Sarah Anne's Expedient Marriage (The Unshakable Faith Series Book 3)

by Cathy Bryant

  As it was beginning to sink in that she had actually done it, she began to smile. “I was starting to believe it was hopeless, and that I would never make it beyond our property line. Since I did not see him after he was shot, it is hard for me to believe he is actually dead. In any case, I did it. I really did it!”

  “That, you did!” he responded with delight at seeing his wife’s eyes light up, owing to her accomplishment.

  “Alexander, I wish to see the children. Do you think the Bleasdells would mind very much if I paid them a visit?”

  “No, indeed, for I am certain the children would love to see you. Jonathan and Hannah would as well. We shall plan on visiting, very soon.”

  As he glanced down at his wife, he observed that her countenance was one of joy. And now that her mood had changed—that she was no longer angry at Alice or as fearful of venturing away from the estate—Alexander was relieved he had not had to tell her everything. Then, rising from the steps together, the husband and wife set off for home. Hand in hand they strolled down the road, even a little beyond their own estate; however, as they neared Matthew Raymond’s former home, Sarah began to tense.

  “I never knew he lived so close until the day the constable and I went to see him, after you had gone away. Just after I had returned from England, the reverend had informed me of Matthew’s interest in you. It must have been frightening for you when, after what had happened in Cambridge, he showed up in Amesbury.”

  Sarah merely nodded. All she wanted to do just now was turn back and start for home. She needed to feel the safety of being within its walls.

  Feeling her hand tighten against his, Alexander said, “Sarah, it was a beginning. Do not expect more of yourself than you ought.” Pulling her close, he turned her in the opposite direction, away from the home that Matthew Raymond once owned. Alexander continued to talk in an attempt to calm his wife as they walked. When they were almost home, Sarah allowed herself to breathe again.

  As they entered the door, Martha quickly approached and pulled Sarah into her arms. As the young woman relaxed against her, Martha felt that Sarah had indeed taken a giant step toward putting the whole Matthew Raymond ordeal behind her.

  Later that night, after Sarah had gone to bed, Martha and Mr. Swyndhurst had tea together in the parlor. They were both elated over the events of the day. While they were conversing, Martha inadvertently gave away Sarah’s secret—that she had been troubled with nightmares since returning from Boston. When she realized what she had done, the elderly woman placed her hand over her mouth; however, Alexander had already picked up on the slip of the tongue.

  “Did you just say that Sarah has still been having nightmares?” Taking note of the nod of his servant’s head, he inquired, “Why did you not tell me?”

  Disappointed in herself for making such a blunder, Martha answered, “She asked me not to. What was I to do? Go against her wishes?”

  “No; I suppose not. Why did she ask you not to tell me?”

  “I believe she said something about not wanting to bother you.”

  “Martha, now that I am aware of the situation, I wish for you to come to me if it happens again.”

  “Very well. But it may be late in the night.”

  “That makes no difference. If necessary, wake me.” Wanting to be certain Martha had understood, he stressed the point. “I am quite serious, Martha. No matter what Sarah has said, I wish to know.”

  She then nodded to demonstrate that she would comply with his wishes. I guess I am a bit relieved that he finally knows. At any rate, until Sarah finds out what I have done.

  After Martha had gone to bed, with her door partly open as usual, she was again awakened by sounds coming from Sarah’s bedchamber. Once she had quietly made her way to Sarah’s door, the elderly servant listened for a moment. All was quiet now. But just as she was about to return to her own room, she heard her mistress cry out. Martha then hurried into the room. As had happened on many a night since her return from Boston, Sarah was tucked up at the head of her bed, sobbing. Scooting onto the bed, Martha reached over and gently placed her hand on the young woman’s arm. As she had many times before, she reminded Sarah that she had nothing to fear. “Sarah, you are safe. That terrible man is dead.” Then, shaking her head, she whispered to no one in particular, “I had hoped that after today she might also have put her nightmares behind her, just as she has her fear of leaving the yard.”

