Chapter 4:

Two months had passed since Elizabeth's excursion in London, and much to her dismay she could not forget about that experience, that night, or that wretched sea captain. He haunted her dreams. It might have been easier to bear, but Elizabeth would wake up longing for the Yankee sea captain, damn him for making her feel those exquisite feelings.

Jeffery Parker needed to go into town for some business and decided to take Elizabeth along for the ride. She had been a little bit clumsier then normal and driving Nancy crazy. Jeff knew that soon an explosion was going to tear though the house. To avoid such an event Jeff took Elizabeth with him when he went into town.

"Thank you Uncle Jeff for bringing me with you to town today."

"I know that your aunt is close to cracking and I just wanted to give her a day of peace. Try not to get into too much trouble in town today. I will be conducting my business for a few hours."

"I won't cause any trouble Uncle Jeff. I just want to walk around and window shop. Perhaps I will see some of the girls from town and we can talk and have some tea."

Elizabeth knew that the last was not possible. The girls in town did not like her because of her good looks. They were jealous that whenever Elizabeth came to town, which was not often, all the boys attention turned to Elizabeth. Not that Elizabeth wanted the attention, she wished more then anything to just blend into the background most of the time, however, she had her mother's good looks and that was not something to be ashamed of. One girl in particular hated her more then most, her name was Hanna. Hanna was in love with Sean DeLuca, the most eligible boy in town, but he only had eyes for Elizabeth.

Jeff stopped the carriage in front of the office he was doing business in today and helped Elizabeth down, which surprised her more than anything else. He bid her good-by, leaving her with some money for lunch and tea, then went in to do his business. Elizabeth slowly walked around town, looking in the store windows and hoping for a nice quiet day. She checked the town's board praying that there was a job available, so that she could leave her aunt and uncles. There was a nanny position open, but the family was asking for an older woman. Maybe next time. She continued walking around the town, enjoying the little bit of freedom.

"Miss Parker!" an excited Sean DeLuca exclaimed running down the street. "I had heard that you had come to town with your uncle today, but I hardly believed it. It has been so long since you last were here."

"Hello Mr. DeLuca, it has been a long time. If you'll excuse me, I have to be getting back; my uncle will be waiting for me."

"Your uncle is doing business with my father today, I know for a fact that they will be negotiating until at least the noon hour that gives us an hour to be together. Please Elizabeth you know how much I love spending time with you, and I never get to any more because you don't come to town often."

"I know Sean, but…"

Sean gave Elizabeth the saddest face she had ever seen, and she couldn't resist him. "Oh all right, I'll give you an hour. You know that Hanna won't like this."

"I know, but I don't care. I'm not in love with Hanna."

Elizabeth averted her eyes. Sean really didn't love her either, he just didn't realize that. Sean barely knew her. He lusted after her, much the way the Yankee captain did, however, the Yankee captain ruined any chances she might have at marriage and happiness.

Elizabeth spent the next hour with Sean. They had lunch and laughed, enjoying each other's company. Elizabeth realized then that she might have been happy with Sean, if his family could see past the fact that she would bring no dowry to the marriage. That was one of the main reasons that she never encouraged Sean and now she had another reason not to marry. She was no longer an innocent. She could never marry a man knowing that she was not pure.

Sean walked Elizabeth back toward her Uncle Jeff's carriage. The man was not out of the building yet, but Elizabeth did not want to be far because she knew that once his business was finished they would be leaving.

"Elizabeth, I have to ask you something."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. This could not be happening. Sean could not be doing this. Not now. Elizabeth knew that she was going to have to break the poor boys heart, but there was no other way. She could not marry him, not now, not ever.

"Sean, please don't."

"Elizabeth, I love you. I want to marry you. Please say that you will."

A single tear escaped Elizabeth's eye. "I'm sorry Sean I cannot. For one you're parents will never allow it, I have no dowry. Please don't make this any worse Sean."

"I don't care about that, and my parents will over look it. I am their only son, the only hope of carrying on the family name. They will allow this marriage to take place; they will have no other choice."

"I am sorry Sean, but I cannot not. My lack of dowry is only one issue."

"What is the other? Does it not matter that I love you."

"Sean you only think that you love me. You don't even know me. Please stop this. Hanna loves you, the two of you will be happy together. I cannot tell you the other reason that I can't marry you. Just know that it does pain me to have to be cruel like this, but it would never work between us."

"There is someone else isn't there? ISN'T THERE!"

"Sean, I…"

"I promise you this Elizabeth. I will not stand for this. I will have you, or no one will."

Sean grabbed for Elizabeth. Luckily for the first time in her life her Uncle Jeff was there when she needed him. His business was done with Mr. DeLuca and the two of them were just walking out of the building as Sean's hand closed over Elizabeth's arm.

"Ah, Sean lad, good to see you." Jeff said. "Thank you from bring Elizabeth back, we must be going now."

Elizabeth breathing a sigh of relief pulled her arm free of Sean's grasp and hurriedly climbed into her uncle's carriage. She knew that there was going to be a bruise on her arm where Sean grabbed her, but at the moment she did not care. She was just happy to be free of him. Never in her life would Elizabeth guess that Sean could be so violent. It was dreadfully frightening.

