Moments
later an affronted Richardson strode into the room. "What is so bloody
urgent that you would call me away from the officer's club just when I was
about to sit down to supper? You should
Beneath her calm exterior, Sarah seethed.
It had been half past five when sent the note. How was it her fault that it had
taken nearly four hours to locate him? Or that he ate his supper at such a late
hour? And, it wasn’t as if the note had said there was an emergency. She had
just requested he come at his earliest convenience. If he didn’t find nine
o’clock convenient, he should not have come.
His arrogance made her next words
almost pleasurable. "I cannot marry you."
Richardson looked down his
considerable nose at her. "Why ever not?
"I do not love you."
He snorted. "Do not be absurd.
Love has nothing to do with marriage."
Of course, it didn't. Sarah knew
that. But, right at this moment, love seemed to be the most important
ingredient in the world to a successful marriage. Of course, Richardson would
never see things her way.
"I understand that, but it is
important to me. And, if I mean
anything to you, you will respect my feelings."
"You are such a child. Sit down
and let's talk about this like reasonable adults."
Sarah hesitated a moment but decided
not to poke the beast. The lieutenant was sounding almost reasonable. And, if
he was reasonable...She took a seat on the settee.
"You must think of marriage
like the relationship between England and her colonies," Richardson began.
Sarah’s eyebrows rose. "And…
you would be England, Lieutenant?"
"Naturally. It is my duty to
protect you, to keep you clothed and fed. It is your duty to obey me and to be
the mother to future generations of Englishmen. Together we will be a stronger
force. One that does honor to our family name and our country."
His impromptu speech, if it was impromptu,
sounded more like one he might use to rally the troops, not to convince to his
future bride.
"I take it England does not
love her colonies any more than her colonies love England?" Sarah asked,
wondering if the lieutenant would fully grasp the meaning behind her question.
"Of course not. Why should she?
Whether the colonies love England is of little matter either. They have a duty
to their mother country. Without her, they would not have survived this long in
this savage land."
Sarah stood. "Why, Lieutenant,
I never knew you were such a romantic. However, this colony is declaring
independence. Surely, there are others who are eager to be subjugated by
you."
"Y...Y..You cannot declare
independence!" Richardson sputtered, his face turning purple.
At the sound of his raised voice,
Jake and Howie appeared at the library door, their dark eyes watching the lieutenant's
every move. Sarah was glad her father had left them behind for once.
"Why not?"
"Because you are a colony. It
is in your nature to be submissive."
His voice was lower than before, but
the dogs still shifted their front paws restlessly.
"My nature? You evidently do not know me any more than
you know my fellow countrymen whom you so easily dismiss."
"You will learn to
submit." He grabbed her forearm, and a low rumble emanated from Jake's
chest.
The lieutenant dropped her arm, and
Jake's growling faded away.
"So if I am not willingly
submissive, you will force me to be so."
"If necessary, yes. It is for
your own good. You have repeatedly demonstrated that you have no regard for
your own safety and no sense of decorum."
"What do you mean?" She
could not truthfully deny that she had been somewhat lacking in both as of late.
"You were with him, weren't
you?"
"Who?" Sarah asked, though
she had a sinking feeling that the lieutenant knew more than she had given him
credit for.
"Jack Garrett."
So that was his full name. It was a
nice name. How odd that, before now, she had simply thought of him as ‘Jack’ without
reservation when calling any other man by his Christian name would have seemed
highly improper. More evidence for her lack of decorum, no doubt.
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