Foolish innocence and wicked deceit took her from the man she loved. Orphaned at the tender age of eight years, Elizabeth is raised as a ward in the loveless home of her uncle. Stuck on the desire for freedom from oppression and unfamiliar with the concept of love, she flees from her husband of an arranged marriage with the assistance of an old family friend. Sadly this friend was no match for the perils that awaited in the new world. To add to her misery, she realizes that she loved the man she'd married and just didn't recognize that love.
View More“Sonya aku turut berduka atas kematian Janu, anak kamu,” ucap Sugeng saat bertemu Sonya di salah satu acara seminar kedokteran.
Sonya berjuang menelan ludahnya saat mendengar perkataan Sugeng salah satu rekan sejawatnya di rumah sakit. Sonya berjuang menutupi kesedihannya dengan senyuman manis miliknya. “Terima kasih Dokter Sugeng.”
“Aku tidak menyangka musibah itu menimpa, Janu,” ucap Sugeng dengan wajah penyesalan.
Siapa yang menyangka musibah akan menimpa seseorang? Andai musibah bisa disangka, semua orang pasti berlomba-lomba mencegahnya. Sonya menelan ludah dengan susah payah tenggorokannya tercekat. Andai ia bisa mengulang waktu, ia akan melakukan apa pun untuk mengembalikan Janu ke dunia ini.
“Sonya ....” Sugeng menyentuh lengan Sonya berusaha untuk menyadarkan Sonya dari lamunannya.
“Ah ... iya, bagaimana?” tanya Sonya sembari kembali menunjukkan senyumannya untuk menutupi kegalauan dan kesedihan hatinya.
“Aku ....”
“Sonya, Sayang sudah selesai?”
Suara lelaki di belakang Sonya membuat Sugeng menghentikan perkataannya dan menatap lelaki pemilik suara yang ada di belakang tubuh Sonya.
“Pak Emir, saya mengucapkan bela sungkawa,” ucap Sugeng saat melihat Emir yang berdiri di belakang Sonya.
“Terima kasih, Pak ....” Emir menatap Sonya yang ada di sampingnya meminta bantuan karena dirinya tidak mengetahui siapa lelaki yang saat ini berdiri di hadapannya.
“Sugeng, dia Dokter Sugeng ahli bedah di rumah sakit aku.” Sonya langsung membantu suaminya yang tidak tahu siapa Dokter Sugeng.
“Terima kasih Dokter Sugeng, ucapan Anda sangat berarti,” ulang Emir sembari menjabat tangan Sugeng dan memberikan senyuman terbaik miliknya.
“Saya benar-benar kaget mendengar beritanya dan awalnya saya menyangka kalau kematian anak Anda akan mempengaruhi hubungan Anda karena menurut kabar burung anak Anda meninggal tercebur ke kolam saat dalam pengawasan Anda, Pak Emir,” ucap Sugeng polos, dia sama sekali tidak tahu imbas dari perkataannya akan membuat Sonya terguncang dan kembali mengingat peristiwa itu.
Tubuh Sonya bergetar saat mendengar perkataan Sugeng, “Say—“
“Kami baik-baik saja, pernikahan kami baik-baik saja dan terima kasih atas perhatiannya Dokter Sugeng tapi, saya dan Sonya tetap saling mencintai dan harmonis. Kami, tetap berjuang dengan perkawinan ini,” potong Emir sembari menyusupkan jemarinya ke pinggang Sonya dan merapatkan tubuh mereka berdua berusaha untuk menahan bobot tubuh Sonya yang sudah hampir terjatuh karena lututnya terlalu lemah untuk menahan bobotnya lagi akibat mendengar perkataan Sugeng.
“Wah ... saya bersyukur mendengarnya, saya berharap pernikahan kalian berjalan sebaik mungkin dan menjadikan kejadian ini sebagai perekat pernikahan kalian bukan sebagai pemecah.” Sugeng memberikan saran pada Sonya dan Emir, pasangan yang menurut Sugeng adalah pasangan yang sangat serasi dan akan sangat disayangkan bila pasangan di hadapannya itu berpisah.
“Terima kasih atas doanya, Dok, saya dan istri saya pamit dulu,” ucap Emir sembari merangkul lebih erat pinggang Sonya dan mendorong dengan lembut pinggang Sonya agar pergi menjauhi Sugeng.
“Saya permisi dulu, Dok, saya tadi sudah izin pada panitia acara untuk pulang duluan karena kami ada acara keluarga,” ucap Sonya seraya melambaikan tangannya ke arah Sugeng.