Another month had passed since the incident in town with Sean DeLuca, which thankfully Elizabeth was beginning to forget. Her uncle had gone into town once more and had asked Elizabeth to accompany him, but she refused, afraid of running into Sean again. She knew that if she went back to town she would not be as lucky as the last time.

"What is wrong with you, you lazy chit!" Aunt Nancy screamed, startling Elizabeth causing her to drop the tea cup she was holding.

"N..nothing Aunt Nancy. I'm just tired and not feeling well."

"You haven't been feeling well for a month now. What is wrong with you?"

"I don't know. Perhaps I picked up a little illness while in London at the faire. There were a lot of people walking around."

"Maybe. All right, you may fill up the tub now and then get some sleep."

"Thank you Aunt Nancy."

Elizabeth took the hot water from the kitchen hearth and poured it into the tub in the corner of the kitchen. She was not allowed to use the tub upstairs as that was only for her aunt and uncle and the odd guest that they might have spending the night. Glancing over her shoulder Elizabeth saw her Aunt Nancy sitting at the table slowly sipping her tea. It was too much to ask for some privacy.

Knowing that Aunt Nancy was not going to leave the room, Elizabeth disrobed and climbed into the tub.

"WHAT IN THE…" Aunt Nancy shrieked.

Elizabeth jumped, almost slipping out of the tub. Aunt Nancy was already out of her chair and practically running toward the tub. Elizabeth scrambled out just as her aunt reached her. Elizabeth's wide eyes were fixed upon Nancy as if the woman had just grown another head in the past minute or so.

"Aunt Nancy what's wrong?"

"How did this? Whose is it?" she screamed.

"Who's is what?"

"The babe you are carrying! Who's is it."

Elizabeth gasped. She slowly slid to the floor, tears pooling up in her eyes. She had missed her monthly cycle but she had blamed it first on her stress over the encounter with the Yankee, and then because of what had happened with Sean in town. She should have realized that the dizziness and queasy stomach was because she was with child. Of course that cursed Yankee would be potent enough to have her breeding after only one encounter. Could her life get any worse?

"It's that DeLuca boy isn't it? I just knew letting you go to town with your uncle was a bad idea. Well, if that boy thinks he can just do this and get away with it he's sadly mistaken. Your uncle will go to his father tomorrow morning and straighten this up."

It was the mention of the name DeLuca that brought Elizabeth out of her funk. She could not allow her Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff to ruin her life further by making her marry Sean DeLuca. That would be worse torture then any of the harsh treatment she had endured living with them. If it was a choice between Sean DeLuca and the Yankee sea captain then she'd take the Yankee.

"The babe is not Sean's."

"What?"

"I said the babe is not Sean's, it's a Yankee sea captain's. I got lost at the faire when we went to London and was found by his shipmates. I was scared and cold and I thought that they were going to help me. They brought me to their captain thinking I was a woman of the streets. The captain raped me that night, but I managed to escape the following afternoon while he was off the ship. I cannot allow Sean to accept the blame for something that he did not do."

"A Yankee sea captain you say? From what ship?"

"The Brighton."

"Go get some sleep child. We are going to London tomorrow."

Too tired to argue or even ask why they were going to London, Elizabeth went up to bed. The realization that she was pregnant hit her hard. How was she supposed to raise a child alone? Would she have to stay with her aunt and uncle and try to raise a child in that cold household?

The following morning Nancy woke Elizabeth up bright and early, told her to get dressed and hurry downstairs as they were leaving in ten minutes. Still half asleep Elizabeth did as she was told without asking questions. She rushed down to the kitchen, grabbed a biscuit and hurried to the carriage where her aunt and uncle were waiting for her.

"Aunt Nancy what's going on?"

"Don't you worry your head about it, Elizabeth dear. Your Uncle Jeffery is going to find that Yankee captain of yours and make him right this wrong."

Elizabeth understood what they were planning to do. They were going to force the captain to marry her. Elizabeth knew that this would not work as the only thing that the captain had promised her was to make her his mistress. He would never marry her, but Elizabeth also knew that her Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jeff would never listen to her, so she kept her mouth shut.

The carriage pulled up in front of the same inn that her aunt and uncle stayed in last time. The hour was growing late and all Elizabeth wanted was some food and a warm bed. Uncle Jeff got them all a table and ordered some food. Elizabeth's mouth was watering by the time the fare was placed upon the table. She dug into the food with vigor, eating for two now. Aunt Nancy had a small secret smile on her face as she watched her niece eating. The thought of Elizabeth marrying a sea captain and a Yankee to boot was almost too much for her to bear. It was just what the chit deserved, an unwashed, ugly seaman.

"Go on up to bed now Elizabeth. Your uncle will take care of everything."

"Yes Aunt Nancy. Good night. Good night Uncle Jeff."

"Good night Elizabeth."

Elizabeth sighed as she walked up the stairs to her room. It was going to do her uncle no good. The Yankee would not marry her that was for certain. Elizabeth undressed and climbed into bed. She was so emotionally spent and tired that she was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

"Get up you lazy girl!" Aunt Nancy yelled pulling the covers off of Elizabeth. She threw Elizabeth's worn gown at her. "Get dressed."

