The Virtuous Husband
Dawnette Blackwood-Rhoomes
© 2015 by Dawnette Blackwood-Rhoomes A DB-R Designs publication, Binghamton, NY. dbrdesigns1@gmail.com Printed by CreateSpace, An Amazon.com Company CreateSpace, Charleston SC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. The Virtuous Husband / Dawnette BlackwoodRhoomes ISBN-13: 978-1518607325 ISBN-10: 1518607322 Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the NIV Bible. Cover art & design: © DB-R Designs
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.� Proverbs 31:10
The merger of Cannon Textiles and Durnam Fabrics sparks a saga, and a series of romance! Book 1 - The Virtuous Husband Book 2 - The Love Inheritance Book 3 - The Hopeful Promise Cannon & Durnam Family
Robert Cannon – Rhys’ father, CEO of Cannon Textiles David Durnam – Elizabeth’s father, CEO of Durnam Fabrics (deceased) Richard Durnam – Myra & Mark’s father, David Durnam’s brother (deceased) Rhys Cannon – Robert Cannon’s first born, Elizabeth’s husband Elizabeth Durnam-Cannon – David Durnam’s daughter, Rhys Cannon’s wife Myra Durnam – Elizabeth’s cousin, Mark’s sister Mark Durnam – Elizabeth’s cousin, Myra’s brother Hunter Cannon – Robert Cannon’s youngest son, Rhys’ brother Suzanne Cannon-Drye – Robert Cannon’s daughter, Rhys and Hunter’s sister Declan Drye – Suzanne’s husband
PROLOGUE The incessant chime of the doorbell brought Elizabeth Durnam to the door almost immediately. “Did you leave your bag again Jess?” Elizabeth called, flinging the door wide open. Her friend Jessica McLennan was always forgetting something. She swore that girl was as absentminded as they come. But it was the FEDEX™ guy with a broad grin and a large white envelope in his hand, that greeted her instead. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Elizabeth Durnam?” he asked. “Yes, that’s me,” answered Elizabeth. “Package delivery for you ma’am,” he said in the iconic Montana drawl. “Just sign right here.” He handed her the handheld machine for her to sign her name; then he gave her the crisp white envelope which bore the vibrant, shiny, fire red company seal of Cannon & Durnam Enterprise. 1
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Thanking him, she closed the door and walked back to the couch; afraid to sit down despite suddenly going weak in the knees. Gazing apprehensively at the seal, Elizabeth instantly knew what was on the inside of the envelope. She was expecting it. She ran her fingers over the seal, and her destiny seem to hang in a pendulum, precariously balancing between opening the envelope or keeping the bright red seal intact. Her heart skipped a beat; no, several beats as the realization slowly sank in that the time she wished to keep at bay was suddenly upon her. It was time to face the destiny that had been carved out for her years ago. The sight of the seal ignited and sparked to life the almost dormant memory of her father’s last words a year ago. It is the only memory of him that Elizabeth try hard to forget. “You must promise me Beth,” her Dad had said then; drawing in ragged breaths that were labored and strained. “You must promise...” “Yes Father.” She had answered quickly so he could have some peace. “Promise me you’ll keep our family’s end of the bargain and see this merger through to the very end.” Coughing and wheezing, he collapsed onto the pillow from exasperation, and Elizabeth’s heart ached and broke as she choked back the tears. Her father, the great David Durnam of Durnam Fabrics was dying. Her mother had died five years before of cancer. And although Elizabeth was to be the sole heir to Durnam Fabrics, it brought her no solace then as she faithfully promised him that she 2
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would see the merger of Durnam Fabrics and Cannon Textiles to completion. Now the day was finally here, and Elizabeth could feel her apprehension slowly giving way to anger. With knees about to buckle, she took her seat on the waiting couch. The tremor in her hands actually aided her in breaking the thick red seal. Elizabeth opened the envelope, and cautiously withdrew its content. It held one lone sheet of paper bearing the letterhead of Cannon & Durnam Enterprise, and below a brief letter addressed to her. With heart skittish in her chest, threatening to break free like a frightened mare trapped in a stall during a thunderstorm, Elizabeth took a very deep breath. Her father’s eyes had held the promise of hope in them before he took his last breath and closed his eyes. She had tried for a year to evade this moment, but now it was time to keep her father’s hope alive and deliver on the promise she had made him. Dear Miss Elizabeth Durnam, the letter read. You are required to appear at the NYC Headquarters of Cannon & Durnam Enterprise on Monday, March 14th at 10:00am with your attorneys-at-law to complete the merger of Cannon Textiles and Durnam Fabrics. A copy of this request has been forwarded to your legal team, Smith and Lloyd, Attorneys-at-Law. Sincerely, The Legal Team of Ford McKinley, Attorney-atLaw, Cannon & Durnam Enterprise. The breath she was holding, she finally released in a long sigh. Allowing the paper to slide from her quivering fingers, Elizabeth leaned forward, head in 3
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hands and closed her eyes against the hot tears. “...to complete the merger...” the letter said. Now she was expected to keep her end of this ridiculous bargain her father David Durnam, and his longtime best friend Robert Cannon had concocted between them 20 years ago. In short, best friends to the very end, both owned textile mills inherited from their fathers, and thought it enterprising (which it was) to work together and combine their assets by amalgamating into one single entity – Cannon & Durnam Enterprise. The merger gained an unprecedented market share for high-end fabrics, knocking most of their competition out of their league. But in their quest to solidify and secure their partnership and merger, they included a special clause - the marriage of Elizabeth Durnam (sole heir to Durnam Fabrics) to Rhys Cannon (eldest son of Robert Cannon)! Elizabeth opened her eyes slowly. There was no way out of it – there were promises, and clauses, and contracts that bound her and Rhys Cannon together. To pull out now, would mean disbanding the merger all together and breaking apart a conglomerate that has proven to be successful so far. Only, why did it have to include marriage to a man she only met twice, and on both occasions he was expressively rude and self-centered? Now she was to be his wife, and may God grant her abounding virtue and patience!
