London, England, October 1814

“So, how was yer day, old friend?” asked Jake, entering the drawing room. His mood was chipper. Ever since his reunion with Anna, it had been soaring. Nothing could bring him down.

Jonathan looked up from the paper he was reading. He shrugged. “The same as usual. I got some shooting practice done and did a little work.”

“Work! What kind of work?” asked Jake, intrigued.

“Well, I was looking at ways to improve the profitability of the plantation.” Jonathan was still studying the paper where he had made some notes.

“And did ye have any brilliant ideas?” Jake lowered himself down in the armchair where he usually sat.

Jonathan seemed very pleased with himself. Despite the fact that the duel was in two days time, his mood was good. “As you know growing tobacco is very heavy on the soil. We’re lucky to get up to five cycles of growth from any one field. It’s labor intensive as well. If we keep harvesting tobacco, it won’t be that long until the fields go barren and we won’t be able to grow anything there anymore. It would be the end of Fair Weather Heaths’ as we know it.”

Jake nodded. “I see. Ye have a point.” It amazed him that his friend could be worrying about such things when in two days time his life would be on the line. However, at the same time, he also recognized the Triton captain in him: fearless and resolute when it came to his goals. “What do ye have in mind?”

“Well, as far as I see it we have two options. We do what we know and stick to the sea…”

“Ye mean rejoin the navy when we get back?” Jake looked worried.

Jonathan laughed. His humor had improved a great deal since he could correspond with Amelia. “Don’t worry; I wouldn’t ask you to travel by sea for months on end with me.”

“Ye know I’d go with ye though…to the ends of the earth if need be.”

“I know that, Jake. I just wouldn’t put you in that position. Anna would kill you for just mentioning something like that,” said Jonathan. “And me to boot,” he added, laughing again. He really was in a good mood.

“I was thinking of something more along the lines of setting up a shipping company. I have all of the necessary connections with the shipbuilders and banks, and also I have very good ties to the people who sell cotton down south,” Jonathan said with a sly expression on his face.

Jake scratched his chin. “Cotton ye say.” He thought a moment. “Well, I have been hearing that the stuff has been doing rather well as of late.”

“Now, that is an understatement if I ever heard one. The cotton industry is booming. It is like a new gold rush. Currently, most of the cotton and also the best type called long-staple cotton grows exclusively on the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina and nowhere else because the land and weather are too harsh…”

“What good is that to us in Virginia then?” asked Jake.

“To be frank, none.”

Jake snorted. “Well, that doesn’t sound all that promising.”

Jonathan leaned into his friend. “Maybe not, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t take part in the exploit. A close source of mine says that another strain of cotton might exist – this one is of lesser quality to the long-staple variety. But it is far more durable, meaning it can be planted almost anywhere as long as the climes and the land are right. If that is the case, then the entire south and the lands farther westwards would be suitable for planting.”

Jake whistled “Yes, and we purchased all that land from the French in…” Jake scratched his head in thought.

“In 1803…we bought Louisiana from Napoleon,” said Jonathan, coming to his friend’s aid. “You are right that entire belt of land along the Mississippi all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico is arable land,” said Jonathan, thinking of the profits that could be made if the area could be planted with cotton.

“So, I am assuming this is yer other business idea. We buy up as much land as possible and slaves to work it,” said Jake, catching on fast.

“Precisely, my friend. The business is booming. Cotton is being shipped to Liverpool, Manchester, Le Havre, New York, Lisbon and other places. Already, there is not enough supply to cover demand and prices are going up even more. The profit potential is huge, Jake,” said Jonathan, getting excited.

“Which is why ye mentioned the shipping company before. So, to sum it up, we have two options, one, we invest in land and slaves, or we invest in ships,” said Jake.

“Indeed, my friend…now all we have to do is decide which one we like.” Jonathan lifted his glass. Jake followed suit. Both men drained their glasses and looked at one another with grins on their faces. “Which one would you go for?” asked Jonathan, walking up to the drinks cabinet to refill their glasses.

“Ships,” answered Jake without hesitation.

“I thought you might say that. Ships are always needed. Well, so is land, but what happens if there’s a change in the political landscape or the demand for cotton drops, eh? Or maybe slaves will no longer be an option – who knows what might happen in the next twenty to thirty years. But if we have ships, we can just change the cargo and be done with it. Shipping is the future.”

“My sentiments exactly. And we know a thing or two about ships. I know nothing about cotton,” said Jake, gratefully accepting the glass Jonathan proffered him.

“Good, it is settled then. To the Farrows and Mitchell Shipping Company,” said Jonathan, lifting his glass.

“I’ll drink to that,” responded Jake, smiling.

“Sirs, there are some ladies waiting for you in the hallway,” said Chives, appearing as butlers do, silently and discreetly.

“Well, what did you leave them out there for, Chives?” asked Jonathan.

“Sir, I was not sure whether to fully admit them to your presence,” said the butler, straightening his posture some more, if that were even possible. “Would you like me to escort them to the drawing room, sir?”

“No, Chives. Please escort the ladies to the dining room. We will be having dinner now,” said Jake, beating Jonathan to it.”

“What are you doing? I am not having dinner with some ladies I do not know. Have you lost your mind? I love Amelia. What would she think if she ever found out?” Jonathan shook his head.

Jake could not help laughing. “You should see yerself. Ye are behaving as if I asked the devil to dinner.”