Elizabeth had just barely pulled the dress over her head when her aunt was pulling her across the hall into the room that she was sharing with Uncle Jeff. The fire was low, but Elizabeth could make out four chairs, two of which were occupied, her Uncle Jeff was in one, and in the other was a man she didn't think that she would ever see again.

"Mr. Bailey!"

Elizabeth flung herself into Victor Bailey's arms. Mr. Bailey and Elizabeth's father had been friends since they were children. Elizabeth had known Mr. Bailey and his wife ever since she was born, they had tried to petition to adopt Elizabeth, but the courts awarded her to Jeffery because he was a blood relative.

"Elizabeth child, it is so good to see you. You've lost some weight since last I saw you."

"I was still but a child when last you saw me." Elizabeth replied, her words having double meaning.

"Yes, I know. Grave situation this is. We are going to get to the bottom of it, don't worry child. Why don't you take a seat?" Victor said, gesturing to the chair closest to the fire.

"The lazy chit can stand." Aunt Nancy said, pushing Elizabeth out of the way and settling into the chair herself. Victor Bailey could not believe the manors on Nancy Parker. If he were not a man and she a woman he would have liked to throttle her. He gestured to the other open chair. Elizabeth looked at the empty seat contemplating whether or not she should actually sit there.

"That chair's for HIM." Aunt Nancy said.

Elizabeth stiffened. She hadn't realized that anyone else was in the room, but from her aunt's smug tone she should have guessed. Slowly Elizabeth turned toward the back of the room. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the dimness of the room she could make out his figure against the back wall, arms folded over his chest in a nonchalant air. Elizabeth forgot to breathe. She had not expected him to be here. In fact she had almost expected him to have left England already and be on his way back to America. Elizabeth's knees got weak and she started to fall. Mr. Bailey jumped up from his chair catching Elizabeth before she hit the floor. He placed her in the empty chair fanning her face until the color started to come back to her cheeks.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I am fine. I am sorry to frighten you."

Mr. Bailey looked reluctant to leave her side, but he had business to attend to so he moved back to his chair. Elizabeth clasped her hands together to prevent anyone from seeing how badly they were shaking. True she had said that he would be better then Sean DeLuca, but that was before she realized that there was a possibility that she might have to marry the Yankee.

"Elizabeth dear, I know that this is going to be difficult but I must know. Are you with child?"

Elizabeth blinked back tears. She felt as if she had failed Mr. Bailey in some way. He was much like a father to her, as her father was away on adventures so much. "Yes Mr. Bailey, it is true."

"I told you the chit was breeding!"

Mr. Bailey ignored Nancy. "Elizabeth can you tell me who the father is."

Elizabeth looked toward the back of the room. She had only been with one man, the man standing behind her, making her feel self conscious. Aunt Nancy roughly pulled Elizabeth out of her seat. The young girl didn't even realize what was happening. Before she knew it her dress was torn from her body.

"This girl has got the devil in her; I've said it from the beginning. He made her this way. Look at her!" Nancy screeched. "There's no doubt she's with child, and it's that man's back there!"

Mr. Bailey was struck dumb. He could not believe that this woman would act like this. Elizabeth was beyond embarrassed. She tried in vain to cover up her nakedness. Max was livid. How could this woman treat such an innocent young girl like this? He strode across the room swinging his jacket off his shoulders and wrapped Elizabeth up in it. Aunt Nancy gasped and fell into her chair. Surely if Elizabeth was of the devil this man was the devil himself. His dark hair was curled around the nape of his neck, his light brown eyes alight with fury, the muscle in his cheek clenched and ticking did little to hide his handsomeness, on the contrary it seemed to enhance his unnatural good looks.

"The babe is mine." He said his voice calm despite his desire to kill the bitch in front of him.

"You are certain?" Mr. Bailey asked.

"I'm certain."

"I can vouch that the girl has not been with any men since we have been back from London."

"Very well, then we shall settle these matters quickly. Elizabeth dear, run along off to bed." Mr. Bailey said, kissing her forehead.

Elizabeth nodded her head and turned to leave, trying to avoid Max at all costs. Aunt Nancy reached out, closing her hand on Elizabeth's arm. The girl stopped, shrinking back from her aunt's raised hand. Max had just about enough of this woman abusing Elizabeth.

"You will unhand her right now madam. The girl is carrying MY child, and I will NOT stand for such abuse."

Nancy paled and let Elizabeth go immediately, afraid of what the Yankee might do. They were known to hit women after all, the barbaric creatures that they were.

Elizabeth hurried out of the room running across the hall to her own. She crawled under the covers, sobbing. So many emotions were swirling though her she had no other release for them. What was going to happen to her now? Would she be forced to raise a bastard? Where would she live? Perhaps she could work here at the inn. She knew for a fact that she could not return to her aunt and uncle's house, Elizabeth would never subject her child to this treatment. She would figure it all out in the morning, but she knew that the Yankee would never marry her, and being his mistress was out of the question.