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CHAPTER ONE “Wait!” Elizabeth held up her hand and everyone in the room paused including Rhys, her husband-tobe, who was poised with pen in hand and about to sign their marriage contract. They looked at her, waiting expectantly. “Before you sign that contract, I want a clause added,” she announced. “What?” Rhys erupted; his eyes, light brown, darkened and narrowed into suspicious slits. “And what might that clause be?” Ignoring him, Elizabeth turned to her legal counsel of Smith & Lloyd. “Is it too late to include a clause in our contract?” “Well, your father and Mr. Cannon had set out the guidelines of the contract for the merger which included your marriage to Rhys, but you both have a say in what can be included in your marriage contract,” Michael Lloyd informed her. “In other words, I can add a clause to the 5
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marriage contract but not to the contract of the merger,” she said and the small, mouse-like man nodded in agreement. Rhys snorted loudly, glaring at the lawyer as if he had full intentions in strangling the messenger. “Very well then,” she began triumphantly. “Given the circumstance and since Mr. Rhys Cannon has a reputation that precedes him for being callous, and sometimes downright rude, I would like to add the ‘Virtuous Clause’ which states that Rhys Cannon must make an effort to be courteous, kind, chaste, and display good behavior in this marriage.” Rhys exploded. “Good behavior! Do you think I’m a child! What is that suppose to mean?” She stared him square in the face; her triumphant tone replaced with sudden definitive exasperation. “In other words, I would like for you to be a virtuous husband; otherwise, no deal. If you want to know what it means in the practical sense of the word, I suggest you read Proverbs 31. You know, in the Bible.” Rhys’ Dad, Robert Cannon, slapped his leg and barked a laugh. His eyes had tears in them as he leaned back in his chair at the head of the conference table, and laughed in utter abandonment. “Rhys my boy, you’ve met your match!” he guffawed. Charles Smith, Elizabeth’s other attorney, addressed Rhys from across the table. “Mr. Cannon, the companies will continue to work together as Cannon & Durnam Enterprise but to really secure this merger, there has to be a marriage as stated in 6
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the contract. This means sir that you should really try to meet Elizabeth halfway at least.” “I know what it means,” Rhys said through gritted teeth; grinding the man to miniature size with his cold stare. He looked at Elizabeth, and she could have sworn she saw the color of his eyes changed from light brown to almost black. “Fine,” he said, still looking at her. A chill ran down her spine as his lips suddenly curved in a sneer. “Include your clause.” “It has already been prepared,” Michael Lloyd chirped as he winked at Elizabeth. He pushed a single sheet of paper across the table to Rhys. Elizabeth remembered how it had tickled the younger man’s funny bone when she had called him about the clause. She thought it was a clever idea too in keeping Rhys Cannon in check; the man did have a reputation for being rude, egotistical, and bossy. But now, looking at him with eyebrows arched and a sneer of a smile smearing his lips, Elizabeth wondered if maybe she was biting off way more than she could chew! Handsome, lean, and clearly disgusted with everyone, Rhys Cannon signed the stack of papers and then shoved them toward the center of the wide mahogany conference table, glaring at his father as he did so. Although Elizabeth sat with her attorneys and took solace that they represented her well, she now couldn’t help but feel a loss of control and dread when it was her turn to sign the stack of papers. Afterwards, Ford McKinley perused the paper work as Robert Cannon observed them like a 7
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rooster surveying his hen house. She noted the glare Rhys sent his father, and bristled and looked away quickly when his eyes met hers again, this time in an open challenge. He had been staring her down in open defiance since she had arrived for their meeting, but reference to the marriage clause had made him look downright mad. Oh well, she thought. She was as much the victim as he was in this ridiculous situation! McKinley nodded his head to Robert Cannon indicating all was well with the contracts. “Now what else is there?” Rhys snapped. “Let’s be done with it!” Robert Cannon impatiently cleared his throat as a warning signal to his son. He looked down the long table at Elizabeth and his eyes held her. He smiled; his brown eyes lit up and she immediately remembered sitting on his knee at 6 years old when he visited her father in Montana. There she met him for the first time. Elizabeth looked at the older man and returned his smile. “I’m sorry my dear. My son is not happy with the arrangements of this merger, but you understand that it must be done, right?” he asked, the skin around his eyes creased slightly as his smile spread upwards. She regarded Rhys who again took to staring her down, and said, “I understand and I promised my father on his death bed that I would see this merger through.” Not that she wanted to, neither did she have a choice or even a say in the matter. Elizabeth wished her dad had at least consulted her first 8
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before concocting such a ridiculous plan.. Why couldn’t they have simply merged the companies without the marriage clause! She held Rhys now in open exasperation; her brief twinge of triumph long gone. “I’m not keen on this marriage arrangement either, call me old fashion if you will. However, I guess it must be done.” Rhys straightened in his seat. “At least we agree on that much.” She ignored him. Why was he behaving as if she had asked for this or even wanted it? Robert boomed a throaty laugh. “You kids sound like a couple of snarly cats in a back alley. This should make one heck of a marriage!” From the corner of her eyes Elizabeth saw Rhys bristled and he leaned forward stiffly in his chair. “Look,” he ground out, turning to his attorney. “Are we done here? I don’t have all day. Let’s be on our way.” Clueless, she asked “Be on our way where and for what?” “To the courthouse,” he replied dryly. “I already obtained a marriage license.” “What!” Her throat suddenly constricted. She squeaked, “No one informed me it was today?” She glared at her attorneys. Had they purposely omitted to mention that part of the agreement or was it Rhys trying to jump the gun? She was not prepared for this! Now the situation was way beyond ridiculous! Elizabeth thought that at least they’d get to know each other first or at least get to a point where they could live in civility with each 9
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other. But to get married to him today! Absurd! For a moment Elizabeth felt the floor tip from under her. A dizzy feeling washed over her and soon her heart followed in a galloping run. The last time she had an anxiety attack, her father had died in her arms and she had realized then that she was all alone in the world. Sensing her panic, Michael Lloyd, the younger attorney intervened. He tried to soothe her. “Miss Durnam,” he began. “Because of the nature of the contract, your father had agreed that on the day you sign the contract, the wedding should take place. Your father wanted to make sure that you were settled in the Cannon family soon after his death. He didn’t want you to be on your own for too long.” In other words, he didn’t want her changing her mind. Oh Dad! What have you done? Elizabeth thought. She caught Rhys’ eyes across the table, and she saw a spark of challenge in them.
