‘Yes. Your future husband wishes to meet you first.’
Feeling suddenly defiant she said, ‘So he’s not like Isaac then. Trusting his father’s servant to make the choice for him.’
‘His father has chosen for him and he will obey. It is God’s will.’
‘And the marriage will be when?’
‘Likewise. When I decide. Now go. I’m done with your prattle.’
Hannah got up and left the room, rushing upstairs to where her sister was waiting anxiously.
‘Well?’ Asked Judith.
‘You were right. He’s selling me into slavery.’
‘What?’
‘As good as. He says I am to be married to Samuel Henderson, the pastor’s son.’
Judith frowned. ‘So, it’s really happening?’
‘Did you doubt it?’ Hannah flung herself on her back on the bed, her hands covering her eyes. ‘For a few moments I thought he meant I was to marry the pastor himself. I was ready to throw myself under a tram.’
Judith gave an exaggerated shudder. ‘I wouldn’t blame you. Did he say anything about me?’
‘No.’
Judith’s sigh of relief was audible.
Hannah rolled on her side, her back to her sister. ‘So that’s all right then, is it? As long as you’re not involved.’
‘Don’t be like that, Hannah. You know it’s only a matter of time before it happens to me too.’ She stroked her hand over Hannah’s hair. ‘Don’t let’s quarrel, Han. That would be letting him win.’
Hannah rolled over to face her and smiled up at Judith. ‘You’re right.’
‘Did he say when it would happen?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘I’m not even sure this Samuel knows himself. We’re just pawns in the hands of our fathers. I’m hoping it could be weeks – even months. He said there’d be plenty of time to get to know him.’
Judith grinned. ‘Perhaps this Samuel won’t like you.’ She giggled. ‘No. I can’t see that happening. Any young man would be thrilled to have you as his wife.’
Hannah gave her a sad smile. ‘Oh, Jude, what shall I do?’
‘Pray to God to give you the strength to bear it. Pray to God that this Samuel will be a kind, handsome and loving husband.’
Hannah punched the pillow. She asked herself why she was unable to stand up to her father’s bullying – but she still had the faded bruises to remind her, as well as the sight of her mother’s broken arm. And a lifetime of constraint and being worn down by this patriarch had all but crushed her spirit.
But there was still time to get to Will, to get him to speed up his plans to help her, to take her away with him. He would back in Liverpool in a few days at the most.
* * *
‘He’s not at all ugly! He looks quite presentable. He’s not a bit like his father.’ Judith was standing, her nose pressed up against the grimy bedroom window, looking down into the street. It was Sunday afternoon and they had been instructed to stay in their room until summoned. ‘Come and have a look, Han!’
‘Get away from the window. They might see you.’
‘They won’t. Aren’t you even curious?’
‘Why should I be? I’ll soon have the rest of my life to look at him. I want to postpone that for as long as possible.’
‘You’re daft. I’d be bursting to know what he’s like.’
‘Pity you’re not the one having to marry Mr Samuel Henderson then.’
A loud rap at the front door. Judith stepped onto the landing and looked down the stairs. ‘They’ve gone into Father’s study.’
A low buzz of voices rose through the ceiling.
‘Is Mother with them?’ Hannah looked up from her horizontal position on the bed.
‘No. I think she’s in the back kitchen. She told me she wanted no part in this and intends to keep out of the way.’
‘Can you hear what they’re saying?’
Judith shook her head. ‘I’m not risking going downstairs. Father would go berserk if he caught me listening in the hall.’
As she spoke, the two women heard a door creak open and their father’s voice called up the stairs. ‘Hannah, come down.’
Hannah got off the bed, smoothed her dress and patted her hair into place. ‘Wish me luck.’ She gave her sister a sad smile then went downstairs, feeling like a martyr heading for the scaffold.
Samuel Henderson was standing in front of the fireplace, his father sitting in the chair that was habitually her own father’s. Dawson sat down opposite and Hannah stood between the two older men, there being nowhere else to sit. She kept her eyes lowered, to avoid looking at the stranger whom her father intended to be her husband.