Sonya dan Emir pun berjalan ke arah parkiran mobil dan masuk ke dalam mobil Sonya berkata pelan, “Kita jadi ke tempat ibu?”
“Iya, kita jadi ke tempat ibu.”
Sonya mencium wangi mobil Emir yang tercium wangi parfum lain, dia sangat hafal wangi parfum suaminya dan juga wangi parfum dirinya. Tapi, dia tidak hafal dengan wangi parfum mawar yang ada di mobil Emir.
“Kenapa?” tanya Emir pada Sonya yang terlihat kebingungan.
“Ini wangi siapa? Kamu ganti parfum?” tanya Sonya dan membuat Emir kaget. “Kamu ganti wangi parfum kamu?”
“Hah ... nggak, apa sih ini wangi biasanya aja, kamu ngaco, Sayang,” ucap Emir sembari membuka kaca jendela Sonya dan dirinya, berusaha membuang wangi apa pun yang ada di mobil itu.
“Wanginya parfum mawar dan mirip kaya wangi parfum murahan, Emir,” ucap Sonya sembari mengendusi sekitarnya. “Kamu bawa Lo—“
“Ngarang aja kamu, Sonya,” potong Emir sembari menjalankan mobilnya ke arah kemacetan ibu kota.
***
“Sonya, Emir, Ibu senang kalian datang untuk makan malam, Ibu kesepian ini,” ucap Parwati yang datang menyambut Sonya dan Emir. Dengan cepat Parwati memeluk Sonya dan mengapit lengan Sonya.
“Kamu sehat, Sonya? Kamu makan benar kan? Kamu makan, makanan yang Ibu masakkan dan kirim ke rumah sakit setiap makan siang kan?” tanya Parwati yang sangat menyayangi Sonya seperti anaknya sendiri itu.
“Iya, Bu, Sonya makan makanan Ibu setiap hari,” jawab Sonya.
“Bagus, Ibu nggak mau kamu sakit karena makan-makanannya sembarangan ingat mag kamu,” ucap Parwati sembari berjalan ke arah meja makan dan mempersilahkan Sonya duduk.
“Emir nggak di tanya, Bu?” tanya Emir yang sedikit kesal karena tidak di sapa sama sekali oleh Parwati yang notabene adalah Ibu kandungnya.
“Emir kamu juga ibu suka kasih makan siang juga, kan.” Parwati mencium pipi anak semata wayangnya itu.
“Iya, sih, tapi, masa hanya Sonya yang di sapa aku nggak, kan aku anak Ibu,” keluh Emir.
“Eh ... kalian berdua anak-anak Ibu, Ibu sayang kalian berdua tidak ada beda,” ucap Parwati sembari duduk di kursi miliknya dan mulai meminta pembantunya untuk menyiapkan makanan.
“Ibu sehat?” tanya Sonya sembari melihat kondisi Parwati untuk memastikan kalau mertuanya ini dalam keadaan sehat walafiat walaupun memiliki penyakit jantung yang sudah parah hingga sudah dipasang tiga buah ring di jantungnya.
Parwati menggenggam tangan Sonya dan berkata lembut, “Ibu akan selalu sehat, Nak, selama kalian berdua sehat dan akur.”
Sonya memaksakan senyumannya saat mendengar perkataan Parwati, bahu Sonya terasa berat seolah tertimpa beton yang sangat besar dan membuat bahunya sangat sakit. “Iya, Bu ....”
“Walau Ibu tahu semenjak kematian Janu, ini semuanya akan berat. Ibu paham, Nak, Ibu ....” Parwati mengusap air matanya dengan menggunakan punggung tangannya.
“Bu, kami baik-baik saja, Ibu tidak usah khawatir,” ucap Sonya sembari menggenggam tangan Parwati berusaha memberikan kekuatan pada mertuanya walaupun sejujurnya saat ini dirinyalah yang sangat membutuhkan sokongan dari orang lain.
“Kalau ada apa-apa kasih tahu Ibu, Ibu mohon Sonya, Ibu sayang sama kamu,” ucap Parwati yang langsung di jawab anggukkan oleh Sonya dan mereka kembali makan malam dengan penuh kehangatan keluarga yang menurut Sonya sangat semu.
***
Setelah sampai ke rumah Sonya langsung ke kamar mandi dan membersihkan dirinya, saat Sonya keluar dari kamar mandi ia mendapati Emir yang sedang duduk di sofa sembari menatap kolam renang yang ada di samping kamar mereka.
“Emir ....”
“Ya?” jawab Emir sembari mengalihkan pandangannya dari kolam renang ke arah Sonya.
“Kenapa kamu bunuh anak kita?” tanya Sonya.
