Eliza was glad that Rafe suggested that they go out to her favorite bar. She put on one of her favorite cocktail dresses, and looked forward to seeing Josephine and Fiona. Josephine was her favorite bartender, and Fiona was going to join them after her shift.”I still think it would be so fitting for you guys to get married at the Morris-Jumel Mansion…” Josephine said, pushing two Laphroaigs in their direction.”
“A haunted house for our wedding?” Rafe smiled at Josephine, and Eliza savored the smokiness of her drink behind a grin.
“It is a historical house,” Josephine corrected, leaning forward and sticking out her tongue Rafe.
“The historical house of my namesake Eliza Jumel,” Eliza smiled, taking another sip of her drink.
Rafe leaned back on his stool, and took Eliza’s hand.
“Yeah, no. We already have a locale for the wedding and the honeymoon…” he grinned, and kissed her hand.
And it was that romantic gesture from him, and the sudden pretense of romantic perfection and everything around her caught in her throat. Eliza thought of Terrence, and she was barely able to breathe or swallow.
She wondered where he was, what he was thinking, what he was doing, if he would ever be in contact with her again? Because she could not be in contact with him after what had happened. What had had to have happened, what they made her do…
Had someone known that they were lovers, and that was the reason why?
“Eliza? Are you okay?” Rafe asked her, and she realized that she was panting. Her heart raced, and she looked at him mute for a moment. Was she having a panic attack? She had never had one, but she felt unstable.
“I am fine,” she whispered the lie, until it was true.
My publisher Riverdale Avenue Books has an anthology based on the Morris-Jumel mansion–Eliza Jumel is a real person, and a namesake for my Eliza!!! You can buy a copy of the anthology here!
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haunted house via wicked wednesday