Rhys Cannon held Elizabeth Durnam’s glare and silently willed her to back out of the deal. He leaned back in the overstuffed swivel chair; the chair squeaking under his powerful frame. His long legs stretched out before him as he openly dared her to an outright war. This was one deal he didn’t mind losing or going sour. Why should he be subjected to marrying someone he didn’t know, all because of 10
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his father’s greed? Cannon Textiles was already doing well on its own, when the two friends sealed their deal on a merger 20 years ago, at least so he heard. But he must admit that merging the two companies did help in making them a powerful entity. For twenty years Robert and David built their company to what it is today, but with the passing of David, the deal must finally be closed with Rhys wedded to Elizabeth. And what was this about being a virtuous husband? He shouldn’t have agreed to such absurdity. A virtuous husband! They weren’t even married yet and she was already looking to change him. So typical! His eyes roved over her. He must admit she was beautiful to look at, in a plain sort of way. Not exactly his type, plus she had a feisty streak that he didn’t quite care for in a woman. Was he going to have a hell-cat on his hands? He didn’t have time for that. He knew her father doted on her, his only child Elizabeth Durnam, soon to be Elizabeth Durnam-Cannon. He drew in a shaky breath when her fist flew in defiance over the last paper that held the ‘Virtuous Clause”, affixing her signature to it. It left him with a sour taste in his mouth. Rhys wasn’t ready for a wife, let alone one who is feisty and spoiled. If she thought that he was going to pamper her like the rich little princess that she is, then she has another thing coming!
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CHAPTER TWO With documents signed and all legal formalities of the merger updated and completed, Elizabeth headed with Rhys to the courthouse. With thoughts of planning an escape route or at least a viable excuse, Elizabeth vaguely remembered being ushered into the waiting car by the front entrance of the company’s New York building. She remembered shaking the hands of all the men in the conference room except Rhys, whom she avoided like the plague. Everything else was a daze. New York crept slowly by as Elizabeth stared out the window of the black Mercedes Benz, charioting her and Rhys to their destiny. She glanced at the driver once and wondered if he had any idea that she was about to be shackled for life to the man next to her. If he knew, he didn’t give any indication that he was privy to such piece of information. In fact, the attorneys had agreed that it was best to announce the wedding after the fact. As 12
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Robert Cannon’s car and his attorney’s car careened their way to City Hall, her attorneys followed behind; the outside world oblivious of the entourage. Elizabeth was acutely aware of Rhys sitting beside her, his steely muscular form overshadowing her side of the car. He had opened up his briefcase and was busily shuffling papers around as he read through some of them, absolutely ignoring her very existence. Was this the kind of life she was destined for? Oh Father! What have you done? Elizabeth thought again for the second time that day. Her temples throbbed in a dull ache. How was she going to survive this? She was taught that marriage wasn’t supposed to be entered into lightly, but this was way more than light! This was making a mockery of it! If her mother was alive, she would have said so. If her mother was alive, this would never have happened. But her Dad, God bless his soul - he meant well, was seeing only the business side of things. Her mother, on the other hand, was emotional and sensitive and would have honored the sacredness of the occasion. Her Dad and Robert saw opportunity and business stability; while her mother would have seen through this charade and saw the true nature of things - emotional upheaval! And what did Elizabeth see? Elizabeth saw absolute anarchy; and Rhys...? She wondered what Rhys saw. How did he view the present situation?
Rhys pretended to read through the paragraph of 13
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the report in front of him, yet one more time. He had no clue what it said because he couldn’t concentrate. Beside him Elizabeth sighed painfully several times. Was she even aware that she was sighing? Well, she clearly wasn’t on board with the idea of marriage either. How were they going to live together? A sneer came across his face. Was she even prepared for what it takes to be married to Rhys Cannon? Little, spoiled Elizabeth Durnam will have a rude awakening if she remotely think that he would pamper her the way her Daddy pampered her. Rhys was not into spoiling women, and he certainly wasn’t going to begin now! The car came to a halt at the entrance of City Hall and they alighted from it, both avoiding each other as best as they could. In front of the judge, however, they had no choice but to at last face each other as Judge Hamilton read and lectured them on the sanctity and sacredness of marriage. Rhys saw Elizabeth eyelids fluttered several times as she tried to hide her blush when the Honorable Judge Hamilton asked whether she was prepared to “forsake all others and love only your husband”. Rhys looked at her challengingly; a smile curling the edges of his lips. She glared at him in obvious defiance to his stare. “I do,” she answered. He must admit she had guts, maybe the only thing he admired about her.
