Bandera's Bride by Mary McBride

Author:Mary McBride
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The paperwork had only taken a single day, as it turned out, what with Elliot Russell bellowing and banging his fists on various doors and desks in Corpus Christi while shamelessly dropping the name of his illustrious cousin, Senator Russell of Mississippi. The judge was suitably impressed, and the poor man fairly flew through the marriage ceremony so Elliot could make the noon sailing of the steamship, The Biloxi Belle.

“Well, you’re Mrs. Bandera now, sister,” Elliot said, smiling down at her as they stood on the wharf.

Emily was fairly certain that the sheen of moisture in her brother’s eyes had far more to do with the strong Gulf breeze than any feelings of tenderness or sentimentality on his part. He hadn’t smiled at her in years, not while she remained his spinsterly burden. Come to think of it, Elliot hadn’t smiled at her very much even when they were children. He had been good to her out of duty rather than affection. And now that she was John Bandera’s wife, her brother’s duty was done.

“Please give my love to Dodie and the children,” Emily said. “Tell her I’ll write often. Who knows, Elliot? Perhaps John and I will come back to Russell County for a visit in the not so distant future.”

“Splendid!”

The exclamation didn’t match his less-than-thrilled expression, though. Her bigoted brother was probably already wondering how he was going to explain John Bandera’s deep bronze skin, high cheekbones, and long black hair. But knowing Elliot, as soon as he was back home in Russell County, he’d no doubt instigate a rumor that his sister had run off and married a Spanish grandee or perhaps a Hindu potentate.

Her groom was standing a polite distance away on the wharf, allowing them a private goodbye. Emily glanced down at her left hand now to see the faintest hint of gold through the thin lace of her glove. She had been stunned, shocked absolutely speechless, when John produced it from the pocket of his coat this morning in the judge’s chambers. A wedding ring! A bright gold band! It made everything seem so…so official.

Until that moment, her scheme had seemed just that to her. A scheme. A conspiracy, innocent enough, into which she and John had entered to allow her to remain in Texas. Then, at the sight of the thin gold ring, suddenly it seemed more sacrilege than scheme, and Emily had been sorely tempted to confess her sins and to beg her brother to take her home.

But home, she’d reminded herself, was the place where her child was destined to grow up to be known as Emily Russell’s bastard. She wouldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t. Not if she had to marry the devil himself to prevent it.

Or perhaps she had done just that, she thought, casting a sidelong glance at John in his black frock coat, pressed trousers and shiny boots. His long hair was pulled back and tied with a black velvet ribbon, which might have made any

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