“Oh, my,” Anne stood quietly and stared into the contents of the china cabinets in the large dining room. She couldn’t ever remember seeing china so lovely and perfect. The set she now looked at was cobalt blue and gold, so delicate and fine that Anne desperately wanted a closer look.
She carefully opened the glass-fronted door, her face breaking into smiles of delight to be so close and see that the plates, platter, cups, and saucers were all as lovely as they first appeared.
The cup directly in front of her was turned a bit, not giving her a full view of the handle. Anne was reaching to turn it when Weston entered and spoke.
“There you are!”
Anne was so startled that her hand crashed into the cup, making it clatter loudly on the saucer.
“Oh, no!” she exclaimed, swiftly drawing back and turning her head, afraid to look. “Please tell me it didn’t break. I don’t know how I would ever replace it.”
“You wouldn’t,” he said as he approached and lifted the unbroken cup into his hand. “It’s just a teacup, Anne.”
“Mr Weston!” Anne’s voice revealed her shock as she turned to face him. “This is the most beautiful china cup I’ve ever seen.”
Weston’s mouth quirked into a smile.
“In that case you’ll be happy to know that there are at least 30 more in the cupboard.”
Anne glanced to where he pointed and saw that there were indeed many more, but she was still relieved not to have broken the first one. Taking it from Weston’s hand, Anne carefully placed it back on the saucer and shut the door.
“More cups or not, I think I’ll just keep well away from them.”
“Don’t do that,” Weston told her. “They’re here to enjoy.”
“No one can do that very well if I break them.”
“And that wouldn’t have been an issue if I hadn’t startled you. Surely you’ve handled china before.”
“I have, yes.”
Weston suddenly looked at her.
“Do you have your mother’s china at Levens Crossing, and do you wish to have it brought here to Brown Manor?”
“It had to be sold.”
There was no mistaking the look on his face.
“I beg you, please do not be angry,” Anne boldly ordered her husband for the first time.
Weston blinked in surprise at her firm tone, and Anne briefly put a hand on his arm.
“I could see in your eyes that my answer frustrated you. I can’t live my first weeks or possibly months here having you grow angry every time you’re reminded of how difficult my circumstances were. It would be very tiring as I would be forced to start monitoring everything I said.”
“You are quite right. I can’t promise that it won’t happen again, but I will make an effort.”
“Thank you.”
Their eyes met for several moments before Anne felt shy and looked away. Seeing that he needed to stop standing and staring at her, Weston spoke instead.
“Ready for breakfast?”
“Yes, please.”
“How did you sleep?” he asked as they exited the room together.
“Very well.”
“The bed will be all right?”
Anne couldn’t stop the smile that came to her mouth, but she only quietly said, “Yes.”
“What did I miss? You’re very pleased about something.”
“Telling you about my bed feels a bit odd in this new situation, but it was such a surprise.”
“Why was that?”
They had reached the small dining room and now took seats. Food began to appear, and Anne thought the matter had been dropped, but as soon as the prayer was said and she had filled her plate, she glanced up to find Weston’s eyes on her, his brows raised.
“I’m dying to know about this bed,” he told her, a smile lurking in his eyes.
Anne laughed.
“It’s nothing, really. I was just so warm and comfortable. I didn’t expect that.”
“I take it you don’t wish for your bed from home?”
Anne only smiled and took a sip of her coffee. Weston realized then and there how much he could enjoy Anne’s discovery of everything at Brown Manor. It was sure to be a reminder of where she’d been, but more than that, he could enjoy her delight and share in it with her.
Anne was cutting a piece of bacon when Weston was ready to speak again.
“I’ve a trip planned for us.”
Mrs Weston looked up.
“We’re going to London in a few weeks.”
“Oh, how nice,” Anne said. But she was already mentally working on her wardrobe. Her clothing wasn’t very suitable.
“It should be cooler by then, and my mother would like us to visit.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“She’s looking forward to meeting you. She remembers seeing you when she was here.”
And she didn’t object to your marrying a small, country mouse? Where the thought had come from Anne could not say, but she did her best to push it aside. Such ideas would only make her seem defensive. But aren’t you a little defensive, Anne? she now asked herself. Don’t you feel a little like a charity case?
Anne didn’t like the direction of these thoughts either. It might be true that she had been needy, but no one had forced Mr Weston to ask for her hand, and she had not expected anything of him, let alone an offer of marriage.
It’s time for you to figure out how you can contribute to this marriage, Anne. You can’t do that if all you’re going to do is question how it came to be.
That little talk behind her, Anne asked God to strengthen her for the days ahead. She asked for wisdom as well. Getting to know a man you were already married to was going to take a great deal of thought. Anne knew she would use all the wisdom God could impart to her.