‘You’ve met my elder daughter, Hannah, sir?’ Dawson’s tone was obsequious and sycophantic as he addressed the pastor.
Mr Henderson grunted and gave Hannah only a passing glance.
Dawson turned to the younger Henderson. ‘Samuel, this is Hannah.’
Should she offer to shake his hand? She decided that would be inappropriate and instead stood rooted to the spot, waiting for Samuel Henderson to speak.
He looked as if he wished he were in another place. Any place but here. Half-turning, he let his eyes run over her quickly then turned to focus them on her father. ‘Miss Dawson,’ he said, addressing her father rather than her.
The pastor got up from his seat and to Hannah’s surprise he knelt down in front of the hearth. For a moment she had the mad thought that he was about to lay a fire, then he said, ‘Now we will pray together and seek God’s guidance and blessings.’
Dawson immediately knelt too, jerking his head towards Hannah to indicate she should do the same. Samuel continued leaning against the wall until a cough from his father caused him to kneel beside the other three.
Hannah closed her eyes. It was excruciating. She wished the ground would open and swallow her up. Henderson senior led the prayers, his voice stentorian and declamatory. With her eyes squeezed tightly shut, she tried to pretend it wasn’t happening but, unable to shut out the pastor’s voice, she listened to the sound of the words rather than their meaning. Eventually he quoted from the Biblical passage Dawson had made her study. ‘Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s son’s wife, as the Lord hath spoken.’
Looking out of the corner of her eye she saw that Samuel Henderson appeared to be as embarrassed by the whole performance as she was. He was biting the nail of his thumb. His face was in profile and she didn’t want her father to notice that she wasn’t concentrating, so she looked away again. There was a protracted silence before the older Henderson got to his feet, followed by the rest of them. He nodded to Dawson who said, ‘Hannah, you may take Mr Henderson into the parlour. His father and I have matters to discuss.’
The parlour was an overly grand term for what was usually referred to as the back room. The prospect of entertaining her betrothed there for an indeterminate amount of time was not an appealing one. As she went to open the door, her mother emerged from the room, nodded and muttered a greeting to Samuel Henderson then went straight upstairs. Hannah felt abandoned.
They sat down on opposite sides of the table – the only available seating in the poky room. She offered him a glass of water but he shrugged away the offer. ‘Tea?’
He shook his head. ‘Look, Miss Dawson, I don’t imagine you’re any happier about this farce than I am. St Paul said it was better to marry than to burn but quite frankly the idea of being tied to the stake is not unappealing right now.’
She was taken aback, unsure whether to laugh or be affronted. She stared at him, but saw he was quite serious.
‘Then why are you going along with this?’
‘Why are you?’
‘I have no choice.’
‘Neither do I.’
‘Surely not. In my case I’m entirely financially dependent on my father. But you?’
‘That’s my business. But rest assured if it were up to me, I wouldn’t be doing thi
s.’
‘Well, that’s clear then. You’d better say so before it’s too late.’ She jerked her head at the wall dividing the two rooms.
‘I can’t.’
Hannah screwed her eyes up and studied him. He was about mid-twenties, blond-haired, and blue-eyed. When he leaned forward, signs of premature balding were revealed that were otherwise invisible. His face managed to be both thin and slightly puffy, as though his features had been smudged, and he had an arrogant rather patrician air about him – but Judith was right – he was certainly not ugly. A sulky look played about his eyes, like a child who’d been denied access to a jar of sweeties, but otherwise he could be described as a good-looking man.
‘Please, call me Hannah,’ she said at last, deciding she must try her best to get along with this man. ‘May I call you Samuel?’
‘Sam.’ He leaned back in his chair, exhaling a long breath. Until this point he had avoided her eyes, but now he studied her closely. ‘Do you have a boyfriend, Hannah?’
