The Rescue

  Anne heard a carriage approaching and moved carefully off the road. She was getting ready to turn and wave when it slowed to a stop. Weston emerged in short order, a smile on his face.

  “At this rate, you’re going to be late for your own wedding.”

  “Is it late?” Anne asked, at first not seeing the teasing glint in his eyes.

  “No, I’m early.” He smiled charmingly, and Anne smiled in return. “Are you certain you won’t take a ride?”

  Anne could not resist him.

  “I believe I will ride the rest of the way. Thank you, Mr Weston.”

  Once in the coach she was very aware of the man across from her but did her best not to let her thoughts roam.

  They were at the church almost before she could settle in. Pastor and Judith were inside waiting, their smiles giving Anne just enough confidence to proceed.

  It was all very neat and swift. In a surprisingly short time, she was Mrs Robert Weston. Judith and Pastor both hugged her warmly and then asked if the new couple would come to the manse for a late breakfast. Anne looked to her spouse, who agreed without hesitation.

  “The children are home,” Judith warned. “The girls are dying to see you, Anne.”

  “I’m so glad. To visit so many times last week and take no time for them must have seemed uncaring.”

  “You can make up for it today,” Weston told her.

  “You’re not in a hurry to leave?”

  “No. Take all the time you like.”

  That time came over breakfast. Anne sat next to Margaret and John and listened to their activities of the week.

  “Emma came to play with me.” This came from Margaret.

  “What did you do?”

  “We had our dolls out and had tea.”

  “Very fun,” Anne said sincerely. “What about you, John? What were you doing at the time?”

  “Jeffrey took me to the pond. We searched for minnows.”

  “How many did you find?”

  John looked to his older brother.

  “Many,” Jeffrey said with a smile.

  “Many,” John turned to tell Anne.

  Anne laughed as the stories continued. She had missed visiting with these children and hoped that by the time the meal ended, her reputation of always taking time for them would be restored.

  “Thank you for everything,” Anne told her hosts when the time came to depart.

  “You are so welcome. Don’t stay away long,” Pastor Hurst urged them.

  He hugged Anne once more and shook Weston’s hand. The whole family walked them to the carriage and watched as the horse trotted away on the half-circle drive.

  Husband and wife exchanged a look of hope and excitement. Together they offered a sincere prayer that God would bless this new couple and that they would follow after Him with every portion of their hearts.

  Chapter Eleven

  The carriage pulled smoothly away from the manse before picking up speed, Anne waving out the window before settling back for the ride. Weston had chosen the seat across from her and waved at their hosts as well. When their eyes met, Anne felt her face flush and willed it to stop.

  In an effort to cool her heated cheeks, she glanced back out the window and continued to keep her eyes averted. It was for this very reason that she knew the exact moment they sped directly past Levens Crossing. Without thinking she spoke.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To Brown Manor,” Weston answered simply.

  “My trunk!”

  “Would have been picked up and delivered to the manor already.”

  “Oh!” She took a moment to contain herself. “All right. I guess we’re off to Brown Manor then.”

  Her voice did not encourage him.

  “You don’t care for Brown Manor?” he ventured, trying to think if this had come up during any of their conversations. He was certain he would have remembered.

  “Oh, Mr Weston, it’s a lovely home, quite possibly the most lovely in the area. It’s just such a large home to clean.”

  Having completely forgotten the incident, Weston felt his heart plummet. Her face, so sweet and tired as she had appeared to him that day, swam in his mind. A moment later he acted impulsively and joined her on her seat. He turned to Anne and picked up her hand.

  “It’s not going to be like that anymore. You’re Mrs Weston now. We have a large staff to see to your every need.”

  “Of course, you have servants,” she echoed back to him in almost a whisper, her face heating again. “How foolish of me.”

  Weston studied her a moment.

  “I don’t believe there’s anything foolish about you.”

  If Anne did not believe her blush could deepen, she was wrong. The warmth of his voice and eyes, not to mention the hand holding hers, sent fresh color to her face.

  “I suddenly seem to be very embarrassed in your presence, Mr Weston. I don’t know what’s come over me.”

  Weston’s gaze searched her eyes for a moment, but he didn’t speak. Releasing her hand but not moving back across the carriage, they finished the ride in silence.

  Brown Manor

  Anne could not have spoken if she tried. The manor was so altered from the last time she’d seen it that she was struck dumb. Gone were the sparsely furnished rooms and empty walls. Tapestries hung everywhere, and fine artwork could be viewed even from the entryway. Beautiful furniture in every wood, shape, and size was scattered throughout, and Anne had seen an ornate clock in every room.

  “I collect them,” Weston told Anne when he found her studying one in the main hall. “It’s almost at the top of the hour. Keep watching that one, and you’ll see it move.”

  Anne did as she was told, her mouth opening a little when the tall pendulum clock began to strike and a small woodsman went into action. He began chopping the tree that sat in the middle of the numbers. Anne smiled when it fell and then all went back into place to wait for the next hour.

  “Oh, my,” was all she could say.