Chapter Twelve
On only the second morning that Weston woke with a new wife in the house, he knew he was going to have to make some changes. He could not spend each day hovering near Anne to make sure she was all right. He wanted to take care of her, but staying close and watching her face for signs of need was not going to work. He had a large estate to run, land to manage, and several farmers who answered to him. He was even looking into the purchase of more land, not to mention the continued work on the conservatory. He trusted the builders, but such things could not be left unchecked.
For these reasons and several more, he told Anne he would be in his study if she needed him and proceeded to retire to that room the moment they finished breakfast. At first it looked as if it would be a fruitless venture. His mind was so preoccupied with his new wife in his house that he couldn’t even concentrate, but in time the move paid off. Weston made himself stay at his desk, his account books around him, until at last he was lost in the business at hand.
Anne worried her lower lip, not certain where to begin. Her second day at Brown Manor had passed as swiftly as the first, and now she woke to her second morning, her father very much on her mind. Checking on him had not been a hard decision to make. She felt she must. How best to get back to Levens Crossing, however, was a whole new issue.
She hated to bother her husband, who had retired to his study to work, but ordering a carriage on her own was simply out of the question.
What if Mr Weston doesn’t want a carriage out? What if he decided he wanted a certain carriage, and then found out I have it?
These questions plagued Anne until she realized there was only one person who could answer them. Desperately hoping it was not a mistake, Anne knocked on the study door.
“Come in,” Weston called from his chair.
Anne carefully opened the door.
“Mr Weston?”
“Come in, Anne,” he bade, coming to his feet.
“I’m sorry to bother you.”
“Not at all. What can I do for you?”
“I feel a need to check on my father, but I didn’t know if I should ask for a carriage. I can walk, but then I’ll be gone longe
r, and I didn’t know if you wanted me to be away so long.”
Weston had come around the desk and moved until he was standing in front of her.
“You may order a carriage anytime you wish, and, as for being away, as long as I know where you are, you may be gone as long as you like. I shall do the same for you should I need to leave.”
“Thank you.”
“When are you leaving?”
“I was hoping to go right away. Is that all right?”
By way of an answer, Weston used the bellpull. Mansfield was at the door less than a minute later.
“Yes, sir,” he said with a slight bow.
Weston, however, said nothing. He looked to Anne and waited.
It took a moment for Anne to realize that Mansfield had turned his attention to her.
“Oh!” She squeaked a bit and turned red even before she began. “May I have a carriage to take me to Levens Crossing, Mansfield?”
“Certainly, Mrs Weston. Right away?”
“Please.”
Weston smiled at Anne when Mansfield took his leave.
“I’ll see you out.”
They had begun to walk that way when Weston asked, “Will you be long?”
“I may stay and do a little baking, so I might be.”
“Don’t hesitate to stay as long as you wish, Anne, but before the carriage comes around, let us find Cook or Sally and have her prepare a basket from the kitchen.”
Anne was turning to protest, but she caught her husband’s eyes. They were steely with resolve, and the words died in her throat.
“Your father is family now,” he said quietly but firmly. “We’ll take care of him together.”
“Thank you.”
“No thanks are necessary.”
Anne looked uncertain over this, and Weston reached out and touched her cheek. Her eyes softened at the gesture, and Weston smiled at her.
“It’s a good match we’ve made, Mrs Weston,” he said as he turned Anne and started her down the hall once again. “Just give us time, and we’ll figure it out.”
Twenty minutes later, having just watched a large basket filled with baked goods and meat pies being loaded ahead of her, Anne stepped into the carriage in a near state of shock. She waved to her husband as the conveyance pulled away, and then she sat back against the squabs to try and talk to the Lord.
I don’t know what to think. I never dreamed. You’ve been so good. He’s so kind.
Those muddled thoughts having raced through her head, Anne sat still and tried to take it all in. She felt like laughing and crying all at the same time. For years she had kept her emotions in check, and now it felt as though they might tumble out of control.
Anne forced herself not to dwell on all that just occurred. If she cried when she saw her father, he would wish to know why, and right now she couldn’t explain it. Her mind as settled as she could manage, Anne began a mental list of what she wanted to get done at Levens Crossing so she wouldn’t be gone all day.
Collingbourne
The girls were on an outing. About midmorning a carriage from Tipton carrying Lydia, Emma, and Lizzy Palmer, as well as Penny Jennings, arrived in town. The mission was a simple one, to divert Penny’s thoughts from Marianne’s condition.
That little girl had begun to hover a bit, her small face showing more concern with each passing day. That Marianne was feeling more tired and taking things very slowly only confirmed in Penny’s young mind that something terrible was going to happen to her mother.
That babies arrived safely every day was not a fact she could grasp. Her own mother had died having her, and Penny was now fearing the worst.
“I think we’ll start at Benwick’s,” Lydia told her young group. “How does that sound?”
“Will we go to tea?” Emma was distracted by the thought.
“Certainly. Won’t that be fun?”
The girls agreed that it would be, and little coaxing was needed to persuade them that this outing was going to be a wonderful diversion.
