The fact that he was the owner of the land that they had been trying to dispute, only gave her chills. This was in the hands of fate, it had to be. Now she truly knew the church would be safe, but now her heart was also safe. She had longed for Jacob for so long, and it seemed that he had very interesting news. He owned the land. Did this mean he was no longer a bandit?
She wanted to ask him badly, but in the company of Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins, who referred to him as Smith, she could not ask any of these questions. She had to keep both of their identities safe, and secret. It was something that they shared together.
But the questions burned inside of her.
“How do you feel, Sarah?” He asked.
“I feel much better, now that I have sat here and rested, and listened to your news. I can't thank you enough, sir, for coming to my rescue.”
“Then I wonder, I am to book a room here, but when I am done, would you consider taking a walk with me? Fresh air might do you some good, and you can show me the village.”
“I would be delighted,” She said.
“Excellent.” Jacob stood up and went to the counter to pay for lodging.
“He is a very agreeable man, is he not?” Mrs. Hawkins said, giving her a strange look. Did she think there was something between them? Perhaps it was very obvious in the way they looked at each other, but she did not want Mrs. Hawkins to think that she was indecent with her former employer, or at least that is what they thought their relation was.
“Yes, he has always been a very kind man. I'm glad that the church will be saved. I must tell Pastor Bryce straight away.”
“Yes, he will be happy to hear it, as well as the town.”
“Miss Christian, are you ready for that stroll?” Jacob reappeared, next to her side.
“I am.” She stood up and they said their goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins, and then walked out into the sunlight.
“Perhaps we can head in this direction. It is the land that you owned at the end of the street there, for the church.”
“Then I would very much like to see it,” He said.
Once they were away from the Inn, Jennifer could not hold on to her questions anymore.
“I must know everything Jacob. How is it that you have become a landowner, and have a business. I want to know all, what happened after Washington?”
“I went to Cornwall, as I told you. There was a ship coming in, with plenty of gold. We robbed it.”
“You did not?” she gasped.
“I did. It was enough to set me up, to start my own business and buy plenty of land. I have been buying land here and there, since I met you. But not enough to be substantial, not enough to provide. so with the loot from the Cornwall ship, I set out to build my empire. It took a year, but now I am settled. I have an estate in Bristol, and plenty of land holdings. Most that I lease to the railroad company to expand the railroad.”
She stopped walking. Jennifer was feeling regret. He had asked her to go with him long ago to Cornwall. But she could not risk it. Now that she saw it had turned out quite well, she regretted losing that year with him. With an estate, and a rightful business, good and proper and not against the law, he must have a wife, possibly a family.
“And this estate in Bristol, is it very large?”
“Yes, indeed it is. It is a proper manor house, more rooms than I could count, and it sits on 20 acres of park.”
“That is very grand. Your family must be very happy there. So much room,” She said.
“Family? It is just I and the servants, and a few of my workers that work for the Land Company, working out of the home office sometimes. But I am all alone there.”
“You are?”
“Yes. Come on, let's continue walking,” He urged her forward. She wondered if he was forcing her to continue walking because he did not want to talk about who lived in the house with him. Just because he was not married, did not mean he did not have a mistress. He tried to make her his mistress at one time. An attractive man like him could not go very long without the company of women. It brought her great jealousy to imagine it.
They moved past the end of the row of shops, and out into the nature areas of the village.
“The church will be just beyond there,” She said, but she noticed that Jacob had stopped.
“This is not how I had planned to do this. But you are here, by some miracle. And I am here with you, I will not let this opportunity go. I will not let you go. Not again, not ever.”
“Jacob, what do you mean?”
“Your words a year ago cut through me like a knife, you said that you could not be with me while I was a criminal. I knew then that I needed to stop myself, straight and fast. I did all of it as fast as I could. I hope that you will find that I am a good man now. One that you could be with. I have given up the bandit life. The black bandit is no more, it is just me, Jacob - Archer J. Smith.”
“Oh Jacob, I should have never said those things. In the moment I was filled with fright. I had been on my way to Australia, I was so scared to risk anything again. I should not have said those things to you.”
“No, I am glad you did. You were right, I should not have asked to put you in danger like that. But that is in our past. When I am trying to say, Jennifer Bronson, is that I love you.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
“I love you too, Jacob. I think I have loved you since the night in the Black Forest. You have never been far from my thoughts, never. It has been torture to be without you. I love you.”
“We belong together, Jennifer. We are the only people that truly know who we are. We have the secret between us, you know who I truly am and you know my past. I know who you truly are, and what you run from. Let me take care of you.”
“I want nothing more than that, to be with you.”
“Then, will you be my wife?” Jacob reached into the lapel of his coat, and pulled out a silver ring with an emerald.
“Jacob, it is so beautiful. Yes, I will be your wife.”
“I have held onto this ring for a year. I bought it in Washington, after I left you with Mrs. Hawkins. I knew that one day I would ask you. It is emerald, like your eyes”
“You have held on to it since then?”
