Handfasted to You

by Ginny Sterling

  “Well I didn’t come back to 1770 to live my life for no reason.”

  “Why did you come? Why choose now?”

  “I was told I was needed,” she admitted. “I didn’t get to choose. I was told that I was incredibly important. Eve said I was an inspiration,” she said with a raw, bitter laugh, holding back tears at the thought of being given a chance to live again only to have it yanked away by war. This time, her life was being served up complete with a gorgeous husband.

  “Do you intend to return to where you came from?”

  “I can’t,”

  “Does that upset you?”

  “No, I feel a strange peace here. Like I am home. It’s weird because it’s only been a few days and I can’t imagine leaving.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Are you sure? Because you didn’t look too pleased with me a few moments ago.”

  “My beautiful wife, who suddenly appears out of nowhere, starts spouting off secrets and predictions? Yes, I’m very much concerned for her safety especially if war is coming and could put her in jeopardy,” he said gently, pulling her into his arms.

  “William, I just met you,” she whispered against his chest feeling the rough shirt under her cheek. “I don’t want to lose you. I’m so torn. I’m scared that I didn’t recognize your name. Is that because you are gone? Is it because I was not studying my lessons? I’m ashamed that I cannot answer.”

  “Look at me,” he said gently.

  Emeline turned her head up and met his warm eyes. It was so strange how drawn she was to him. Never in her life had she felt such a pull, such desire, for a man. Was this how people described having the right chemistry together? It was a magnetic sensation that drew her to him. One look, one touch, and she was pudding. There was no fight in her when it came to the way life was with him. They meshed almost instantly and she felt whole. It was terrifying but incredibly right.

  “If the future is unknown, we need to make the best of our time together,” he said gently. “I never wanted a wife before you. I intended to return the dowry simply because I didn’t want to involve someone I cared for in a fight we may not win.”

  “You never told me what you do to aid them.”

  “Now? You want to know that now?”

  “Not really, maybe later,” she said quickly, dismissing her curiosity.

  “Emeline, you are incredible,” he chuckled. “One moment you are spilling state secrets, the next I am telling you how infatuated I am with you.”

  “I’m a pretty likeable girl,” she said, curling her finger on the bare skin of his chest where it was exposed. She adored how he reacted to her touch. That secretive, knowing smile on his face illuminated his golden eyes. That single expression made all her doubts fade away.

  “Yes, you are,” he said gently. He turned her around and kissed her cheek. “Sweet wife, you are enchanting,” he said reverently as he began untying the laces at the back of her gown slowly. She knew the fire he could kindle in her and the pleasure it brought.

  Yep, complete pudding, she thought with a contented sigh.

  Chapter 7

  Emeline awoke first the next morning. It felt so strange lying next to a man. She found herself reaching for him subconsciously during the night. It must be the same for him, because he was sound asleep yet holding her hand. She was drawn to him.

  That’s what soulmates do, they grow stronger together. There is an inner peace there, she heard Eve say suddenly.

  There really is no privacy with you, is there?

  You’re covered and I am pretty happy to get a glimpse of what you have gotten to enjoy.

  Emeline glanced over and, sure enough, William’s bare body was almost completely uncovered. She looked around the room and didn’t see Eve. Feeling possessive, she leaned upwards and threw the sheet over his exposed rear end with her free hand. Her other hand, she felt him give a light squeeze as he smiled in his sleep.

  He is dreaming of you right now, Eve said gently.

  You know, that really is extremely creepy to be hovering where people can’t see you and snooping in our thoughts.

  I kinda have to, comes with the job.

  Right… the job that has no title you want to share.

  Exactly. Speaking of, I know it’s not been a week but how are you feeling about your relocation?

  You would ask me while I’m in bed with him, wouldn’t you? That is kinda like coaching how you want me to answer a survey. ‘Tens and yes is a passing score’, kind of thing. Ask me when we are sick from cholera, plague or whatever they catch in 1770. Oh, better yet, ask me when there is a bunch of screaming kids running around and no money.