Elizabeth was caught like a deer in headlights in 14
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Rhys’ stare and she felt nothing but rebellion when she chimed “I do!” to Judge Hamilton’s question. What was she doing? She didn’t want this marriage anymore than he did! So why had she fallen for his bait? They should at least have dated first. Now that she thought of it, that’s what she should have stipulated in the contract! A virtuous husband? Good grief, she had signed her death warrant! It was unnerving to grasp that the very traits she didn’t desire in a husband, is really what her father chose for her. The man was rude, chauvinist, insensitive, and all about business. But with her inclusion of ‘the virtuous clause’, Elizabeth can only hope that God will help Rhys to see for himself what it is God required in people. Never mind that Proverbs 31 was written about the virtuous wife; Elizabeth was sure that any woman would want her husband to possess the same qualities too. She sighed again. It seemed as if she’d be doing a lot of that from now on. “I do.” Elizabeth heard Rhys say dryly, a slow smile forming at the corners of his lips as he grasped her hand to slip the ring onto her finger; bringing her sharply out of her reverie. The sudden contact made Elizabeth jump and she snatched her hand away. But Rhys took it again firmly and slid the ring home on her finger. How dare he? Elizabeth fumed, but then remembered that giving the ring was a natural and expected part of the ceremony. She looked at it; an immense diamond sat contentedly among a close knit cluster of smaller diamonds and as the light from above the judge’s desk hit it, her finger went 15
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ablaze in a spectacular prism of kaleidoscope of color. Under normal circumstances, she probably would have swooned over it like any other bride. She hated him for even denying her that simple pleasure. Plus when did he even find the time to shop for such a treasure? Then Elizabeth remembered that men like Rhys Cannon didn’t browse through department stores, they simply don’t have the time. Furthermore, why would he he didn’t want to marry her anymore than she wanted to marry him. She snickered; disgusted at the thought that maybe his assistant had picked the ring. At last she snatched her hand away again and this time he didn’t move to retrieve it. “You may now kiss the bride,” Judge Hamilton declared happily, and Elizabeth stiffened. He wouldn’t dare! She slanted her eyes and gave him her best don’t you dare if you love your life glare. But Rhys obviously took her glare as a challenge, and before Elizabeth could stop him, he leaned in and grasped the back of her head, angling her face toward his. She held herself rigid to deter his advancement, but he didn’t take notice and held her head in place and kissed her firmly on the lips. She could feel his smile widening as his lips remained on hers in the most inappropriate fashion, giving the impression that it was a long passionate kiss. For lack of a more fitting word, she seethed beneath her breath. “Scoundrel!” A laugh gurgled in his throat causing anger to course through her. Elizabeth pushed hard against 16
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his chest; the hard muscles flexed under the smooth fabric of his suit jacket. He let her go suddenly, and she teetered backwards, but he held on to her before she lost her balance. “How dare you!” Rage seeped and became a well-spring pouring through Elizabeth’s veins. Suddenly, her hand shot out and she slapped Rhys hard against the cheek. Everyone went quiet and Rhys’ hand went up to rub his jaw. His eyes narrowed and before he could say anything, Judge Hamilton in a concerned tone said: “Our office provides counseling if you need it.” Through gritted teeth Rhys responded: “We don’t need counseling, thank you!” and glared at her. Robert Cannon’s laughter boomed from behind them. “This marriage should be interesting indeed!” he said as he slapped Rhys on the back. “Mighty interesting!”
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CHAPTER THREE Rhys’ jaw stung. For a moment he was taken off guard. Not only had Elizabeth managed to humiliate him at his little game, she also made it clear that she wasn’t the kind of woman he could easily contend with. Well, he’d have to fix that! First, he’d have to do something about that temper of hers. They exited the courthouse minutes later after the marriage papers were signed and the respective lawyers exchanged paperwork, signatures and handshakes. Elizabeth had not offered an apology, but instead walked mutely beside him as they followed Robert and the legal teams out the building. Rhys informed them that he had lunch reserved for everyone at The Carlisle across the street. They dined in a private lunch room in the restaurant, and he watched her eat small amounts; blindly picking at her food. Watching her weight, no doubt! “Welcome to our family Elizabeth. You did your 18
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father proud today,” said Robert, raising his glass in a toast. Rhys saw Elizabeth’s eyes mist over. She sniffed loudly and dabbed her eyes with the edge of the napkin. For the first time since they met that morning he felt a tug of sympathy toward her. He had lost his mother three years ago. That feeling of loss was all too familiar. But as quickly as the tears came, she blinked them away. Their eyes met briefly across the table, and she squared her shoulders as if in retort to his pity. “Thank you Mr. Cannon,” she said, locking her attention instead on the old man. “Call me Robert or Dad. No more Mr. Cannon. We’re family now,” his father said as he lowered his glass. This time she smiled and Rhys noted the smile brightened her features bringing a small spark into her light brown eyes and highlighting their depths. She brushed a thick lock of hair that came loose from being tucked behind her ear. Rhys watched as she tucked the erring lock again behind the soft curve of her ear, exposing her cheek and long neck. The movement was graceful and he thought to himself, her beauty was exquisite in a plain sort of way. Rhys shook his head. What had come over him? Graceful though she may look, she was indeed a hell-cat with a fiery temper and a mean right hand! He rubbed his jaw and grinned inwardly. He guessed he deserved it. He had kissed her to see what she was made of, and it took him by surprise 19
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when she had responded so forcefully, and then she had the nerve to blush like a woman shocked at her own behavior. He was certainly not in the mood to play games with Elizabeth Durnam-Cannon. He was not going to pamper her. His eyes hardened as he glanced at her. Yes, however graceful and exquisite she may be he was not interested in getting into a tangled web of emotions with her. Emotions were painful and costly, and he couldn’t afford them.