“Don’t blaspheme otherwise he might really be joining us,” said Jonathan still looking shocked that his friend would make such an outlandish suggestion. I thought he loves Anna.

“Do ye trust me?”

Jonathan frowned. “Of course, I do, Jake.”

“Good,” said Jake, getting to his feet. “Follow me; we can’t keep the ladies waiting that would be extremely bad form.” He navigated out of the drawing room. By the door, he swiveled on his feet. “Are ye coming?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He just vanished down the hallway in the direction of the dining room.

Grumbling, Jonathan got to his feet and followed his friend. As he got closer to the dining room, he could hear animated talking. The tone was exuberant. He frowned. Does Jake know these women? He walked on and entered the room. “Amelia!”

“Jonathan!” She rushed into his arms. She looked up at him meekly. He stood at least a head taller than she did. Jonathan smiled at her, coaxing a small grin on her face. “I can’t believe this is actually happening,” she said, breathing heavily. The small dash across the dining room had left her breathless, as if it had been a cross-country run.

“At last, I can hold you in my arms again.” Jonathan lowered his head a little, more and more when he felt her body responding to his.

In moments, his mouth found hers. They locked in a way that they might never break apart. Amelia felt the weight of sadness drop off her frame as the moments passed, turning it into a memory, a onetime pesky figment of her imagination. The longer she kissed Jonathan, the more fortitude she drew from him. He was a well of power and strength.

Jonathan held Amelia close. If he could, he would’ve enmeshed his body with hers until they were but one realm in the physical as well as one kingdom in the spiritual. Reading her letters and being able to write to her about how he felt had already been a gift, but this…it was magical to touch, smell and kiss the woman he loved.

As they reluctantly pulled away, their gazes remained fixed. He held her by the waist, needing to touch her, still disbelieving that she was real. Amelia let her hands slide down the length of his arms until she held his hands that rested on her waist.

“I have waited for this moment. Until now, it was half agony and half hope. I had faith, but I never quite knew whether our paths would ever cross again,” said Jonathan. He still disbelieved his eyes. If their hands weren’t touching, he would have claimed this to be some false vision.

“I am here now, Jonathan. There are really no words that can really describe what I am feeling right now…” Amelia breathed heavily. The kiss and the emotions ebbing and flowing inside of her were almost too much to bear. “I think all I can say is that I am the happiest woman alive.”

“Ye can count me in on that one, Amelia,” said Anna, laughing in the background.

“Aye, this is a fine evening. All four of us together again,” intoned Jake. “I suggest we sit down. I had Maud from the kitchen prepare us a little something nice for dinner.”

Jonathan couldn’t quite let go of Amelia; he held her hand all the way to the table. Instead of sitting opposite her as Jake had originally intended, he insisted he sit next to her. He’d rather feel her soft skin and smell her fragrance than see her. And yet, he was undecided in that too. He wanted to look at her forever, and never lose sight of this woman who had claimed his heart. In essence, he wanted all of her and nothing less.

For Amelia, it was the same. Despite her happiness, she was also baffled. Here was the man she loved…living, breathing, smiling and sitting next to her in the flesh. It was too much good fortune to bear. It did not take long for the barriers she had so painstakingly raised since their unwanted separation to come crumbling down like a fortress after a siege. Tears poured out of her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. At that moment, she did not know whether they were out of happiness or sadness or both.

“Amelia…don’t cry…everything will be all right.” Jonathan reached out and took Amelia in his arms. He buried his nose in her hair, relishing her scent that emanated off her scalp. It was enough to sear his brain and make him forget her anguish. Reluctantly pulling his head away, he looked into her eyes, momentarily letting the pristine greenness therein captivate and distract him. “What ails you, sweeting?” he asked, looking concerned.

“It is just so magical to hold you again after having you presented to me at my father’s house a few weeks ago only to have you taken away again,” Amelia said, Wiping a few tears off her face.

“Is that not a good thing…I mean holding me?” asked Jonathan, looking a little worried.

She stroked his cheek. “Oh, yes, Jonathan…it is…the very best thing in the world.” Another sob stopped her in midsentence. “I just worry about the duel. It is in two days time. I don’t know if I can survive it. To see you facing my father, both of you with the intent to kill.”

Jonathan frowned. “I do not plan to kill your father.”

“What, but he will kill you, Jonathan.” Amelia couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Jonathan smiled at her wanly. “Leave it up to me.” He saw Chives and one of the footmen lurking by the doorway to the dining room carrying their bounty of food. “Amelia…” He looked into her eyes as if he were trying to cast open the portal to her soul. “No more worrying about the duel. It will take care of itself. I have not been with you for months. I crave your company, your laugh…everything that is Amelia. Please let us share a meal as if we didn’t have a care in the world.”

Amelia nodded. “You are right. I have been acting the petulant girl.” She straightened her posture and lifted her chin. “Let us forget and experience tonight for tomorrow life goes on,” she said, feeling the strength of old flow back to her. She knew then and there for certain that next to her sat a man who gave her strength and did not sap it.

“Here, here,” said Jake, raising his glass of wine. Next to him, Anna did the same.

Jonathan could not help smiling the entire time as he raised his glass in recognition of the toast. Only Amelia and he knew that something more profound had just passed between them. It was the test of adversity and the feeling of impending doom; people in love could either face it together or succumb to its power. That evening, they both faced it together, birthing hope that, spurred by the wings of a love shared, would take them to where they needed to go.