  So, you could picture yourself having children with him?

  I didn’t really say that in so many words.

  No, you didn’t, not in those exact terms… but don’t you think that is the natural progression of what you are doing?

  Eve was right. Mind blowing, unprotected sex repeatedly with a man generally resulted in pregnancy. Staring at him, she wondered what a child would look like between them. Would it have his golden eyes or her dark ones? Would it have his beautiful smile that she saw on his face now? The idea of being his wife was starting to feel real with all it entailed. War, loss, fear were in her immediate future. But so were tenderness, protection, love and the possibility for so much more!

  You don’t have to answer now.

  I don’t think I can.

  I know.

  Being here, being by his side is easy right now.

  Do you think it would feel different if it was harder? Would that change how you felt?

  “I don’t know,” she whispered aloud feeling torn. She realized that Eve didn’t answer her or acknowledge her response. Instead, feeling alone by the silence, she turned to William for comfort before she realized it. Curling against his warm body felt so right and she heard his sigh of contentment.

  “Yeah, me, too, big guy,” Emeline whispered, shutting her eyes to sleep after kissing his cheek. “Me, too.”

  The sun was high in the sky by the time they eventually got out of bed and got dressed. They had spent the morning laughing and playing in bed. If her whole world could exist in this room alone, she would be content. Instead, there were so many necessities that would have to be dealt with. He worked hard, even if he hadn’t the last few days. It had felt like a honeymoon between them. She would need to learn how to keep house in this time period. No electricity, no running water and having to make everything from scratch seemed daunting. Other women did it, so could she.

  “Shall we try finishing your tour of the city and have coffee?” William asked her, interrupting her thoughts. “This time with no traitorous discussions?”

  “Absolutely,” Emeline agreed easily. “And no crazy talk or anything that will get us in trouble. I swear,” she promised, crossing her chest with a finger. Her heart gave a lurch as he took her hand and kissed the tip of it.

  “Thank you,” he replied. “There will be several people there because it’s a well-known meeting place for us. I don’t want you in danger but it does have the best coffee in town. Even the Redcoats end up inside, but I think they are there to watch us. Not have coffee,” he admitted with a grin.

  Nodding, she watched him tuck in his shirt and button a long vest across his chest. The dress and costume seemed so foreign to her. She could only imagine what he would think of her modern clothing! He looked damned good in anything he wore apparently. Tucking her hair back in a loose bun, she carefully tied a hat over her hair so to keep her appearance modest. Tucking a handkerchief around her shoulder like she had seen other women wearing yesterday, she glanced at her reflection in the small, hazy mirror on the armoire. She looked like she belonged.

  “You look beautiful,” William said proudly, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I could not have asked for a more perfect wife.”

  “Did you ask at all?” she teased.

  “No,” he replied honestly. “The only thing I
have asked for is the strength to fight when I have to and I believe that time is coming.”

  “I know,” she admitted sadly, meeting his eyes in the reflection. “I know it is and we will all have to be strong when it happens.”

  “But,” he said, spinning her around and smiling down at her. “Until then? I have the most beautiful bride to show off and if we don’t leave our room soon, I may be tempted to detain her yet again.”

  “Promises, promises,” she teased, kissing him quickly.

  “Promises kept, love,” he said, walking ahead of her to the stairs.

  Emeline stood still, staring at his back as he descended the steep stairs she detested. He called her love? She knew Eve claimed they were soulmates but for some reason it never dawned on her that they could grow to love each other. She assumed that the term soulmate just meant they were two peas in a pod that got along. The idea of having a chance to be a part of an all-consuming love, like what you read in the romance novels or see in the movies, was entirely humbling.

  “Emeline, are you coming?” he asked, looking over his shoulder with a smile. “I will never let you fall. I promise, if you fall I will catch you on the way down.”