“I was coming to find you, this month. I was set to find you. But here you are, and you have agreed to be my wife.”
“Yes, I will be your wife. I love you, Jacob.”
“And I you,” he slipped the ring on her finger. Then he pulled her close.
Jennifer tilted her head back, his lips pressed against hers. She felt heat rush through her, it always happened when he touched her. She did not care that they were kissing in public, they were going to be married. Nothing mattered more than that in this moment.
Her lips parted. His tongue explored her mouth, and she was filled with more happiness than she thought could be accomplished in one lifetime. She had Jacob Leary, the black Bandit that had saved her in the night long ago, and had saved her again and again. Now he was saving her a fourth time, saving her heart from being empty without him.
“You make me very happy, Jennifer. Let us continue this walk before we return to inform your employers that you will be departing with me to Bristol.”
“You really mean it, Jacob? I am to come live with you?”
“Yes, and that is where we shall be married as soon as may be.”
Then she stopped walking. “What of my family, Jacob? I must see them. It has been too long; years. I should barely know them. Adam is barely a child any longer.”
“Does their cousin Sarah Christian still send money to them?”
“Yes, indeed she does is?” Jennifer smiled.
“Then Sarah shall send a letter, summoning them to come live with her in Bristol. All expenses will be cared for, and a carriage will be sent to them in a week’s time, to give them proper time to prepare, and to attend the wedding.”
“Oh Jacob, do you really mean it? But is it not dangerous?”
/> “No, I believe it has been long enough. They must truly believe they are coming to live with their cousin until they arrive, so as not to give it away to anyone in Cottered. but once they arrive, all shall be well. Besides, what is to say that your name is not Sarah Jennifer Christian, so that if they call you Jennifer, it will be of no mind.”
“You do think of everything. I shall send them a letter as soon as I return to the end. I am so grateful Jacob, I cannot wait to see them again. I miss them terribly, thank you for allowing my family to be your family.”
“I would be honored to meet them and live with them. The estate is very grand indeed. They should have an entire wing to themselves, too” He playfully said.
“That would be most agreeable to them!”
They continued their walk into the nature paths, enjoying each other’s company. Jennifer was filled with joy and she knew things were always right when Jacob was around. Now he would be at her side forever.
* * *
chapter
4 5
* * *
“Pastor Bryce, may I come in?” Jennifer asked as she stood outside the church tent.
“Miss Christian, of course.” he stood up and smiled.
Jennifer felt a tinge of guilt. He was a good and proper man, and perhaps if she had never met Jacob, this could be a man she could have a future with, but those were not the circumstances.
“I have come to say goodbye, for I am leaving Knowl Hill.”
“Yes, I am to congratulate you on your forthcoming nuptials. It is very grand indeed.”
“Thank you Patrick. This is the man I have always loved.”
“Then I am happy for you, Sarah.”
“Thank you. I am happy to hear that. But I could not leave without saying goodbye. The church is being built as promised and nothing will get in the way now.”
“Yes, I believe you will now be the owner of the land since you are to marry the landowner.”
“No. I am not. The church is,” she held out a paper.
“What? What is this?”
“My fiance is handing over the deed to the church. The land now belongs to the church and you are the keeper,” she smiled.
“This... I cannot... this is truly a blessing.” he smiled.
“He is a good man.”
“I can see that. You must thank him for me, Sarah. I am deeply grateful. The church will be a great service to this village.”
“Yes, and I know that you will as well. Goodbye, Pastor,” she put her hand out.
He shook her hand and smiled. Jennifer turned, feeling elated that she spoke with Patrick. For he did seem happy, and she was happy. Now, she was set to start her life further west in Bristol, with the love of her life.
She looked around the village one last time, before heading back to the Inn.
“Oh my dear girl, you truly are a Cinderella, are you not? Your employer fell in love with you, and now you are to be married. What a grand story indeed,” Mrs. Hawkins gave her a warm embrace as they stood outside, ready to say their goodbyes to Jacob and Jennifer, or Sarah and Smith as they knew them.
“Yes, exactly that,” Jennifer answered, for Mrs. Hawkins did not truly know how they fell in love. But there was no need,;that secret belonged to Jacob and Jennifer only, and they would cherish it.
“Take good care of our Sarah,” Mr. Hawkins shook Jacobs hand.
“The best care that anyone could ever receive ,sir. She has my heart after all,” Jacob said.
The rattling of carriage wheels grabbed her attention down the street.
“Here comes my carriage,” Jacob said.
Jennifer turned to see a very ornate barouche box, the grandest and most comfortable of travelling carriages.
“That is your carriage?” She said in shock.
“Yes, well it is our carriage. It is a long trip, we must be comfortable.” He said.
“Oh, it is very lovely,” Mrs. Hawkins said excitedly.
The carriage stopped, and Jacob opened the door. Together they climbed in, and waved their goodbyes at the Hawkins.
