Sometime after dark I snuck out. This wasn't a new offense; I often walked the main road to the pond at night to watch the night sky reflect off the water. When I was younger, I did it every night. My parents died of some unknown sickness, so when my sister and her husband took me in, I stayed out of their way as much as possible. And the quietness helped me think clearly. I definitely needed the quiet after the interesting day I'd had.
Tonight, everyone was asleep or at least cooped up in their homes, so the town looked nearly deserted. I didn't even need to sneak around. I walked slowly, thinking deeply. I kicked a couple of rocks along as I made my way to the water.
The pond was the most peaceful place I'd ever been. The summer silence was drowned out by the chirping of crickets, the hooting of owls, and running water. It truly gave me peace of mind to listen.
My skirt pooled around me as I sat down at the edge of the water. I pulled off my boots and slipped my toes into the water. Ahh...
A minute or so later, I heard the crunch of footsteps behind me. I turned to see Jasper walking toward me. "Oh, hello, Mr. Whitlock." I smiled, my heart suddenly beating wildly at the sight of him.
"Please, call me Jasper." he said courteously, standing in place about fifteen feet away. "Do you mind if I sit with you?"
"Not at all. Please do." I motioned to the ground beside me, my mind racing a million miles an hour. He's here! He wants to sit with me!
He gracefully took a place next to me and we sat quietly for a few moments.
"So, do you like our town?" I questioned.
He nodded. "It's quite pleasant. Everyone here is very hospitable."
I started wringing my hands nervously. If anyone saw us alone together at night, they might jump to the wrong conclusions. But he seemed like such a gentleman, I didn't feel as if any harm would come to myself or my reputation.
I looked sideways at him, biting my lip. I hadn't gotten to really sit and look at him before. He was extremely handsome. His jaw line was sharp and masculine, his bottom lip puckered out a little. His nose was perfectly shaped, and it crinkled when he smiled. The moonlight gleamed off his golden, wavy locks. His long eyelashes batted together as he blinked slowly.
He glanced at me and blushed, his smirk making his nose do that crinkly thing. "So how old are you? I just turned nineteen."
I blushed, too, embarrassed he had caught me staring. "I'm seventeen, soon to be eighteen."
He looked honestly taken aback. "I'm surprised. I would have said nineteen or twenty. You have many suitors for seventeen."
"Suitors." I sighed at the word. "I really don't like it all. I wish life was a little simpler. I wish I could fall in love, and have a regular life. But it doesn't work like that. I've got to be sold off like cattle. It's ridiculous."
"You don't have to be. You have a choice, you know."
I scoffed. "Tell that to my sister. Our father believed women were only worth their beauty. My sister tries desperately to cling to that ideal as she attempts to get me to court these men, but I don't want to begin a relationship based solely on my supposed beauty." I didn't know why I was spilling my heart out to a man I truly didn't know. He was so kind, and for some reason I felt completely at peace just sitting with him.
"It's not supposed, Elizabeth." He spoke so quietly I could barely hear him. "You are very beautiful."
I smirked, holding back a gigantic grin. No matter how many times I had been told how beautiful I was, none of it had made any effect on me until that moment.
"Thank you, Jasper." I felt my heart swelling with happiness. "I hope that one day I can be known for more than my beauty, though."
"What do you enjoy doing?" he asked, turning himself slightly to face me. "Is there something you're passionate about?"
"I love to read, and I love to travel. But I really love the stars. I would love to learn all I can about the night sky. It really makes you think how small we are in this world; how much there is to explore." I laid back, looking up. Jasper laid back as well, a mere foot away from me.
We sat and talked for what felt like hours. He asked me all about myself. My childhood, my family, my hopes and dreams. We spoke about his family and his hometown, and his love of travel. We had truly gotten to know each other over the course of the night. My crush on him was no longer a crush- I was falling quickly and madly for this man.
"What is your biggest dream in life?" I asked him. We were only a few inches away by this point. Our hands and fingers were grazing each other purposefully, attempting to get closer to each other without being improper.
"My hope in life is to make a difference in the world, no matter how small and insignificant we are."
My heart swelled again. I looked up from our hands to his face, and he stared deeply into my eyes. "If it makes any difference, you've made a difference in my life already." I whispered.
He looked confused. "Why is that? I mean, we've known each other for such a short time."
I took a moment to answer. I didn't want him to think this was merely a ploy to win his heart; this was truly how I felt and I wanted it to come out as such. "You... are the only person who has ever let me speak freely. You've asked me about myself, my desires and dreams. You've seen into my heart and you still care to listen. That's more than I have ever been given in my mere seventeen years on this earth."
He smiled warmly, a content expression spreading across his face. "Elizabeth, I feel like there is some piece of me that was always looking for you. Your beauty is exquisite, but your heart is the most beautiful part of you. I am honored to know you, and I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my time here getting to know everything I can about you."