  Hearing the door opening behind her, Martha turned to see who had entered. Seeing the young woman’s husband approaching, she rose to her feet. Surmising that he had come to check on his wife and had heard the sounds, silently, she patted his arm and then left the couple alone.

  While taking a seat next to where Sarah was currently balled up weeping, Alexander spoke softly to her. He reassured her she was safe at home in her own bed.

  Sarah was beginning to awaken at this point. While wiping her eyes, she caught a glimpse of someone sitting next to her. Hearing her husband speaking to her, she calmed a bit. Then, with an unsteady voice, she whispered, “I am sorry, Alexander. I must have had another bad dream. I did not mean to wake you.”

  Alexander moved in closer and lifted her chin. “I think it is time you come back to my—that is, our bedchamber, where I can comfort you when this happens.” Sarah was thinking just then about how it had been upon their return the month before. Her husband had directed the servants to place her things in her private bedchamber. As she was not aware of the real reason he had done so, she didn’t want to go along with his suggestion, not until she was certain that it wasn’t out of obligation that he had said it, because of her nightmares. “Alexander, there is no need to give up your privacy. I shall be fine now.”

  Unable to comprehend why she would have said that about his privacy, he inquired, “I don’t quite take your meaning? Did you believe it was my desire that we have separate bedchambers, owing to some need for privacy on my part?”

  Feeling a little awkward, she forced herself to clarify. “I simply meant that things have changed between us since—”

  As it began to fully dawn on Alexander what she had thought had been his reason for the separate rooms, astonished, he asked again, “Sarah, did you believe that I wanted it this way, with us away from each other each night?”

  Dejectedly, she nodded. “I didn’t blame you. Who would want a wife who had given birth to another man’s child?”

  Stunned by what he was hearing, Alexander pulled his wife into his arms. “Sarah, first of all, as I have said before, none of what happened was your fault. Secondly, I claimed the child as my own, did I not? And had he lived, I would have been honored for him to call me Father.

  “Furthermore, I had your things brought into this bedchamber because I thought that, after what had happened, you might need time to yourself. I didn’t want to be as demanding as I had been before by insisting that you share my bedchamber. Sarah, I thought we had settled all of this in Boston.”

  With relief washing over her, she leaned into his chest, and sighed. After a few moments, he lifted her and carried her to their room. Once they were settled in, bedcovers in place, Alexander spoke gently to his wife. “Sarah, I believe that in time, once you have allowed yourself to experience the way God intended it to be between a man and a woman—a husband and wife—you shall have loving, cherished memories to overtake the terrible ones you now have—the very ones that have been frequenting you in the night.” After blowing out the candle, he whispered, “Now go to sleep. If you have any more bad dreams, be sure and wake me.”

  While processing all that her husband had said, Sarah remained contemplative for a little while. Perhaps he is right. Even though Matthew Raymond is dead, I often feel as if that terrible man still has power over me. He said as much when he proclaimed that I was his. I have never been able to get his words, or what happened, out of my mind.

  Realizing his wife hadn’t answered him about waking him if she had another nightmare, Alexander whispered, “Sarah
, did you hear what I said about waking me?” He wasn’t certain she was even awake.

  Hearing her husband’s voice, Sarah responded, “Yes, Alexander. I heard you. I was just thinking about what you said with regard to supplanting the bad memories. Alexander…that terrible man, at times, made me feel that I belonged to him—as though I were his property. He even said as much.”

  “He couldn’t make it so by wishing it, Sarah. No matter what he said, it simply isn’t true. That is just another example of how mistaken he was in his thinking. God intended for a husband and wife to belong to each other. It was never His intention for any man to own a woman. I belong to you just as much as you belong to me. What is more, it is never acceptable to take another man’s wife, or for that matter, any woman against her will.”

  Once again, Sarah was quiet. Alexander allowed the silence, knowing his wife was thinking over what he had said. After a few moments, he felt her move closer to him.