Robert and the attorneys were the first to leave the restaurant. While Rhys lingered to pay the bill, Elizabeth freshened up in the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, Elizabeth was surprised to see how much her face betrayed her emotions. No wonder Rhys was looking at her in pity. Well, she didn’t need his pity and she wasn’t going to let him get the better of her. As they exited the restaurant, Rhys and Elizabeth bumped into a woman with red hair, cut in a short bob, and a flashy dark grey and white skirt suit. “Oh excuse me. I wasn’t…” the woman began to say. Then she stopped short in obvious mock alarm. “Hi Rhys,” the woman crooned, leaning over to smooch his cheek. Elizabeth cocked one eyebrow but said nothing. Meanwhile, as she was almost a step behind Rhys, she saw him stiffened and cringed. “Hello Paige.” His reply was curt. “I don’t believe you’ve met my wife Elizabeth.” Turning to 20
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her he said, “Honey, this is Paige Winslow, an acquaintance of mine.” Honey! So the show begins! Was this part of their business arrangement too? “Hi Paige. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” said Elizabeth, evenly. Caught in the snare of the woman’s glare, Elizabeth coolly regarded her. She wondered just how much of an acquaintance was Paige to Rhys. “Likewise,” Paige replied, her voice trimmed with disdain. Elizabeth gave her a once over and figured Paige must be a past girlfriend of Rhys’. Everything about the woman was chic, but overdone, a bit flashy. Rhys was so conservative and Elizabeth wondered if Rhys liked flashy women. In that case he’ll definitely find her plain. “Well, see you around,” Rhys said dismissively and took hold of Elizabeth’s elbow and guided her down the street where the driver was standing by the car. He didn’t look back, not even once. However, when Elizabeth did, Paige was still standing on the curb fuming and staring after them. She sat beside Rhys once again in the back of his black Mercedes Benz as they were chauffeured slowly through Manhattan’s bumper to bumper traffic. Her thoughts rested on the wedding ceremony. What had come over her? She raged and slapped her husband at the altar on their wedding day! She didn’t offer a word of apology let alone say a word to him. And she almost cried her eyes out at the mere mention of her father’s name earlier. True, she didn’t want this marriage either, but her 21
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emotions were out of control and she better harness them before Rhys begin to think he has a psychotic wife on his hands. She shook her head. No, it wasn’t her; she has never lost her temper like that before. It was Rhys. He was insensitive, arrogant, and an egoist; and somehow she was allowing him to get the better of her. Nevertheless, she knew she should apologize; if anything, because it was the right thing to do. Elizabeth cleared her throat, keeping her eyes on the slow creeping traffic in the opposite lane. She turned slightly and stole a glance at him, but he seemed absorbed in his thoughts. Elizabeth cleared her throat again, this time looking at him. “Okay,” she began. “I think we started out on the wrong foot.” He gave no indication he heard her; not even the bat of an eyelid. Amazing! Nevertheless, Elizabeth knew what she must do. “I’m sorry,” she offered. When he didn’t respond, she continued. “I just need to get used to this. Everything is all happening so fast. I didn’t expect the wedding would be today.” He finally acknowledged her; cool brown eyes settling on her, an insolent indifference emanating from them. “You’re desirable, but you’re not my type. Don’t mistake the wedding today to be anymore than just a contract to complete this merger. This is a business agreement, nothing more,” he said in a bored tone. At his remark, Elizabeth’s eyes smarted with 22
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fresh tears, but she hurriedly blinked them away. She didn’t expect love, certainly not, but at least they could be civil toward each other. Resentment burned inside her like a live spark, but she squelched it. She inhaled deeply and murmured, “Fine. Suit yourself. I just thought we could at least be civil toward one another.” The silence between them stretched painfully until he answered several moments later. “Although this is not a civilized arrangement, I guess we could manage some level of civility since both of our companies depend on it.” Then he opened his briefcase and forgot about her.
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CHAPTER FOUR Sighing deeply, Elizabeth stepped over the threshold to the entrance of Rhys’ brownstone apartment on the Upper East Side. If this was a normal marriage, her husband would have lifted her in his arms and carried her across the threshold. Instead, here she was with a strange man stepping over the threshold as husband and wife to live together in a strange house. Her chest tightened in panic, and she swallowed hard to calm her nerves and squelch the overwhelming feel of disgust. She quickly pushed the invasive thoughts aside. After all, what did she expect after his sarcastic comment in the car? Taking in her new environment, Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised to see an exquisitely elaborately carved staircase in the middle of the hallway. Not expecting such ornate workmanship in a brownstone in New York City, she moved 24
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further in to investigate. To the right of the stairs was the living room with a fireplace and French doors leading to another area. To the left, the dining room opened into the wide expanse of the kitchen; bathed in warm sunlight streaming in from the back windows and the sliding glass door. She inhaled sharply. The space was beautiful! It was so vastly different from the Durnam mansion in Montana. This was small and homey. “Welcome home,” Rhys said dryly and took her coat. He draped it carelessly over the back of the sofa as they entered into the living room. Through the glass doors, she saw a small den and an even smaller room that looked like a library. It held floor to ceiling shelves of books. They silently beckoned to Elizabeth, and she gave in to it like a moth to a flame. She entered the room, reverently peering at some of the titles as she stepped around the armchair and the side table. “You like reading?” he asked, coming in behind her. “It’s my favorite pass time,” she answered, pulling out a copy of War and Peace, thumbed through the pages and then placed it back on the shelf. “Feel free to borrow from here,” he said. Then he left her abruptly to answer the knock at the front door. The chauffeur had parked the car, and came toting Elizabeth’s heavy suitcases. The man deposited them in the hallway. Elizabeth went to thank him, and shake his hand. 25
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“You’re welcome Mrs. Cannon,” he said, his brown eyes twinkled as he smiled at her. “Please call me Elizabeth,” she said. She learned his name was Frank and that he had been Rhys’ driver for several years. After Frank left, Rhys pulled keys from his pant pocket and handed them to her. They were keys to the apartment, he told her and she graciously accepted them; blushing when his fingers brushed against hers. “I’ll show you upstairs,” he said, and headed for the stairs. Her heart galloped. Upstairs meant bedrooms. Were they supposed to share the same room, let alone the same bed? Surely not! Didn’t he say that it was a marriage on paper only? She turned to pick up a suitcase. He stopped ahead of her and came back and took the suitcase from her hands, carrying it effortlessly up the stairs. “The cleaning lady, Isabel, comes every other day and sometimes she cooks,” he stated as he waited for her at the top of the landing. Following him along the narrow hallway they passed a bedroom dressed in lilac and green and then a bathroom; and he labeled these the guest bedroom and bathroom. Next on the right he stopped and said: “This is my room,” and he swung the door open. Elizabeth glanced in to see a large enough suite in grey, black, white, and a splash of red and a bathroom and a closet encased cozily within it. Elizabeth let out the breath she had been holding. His room; he didn’t say our room, she thought with relief. 26