“Maksud kamu apa, Sonya?”
***
The church bells echoed across the plantation grounds as they announced the happy reunion of Elizabeth and Stephen. Elizabeth somehow found it in her heart to spend time with Paulette and form some semblance of a friendship with the much changed socialite. This was something that pleased both Stephen and Arthur greatly.Paulette recovered from her injuries enough to attend the wedding. Although still sore and subdued, she managed to carry herself as efficiently as any lady of Savannah society might in her condition while she held Arthur’s arm on her left and her mother’s arm on her right.Arthur and Margaret managed to work out a truce as well as an arrangement for her funds to continue to be sent to her trust from his new plantation in Jamaica. She had no desire to visit such a barbaric island, which suited him just fine.Now that his sister was settled in her rightful place at her husband’s side, Herald was ready to brave the formidable
Feeling the need for some fresh air, Stephen excused himself and started toward the rear exit. Thinking better of it, he turned and asked Elizabeth to join him. Smiling timidly, she accepted his arm and allowed him to guide her down the cool, dimly lit corridor toward the back of the house.“I much prefer this part of the house,” Stephen said quietly.“Might I ask why?” Elizabeth responded, hoping her nervousness did not show in her voice.“‘Tis quiet and unpretentious,” Stephen replied.“You find the main part of the house pretentious?” Elizabeth asked with mild surprise.“Nay, not at all, I just prefer this. I fear I am a simple man who lives amongst splendor,” Stephen said.He cursed himself for his fumbling words. Why was it that he became such a bumbling oaf whenever he was in her company?Elizabeth smiled sweetly and moved closer as he guided her through the doorw
Margaret Moore stepped out of the carriage in front of the Caldwell plantation house and gaped in awe at its magnificent beauty. She heard whispers of the wealth the Caldwells possessed through conversations at one of the many social parties she attended, but she had not pictured it to be as such. She was told that Sir Caldwell’s wealth was surpassed by few. He was even able to work free darkies on his plantation; something that was rare indeed amongst the plantation owners of Georgia who petitioned fervently to have slavery reinstated during its temporary abolishment because their plantations would not survive without it. Sir Caldwell was one of the very few in political societies who did not support such reinstatement.She heard their mansion was equal to that of a king, sporting thirteen guest rooms and marble flooring adorned with plush carpet with unique designs woven into it. Both were ordered from India. The marble lion’s heads on either side of the grand s
Elizabeth and Arthur’s gay conversation could be heard long before Stephen reached the doorway of the atrium. He stopped and listened, uncertain whether he should enter or simply return to his room.He took much longer than even the doctor expected him to take to recover from his intense state of exhaustion. Herald sat in the room near the window watching him and then watching the world out the window for the majority of the days he lay abed. He was joined by Elizabeth for whatever time her greedy fiancé would allow her away from him.Elizabeth expressed her concern about Arthur’s monopolizing her time during one of her long conversations with her brother. She was torn over who she should be spending her time with. He was awake and alert and requesting her company, but Stephen was weak and still in need of constant watch; not to mention the fact that it was Stephen who had her heart. There were times when her visits with Arthur proved tortuous as she
Bringing Paulette to the safety of the Caldwell plantation was not as easy as Stephen hoped. Since he worked his horse as much as he dared and she still did not regained consciousness, he settled her in front of one of the other men on her own horse and then later on with another whose horse suffered the stress of their journey favorably and was still strong enough to carry them both in the intense heat of the day. It was shortly after this last transition that she awoke and went into a frightful screaming fit. This caused the horse to rear and for her to fall off.As if her disorientation was not bad enough, Paulette landed on her arm and it snapped like a dry twig. Stephen seized a flask containing their emergency brandy and took a long drink to steady his nerves. The stress and challenges he endured over the last few months was building within him to such a height he was certain his frustrations would cause him to burst from the inside out.It took the considerable
Bishoff got Arthur safely to the Caldwell plantation in record time. The sun was just resting on the horizon when he went ahead of the small group of men and knocked on the front door of the main house.After giving him a quick reprimand for coming to the front instead of the back, the butler hurried to seek out Sir Caldwell. The house came alive as some rushed to help bring Arthur into the house, some rushed to ready a room for him, some went for the doctor, and some sought out Lady Elizabeth to inform her of the grievous news.Elizabeth rushed to the top of the stair landing just in time to see Arthur being carried into the small parlor toward the far side of the concourse. Although he was grumbling profusely about the pain he was in, he was coherent and that was a good sign.She slowly descended the stairs, stopping on each step to prolong her arrival. It had been a few days since Sir Caldwell laid down the decision that Stephen must be given an opportunity t
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