A noise in the doorway caused him to turn his head. There, in the entrance to the bridal bower, was Rebecca. The light from the candle she held caught her auburn tresses, now loosed and hanging to her waist. She wore a white linen gown. His breath caught in his throat.
She moved to the table and set the candle down, before slowly and gracefully walking toward him. Silhouetted from behind by the fire, illuminated in front by the candles, her auburn hair caught the light again. She smiled tentatively.
The time had come.
18
It was the first time Jonathan had ever been alone with a woman. He sat as if turned to stone. Only his eyes moved. He took in her pretty face, bathed in candlelight: her eyes sparkled; her smile was shy, yet confident. She wetted her lips. Jonathan realized he was trembling.