  “I thought it rather fun.”

  “Indeed.”

  “There is a small clock in your room. If the ticking or chimes bother you, we can move it.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine.”

  Almost soundlessly Mansfield appeared. Obeying orders given to him by Weston before he’d left for the church to see to his wife’s needs, the servant bowed to Anne and spoke with reverent tones.

  “Welcome, Mrs Weston.”

  “Thank you, Mansfield.”

  “If you’ll come with me, I would be happy to show you to your room.”

  “Certainly.”

  Anne started that way, but Weston caught her hand.

  “I had a tour all planned before remembering how well you know the house. No room is off-limits to you. Come and go as you please. If you have questions, see Mansfield or myself.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We’ll have a late lunch today. Does 1:30 suit?”

  “Yes, very well.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  Anne was only happy that she didn’t blush. Mansfield had waited for her, and she now moved in his wake. She remembered the rooms to which he took her, but as with the rest of the house, they looked vastly different.

  “This is your room, Mrs Weston, and through here is Mr Weston’s.”

  Mansfield opened the door and Anne peeked inside. She then turned back to the servant, who shut the adjoining door.

  “I believe Mr Weston wanted to leave this room to your decorating discretion, so things are a bit sparse. He also did not want me to find a personal maid for you, certain that you would wish to have a say in that choice. If you have need of anything, just ask for me, Cook, or Sally. When you are ready to interview maids, I can assist you.”

  “Thank you, Mansfield.”

  “Will there be anything else?”

  “No, thank you. On second thought, where does Mr Weston have lunch?”

  “In the small dining room. Do you remember
it?”

  Anne smiled.

  “Distinctly.”

  Mansfield bowed and went on his way, just covering his own smile. He knew very well the reason given as to why his master had taken this lady for a wife, but that was not all he knew.

  He’ll fall in love with her, Mansfield speculated as he went below stairs to the kitchen. I’d be willing to wager my job that he’ll realize he loves her in less than six months.

  “Did you have a chance to see the gardens when you were here before?” Weston asked his bride over lunch.

  “Only from the windows.”

  “You’ll have to go out. We’re building a conservatory.”

  “Are we?” Anne asked, hoping she didn’t sound as ignorant as she felt.

  “Yes. If you’d like to see it, I’d be happy to take you, or at least point you in the right direction.”

  “Thank you. Maybe after lunch you could show me?”

  “Fine.”

  Silence fell for a time at that point, but it was not a tense quiet. Anne was sitting in quiet contemplation over the delicious food and the fact that she would not be needed to wash the dishes. Her eyes caught sight of her rough hands, and she wondered how long it would take for their softness to return.

  “Are you all right?” Weston asked. He had been closely watching her.

  “I am, yes. I was only thinking of how different life is going to be. Every time something occurs to me, I’m surprised all over again.”

  “What was it this time?”

  “The dishes. I don’t believe your staff will want me in the kitchen.”

  “It’s your staff as well, and you can go anywhere you like.”

  Weston had worked to keep his voice light, but he too was having some reactions to Anne’s new surroundings. There was one major difference, however. Anne was feeling wonder; he was frustrated. He knew it was wrong. God had taken care of Anne before he had come along, but having her finally attaining what he felt she’d deserved for years was proving to be quite a test.

  “I fear it will take some time for me to adjust,” Anne offered, thinking she needed to apologize.

  “Ignore my tone.” Weston was quick on the uptake. “At times I find myself unhappy with your past circumstances, and if I sounded sharp, please excuse me.”

  Anne nodded. This was not new to her. She had seen every type of reaction to the way she lived her life from people over the years.

  “It doesn’t make you angry, does it, Anne?”

  “The way I was living? No. There was a period in my life when I did a lot of feeling sorry for myself, and at times I mourn the loss of lighter days, but I know this is the plan God had for me, so I work to be thankful.”

  Maybe you can enjoy light, fun times now, was the thought that ran through Weston’s mind, but he didn’t voice it.

  “Are you ready to see the garden?” Weston asked. He was no longer hungry, and Anne seemed finished with her meal as well.

  “Yes, if you’re certain you have time.”

  Weston didn’t answer. He only stood and went over to pull out Anne’s chair.

  “We’ll go out the side door, I think, and start in the walled-in garden, the kitchen garden.”

  “You have a walled-in kitchen garden?” Anne asked with such delight that Weston came to a complete halt. Anne naturally stopped as well and stood looking up at him.

  “You have a walled-in kitchen garden,” he said quietly, marveling again at how much he wanted to give this woman. “I can’t say that I’m overly thoughtful about what is grown out there, so if a kitchen garden is your pleasure, we have one started for you.”

  Anne stared up at him for a moment.

  “I’m looking forward to meeting your mother, Mr Weston.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I would enjoy talking with a woman who raised a son to be so kind and thoughtful.”

  “You’re my wife, Anne,” he said simply. “I shouldn’t be anything else.”

  But we’re not in love, and I didn’t expect this.

