Moonwitch

She looked lovely, everyone said so. Everyone except her intended husband. He gave her a sharp and unfriendly stare when she came into view at the head of the gallery stairs. Selena was the only one who noted it, however, for all eyes were on her.

She was unable to quell the ache that his grim expression aroused in her or the sorrow she felt when she remembered her girlhood dreams of her wedding day. How different this was from those young dreams! She had always hoped to go to her future husband with love and joy in her heart. And instead…there was only anger and dread and regret. But somehow she managed to keep her own expression cool and serene as she descended the stairs on the governor’s arm and took her place beside the captain.

Kyle, Selena amended in her thoughts as she listened to the droning words of the ceremony. She would have to cease thinking of him as “the captain” now that they were to be married.

Yet he still appeared every inch a captain, she thought, gazing up at him wistfully. The deep tan on his face above the pristine cravat, as well as his dark blue captain’s coat, underscored his claim to the sea. His rugged elegance was extremely attractive, Selena thought absently before Kyle turned his head briefly to glance down at her. The hard gold light in his hazel eyes deepened as he repeated the vows in response to the vicar’s prompting, promising to love and cherish her.

Embarrassed to have been caught w

atching Kyle so intently, Selena looked away, focusing her gaze beyond the vicar’s shoulder, watching instead a small yellow bird flit across the garden. Not for the first time she was grateful for the cooling effect of the trade winds, for the breeze fanned her flushed cheeks as she promised in return to love, cherish and obey. But still she felt uncomfortable beneath the layers of silk and lace. The morning was sunny, the garden warm and bright, even shaded as it was by the gnarled silk-cotton trees.

In contrast, the slim gold band that Kyle slipped onto the third finger of her left hand felt cool to the touch. His lips were cool, too, as he bent and kissed her briefly on the lips. As was the smile he bestowed on her for the benefit of the governor and the wedding guests, since it never reached his eyes. And so were the words he spoke after they signed the documents that made their union legal in the eyes of the law as well as God. His voice was so low that only she could hear.

“I suggest, Miss Markham, that you use what remains of the day to pack your belongings and to make your goodbyes. We sail on the evening tide.”

His announcement left her stunned, bereft of speech, so it was fortunate that Governor Ramsay chose that moment to congratulate Kyle on claiming the fairest pearl on the island. As the guests milled around them, Selena managed a faint smile, although with the tightness in her throat she found it hard to respond politely to their good wishes.

Finally Beth found her in the crush and pulled her aside, eyeing her with an odd look. “Selena, are you quite all right?”

“Oh, Beth…” Selena paused, knowing there was nothing her friend could do. She had brought this on herself. Indeed, she had expected to leave the island with her new husband, just not so very soon. “I expect I am overly warm,” she prevaricated. “The heat…”

“It is rather close, with all these people. Here, take my fan, it should help. Perhaps you should change your gown, as well. You cannot leave yet, since you will have to open the dancing, but I shall accompany you back to the house after the celebration gets under way.” Beth glanced at the throng of guests. “Good, Drew is directing the company toward the refreshments. It should be cooler away from the garden.”

The crowd began to move then, toward the clearing beyond the garden. The wedding celebration—a sort of outdoor ball—was to be held there for the guests, but later in the afternoon, the plantation Negroes would hold their own ball there, and many of the gentry would stay. Such occasions—weddings and sugar harvests—were among the few times when blacks and whites mingled.

Selena was surprised when Kyle proffered his arm to escort her, until she realized he meant to keep up the pretense of theirs being a love match. No doubt, she thought glumly, he didn’t want to jeopardize his opportunity to escape the island and the governor’s authority.

When they arrived, the musicians were already playing a lively tune with fiddles and tambourines. The trestle tables that had been set out near a stand of mango trees were groaning with food, and servants were pouring tumblers of rum punch and sangaree for gentlemen and cups of watered lime juice for the ladies.

Selena found a cup being pressed into her hand as Beth whispered, “Look, the governor means to begin.”

“Ladies and gentlemen—” Governor Ramsay raised his voice above the chatter and laughter of the crowd “—if you will, please join me in a toast to the happy couple. To a long and happy life!”

“Ah yes,” Selena heard Kyle murmur as glasses were raised in salute, “‘the happy couple.’” The bitterness in his tone was unmistakable, and when she glanced up at him, she caught the bright mockery in his eyes.

It wounded her, that look. More so because she felt guilty for her role in bringing matters to such a pass. She regarded him in silence, her gaze trapped by his, until he took her glass from her numb fingers and handed it to Drew.

“Come, my dear,” Kyle invited as the musicians struck up a waltz. “I’m told we are to open the ball.” He led Selena to the center of the clearing and into the dance, and when his gaze fell again to her face, surveying her somber expression, he bent to whisper in her ear, looking the picture of the devoted husband. “Smile, damn it,” he said through gritted teeth. “We cannot disappoint these kind people, now can we?”

She flushed, which the guests mistakenly took for a maidenly blush, and pasted a stiff smile on her lips for the sake of appearance. She wished she could slip away from the crowd and the noise and the hostile, angry man who was whirling her around—she would give anything for a few moments’ peace.

It was not so easy, however, for the bride to leave her own wedding celebration. When her dance with Kyle ended, Drew claimed her hand for the next. Then the governor asked for the honor, followed by the solicitor, Ignatius Foulkes. After that she lost count, but the list included several planters and naval officers and even two senior members of Kyle’s crew.

Selena managed to keep up the charade of being a happy newlywed, though her face ached from the strain of smiling. Her left arm ached as well from the constant weight of her gown’s train, and so did her head. She was worried about the future of her plantation and was anxious to discuss its operation with her factor.

But even her strained smile faded when the latest cotillion ended and her partner returned her to the sidelines, for she caught sight of Avery Warner moving toward her. She hadn’t seen Avery since the altercation at Beth’s ball, and she didn’t want to see him now.

He appeared less distinguished than usual, in spite of his formal attire, for he was sporting an angry black eye, which Selena knew must be paining him. She had difficulty, though, finding the compassion to feel sorry for him, even when he approached her humbly, hat in hand, looking nervous and extremely uncomfortable.

“Mrs. Ramsey,” he said stiffly, and Selena was mildly startled to realize that was her new name. “I should like to offer my sincere apologies for my behavior the other evening. It was unconscionable of me to strike you, and I ask your forgiveness.”

His apology surprised her, but before she could reply, she heard a soft footfall behind her and realized Kyle had come to stand at her side. She felt the gentle touch of his fingers as he rested his hand possessively on her shoulder.

“Yes,” she said distractedly, disturbed by the warmth of her new husband’s fingers through the silk of her gown. “Of course, Avery. It was a trying moment… for all of us.”

“May I offer my felicitations for your happiness, then? For both of you,” he added with a sullen glance at Kyle.

“You may,” Kyle responded for them both.