Preparations for the wedding took longer than Edward anticipated. After meeting with Minister Warren he rode to Dillard to discuss the matter with his future wife. He found her in the garden shed preparing tinctures.
“I believed it was just a matter of claiming our intentions and we would be done with it,” he said, clearly frustrated. “But I have just met with the minister and discover there are all manner of requirements that must be met before we wed.”
“Such as?” Rebekah asked.
“We must arrange a public blessing from my family.”
“I have no family, except for my son, Ezra.”
“Unfortunately, I have a cousin, Jacinta. I doubt she will find it easy to bless our union.”
“I sensed she had her own plans for you,” Rebekah teased. “She may not be happy about our marriage, but I doubt she will make an effort to disrupt it.”
“You do not know Jacinta as I do. I have asked her to manage my household each time I am off on a trading voyage. In some ways she must think of my home as her own.”
“That is only natural, Edward. She lives in your house and has no other as far as I know.”
“It will be hard for her to let go and turn over management of the estate to you as my wife.”
Rebekah considered his words. “Then let us not disrupt things. I will continue to live with Ezra, here in my cottage in Dillard and Jacinta can remain at your house in Hyannis.”
“That is not a good idea, Rebekah. What will people say if we marry but do not live together?”
“I do not care what others say. We have our agreement. Living together is not essential.”
“It is if we want to present ourselves as a force united against the Dillards of this town. Tongues will wag, and people will spread rumors. I have only just persuaded the good magistrate that the stories of your dealing with the devil is a fiction spread by those eager to put you away and out of sight.”
He turned away from her and studied the herbs and oils spread before her on the workbench.
“I do not know if you appreciate the precarious position you hold with our town elders. Your good reputation sits on the very edge of a knife and can easily be split open with little effort.”
He turned away from her bench full of jars and took a step towards her. “I have made a decision. Once the ceremony is concluded and we are married, we will return to my house together. We do not have to share a bed, if that is what you want, but for the sake of our child and your reputation, we must live together.”
She could tell from his tone and the set of his jaw, there would be no compromise on this issue.
Hmmm. I’m glad things are loping along. But odd arrangement when they obviously are attracted to each other. Reminds me of a Victorian novel.
Some things never change…