The pull between them was as strong as ever, regardless of the anger that now hung in the air. The decision had been made. He would marry her. He would claim her fiery spirit and her delectable body. And in return, despite her anticipated dismay, he would give her his name, his wealth, and someday his title.
But the one thing he would never give her was his heart. That, if it existed, belonged only to him.
The wharf was dark and deserted when Alex arrived. For a moment she stared longingly out over the crystal-clear waters of Lake Ontario, the waters that she had dreamed of sailing. Now, instead of the freedom she sought, she was moving from a life of shallow flirtations and empty experiences to a lifelong commitment with a man who cared nothing for her and resented both her affluence and her sex. Life had become very complicated, and she felt unable to cope with its complexities.
Sitting down on the lovely stretch of beach near the wharf, Alex tucked her gown beneath her, buried her face in her hands, and closed her eyes. She had barely heard the details of the wedding that were discussed between her father and Drake. She’d been numb inside, needing only solace for her thoughts. Now her numbness gave way to the pain of rejection. Drake might owe her nothing, but how could her own father, a man who was supposed to love her, cast her aside so cruelly?
Despair washed over her as she huddled alone on the sand. She knew that she shouldn’t be out by herself at night, but she, quite frankly, didn’t care. What more could her father do to her that he had not already done? She swallowed, fighting back the tears. She felt so alone.
“Are you all right, my lady?” The dear familiar voice caressed her senses like a warm blanket.
“Smitty!” Alex sat upright, greeting the older man whose face was nearly hidden in the shadows of night. At her eager smile he sat down beside her.
“I thought I saw you running about on the beach,” he admonished gently, tender concern underlying his words. “Don’t you know that it is not safe for you to be here alone?”
“I was hoping to be brutally murdered and left as food for the gulls.”
He chuckled. “Now, now. It isn’t as bad as all that, my lady.”
Alex responded with a dejected look and a deep sigh.
“You know, my lady, ofttimes what appears to be a tragedy turns out to be a blessing. Many of life’s most sacred offerings are not recognized as such.”
“You know.”
He nodded. “Yes, Captain Barrett told me.”
“And what sort of humor is Captain Barrett in?”
Smitty grinned. “He is as cantankerous as an injured bear.”
“He doesn’t want to marry me.”
Smitty shook his head. “Correction. He doesn’t want to want to marry you. Therein lies the problem.”
Alex looked skeptical. “Do you really believe he cares for me?”
“Without a doubt, my lady,” was the firm reply. “Just as you care for him.”
Alex did not argue the point. “It frightens me, Smitty. Marriage is a serious lifetime commitment, a commitment to one person.”
“Not everyone views it as such.” Smitty watched her reaction carefully and was rewarded with her almost violent shake of the head.
“To me marriage means lifelong respect, consideration, and caring.”
“And fidelity?”
Alex nodded. “And fidelity.”
Smitty stared out to sea. “There are those who would disagree, those who would agree, and those who would like to agree but are afraid to for fear of being hurt. The people who fall into this last category need our compassion and our understanding. They do not need to be taught to love, only to believe. For with belief comes trust. And once they trust, they will become capable of a love so profound that it will transform their lives and fill their souls with joy.”
“Why do I feel that we are no longer talking in generalizations?” Alex asked.
Smitty merely stood, drawing her to her feet beside him. “Trust in your instincts, my lady. They will not fail you.”
Alex remained silent for a moment, digesting his words. Then she said, “Will you come to the wedding?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”