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Rhys moved on to the end of the hall and opened the door to a rosy peach colored suite. “Oh! It’s beautiful!” she breathed. “It’s really nice.” “Glad you like it,” he said in a blank tone and held out a phone to her. “This cell phone is now yours,” he said. “My numbers have been saved in it already, for my personal cell and my direct line at the office.” Elizabeth looked at him, his handsome jaw set in a determined line, almost as if he was forcing himself to talk to her. Well, whatever! she thought and took the phone. “Thank you,” she said in equally clipped tones. He reached into his pocket and took out his wallet. “I almost forgot,” he said. “This is yours.” He placed a bank card in her hand. She looked at it. It had Elizabeth Durnam-Cannon embossed on it. “No thank you,” she said, handing it back to him. “I have my trust fund of which I get a monthly allowance.” “I know,” he said dryly. “But this is an account for household expenses and anything else you may like. Feel free to use it.” He closed her fingers around it. The feel of his fingers were warming on her cold hand. He backed away from the door suddenly, as if he had enough of her and wanted to get away immediately. “I’m returning to the office. I have work to do.” He started back down the passageway. “If you need Frank to take you somewhere, his number is in the phone too. There’s food in the refrigerator, help yourself,” he tossed carelessly 27
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over his shoulder and then disappeared down the stairs. Elizabeth looked around her. So this was to be her home now. If she had any say in the matter, she certainly wouldn’t be here. She walked around the room. It was the kind of room she’d decorate herself, and she wondered what were the odds Rhys guessed her taste so accurately. The bedroom suite had a small fireplace with fresh logs sitting in it, and the mantelpiece was probably one of the grandest she had ever seen in a bedroom. She could tell it had been there before the Second World War. She went by it and ran her fingers over the smoothly polished thick ornately carved oak wood. Her fingers came away dust free. The room was well prepared for her too, and she made a mental note to thank Isabel for doing such a fantastic job, the next time she comes to clean. The four poster bed of solid dark mahogany wood stood dominant in the room with simple posts reaching toward the high ceiling. The bed was flanked by matching side tables that held brass lamps with palm leaf carvings and solid rose peach fabrics on the shades. The upholstered bench at the foot of the bed and the heavy drapes at the bay windows boasted one of Cannon & Durnam Enterprise’s best high-end fabric design in home textiles. She fingered the luxurious fabric; an intricate jacquard pattern of floral, paisleys, and swans. She liked the several displays of elegant and sophisticated feminine touches in the room: the paisley drapes; the chandelier of crystal bead eye drops and delicate gold candlesticks; the matching 28
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cushions and small rectangle pillows with satiny tassels that lined the well-made bed; and the crystal vase in the middle of the heavy mahogany dressing table with a large bouquet of assorted flowers sitting in it. By the bay window, overlooking a small but neat garden in the back of the house, was a window seat with a simple floral cushion seat; an apparent coordinate to the drapes and bed linen ensemble. Elizabeth touched the afghan which was carelessly draped over the seat. Its softness and the warm afternoon glow of the sun streaming through the window made her want to cuddle up on the window seat with a good book or with a pair of knitting needles and yarn. She touched the heavy window fabric again, this time looking carefully at the jacquard weave. It was clearly one of the many successful designs of Cannon & Durnam, and its beauty reminded her of her love for textile designing. It brought her back to when she was twelve years old and her father took her into the grand show room in New York City, where many of the company’s textile fabrics and design ensembles were on display. She remembered how her breath caught in her throat and how she stood looking in awe at the fabrics, hardly believing that anyone could be capable of such talent. It was breathtaking and it was then Elizabeth fell in love with Textile Designing. Looking back now, she wondered if that had been her father’s intention, because when she announced she wanted to study Textile Design he didn’t seem surprised at all. It was as if he expected 29
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it, and when she graduated four years later from Rhode Island School of Design, he beamingly ushered her into the Montana office as one of the designers. She didn’t mind working from the bottom up; learning from the experienced designers that were already there. Elizabeth loved her job and took pride in her designs, working in the Home Textiles Division. While her father and his foreman Rick Halsey ran the Montana branch and the mill, Robert Durnam ran the corporate office in NYC, the New Jersey mill, and managed international accounts. On her trips to corporate with her Dad, Elizabeth had several opportunities to see some of her designs on display in the show room; and no matter how many times she saw them there, it still evoked goose pimples and slack jaw. On two of these occasions she met Rhys, and he was curt and unpleasant. Then a year before her father died, Elizabeth found out she was destined to marry Rhys. Now she wondered if Rhys knew all along and if that was the reason he had been obnoxious and downright rude to her. Well, she didn’t want to marry him either, but it is what it is and they’d have to make the best of it. As a show of her defiance, she headed for the closet to unpack the little clothes she had brought with her. The closet was next to the bathroom, and the room housed several white shelves on one side and on the other side sat a built-in chest of drawers with a large brass rimmed mirror on top of it. The high ceiling held another crystal eye-drop chandelier, only this one was smaller, and recessed lighting. It was a cozy space and Elizabeth wondered when she’d 30
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ever have enough clothes or shoes to fill it, since for her those weren’t priorities but just necessities. She placed her boots, sneakers, and two pairs of shoes on the shoe stand. Then took the rest of her luggage and decided instead to unpack them in the chest-ofdrawers standing in the bedroom. Why bother with the closet? It wasn’t like she was planning on living in Rhys’ apartment forever. She had to talk more with her attorneys. There must be a way to get out of the marriage without hurting the merger. Until then she’d make the best of it. Elizabeth blew out a breath and her stomach grumbled rather loudly, reminding her to go in search for food soon.