  Nodding, she stepped down the stairs awkwardly. She moved down them one at a time, sideways and clutching the bannister. It threw her for a loop each time and she saw him grinning at her exaggerated movements.

  “The stupid stairs are too tall, okay? Each riser comes up to my knee and I am a tall woman!” she defended, laughing at his upraised eyebrow. She watched as he walked over to the stairs and held out his arms towards her. Glancing down, she saw she had three steps still to go before she was on the ground. Laughing at his expression, she willingly leaned forward as he picked her up off the steps.

  “You’ll forever keep me on my toes, won’t you?” he asked tenderly, pulling her against him in a hug as he held her aloft. She felt perfectly content to come down the horrible stairs just like this every single day.

  “It seems that way. Tell you what,” she said with a wide smile. “How about we work together on them? You cut the wood and I will hammer it into place.” It was only fair of her to help if she was having issues with something he had already built to his own specifications. She couldn’t help that she was so much shorter than he was.

  He let his arms slip as he started laughing. “Ah Emeline, you are full of teasing, my love. I would never ask you to hammer something.”

  “I could do it,” she challenged.

  “I don’t doubt you could do anything you put your mind to,” he amended quickly.

  “I know you old-fashioned men think that women can’t do manual labor, but listen now and learn fast. I can do almost anything you can,” she said hotly, pulling out of his arms.

  He grabbed her quickly, understanding that she was angry. Emeline let herself be pulled into his embrace, crushing her hat against him. “You’ll mess my hair!”

  “You’ll still be beautiful to me. Emeline, I never meant it as an insult. You are always surprising me,” he admitted. “I hope, someday, that I can return the favor and give you as much happiness as you have brought me.”

  Somewhat mollified, she nodded and smiled up at him. You sap! He coos and you melt right away in his arms. He quickly donned a holster over his head and tucked a gun by his side that was hidden by his cloak. She watched him and stood still as he tied another cloak around her shoulders as well.

  Leaving the house, they walked hand in hand for some ways. William stopped and smiled at people he met on the street. He seemed to know everyone in town or they knew him. While his smile would falter as he saw a soldier, it would reappear when he shook hands with a fellow townsperson. Each time, she was introduced as his wife proudly. It was different not going to a church or justice of the peace, but this seemed to be the way it was done here. Arriving at the coffeehouse he favored, she could see why.

  Large paned windows made the interior feel open and warm. Several tables were ringed with wooden chairs with a healthy distance between them, giving the opportunity for discussions to be private instead of overheard. The heady aroma of coffee grounds as well as vanilla and cinnamon practically made her mouth water as she instantly thought of a Frappuccino from Starbucks. She could only hope this was half as good because it certainly wouldn’t be frozen or slushy unless they used snow. Yuck!

  Looking around, she saw one of the larger tables at the back was already occupied by Samuel Adams and several other men. He must have seen William because he waved them over to join them. William introduced her yet again and she kept her head bowed demurely as to keep from meeting Samuel and Benjamin’s knowing expressions.

  “William, your bride may sit here while you fetch her a refreshment,” Samuel said firmly. Emeline nodded in agreement and smiled hesitantly at William. He glanced between the two of them and moved to get several cups of coffee.

  “Mrs. Spencer, how have you been?” Samuel asked politely.

  “Very well, Mr. Adams. Thank you,” she replied in the same tone and folded her hands in her lap, looking down sedately.

  “Glad to hear it,” he said simply as if her actions were correct. “Now gentleman, as I was saying…” he continued easily discussing the buck he had brought down last week on his land.

  I guess this is what people do nowadays. Listen to each other brag about the size of the deer they hunted or how much they had to drink. She saw that several men in the room had pipes hanging from their mouths and almost grinned at the fact that they were smoking inside the building. That would be against the law back home!