Taken aback, she lied and told him she hadn’t. ‘To be honest, my father keeps my sister and me from mixing with people in general. His views are somewhat old-fashioned, since he is a devout man with strong religious beliefs.’
Sam snorted.
‘Are you implying he isn’t?’
‘I’m implying nothing. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”’
Hannah gaped at him.
‘One of the few Bible verses I’ve never forgotten as the same description is true of my father as well. He too is a whited sepulchre, a hypocrite of the highest order. That’s why I have no truck with religion.’
She felt her eyes widening. Sam Henderson was not at all what she had expected. Glancing nervously at the closed door, she said, ’You’re not a believer yourself, then?’
He shrugged. ‘I suppose I believe in some kind of higher power, but certainly not the angry vengeful god that my father bangs on about, and certainly not the literal interpretation of every word of the Bible. It was written thousands of years ago. Actually it wasn’t even written. Old stories. Folklore. Most of that Old Testament stuff is no different from the myths of the Norse gods or the ancient Celtic deities. Old stories passed down by word of mouth.’
Hannah felt a smile appearing at the edge of her mouth, but then suppressed it. What he was saying was shocking. If their fathers should overhear him she could imagine how they would react.
‘If you don’t believe in it then why are you going along with all that stuff about us following on the same path as Rebecca and Isaac?’
‘Because that’s all it is. Playing a part.’ He got up and began to pace back and forth as far as was possible in the restricted space. ‘Ours, Hannah will be a marriage of convenience. It gets me off a hook I don’t want to be dangling from. In your case, I can’t imagine why you’re prepared to go along with it, but I suppose I have to accept that perhaps you are indeed under the thumb of your father.’ He pushed the empty chair back under the table, then seemed to change his mind, pulled it out again, sat down and crossed one ankle over the other knee. ‘So, let’s agree then. We will play along with this charade and come to some kind of arrangement once we are free of the parental yoke.’
‘Some kind of arrangement?’
‘As I said, a marriage of convenience.’
‘Is it because… is there… is there another woman you would rather be marrying?’ She felt her face reddening and was incredulous at the turn the conversation had taken.
He looked at her steadily, eyes narrowed. ‘No. There is no other woman I would rather be marrying. You will do well enough.’ He got up. ‘I think those two have had long enough to hammer out the deal, don’t you think?’
She didn’t know what to say. Her mouth was open as she stared at him.
He turned to address her again with his hand on the door knob. ‘Anyone would think we were in the last century, not in 1938.’ He shook his head rapidly in a sudden jerky action like a wet dog shaking water out of its coat. ‘Still, needs must, eh?’
She followed him into the tiny space between the two rooms which the family over-generously referred to as the hall and waited at the foot of the stairs while he went inside, then she climbed slowly upstairs to find her sister.
A few minutes later they heard the Hendersons leaving. Judith leaned out of the window to watch them go while Hannah, lay on her back on the bed, staring aimlessly at the ceiling, where she spotted several cobwebs. She’d take a broom to them later.
After a couple of minutes, Judith pulled the sash back down and turned to her sister. ‘I got a good look this time. He’s very handsome, Han! Lucky you. I can’t believe Father has picked him. I hope I’m as lucky when my turn comes. He’s started thinning a bit on top – but you can’t expect perfection!’ She started giggling.
Hannah said nothing.
‘Look, you can’t just keep sitting there like a deaf mute’ said Judith. ‘Tell me all about it. What did he say? What did Father say? I want to know everything.’ She was actually grinning.
Hannah let out a deep sigh. ‘There’s not a lot to tell. The pastor treated us all to a lengthy Biblical discourse and we had to kneel together and pray. It was awful.’
‘I’m not interested in that. What about what the son said? You and he were in the parlour for ages. And Mother wasn’t even there! Did he kiss you?’
‘Of course he didn’t kiss me.’
‘Well, he is going to marry you, isn’t he? Wasn’t it all settled?’
‘Yes, I believe so.’