  “I love you, Alexander,” she whispered. “I believe I would like to make new memories.”

  Wrapping his arms around his wife, Alexander asked, “Are you certain?”

  “Yes, I want to feel as though I belong to you and that you belong to me—that we belong to each other. I want that man out of my thoughts.”

  “I truly believe that if we come together in this way, it shall help you put him, and the memories, behind you. Be that as it may, it is also going to take time and prayer to fully heal emotionally.”

  “I understand, Alexander.”

  When morning came, the couple had entered into a different kind of marriage. It was no longer an expedient marriage between strangers. It had now become a marriage in which each person felt loved and treasured. What is more, Sarah finally understood God’s plan for how it should be between a husband and wife. She now felt safe in the arms of her loving husband, rather than terrified in the grasp of a man who had no right to claim her as his own.

  Two days later, Sarah awoke to her husband sitting next to her, waiting for her eyes to open. He had a surprise for her that couldn’t wait. All he would say was that after she dressed, there was somewhere he needed to take her. A short time later, anxious to find out where they were going, Sarah was standing by the wagon, eagerly awaiting her husband.

  Pleased at the sight of his wife’s excitement regarding his surprise, Alexander approached and helped her onto the wagon. While attempting to hide a smile about the delight he knew he would see upon Sarah’s face the moment she learned the truth, Alexander climbed up beside her.

  Before long, they arrived at the Bleasdells’ home. As they neared the front door, though Sarah was overjoyed that she would finally be seeing the children, she silently questioned why Alexander had said it was a surprise. Has he forgotten that he already informed me that the children have been staying with the Bleasdells?

  Just then, Jonathan opened the door. As soon as Sarah entered the house, Elizabeth and Samuel Strout came running over to her. With tears in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around them. Hannah soon approached with a now three-year-old Mary in her arms. It had been some time since the little girl had seen Sarah, so she timidly observed her siblings’ elation at seeing the somewhat familiar woman.

  Samuel, full of excitement, was eager to share with the Swyndhursts all that he had been doing with Jonathan’s son, David, who lived on the property as well. The young man explained that the Bleasdells’ son had a little shop close to the house in which he made clocks and that David Bleasdell had been good enough to take him under his wing by showing him a thing or two about the clock-making business. Samuel had decided that he, too, would be a clockmaker when he grew up, and he said as much to the Swyndhursts, who were listening attentively. All of this was explained with Samuel scarcely taking a breath.

  Sarah and Alexander, both attempting to hide a smile, had glanced at each other several times while the young man enlightened them on what he had been doing. It was clear to the couple that Samuel found David Bleasdell’s work extraordinary. Elizabeth stood silently by, holding Sarah’s hand while her brother chattered on.

  Jonathan said quietly for Alexander’s ears only that his son had been courting a young lady by the name of Abigail Colby and that having an extra set of hands around afforded David additional free time to spend with his lady. Alexander smiled at Jonathan’s commentary on the matter.

  After Jonathan and Hannah had escorted the couple into the parlor, they directed them to be seated. The older children had gone out of doors to play, while little Mary joined the adults in the parlor. As they all conversed, Alexander explained, mostly for his wife’s benefit, that when Alice Strout had approached him with an unusual request, he had seen for himself the lack in Alice’s abilities. Looking directly at his wife now, he further explained that it had been Alice’s desire that he take the children so she might remove to Ipswich to be with her sister. Taking his wife’s hand, he stated that without her there to help out, Alice had felt completely overwhelmed, and that after some prayer concerning the situation, he had agreed to take the children. He knew he had said some of this before, the day Sarah first made it all the way to the Strouts’ former home, but he wanted to explain everything, to her, in context.

  It was Hannah’s turn to explain how the children had come to be with them. Gaining Sarah’s attention, she began, “When Alexander learned of your whereabouts, he asked that we take care of the children so he might go and fetch you. Peter brought the children to us the day Alexander set off to collect you.”

