The Private Diary of Elizabeth Quatermain, vol. IV: Only in America
by Lady Norbert

A/N: Those of you who were not sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for this to be updated back when it was first posted may be amused when I tell you what happened. At the time that this was a new story, FFN suffered a hardware crash, and the entire site was in read-only mode for a full week. So the previous chapter was where the story stagnated, quite against my will. At the time I joked, "Please call off the hired assassins," but I was genuinely taken aback by the...vehemence...of some of the emails I received.

This chapter is dedicated to Bamfwriter (author of the hysterical "Just the Best Mary Sue Ever!").

11 May 1900
later

I was interrupted just then by knocking on my door. It was kindly Mrs. Singer, who had seen that my light was on and wanted to be sure that I was all right. I assured her that I was fine and merely unable to sleep, and she went on her way. Now I can resume telling the story of the most wretched bride St. Petersburg has ever seen.

"Let me off at the hotel," Henry shouted to Tom, "and then get over to the church. I'll catch up as soon as I can."

Tom reined to a halt in front of the hotel, and Henry dismounted, but Skinner kept right on going. The others stared after him. "I hope he knows what he's doing," said Henry.

For the first time all day, Tom grinned. "Somehow," he said, "I think he knows exactly what he's doing." With a shake of the reins, he took off down the street.

"If there be anyone here," said Reverend Miller in his slow, patient voice, "who has just cause why these two should not be joined, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace."

I listened intently, but all I could hear was the sound of my own strained breathing. No hoofbeats. No voices. Nothing.

Nemo coughed.

"Yes, my son?" asked the minister.

"What? Oh, I'm sorry. I was just clearing my throat," he replied. "Forgive me for the interruption." Someone snickered; I think it was Mina. Everett looked annoyed.

"If there are no objections..." the preacher began.

The door of the church creaked open, and we all turned.

It was Tom. "Sorry to interrupt, Reverend," he said, sidling in, "but I wanted to come and see what I could, now that I'm not feeling too sick anymore."

He made his way up the aisle to sit beside Becky. I watched him intently, trying to understand what was going on, but his face was impassive. Not even a wink. Instead, he asked, "Could you repeat whatever part you just said?"

I turned back to the minister, who appeared confused. He glanced at me, and I nodded; anything to hold off the inevitable moment of pronouncement. "Oh, very well," he said. "Ahem. If there be anyone here who has just cause why these two should not be joined, let him speak now, or forever hold his peace."

"I believe that's my cue," called a voice from the open doorway. "I've got a few objections!"

I have never heard anything in my entire life that was more beautiful and welcome than that voice at that exact moment. Whirling around, I stared at the man striding toward the altar.

"Rodney!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Everett make a move to grab me, but I was faster. I picked up my skirts and ran down the aisle to meet him halfway. He caught me gently, his hands on my shoulders.

"You all right, Bessie?" he asked.

"I am now."

My wedding ended in complete pandemonium.

12 May 1900

Things have been busy since the wedding.

After Rodney's dramatic entrance, Tom placed Everett under arrest. Yesterday, he and his accomplices were brought before the magistrate, and we levelled formal charges of abduction, extortion, and coercion. I can scarcely wonder at the poor magistrate's bewilderment, for it was a tale the like of which I'm sure no one has ever heard before. One thing which was of incalculable assistance was that Tom Sawyer gave testimony in the matter, and after all that he has done, in this town, his word is practically law. Everett and his accomplices have been sentenced to more than ten years at the state prison, and will be transferred there from the local jail in the coming week.

The town newspaper has also run a full account of the whole story, which means that we have become nearly celebrities. This is rather annoying. It was somewhat entertaining at first, but now I really would just rather be left alone with my family. It seems an age since I danced so blithely at the party, even though I know it was less than a fortnight ago.

I sold my engagement and wedding rings back to the town jeweller, and got a much better price for them than I might otherwise have done because they come with such an unusual provenance. The magistrate has assured me that, as the ceremony was disrupted before any pronouncements were made or any documents signed, my "marriage" is not legally binding. Of even greater significance to me, the minister has likewise assured me that I am not bound to Everett in the eyes of the church, as I was acting against my own will. I am entirely free of the matter. Out of gratitude for this and, more importantly, for Rodney's safe return, I have given the money from the ring sales to the church.

As for Rodney, he is better. A hot bath, a meal, and a drink or two of Scotch seem to have set him almost completely right again. At dinner the night of the wedding, we all traded stories until everyone knew everything. Becky dined with us, and I was able to thank her for all of her help.

"One thing I don't get, Skinner," said Tom. "When we got you out of the mine, you already seemed to know some of what was going on. How did you know?"

"Had a little, ah, run-in with Everett on Sunday afternoon," he replied, swallowing his food. "Out back. We had words...knew there was something funny about all this, Bess wasn't herself. So I tried to find out what he was really up to. He basically told me the marriage was a means to an end, and then he had his men throw me in the mine."

I then explained Everett's plan to the group in full. "He really had me - what's that expression, Tom? Over a barrel?" He nodded. "I didn't know what to do. Nothing seemed like the right answer. All I could do was agree to his terms and pray. He was so dangerous when he told me what he wanted...and he already seemed to know, even before I told him, that you wouldn't permit his going with us otherwise, Nemo."

"He was right," said Nemo. "It is not my habit to allow strangers to board my lady. But in the role of your husband, he would of course have been accepted among our company. Who knows what sort of mischief he could have done?"

"I'd say he did enough without ever leaving port," said Tom ruefully. "If I'd known how much trouble coming back here would cause, I never would have suggested it."

"Don't blame yourself, Tom," said Skinner. "I know I've had fun, apart from the trip down the mine. Actually sort of enjoyed interrupting that wedding." He lifted his glass in my direction.

"Another few minutes and you would have been too late," I said. "So thank you all for that. I didn't want to marry him - I swear to you I didn't - but I felt like I had no choice." Very softly, I added, "It was like shooting de Gaulle all over again. Oh, I'm so sorry for all of this. I do seem to be more trouble than I'm worth, don't I?"

"Yeah," said Tom, "but we love you anyway." He gave me a conspiratorial wink.

"Cheers, Tommy," I said, lifting my own glass.

14 May 1900

My world has changed, though with or without me I could not say.

Rodney is altogether different since his time in the shaft. He seems quite usual in most respects; it is only with regard to me that he has changed. For a long time now, I have taken comfort in knowing that if I had need of him, he was there. But since the wedding, I can count on one hand the number of times we have been in the same room, other than for meals. I think we simply do not know what to say to one another.

I am heartened by the knowledge that he really did confront Everett, as I'd hoped all along he might. But without knowing what was really said, I do not know why exactly he did that. Was he just being my "invisible shield" again? Or can I dare to hope that he wanted to stop the wedding so he wouldn't lose me? I don't know what to think.

We are preparing to leave St. Petersburg. I think the townspeople are sorry, for they had at least hoped Tom would remain, but he insists his place is with us. He explains this to them by saying that, as an agent of the government travelling with the League, he is protecting American interests abroad.

I am grateful that he will be coming back to the ship with us, for it means that I have at least one friend with whom I know where I stand. It's somewhat amusing, really, for initially, I was attracted to Tom and considered Skinner to be like my brother. Now it is Tom who has become my brother in all but blood, surrogate son of my father.

The Jekylls are contemplating returning to England, to establish a life there together. It will be a sad loss to our company indeed, for never yet have we been thus parted. They do not plan to leave us, however, before they have completed their work on Rodney's antidote, and this they mean to resume as soon as we have returned to the Nautilus. Our train back to the coast leaves on Monday.