‘Gosh, you are so infuriating, Han. Don’t be such a beast! I want to know every detail. When’s the wedding? I’ll make your dress, of course. What’s he like? Oh my goodness, there’s so much I want to know.’ She plumped down on the bed beside Hannah and took her hands, pulling her round to face her. ‘I’d have thought you’d be excited, bursting to tell me. Why are you being so cagey? You must be so relieved he isn’t some fat, old bloke.’
‘To be honest, Jude, it makes no difference, as I have no choice in the matter anyway. But if you really want to know, I think he is as unimpressed by what’s happening as I am. I think if it were up to him he’d run a mile.’
‘What? I can’t believe that. You’re gorgeous. Any man would be over the moon to marry you. Stop running yourself down, Han.’
Before Hannah could reply, their father’s voice boomed up the stairs, summoning her back to his study. She threw a look of resignation at Judith and hurried down the stairs.
When she entered the room, Dawson signalled to her to sit. ‘You acquitted yourself well, Hannah. Pastor Henderson was satisfied you will make his son a suitable wife.’
He didn’t seem to expect a reply so she sat and waited.
‘We have agreed that the nuptials will take place as soon as the licence is obtained. The pastor will conduct the ceremony himself.’
Hannah was stunned. ‘So soon?’
‘No reason to delay. Once the matter is settled that’s an end to it.’
‘But the preparations?’
‘What preparations?’
‘I will need something to wear. Judith wants to make my wedding dress. And the wedding breakfast to organise.’ These things mattered not a jot to her – other than as a means of delay.
Her father scowled. ‘There will be none of the fripperies that ungodly people use to disguise their denial that a marriage can only be made by God. Your mother and sister won’t even be there. You know the chapel doesn’t permit women to attend.’
‘Not even for a wedding?’
‘Certainly not.’
‘Then how can I be there?’
‘Your presence is unavoidable.’
‘But Judith––’
‘Judith will do as she is told. She and your mother will mark the occasion by studying the Bible. I will select some suitable pass
ages. They will pray for you here.’
Hannah gaped at him. He had always been fanatical in his religious devotion but lately he was taking matters to a different level. Not for the first time she questioned his sanity.
‘So, no new clothes. No wedding breakfast. No guests.’
‘Correct.’
‘And when the marriage is done?’
‘You will live with your husband.’
‘And where might that be, Father?’
‘Samuel Henderson lives in the family home. Near Aintree.’
‘The family home?’
He looked at her as though she were an irritating fly he would like to swat away. ‘So many questions. You and your husband will live with Pastor Henderson and will abide by any strictures he lays down. I understand the boy has been somewhat wayward. The pastor hopes that the care and consolation of a wife will steady him and set him on the right course, as determined by God.’
‘What has he done?’
‘What has who done?’
‘Sam, er Mr Henderson.’
‘That is not your business. Your role is to care for the needs of your husband and father-in-law, keep house, and in good time and when the Lord wills, bear your husband children. Now I will have no more questions. Instead you can go to your room and read First Corinthians Chapter 7. There you will find the basic rules for married life. You will also see that Paul says a man who gives his daughter in marriage does right, but a man who doesn’t give his daughter in marriage does right too. I am a righteous man and I have two daughters. I have decided that while you will be given in marriage, your sister won’t. She will remain here to act as a help to your mother and to devote herself to the Lord and contribute to the upkeep of the household.’
Hannah felt her throat constrict. ‘You mean Judith may not marry?’
‘You have understood me.’
‘But… in that case, Father, perhaps Judith could marry Mr Henderson and I will remain single? Judith would be more than happy—’
‘Judith’s happiness is no concern of mine. Judith would do well to concentrate on serving the Lord and looking after this home.’
‘But––’
‘Shut your mouth. I’ll hear no more from you, Hannah. Now go to your room. I want you to commit the verses I have set you, to memory. I will hear you recite them tonight after supper.’
Storms Gather Between Us Page 18
