The Rescue (35 page)

“If I must,” Weston said with a smile and turned away from her.

Anne went directly to the bed and scooped up her new robe. She slipped it on and belted it into place, repeatedly checking the front for gaps before looking up at her husband’s back. What she saw caused her mouth to open a little.

Weston was directly in front of the mirror he’d purchased for her at Benwick’s and had calmly witnessed her the entire time.

Weston turned slowly, his eyes catching Anne’s, his gaze clearly intimate. His words, though softly spoken, were not of an intimate nature at all.

“I was coming to escort you to dinner, but I can see you need more time. Shall I wait in the hall?”

“Yes, please.”

Weston allowed his gaze to touch her a moment more, nodded his head, and exited to the hall. Anne flew from her robe and into her dress. Jenny had already fixed her hair, but Anne fixed a few spots that suffered from dressing in a hurry before joining her husband.

A strange and exciting feeling had spiraled through her before he left the room, and for that reason she didn’t meet his gaze as he escorted her to the dining room. When she did look at him, his eyes were normal. Indeed, Anne found him to be his old self for the rest of the evening.

Weston climbed into his own bed, more than ready to be there, but with Anne heavy on his mind. He was ready for changes in this marriage—much sooner than he’d anticipated—but ready nonetheless.

Sore from two days in the carriage, he took a few minutes to settle on the pillow, but as soon as he was comfortable, he began to pray.

Thank You, Lord God, for Your provision and Your great love. Thank You for the wife You’ve given me. Please help me, Father. Help me to be the kind of husband Anne could love. My heart is already so involved, but I sense that she is holding back. Help me to lead us to this next step without causing fear or guilt. Help Anne to trust me to be the man she needs.

Sleep was crowding in fast, but Weston had one more plea: He asked God for patience. He was tired of being alone in his bed and having Anne in the next room, but it had to be God’s timing, not his. He might never win his wife’s heart if he ran ahead of his God.

“I’m going to go see my father this morning,” Anne told Weston over the breakfast table the next day.

“I rather thought you might. Did you want me to join you?”

“I think I’ll go on my own, but thank you.”

“Why don’t you invite your father to dinner? We can send a coach.”

“I’ll try, but I don’t know what he’ll say.”

“All right. I don’t wish you to do any cleaning.”

Anne looked very innocent on hearing this remark, but Weston wasn’t fooled.

“Either take a maid with you, Anne, or plan not to clean,” he reiterated. But the lady of the house didn’t reply.

“I don’t think I’m being listened to.”

“I heard you,” Anne told him, but her voice revealed that she was still not willing to burden the staff at Brown Manor with matters at Levens Crossing.

“It looks as though I’ll need to come along.”

Anne felt guilty and gave in, knowing he had other things to do.

“I won’t clean.”

Weston heard her tone and felt his own guilt. He didn’t want to bully her, but he was not about to let her clean when there were servants who could see to that.

“Do you find me unfair?”

“No, I don’t, but the staff here—” she began.

“Is only too willing to serve,” Weston finished. “Mansfield and Cook see to that. In fact, the maid who would go to clean at Levens Crossing would probably enjoy the change.”

Anne nodded, more convinced, all the while realizing it wasn’t worth quarreling over.

“When will you leave?”

“As soon as I’ve eaten.”

“Mansfield,” Weston spoke to the man who was standing nearby. “Ask Cook to pack some baked goods for Mr Gardiner, will you?”

“Right away, sir.”

“Should I see how he’s fared, Weston?” Anne suggested. “Pastor and Judith were to see to things. Maybe he has plenty.”

“Leave the baskets in the coach and make your decision when you arrive, but at least take them with you.”

Anne thanked her husband and finished breakfast just after. She was on the road a short time later, praying for her father and wondering what she was going to find at Levens Crossing.

The Manse

“Anne!” Judith said with delight when Phoebe showed her into the dining room. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you. It’s lovely to be here.”

The women embraced before Judith held her friend at arm’s length.

“A new dress. You look beautiful.”

“Oh, Judith, I have so much to tell you. But first of all, how is my father?”

“He wasn’t home just now?”

“No.”

“Your father is very well,” Judith said, linking her arm with Anne’s. “But let’s head to the church. Frederick has things to tell you.”

Judith let Phoebe and the children know where they were headed and took Anne across the grassy expanse to the church’s side door. It was cool and quiet inside, and because Pastor Hurst heard the door, he met them as they covered the distance to the office.