  Seeing William return with his arms full, she moved to help him. He had grabbed cups for everyone, having them hooked carefully on one hand and the pot of coffee in the other. He must have approved at her silent offer to help, because he gave her the most heartwarming smile as she took the cups. Emeline jumped as the other men at the table banged on it in hearty approval. Nodding shyly, she placed the cups down and offered to pour. Their surprised looks told her that it was expected of her to pour and serve the coffee. Humph!

  Taking the tall, elongated, silver coffeepot in her hands, she placed a finger carefully on the top to keep it steady as she poured. It was odd yet sophisticated to see it poured like this instead of using a glass carafe or insulated thermos. The arch of the spout gave a high arch of coffee that she had to be careful with so she didn’t spill. She served each of the men first and poured her own coffee last. Taking her seat, she leaned in to whisper a thank you to William. He patted her knee in response as he picked up the conversation regarding deer hunting.

  They were telling tall tales. Only, instead of the fish being over a foot long, The men were comparing their hunting skills. Imagine if they were jocks? They would probably whip out their privates and measure them to see whose was the biggest! she mused comically and nearly choked.

  She was trying to be cultured and delicate. But as she took a sip, she found that the coffee was nothing like it had been back home and choked on the strong drink. There, it was smooth and apparently very weak. Here, it was extremely bitter and scalding hot. Several handkerchiefs were held in her direction as William patted her on the back. Accepting one gratefully, she covered her mouth and regained her breath.

  “My apologies,” she rasped.

  “Is the coffee too strong? Would you prefer a weak tea?” she was asked by the gentleman that had offered her the handkerchief.

  “Mercy, no,” she declined quickly. “I can’t stand the stuff. I prefer a strong coffee every morning. Weak tea? It’s for children.” They must have found it uproariously funny because she suddenly fit in at the table. There were several nods of approval and the guarded looks in their eyes disappeared. Emeline was asked if she had ever been hunting with her father or William, because a lady wasn’t expected to go alone or bag a deer herself. That was okay because the idea of field dressing your kill made her stomach want to turn.

  Thinking of the least offensive, sexist comment that they might ex
pect to hear, she smiled sweetly and replied, “No, hunting is for strong men. I am better served if I take care of my husband’s home and hearth. Someday, we’ll have a family that I will need to nurture and raise.” Gag! Talk about laying it on thick! she considered, imagining that women’s rights activists were rolling over in their graves right now. This seemed to appease the men as they cheered William’s good fortune in his new wife. William looked at her oddly, as if he knew she was being sarcastic. Emeline patted him on the knee this time, causing him to jump at the display of affection.

  Sitting silently, she looked around the room and watched the people that gathered. Several men and women frequented the shop. She saw some Redcoats loitering outside and a few inside simply hovering, keeping watch. It was eerie to be watched by a military faction night and day. She couldn’t imagine what a strain it must put on the people to have this go on for years and years. No wonder tensions were high!

  A dark loaf of bread was brought over with a massive knife sticking out of the middle. Taking it as her cue, she stood and sliced it; serving each man, William being the first. She could see why he enjoyed visiting the coffeehouse. Warm food, warm drink and companionship. That might be hard to come by during inclement weather, which had thankfully passed them by so far!

  After a while, William stood and held out his hand towards her. “I believe we will take our leave, gentleman. Adams, I shall see you soon,” he said pointedly, garnering a nod from him in return. They had business to attend to and it had nothing to do with a sale. They would be working together regarding the uprising. It was apparent that the table might have been full of other rebellious folks because they all beat on the table in approval, causing William to smile.

  Emeline placed her hand on his arm of her own accord. It was no longer prompted or placed there by William. The movement felt right. He felt right. It was comforting to know he was there and literally had her back. Heading out together onto the street, they walked some ways until she could see water in the distance. As they neared, she stared at the massive, lumbering ships that swayed in the water. Boston Harbor. It was breathtaking to see the masts, flags, ships and activity around the water.