Minutes later, they were into the countryside and headed west.
“I cannot believe you have such a grand carriage,” Jennifer said, looking at the enormous amount of room.
“Sometimes it takes travelling in the night, and there is room enough to sleep. That is important, but you do have to be careful when travelling at night.”
“And why is that, sir?”
“Because it is very dangerous, there are Highwaymen. Have you not heard of the infamous Black Bandit? He is very fast and skilled, never been caught.”
Jennifer laughed, a hearty laugh. Jacob always did this to her, made her feel like a young girl again, before London had robbed her spirit. Anytime she was with him, her spirit came back to her. This was how it should be.
“I have heard of him, sir, and he sounds quite dangerous. I'm glad that I have never run into the likes of him.”
“Come here,” Jacob said.
Jennifer sat across from him in the carriage, and he beckoned for her to sit beside him. She moved across, sitting next to him.
“Is this better?”
“Yes, but this is even better,” He said as he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her in the privacy of their carriage.
This was to be the routine of their trip; embracing, kissing, and enjoying the fact that they would finally be together. They were engaged, and nothing was going to stop them becoming man and wife.
Jennifer had waited very long for this. She had suffered and been through hardship beyond anything imaginable. She had been separated from her family, she had lost loved ones, and she had her freedom taken away.
But because it all added up to this moment, she was willing to accept that it was her past. She was willing to accept that still she was a fugitive, and if anyone knew her real name, she could wind up in prison once more. It was a risk that she was willing to take, to be with her love, and to have her family with her once more.
She had sent the letter to her mother just as she had been before, under the name of Sarah Christian, a cousin of their father. It was never questioned, when she first wrote, and Katrina answered in her mother's stead.
Now, she would wait for their arrival, and it could not happen quick enough. On the journey to Bristol, on the way to her new life, and to seeing her family again for the first time in years. It made her heavy with happiness and joy.
* * *
“This is it, we have arrived,” Jacob said.
Jennifer eagerly crawled over his lap, and pushed her head out the window of the carriage to see the grand estate. But she saw nothing but wilderness.
“This? Where is the house?” She asked.
“We have not reached the house yet. W are entering the park that's around the house.”
“This? This is all yours? This belongs to the house?”
“Yes, indeed it does.” He smiled at her.
“There is so much land. We could walk for an hour and still be on the land of the estate. Adam will have such fun running around, looking for frogs.”
“Indeed he will. And he shall have the finest education, he will want for nothing. We will see to that illness that plagues him. He will get better, Jennifer.”
Jennifer moved back into the carriage and embraced him. She would never get tired of hearing all of the ways he was going to take care of her and take care of her family.
The carriage rolled down the path a few more minutes. Until finally, they were in sight of the house.
“Oh Jacob, it is very grandeindeed. I have never seen a house so happily placed. I love it very dearly,” She said.
“I am glad that you approve, that makes me very happy. This is your home now Jennifer, your true home. You have been through very much, we have both moved from home to home, and now we make this our home. We shall want for nothing ever again.”
Jennifer smiled at him, holding back tears of joy. She looked at the very large house made
of grey blocks of granite. Large colossal columns framed the front of the house, like an old greek temple. Formal gardens pushed out in front, providing flowers and shrubs around fountains. It was paradise, and now this was her home.
“Jacob, I am happy. I am truly happy.”
“I love you, Jennifer Bronson.”
* * *
epilogue
* * *
Bristol 1860
Jennifer had never felt happier than she was at the Bristol estate. She had been reunited with her family, and indeed Adam was older, but still a child at 12 years of age.
Being reunited was the sweetest feeling. She had missed them greatly, and now that they were living in the same home again, she would never be ungrateful or take time for granted, for she had been taken from them for too long.
“Jenny, look at what I have written,” Adam brought a piece of parchment over to her as they sat in the grand library.
“Show me,” Jennifer said, putting her arm around his shoulder, and looking at the parchment.
“It is a story I wrote about a frog in the forest.”
“That is delightful, would you read it to me?” She asked.
He nodded his head eagerly. She was very sad that she had missed the years of him growing up, but she did not regret having to do what was necessary to make sure he stayed in good health.
Jacob had kept his promise and they had the best doctors coming to see him, and indeed they found a way to heal Adam, and she was ever grateful for it. Now he had all the nutrition that he needed, and was a growing strong boy.
She listened and stared at his face as he read to her. She still saw the little boy that would bring her frogs, and it pulled at her heart. Though she regretted not being there, she was grateful for the time that she had with him now.
But every now and again, she thought about Kevin. He should be there with them, he would be around the same age as Adam, and be a proper brother to him, someone to play with and get through life with. She often thought about that young boy, and his untimely death. He still had a piece of her heart.
Her mother, now living in comfort, and her injured leg, did very well in this new environment. Having servants to wait on her, and hot mineral baths to take the pain away from her leg.
Passage of a Desolate Woman (#2, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 21