  It still hadn’t fully occurred to Sarah what all of this meant, that the children would be living at the Swyndhurst estate with her. All she could think about, just now, was her admiration for the Bleasdells and Alexander for looking after the children.

  At last, Alexander lightly squeezed his wife’s hand. Aware that she still had not taken his meaning concerning the children, he inquired, “Sarah, do you still not understand?”

  Staring blankly at her husband, Sarah remained thoughtful, but silent. All at once, it came to her what they had all been trying to explain. Turning to the Bleasdells, and then back to her husband, she smiled widely.

  Seeing that she had finally comprehended what he had been trying to say, with a chuckle, Alexander stated for the record, “The children are ours now, Sarah. Though they have been here for a time with the Bleasdells, when we set off for home in a little while, they will be accompanying us.”

  Astonished by all that she had heard, Sarah stood up, reached over and wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed him. “I cannot believe it! The children will be living with us?” she said with more of a question than a statement.

  Chuckling, the amused husband then responded to her reaction to the news. “Now, that is more like it.” Still grinning, he continued, “Yes, they shall be residing at our home, just as they had been before I set off for Boston.” By now, the Bleasdells were also laughing at Sarah’s reaction.

  The older children soon returned. With her heart full of joy, Sarah quickly pulled them into her arms. They were her children now. She would no longer have to worry over them, for she would be there every day, from that time forward, to see to their care.

  After a short visit, the Swyndhursts and the Strout children went on their way. Though the children had enjoyed their stay at the Bleasdells’ home, they were overjoyed that Sarah had returned and they would be living with her. Sarah had always meant the world to them. Not having seen her for so long a time had been difficult for them. Samuel had been reassured that he could return to the Bleasdells’ to work alongside David any time he wished. As the children snuggled with Sarah in the rear of the wagon, while riding along, they all felt loved and cherished, which was just as the tiny woman had always made them feel. Alexander, glancing back at his family, had to wipe away a tear or two.

  By the time the children were tucked in their own beds that night, little Mary had again warmed to Mrs. Swyndhurst. Sarah kissed her on the head and thanked God for how things had turned o
ut. She also prayed for Alice, knowing that it must have broken her heart to make such a decision. After blowing out the candle, she turned and left the room. Then, closing the door behind her, she noticed her husband standing there waiting for her. They walked arm in arm to their own bedchamber. As they entered, Alexander asked if Sarah believed he had made the right decision in allowing the children to live with them. By way of a response, reaching up, she placed her hands on his cheeks, and then, gently pulling him down to her level, she kissed him.

  “Does that answer your question? To me, you are the most wonderful husband in the entire world! Though I married you out of obedience to my Father’s wishes, I am now so glad that I did.”

  His countenance one of pure happiness, Alexander responded, “Thank you for allowing me in your life, Sarah. God has truly blessed me with the best little wife possible.”

  “Little! I’ll give you little,” Sarah responded teasingly, while pretending to poke her husband in the stomach.

  Lifting her to his level, Alexander wrapped his arms tightly around her and said, “I love you my dearest…little wife.”

  A month after the Strout children had returned to the Swyndhurst estate, the senior Mr. Swyndhurst arrived from England, for Alexander had sent word to his father months before that Sarah had gone missing. Alexander had also explained what had happened to cause her to flee. The elder Swyndhurst had set off for Amesbury the moment he was able to make the arrangements.

  Upon entering the house, the father embraced his son. He was yet unaware that Sarah had been found and was safely at home where she belonged. “Alexander, tell me, has Sarah been found?” After so many weeks at sea, he couldn’t wait a moment longer to know if the young woman was safe.

  After Alexander had directed Peter to see to his father’s things, he escorted his father to the kitchen. As they were making their way there, the son responded to his father’s question. “Yes, Father, she has. There is much to tell. Let us get you something to eat while we talk.”