I was overjoyed. But, wait. "The rest of your time? You mean, you're leaving town?" my chest tightened in fear.
"I have to leave in a month's time. I'm heading a few towns over to join up with the military, to help them fight." he said. "I'm already signed up, I've just been taking some time to travel and explore before I have to report for duty."
Soldiers; brave men in uniform… strong, courageous men that probably wouldn't return home. There went my hopeful future with him. My eyes watered. I sat up and buried my face in my hands.
"Elizabeth? Why on earth are you crying? Are you alright?" he sat up and scooted closer, putting his hand on the small of my back.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed. "I'm being silly. I just thought maybe you might be... sniff... the one person I could finally spend forever with."
He pulled me into a hug. "I'm still here for a month. We have a little time before I have to go. And when I return, who knows what could happen?" He whispered.
"But you're leaving for the military." I said. "Almost no one ever comes back."
"I'll come back for you, even if I have to single-handedly battle every man in the country." He smiled. "You're worth the fight."
I laughed through the tears. I wiped my eyes and looked up at him, still gently holding onto me.
His eyes were inches from mine, staring deep down, right into my soul. I glanced down at his lips. They were slightly parted, like he was about to say something, so I looked back up into his eyes. They were full of unspoken words and feelings, emotions and passion.
And then our lips touched.
My eyes closed on instinct, and my hands slid up to his shoulders. He caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers and pulled me closer.
When we finally pulled away, the silence was deafening.
"Wow." He finally said, wiping away all the traces of tears from my cheeks.
I smiled, nuzzling against his hand. "Yeah. Wow."
He held out his hand to me. "It's late, and I'd hate for you to get into trouble for being alone with me this far from home. Shall I walk you back?"
I nodded, and he helped me off the ground, and held out his arm. I grabbed my shoes before I took hold of him and we walked slowly back into town. On the way back, he told me about when his father taught him how to shoot a musket.
Then when we reached my home, he kissed my hand gently and told me he'd come to see me tomorrow. I was elated as I walked inside quietly.
I was met with my sister. "Where have you been? It is very late and you weren't alone. I heard a man's voice."
"I took a walk around, mother. I realized the time and I saw Mr. Whitlock on my way back, and he offered to escort me home so no harm would come to me." I lied smoothly, protecting our secret.
"We don't even know him very well, Elizabeth. He himself could be your attacker." She pointed to my room. "I don't ever want to catch you sneaking out this late again or there will be punishment."
I rolled my eyes and went into my room. I fell asleep quickly once my head was resting on my pillow, dreaming of Jasper's kiss and the gentle feel of his fingers brushing along my cheek.
The next morning I awoke and did my hair a little more fancy than I normally would. I put on my powder blue gown and went downstairs to ask my sister to appraise my look.
"You look nice, Elizabeth. Now only if you would look this nice for church, I might have to scorn you a little less." she said, looking back down at her stitching pattern.
That, coming from my sister, was a compliment. I sat in anticipation for Jasper to arrive.
Around eleven, there was a knock on the door. My sister's husband Miles answered it.
"Hello again, Mr. Whitlock. Come for another game of dominoes?" Miles smiled.
"No, sir. I'm here to escort Miss Elizabeth to lunch with your permission."
He looked quite dapper in his military uniform. I walked up to the door and smiled.
"Why, hello, Mr. Whitlock." I said, coming to the door. I couldn't help but smile- his presence alone made my heart happy.
"Mr. Whitlock is here to take you to lunch. Do you accept his invitation?" Miles questioned me.
I nodded almost too enthusiastically. "I will go fetch my hat."
The time together was fantastic. We spoke about everything- politics, books, science… it seemed like the day was not long enough. We strolled through all over, hand in hand. We were the talk of the town! Elizabeth and Jasper, who would have thought?
Three weeks passed, and Jasper and I were inseparable. We spent every day together, and sometimes at night I would sneak out and we would sit by the lake. I hadn't told him that my sister had forbid me to go out during the night, but I spent the entire time with him, so I was always safe.
I was in love. I had never felt more for any one person than I did him. He kissed me so gentle, spoke to me so kindly. He was my perfect dream come to life.
But he was leaving in a week. I couldn't bring myself to admit it out loud, but I was scared to death.
It was Sunday, which meant I would wake up early and meet Jasper for breakfast, and then he would escort me and my sister to church. I woke up early as I usually did, but Jasper didn't show. This was so unlike him. I was nervous. I found my sister in the kitchen, preparing herself a glass of tea.
"Have you seen Jasper this morning? Did he show up earlier, possibly?" I asked.
"No, I haven't seen him today. Perhaps you should go inquire at the Inn. He may have had to leave for a little while to arrange his trip next week." She said, not even looking up from her glass.
But when I went there, the man who owned the building said Jasper wasn't in and hadn't been for several hours.
Where was my beloved?