  Anne’s thoughts didn’t show on her face, however. She nodded and even smiled a little before the two ventured out-of-doors.

  The Manse

  “Something is troubling you,” Pastor observed to Judith as she sat at her dressing table, seemingly in no hurry to finish with her hair and come to bed.

  Judith turned on the bench to look at her husband, who was in the process of fluffing the pillow at his head.

  “Yes, there is.”

  “Can you tell me?”

  “I’m regretting my advice to Anne about following Weston’s lead.”

  “I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”

  Judith briefly told her husband of her conversation with Anne regarding intimacy.

  “Maybe they have spoken of it,” Pastor said simply. “They did spend several days in conversation, Judith. Weston told me some of the topics they covered and how many things they agreed on. The private side of marriage could have easily been one subject.”

  Judith did not know why, but she doubted this had been the case. Naturally Anne was very innocent, and Weston gave every indication of taking such matters seriously, but by nature men were more interested in such things. Did Anne really know what to expect?

  It was a question for which Judith would not receive an answer. She knew she needed to let the matter drop, something she was not willing to do. Her husband long asleep, Judith lay and worried on the matter for hours.

  Brown Manor

  How the day had moved so swiftly Anne could only guess. Lunch was past, the tour of the gardens was over, dinner was eaten and enjoyed, and husband and wife now sat in one of the small salons, Anne with some correspondence and Weston with the newspaper.

  Had an observer not known better, he would have guessed them to be an old married couple, but Anne knew differently. As the shadows of the day lengthened, that night’s expectations had come to rest stronger and stronger on her mind. If she let her mind wander even a little, she felt fear creeping in like a thief.

  At the moment, she had all she could do to concentrate on the letter in her hand.

  “I’m headed up now, Anne.”

  Anne looked up swiftly to see that her husband had come to his feet.

  “Join me when you’re ready.”

  Anne nodded, her face presenting a calm visage, but when she rose to climb the stairs just minutes after Weston, her legs were trembling so violently she wondered if they would buckle. By the time she reached her room, she was nearly sick with nerves but made herself undress and climb into her best nightgown. It had been new several years ago but was now past its prime.

  Her robe was in even worse shape, but she refused to go through that door without it. Anne tied the sash at her waist and made herself move for the adjoining door, not even remembering to take down her hair. The feel of the cool door handle made her feel chilled all over, and fear made her light-headed.

  I can’t do this, she said to herself, even as she opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it. Her own heart pounded so that she could hardly push the words out, but she made herself speak.

  “Mr Weston?”

  “Yes?”

  He was still dressed and standing on the other side of the bed, but now he moved toward her. Anne stood, her breath coming hard for a moment, trying to force more words out.

  “Yes, Anne?” he repeated, standing in front of her.

  “I’m not sure I can do this.”

  Even in the pale lantern light he could see that she shook violently.

  “It’s all right, Anne.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, don’t be.”

  His words didn’t help. She shook until her teeth chattered.

  Hearing that and overcome by compassion, Weston put his arms around her, his heart wrenching when he felt how truly frightened she was.

  “It’s all right, Anne,” he continued to say softly. “Don’t worry about anything.”

&
nbsp; “I’m so sorry.”

  “We’ll just wait,” he said, moving to look into her face. “We don’t need to do this now. We’ll pick another time.”

  “When?”

  “We’ll decide together, when it’s not so frightening.”

  Anne looked up at him.

  “You’re going to be sorry you married me, aren’t you?”

  To her surprise he laughed.

  “No, I’m not. I’m very thankful for the wife God has given me.”

  On impulse he pressed a kiss to her brow.

  “Go on to bed, sleep well, and I’ll see you at breakfast.”

  The trembling had eased, but Anne still felt so cold inside. She looked up at him and saw only warmth and caring in his gaze.

  “Goodnight,” she said in return as she reached for the handle.

  Weston stood very still after she’d left, relief radiating to every nerve in his body. Thinking that it was the right thing to do and that Anne would expect as much so she would know of his sincerity in this marriage, he had felt intimacy was required of him. To know that Anne needed to wait was nothing short of a rescue.

  Help us, Father. Help us to know when. We’re both a little lost in all of this, but we know that You have a plan. Thank You for my wife. Thank You for her sweetness. Help us to have a life together, one that glorifies You.

  Weston went to bed and prayed himself to sleep. He thought about checking on Anne—she had been so upset—but he didn’t want to startle her or wake her if she was already asleep.

  He need not have worried. Anne was awake for about the same amount of time, doing just as her husband was doing, praying for their marriage.

  Anne had not found her way to every room in the manor the day before. In fact, she hadn’t tried. Awakening early on her first morning as mistress of Brown Manor, Anne dressed, read her Bible, and decided to walk around the quiet house. She hoped that the wonder on her face would wear off before anyone could notice. Her responses to some of her husband’s possessions were rather gauche, but in truth she was in awe of her new home and surroundings. She had been quite sincere when she’d told Mr Weston that Brown Manor might very well be the loveliest home in the area.