Swan's Way by Weyrich Becky Lee

Author:Weyrich, Becky Lee [Weyrich, Becky Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION/Romance/General
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-06-10T07:00:00+00:00

Virginia instructed Styx to drive her around to the back of Belle Grove. She needed to speak to Channing privately. If she went in the front way, the whole family would surround them, wanting to talk about wedding plans and such. Her only hope was to send Styx to the back door to request of one of the McNeal servants that Channing step outside to meet a visitor.

The plan worked. Minutes later, Virginia was in Channing’s arms, their embrace shielded by a large, sweet shrub bush.

“This is a quite a surprise,” Channing whispered, between kisses. “I’d meant to ride over to see you later this evening.”

She stared up at him, her face set in serious lines. “You weren’t really planning to come see me, were you, Channing? You were planning to see my father. You meant to tell him about joining the Yankees, didn’t you?”

He shifted her in his arms and looked away, out over the fields. “Virginia, I have to tell him sometime. The longer I wait, the worse it will be for both of us. Best to get it over with, then deal with the consequences.”

“No!” Virginia cried. “There’s another way.”

“Then I wish you’d tell me. I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out a solution. I talked to my father. He even suggested we go to France with them.”

“France?”

Channing nodded. “Hester and Auguste plan to be married in Paris. The rest of the family is going, too. They mean to stay in France for the duration of the war.”

“But you didn’t agree to go?”

“Virginia, darling, you know I couldn’t. I’d never be able to live with myself, if I ran away.”

This remark worried her. Would Channing see an elopement as another form of running away from his problems? She had to know. Their time was running out.

“Channing, listen to me. I understand why you can’t go to France, why you must stay and fight. But I can’t get through the war, loving you as I do, yet having to wait for you to come back to marry me.”

“You know I love you, too, darling. But what can I say, Virginia? What can I do?”

“Marry me,” she said firmly. “This very night. Styx can drive us to the parsonage in Winchester. By the time our families find out, it will be too late for them to do anything about it.”

“Tonight?”

“This very minute! We have Mother’s blessing.” She pressed Melora’s note into his hand. “She sent you this.”

Channing squinted at the words in the half-light guttering from a lantern near the kitchen door. “‘Channing, my dear son,’” he read aloud, “‘I have sent my daughter into your arms and your safekeeping. I know you love her with all your heart. I also know that you will soon be going away. Please, do as Virginia and I both wish. Go to Winchester with my blessing. Give Virginia what little time you have left. War is but a passing condition. Love is forever.”

For a moment, he stood, still and quiet, staring at Melora Swan’s note.

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