Rhys Cannon pushed back his chair abruptly and frowned at the keyboard. Was it obvious that he practically ran from Elizabeth’s bedroom today? For years he tried to avoid that woman like the plague knowing someday she’d be his wife, and now she was in his home; in the bedroom right next to his! He had somehow managed to convince himself that he could talk his way out of this farce of a marriage, and it became the main source of contention between him and his father. He thought maybe with the passing of Elizabeth’s father, his dad would somehow release him from the promise; but instead the old man became more insistent, telling him that keeping the promise to his longtime friend meant more to him than life itself. Rhys was trapped, what else was he supposed to do other 31
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than appease the old man? His father gave him more duties as head of the international affairs team, and Rhys had welcomed the opportunity to put his International Business Studies degree to good use. Of course, from a business point of view, it was a sound decision to marry Elizabeth. In that way the company was no longer two halves but now one. Nevertheless, it still annoyed him that marriage was the only thing they could think of to secure the merger. It was at the expense of Rhys and Elizabeth. And what was this about her wanting him to be the virtuous husband? What in the world did that even mean? Rhys swiveled his chair to reach for the dictionary from the book shelf behind his desk. He thumbed through it and his eyes widened as he read: Virtuous: 1. having or exhibiting virtue (see virtue); 2. morally excellent, righteous, upright, having moral principles and good values 3. chaste, practicing chastity 4. practicing Christian virtues of kindness and love Seriously! Was she looking for a saint? Was she expecting to marry Christ himself? Where did she come off telling him how to behave? Did she even know him at all? He was a Christian, but under the present circumstance he didn’t feel like practicing Christian virtues of kindness and love! Rhys jaw tightened. He should have never agreed to her schemes. Already Elizabeth was charting their marriage. That’s part of the reason he hadn’t said “I do” for years; he had no plans on being controlled by a woman! There was a single rap on his office door and he 32
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said gruffly: “Come in.” “It’s only me,” came a sultry voice and he looked up to see Paige Winslow standing in the doorway of his office. She came in and closed the door behind her with a soft click. “Hi sweetheart,” she breathed, and he slammed the dictionary shut. Paige sauntered to him to offer him a cheek which he dutifully kissed. Then she draped her mink on the sofa, and took a seat across from him; her long legs crossed in knee high boots. Rhys averted his eyes swiftly to meet hers, noting she was dressed differently from when he saw her earlier. Pouting, she said: “I didn’t appreciate being called an acquaintance earlier today.” “Sorry,” he said apologetically. “I know you had to get married virtually under duress, but don’t treat me like a stranger,” she said. “It’s only a business marriage, remember?” Rhys didn’t want to think let alone talk anymore about his marriage to Elizabeth. He knew eventually he’d have to go home and face his destiny. But he wasn’t ready. Changing the subject, he asked coyly: “To what do I owe the honor?” He smiled and leaned back in his chair, locking his fingers behind his head. “I missed you.” She batted well made-up eyelids at him. For the first time in the years Rhys has known Paige, he realized she wore far too much make-up. Elizabeth’s face came into view and he found 33
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himself comparing Elizabeth’s plain demeanor to Paige’s overdone glamour. Rhys shook his head. What was he doing? “So what do you have in mind?” he asked Paige; anything to get Elizabeth’s face out of his head. But he immediately regretted it when he saw the look of sheer joy on Paige’s face. For years she has been chasing him; trying to get him to commit to dating her exclusively, but frankly Paige was not his type. She was too flashy, too aggressive in her approach, and way too overbearing. Nevertheless, he could stand her company a couple more hours before heading home to become the virtuous husband. Before Paige could recover from her obvious tongue-tie, Rhys stood up and walked around the desk to face her. “What do you say we grab a bite to eat at that Italian restaurant you like so much on 51st and Broadway?” he said. “Oh yes!” she breathed excitedly. “That would be so nice.” Paige stood and linked her arm in Rhys’, and he ignored the overwhelming feel of his skin crawling. He decided that he’d have to break the news that he intended to honor his marriage vows in every way and the thought of it made him smile. Maybe this wasn’t so bad; at least he’d have a good reason now to shake Paige once and for all. Rhys tucked her arm more securely into his and smiled at her as he grabbed his jacket and her mink and they exited the office. His pleasure, however, was short-lived when an 34
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hour later he was drenched with a glass of cold water followed by a vehement slap across the face. Was he collecting them today? Paige didn’t take the news well, of course, although he didn’t expect that kind of reaction. She stormed out of the restaurant, the maître-d at her heels like a lap puppy subserviently collecting orders as she issued them for a cab, and her mink (even though it was spring). Rhys knew it served him right; he guessed he had it coming. He paid the bill and called for Frank to bring the car around. As Frank drove him home, he checked his phone for messages. Elizabeth hadn’t called all evening; and he took it as a good sign that maybe she wasn’t the clingy type after all.
