the children.

  Lizzy’s preparation was suffering. How long would it be before she was spoken to about it? She muddled her way through each day, but she wasn’t doing the best she could. Now Kid’s Club was starting up again. Why had she agreed to it? Lizzy raced, yet again, into the classroom just ahead of the children.

  “Good morning class.” Lizzy stood with her hands on her hips, taking a number of slow, deep breaths, and surveyed the class of eight year olds standing before her.

  “Good morning Mrs O’Connor.” Her heart jumped as she once again heard the name. Still not used to it, every time Lizzy heard it, she thought of Daniel. A mental image of him pushing a trolley at the hospital flitted through her mind. It was the perfect job for him. He lit up anxious people’s lives every day with his wit and humour, and he could whistle and sing as much as he wanted. The faintest of smiles played on her lips at the thought.

  “Take a seat, class.” She opened the folder on her desk and glanced inside. Normally she would have asked them to sit quietly, but this morning she let them talk amongst themselves for a few moments while she planned the day.

  Daniel arrived before Kid’s Club had wrapped up. He leaned on the door frame of the activities room as she sat in front of the children, strumming her guitar whilst they sang a song she’d just taught them. His arms were folded, and the twinkle in his eyes suggested he was enjoying himself.

  The children gave her a strange look when she stumbled over some words and played the wrong chord. Drat him for having this effect on me. She tried to concentrate on the job at hand, all the while aware of him taunting her from the back of the room.

  At the end of the song, the children turned around when they heard clapping. Lizzy shook her head as he came closer.

  “That was lovely, children, and Mrs O’Connor.”

  She knocked the music stand over in her hurry to get up. “Children,” Lizzy sighed and straightened her skirt. “this is Mr O’Connor. Say good afternoon.”

  “Good afternoon, Mr O’Connor,” they all said in a sing song chant.

  “And good afternoon to you, too,” he replied in a similar fashion, making the children laugh.

  “What are you doing?” she whispered sharply.

  “Just thought I’d come and meet some of your little protegees. That’s alright, isn’t it?”

  “Not really.” She turned her back so the children couldn’t hear. “Best if you wait outside in the car. We’re finishing up now.” She leaned closer. “I could get into trouble with you here.”

  “Okay, I’ll go. Don’t stress your pretty little head. Bye children. Nice to meet you.” He waved as he walked back the way he came.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” they all called out.

  “Miss, he sounds funny,” a little blond haired girl said after he’d gone. They all laughed again.

  “He’s Irish, that’s why,” Lizzy said, quickly tidying up and dismissing the children.

  The parents were all waiting outside, and once the children were handed over safely, Lizzy headed for the car. She’d calmed down a little by the time she reached it, but she still gave Daniel a good talking to.

  “You just can’t do that. You can’t walk into a classroom full of children and take over.” She folded her arms and glared at him.

  “There there, Lizzy. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t help it. I heard your sweet voice and the guitar music and it drew me in. I won’t do it again, I promise.” The twinkle in his eyes got her again. How did he manage it? Every time they had a disagreement, he’d sweet talk her and apologise; she’d forgive him, and then she’d end up in his arms.

  It was hard to be angry with Daniel O’Connor for long.

  The following day, two things happened that rocked their almost perfect world.

  Chapter Four

  Lizzy had just stepped into the shower when she heard the phone ring.

  “Daniel, can you get that?”

  “Sure, sweetie.”

  When he appeared in front of her several moments later with a startled look on his face, she wondered what had happened.

  “You’d better get out. It’s your mother.”

  Lizzy’s mouth fell open and her body stiffened. They stared at each other for a moment. How could she have been so stupid? Her mother often called on a Friday morning.

  “What am I going to say?”

  He shrugged and shook his head. For once he had no words.

  “You’re a great help.” She walked past him and picked up the receiver, taking a deep breath before speaking.

  “Mother, how are you?”

  “I’m fine thanks. How are you, Elizabeth?”

  “Fine.”

  Her mother wasted no time.

  “What’s he doing there this time of the morning? I’m surprised at you, Elizabeth. We brought you up better than that.”

  “It’s not what you think, mother.”

  “I thought we’d made it clear he was no good for you. Your father and I hoped we’d seen the last of him.”

  “No Mother. We’re still together.”

  “I have to say I’m disappointed, Elizabeth.” What was new? She always seemed to disappoint her parents.

  “I’m sorry to let you down, Mother.”

  “Very well then. I was calling to say that your father and I would like to see you next Saturday on our way to Edinburgh. Maybe we could have luncheon together.”

  Lizzy paused before she answered, her mind racing as she digested this request. “It would be nice to see you, Mother. But Daniel will need to come. I hope you’ll be okay with that.”

  “No, Elizabeth. Please don’t bring him. You know what your father would
be like. We’d much rather have luncheon just with you.”

  “Well, I’m sorry, Mother, but I won’t come without him.”

  She heard her mother sigh on the other end of the line. Silence hung in the air between them. Lizzy pressed her hand hard against her chest and felt for her cross.

  “If that’s the way it has to be, I guess we’ll just have to tolerate him.” Lizzy rolled her eyes and looked at Daniel.

  “Thank you, Mother. Do you have anywhere in mind?”

  “You choose. But make sure it’s a reputable place, will you?”

  “Yes, Mother. I’ll find somewhere suitable.”

  And with that, she ended the call. Lizzy held the receiver in her hand for a moment before replacing it. It had to happen eventually, but she’d successfully avoided having to tell her parents the truth for three whole months. There was no escaping it any longer.

  Daniel stood and stared at her, his eyes wider than normal.

  “What did she say?”

  “Lunch next Saturday. They’re going to stop in on their way up north.”

  “And what did she say about me?”

  Lizzy hesitated. How could she repeat her mother’s words to Daniel? Why did her parents always consider themselves to be above everyone else? What right did they have?

  “She said it would be alright.”

  “That’s a lie, Lizzy, I can tell. What did she say?”

  Lizzy grimaced and took a deep breath. She’d have to tell him.

  “She said they’ll tolerate you being there.”

  “Tolerate! Who do they think they are? I’ve a good mind to give them some of their own back.”

  “Oh Daniel. Don’t be like that.” She reached out to him, but he pushed her away. “You know what they’re like. We’ve just got to be better than that and not let them get to us.” She reached out again, but this time he backed away. “We’re going to have to tell them. We can’t put it off any longer.”