“Welcome home, Mrs Weston,” Pastor said after he’d hugged her. “You must be here about the Colonel.”

“He wasn’t home, but Judith said he’s well.”

“He is well, but not long after you left he fell and gave himself quite a bump.”

“Oh, no. How long was he alone before you found him?”

“Not long. We sent for Dr Smith, who patched him up and told him to stay in bed. He did that for several days and grew more steady on his feet every day.”

“Do you know why he fell?”

“No. Smith thinks he might have had a slight stroke, but the Colonel doesn’t seem any worse for wear since then, so it’s hard to tell.”

Anne’s sigh was huge. “I’m so relieved you were there. Thank you so much.”

“I have better news.”

“What is it?”

“We spoke of spiritual things.”

Anne’s mouth opened.

“The Colonel doesn’t come with you to church, Anne, because the high ceiling makes him dizzy.”

“That’s what he told you?” The Colonel’s daughter looked as amazed as she felt.

“Yes, but I told him I still wanted to speak to him about the Bible, and twice he’s come to the side door and knocked. I go outside to sit with him, and we’ve spoken of Scripture.”

“What do you speak of specifically?”

“Jesus Christ. He listens well and even asks questions for short intervals. He tells me he thinks a lot of Jesus Christ.”

Anne felt as though she needed a chair. This was nothing less than a miracle.

“I’ve explained the way of salvation to him, Anne. He understood that he was a sinner and that Christ came to die for sins.”

“Did he understand that we’re lost until we accept that gift?”

“I’m not certain. He drifted before we could speak of eternity, but,” Pastor added, “he knows that you believe. He said you had taken care of things with God and that he should get to that some day soon.”

For a time Anne couldn’t say anything. She felt elated and drained all at the same time.

“I prayed for him every day.” Anne began to speak, her eyes not looking at anyone and her voice full of wonder. “Not for his spiritual well-being, although I thought of that, but more for his physical health and safety.” She finally looked at the Hursts. “Thank you. Thank you so much for being here and giving him all he needed.”

“You’re welcome,” Pastor said, and he meant it.

Eager to have some time with her father and to report to Weston, Anne didn’t stay long. Her heart still filled with the wonder of it all, she hugged her friends, thanked them once again, and hurried on her way.

Chapter Nineteen

Brown Manor

“So did you ever have a chance to speak with your father?” Weston asked when Anne explained the entire story. She had paced her way all over the salon as she talked. Weston had never seen her this way.

“No. I asked the driver to stop again on the way back, but he still wasn’t home. I left him only some of the food Cook prepared because his stores are in good shape, and I wrote him a short note.”

“And how do you feel about all of this?”

“My mind hasn’t slowed down long enough to deal with it.”

Weston couldn’t stop his smile. Anne was still on her feet, walking to and fro. It was easy to imagine what her mind must be doing.

“Do you think I should try to bring the subject up? Should I speak of it to him?”

“If he’s lucid when you see him, I don’t know why you shouldn’t.”

Anne nodded and then caught herself. She came to a stop and looked a little sheepish.

“I’ve been pacing this whole time. I’m not anxious, just excited.”

“As well you should be. You’ve prayed for your father for many years, and this gives you reason to hope that he might be ready to listen.”

“Yes, it does. That was well put.”

Anne forced herself to calm down and even took a seat. Weston sat next to her, turning slightly to look at her.

“How are Pastor and Mrs Hurst?”

“Doing well. I’m so glad they were there for Father.”

“He’s a blessed man to have all of you.”

“And you.”

Weston acknowledged this compliment with a nod.

“And the church family? All is well?”

“I believe so. We talked only of Father.”

Anne’s mind was still mulling over the morning’s activity when her husband interrupted her with a compliment.

“That dress is nice on you. I like the color.”

Anne looked down at the dark blue print as though just noticing.

“Thank you. I think this might be one of my favorites.”

“I also like the other blue one.”

“Which one?”

“I think you wore it the last day at Berwick.”

“Oh, yes. I like that one too.” Anne suddenly looked at him. “Not every woman has a husband who notices clothing. I rather like that about you, Mr Weston.”

“Not every man has the lovely wife I have, Mrs Weston, whose clothing only compliments her.”

The two laughed at their own silliness, but it didn’t take long to die away. As Anne was coming to expect, her husband’s eyes grew serious and warm all at the same time. She wished she knew what he was thinking, but he didn’t share.