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CHAPTER FIVE But Elizabeth had called the office that evening, only to be told by Rhys’ assistant that he was on a date with Miss Paige Winslow. Of course she knew that their marriage was on paper only, but she hadn’t expected her husband of several hours to go on a date with another woman! And no doubt, with the same Paige Winslow who glared at her when they exited the restaurant earlier today. The same woman whom Rhys had the nerve to introduce as an acquaintance! No matter the inconvenience of their marriage, Elizabeth intended on being loyal to her vows, and she expected Rhys to honor them too. She brushed the tear away angrily as his words, their marriage being nothing but a business agreement, came back to haunt her. Business contract or not, she’ll never live with infidelity. Elizabeth heard the front door slam. Rhys was home! She buried herself under the sheets and 36
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squeezed her eyes shut. She was not going out to meet him! Several minutes passed before Elizabeth heard Rhys noisily ascending the stairs. She held her breath upon hearing his footsteps pass by his door and head for hers. They stopped in front of her door and she dared not breathe! Was he coming to claim conjugal rights? He wouldn’t dare! Panic filled her and she burrowed even deeper under the sheets. There was a soft knock and her eyes flew open when she thought that he opened the door. But instead, she heard a slight shuffle as Rhys turned away and headed back down the hallway. Elizabeth didn’t move a muscle until she heard the click of his bedroom door closing shut. It was then she allowed herself to finally breathe. Why was he visiting her room after his date! The nerve of the man! It would be the first time in history that the papers would run the headlines: Bride pummel husband over the head with fists on wedding night! Elizabeth’s peripheral view caught a thin sliver of light filtering across her bedroom floor. She jolted upright, wondering where the light was coming from. Throwing off the sheets, she went to investigate the light source. Her bathroom was dark except for the thin stream of light coming from under the door of an adjoining room she didn’t remember seeing before. Then she heard a shower running and realized her bathroom was adjoined to his! In her distress, she had totally missed the adjoining door earlier! This is definitely not appropriate, she thought. 37
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Slowly Elizabeth turned the door knob, expecting it to open; instead it was locked but from the other side! This is no good! Did this mean Rhys had access to her room whenever he wanted? Dread filled her as scenes and images no young woman should visualize of her husband, filled her head. She must protect herself against Rhys, in the event he decides not to be courteous anymore. She knew how absurd it sounded, but this is an absurd situation and absurd situations call for equally absurd reactions and measures. It is necessary to protect oneself against a man who finds it quite easy to cheat on his wedding night! Elizabeth tiptoed to the bedroom in search of something to put as a barrier against the adjoining door. She needed something heavy. Judging from the hard muscles she felt on Rhys earlier, he could easily push past anything if he had to, and it would be foolish not to put something in his way at least to thwart him and alert her. All the pieces of furniture in the room were large except for the bench at the foot of the bed, the chair, and the two end tables. Elizabeth eyed the chest of drawers warily. Did she really want to start shoving huge furniture around at this time of the night? She thought against it, but then envisioned Rhys freshly showered and scantily clad in a towel draped carelessly around his slim waist and heading for her room through the adjoining door! A shudder ran through her and laying her hesitation aside, she shoved hard at the chest of drawers. By the time she got the huge furniture across the room, beads of sweat already perforated 38
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her forehead. It was then she realized she should have removed the drawers for an easier move. Why didn’t she think of that before? She set to work removing the drawers and laying them one by one in the middle of the room. On the last drawer, her muscles strained under its weight and it fell from her hands. In a loud clatter, it landed on her foot. Before Elizabeth could stop herself, she howled in pain. She lunged for the bench and held her right foot; the pain overwhelming, enough for her to pass out. The tears came as she checked the throbbing foot for lacerations. Rhys burst into the room. “Elizabeth! Are you okay? What was that noise?” Elizabeth glanced up briefly, tears blurring her vision. Rhys was towering over her, clad in a silk robe and bare feet. But when he saw her holding her foot, he knelt down. “What happened?” he asked again, this time concern trimming his tone. “The drawer fell on my foot,” she answered between sobs, and winced rather loudly when he touched it. For the first time since entering the room, he looked around. Casting a despairing glance around the room, Elizabeth realized she was moving furniture in an almost dark room save for the city lights streaming in through the windows. She had forgotten to pull the curtains shut. He didn’t comment on the state of the room: her clothes had fallen from the drawer and were in a tangled dark heap on the floor; drawers of clothing 39
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were lined up against each other; and an empty chest of drawer stood forlorn almost at the entrance of her bathroom. Rhys stood up and went to turn on the bedroom light. As the warm glow flooded the room, he once again took in the state of things to which Elizabeth sheepishly looked away. “Try moving your toes,” he said, turning his attention to her. She did as she was told and was happy to note that her toes, thank God, weren’t broken; but the top of the foot and around her ankle were bruised and had begun to swell. It throbbed painfully and she howled again when he touched it, gingerly poking for broken bones. “It doesn’t feel like anything is broken,” he said. He left then and returned moments later with an icepack and a small towel. Rhys wrapped the icepack into the towel and helped her as she limped toward the bed. Fluffing her pillows, he instructed her to sit on the bed, to which Elizabeth was compliant and grateful when he propped her foot on the pillows to elevate it. Elizabeth took the icepack and gingerly placed it on the swollen ankle. “Thank you,” she said. He straightened and surveyed the room once more; his eyes coming to rest on the chest of drawers in the doorway. “Why were you moving the furniture in the dark?” She hesitated. Must he really ask? Wasn’t it obvious enough? “I wanted the chest of drawers in the bathroom,” 40
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she answered sheepishly, not looking at him. “Why?” For pete’s sake! Elizabeth clamped her mouth shut, refusing to answer for fear of sounding foolish. When she saw he was just standing there waiting patiently for the answer, she said: “Never mind. I’ll move it back.” His eyes held hers and she saw his mouth hardened in a thin line. He knew! “Where in the bathroom do you want the chest of drawers Elizabeth?” he asked her mockingly, his expression darkening into a scowl. She bit her lips. She felt so stupid! “By the adjoining door,” she croaked. “Very well,” he said and went to move the offending furniture. She felt horrible. What he must think of her! She watched as he effortlessly lifted the furniture and placed it in front of the adjoining door. Then he replaced the drawers and she blushed deeply when he glanced a bit longer than usual in her underwear drawer with not even a flicker of emotion at the sight of her lacy under things. He then went out the room and moments later she heard a loud click as he unlocked the door from his side. Then he returned, strode past her and went to lock the adjoining door on her side. Elizabeth wished the bed could swallow her or at least wished she could nurse her hurt pride in private. “You should have asked if you were feeling uncomfortable. The door can be closed from your 41
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side too.” “Sorry,” she said. “No need to be sorry. As I said before, this marriage is just one on paper - nothing else. So you needn’t worry about me pawing you in the middle of the night, if that’s what you were concerned about,” he grated out as a matter-of-fact and headed for the door with his lips once again set in a straight line. Before she could say anything, he said, “Holler if you need anything.” He left the door ajar as he exited her room.
END OF PREVIEW _______________________________
Continue reading Book One of The Cannon & Durnam Trilogy The Virtuous Husband by Dawnette Blackwood-Rhoomes on Amazon
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dawnette Blackwood-Rhoomes is the Creative Editor for the following magazine publications: DB-R Designs Textile and Paper Catalog The Books Magazine She lives with her husband Karl, and their two sons in New York.
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR (Now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble)
The Women of Jesus The Secrets of Aunt Norah’s House Love Unhinged Why Should I Believe You? Christian Romance: Writing for Love The Cannon & Durnam Textile Legacy - The Virtuous Husband (Book One) - The Love Inheritance (Book Two) - The Hopeful Promise (Book Three)
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