“All right,” Lydia began, once in the shop. “Emma and Lizzy, you may stay together and shop on your own for a time. Penny and I need to pick out a gift.”
“What gift?” Emma asked without thinking, drawing a look from her mother.
“Go on,” she urged them, and the youngest Palmer females—holding hands—started through the aisles.
“Now, Penny.” Lydia hunkered down to be on the little girl’s level. “You’re going to do a great favor for Marianne today. You’re going to help me pick a lovely wedding gift for Anne and Mr Weston that will be from your whole family. How does that sound?”
“I’m picking it out?”
“Yes. I’ll help you.”
This was met with a wide smile that Lydia returned.
The two began in the housewares aisle, and Penny didn’t need much time at all.
“Oh, Aunt Lydia,” Penny breathed, her eyes on a crystal compote. “This is so pretty.”
“Yes, it is,” Lydia agreed, half wishing she’d spotted it. “I think you may have found just the gift.”
Looking remarkably pleased, Penny went to the front counter with Lydia and stood by while Lydia charged it to her brother’s account and asked that it be delivered to Brown Manor.
“It’s not going to Thornton Hall?”
“No, dear, it’s best that it go directly to the Westons.”
“But then Marianne won’t see it.”
“I know, love, but you can tell her all about it, and sometime when you visit Anne, you can explain to her that you’d like Marianne to see it. I know Anne will understand.”
Some of her pleasure in the moment slipping away, Penny nodded in understanding before joining the Palmer girls. Together the three youngest shoppers browsed through the shop while Lydia looked for a wedding gift of her own.
The rug she found was exactly what she would choose for Anne, and she hoped that Weston would like it as well. Not even attempting to carry it to the front, she simply told Benwick which one she wanted and asked that it also be delivered to Brown Manor.
By the time the foursome finished their shopping and added some odd and ends, they were ready for tea indeed. In high spirits they crossed over to Gray’s. One look at Penny’s face told Lydia this outing to town was doing the trick.
Levens Crossing
“Well, Anne,” the Colonel uttered in surprise as he entered the back door of the house to find Anne in the kitchen. “I didn’t know you were home.”
“I thought I’d stop and bring you some lunch,” she answered as she heated one of the pies.
“It smells good.”
“Sit down,” she invited him, kissing his cheek once he did.
“How nice to see you,” he began lucidly, but when Anne began to question him as to how he’d been, his mind rambled a bit.
“I’ve been looking at that home at the west side. I think someone is living in there.”
“Which home is it?” Anne asked, hoping she could keep up.
“The new one.”
Anne didn’t know of a new home anywhere in the area, but then her father got out more often than she did.
“Did you see someone about?”
“He wasn’t wearing regimentals.”
Anne gave up all pretext of conversation. She saw to it that her father had a large slice of shepherd’s pie and a nice loaf of bread at his elbow before going on with her work. She aired the living room and her father’s bedroom a bit before doing the dishes and dusting the kitchen and living room.
The thought occurred to her in the midst of this work that it might be longer than she planned before she enjoyed soft skin, but the small sacrifice was worth it to know her father was all right.
Brown Manor
“Mrs Weston has returned,” Mansfield informed his employer, watching as he immediately set his work aside and went to meet her.
“How did it go?” Weston asked, taking Anne’s hand as she emerged from the carriage.
r /> “Very well, thank you.”
“Your father is all right?”
“Yes, he’s been wandering a bit, but he seemed fine.”
“Good. Some things arrived while you were away.” Weston offered his arm as they went inside. “I didn’t open them.”
Anne looked up at her husband, her mind at sea.
“What sort of things?” she ventured.
“Without opening them I couldn’t be specific, but I believe they might be wedding gifts.”
Anne’s mouth dropped open in an amusing way, and Weston laughed.
“Is it really so surprising?”
They had come to the small salon, and Anne now saw the packages for herself.
“It shouldn’t be, but for some reason it is.”
Weston continued to smile at her reaction.
“Shall we see what’s come?”
“All right.”
But Weston wouldn’t open a thing. Three packages had arrived, and he was happy to watch his wife open them, handing her one after another.
“It’s from Pastor and Judith.” Anne read the card and then brought forth a lovely pair of candlesticks.
The next gift was from the Crofts, who had sent bookends. The last box contained long-stemmed goblets from Dr and Mrs Smith.
Anne, looking as stunned as she felt, said, “Everything is so lovely. I’ll have to get notes off soon.”
“How are you for stationery?”
“A bit low, I think.”
“Well, when you next head into town and need spending money, it’s in my study. I’ll show you exactly where.”
Anne looked dreadfully uncomfortable with this, and Weston waited to see what was on her mind.
“How much will I know to take?” she ventured after a moment’s thought.
“Whatever you need.”
“How much is that?”
Weston smiled.
“I’ve no fears of you bankrupting us, Anne. If you have a large purchase coming up and wish to check with me, that’s fine, but I’m not going to lord it over you and check your every purchase.”