Chapter Twenty-One

The following week was filled with visitors, for it seemed that half the village wanted to see Hannah and express their joy at her homecoming. Julia came every day and proved herself a true friend in her attentions to Hannah and everyone in the household. Julia’s parents came as well, and Mr. Middleburg detailed to Hannah the efforts he and the town council had made on her behalf. Although Mrs. Middleburg did not think the subject of Hannah’s incarceration should be mentioned at all, Hannah was cheered by the knowledge that important people believed in her innocence and had done their best to assist her.

Hannah regained her strength rapidly, and Aaron was pleased to see her seemingly restored to happiness as well. She was not the same Hannah, for she was often quiet and withdrawn as though heavy thoughts weighed on her mind, but that, Aaron assured himself, was natural after the ordeal she had gone through.

Aaron had determined that he would say nothing to Hannah about the events that would soon engulf him until she was strong enough to bear the news, for he knew she would be bitterly opposed to what he had done. The loss of his ships and home would be nothing in her eyes, he knew, compared to his self-imposed obligation to make a loveless marriage with Maria Compton.

For a day after Hannah’s return home, indeed, Aaron half convinced himself that Maria would release him. He had nothing to offer her except a future filled with the struggle of establishing a new livelihood—and the eventual title of Lady Clarke.

But Aaron’s hopes were dashed. He went to see Maria the day after bringing Hannah to River’s Edge and found her determined to proceed with the wedding. Her aunt and uncle were now so desperate to rid themselves of the troublesome girl, Aaron could not hope for their interference. He had thought Maria mercenary only, but it now seemed she was socially grasping as well. The idea of being Lady Clarke had taken hold of her. She was bored with her residence in Mystic and didn’t want to return to Boston. Aaron would take her to England, and she could divide her time between London and his father’s country estate. Aaron had made himself wealthy once, and she had no doubt of his being able to do it again. Meanwhile, his father would of course grant him an allowance.

These were Maria’s inner persuasions, and she did not trouble herself to conceal them from her intended. At the end of his visit, she accompanied him to his horse. She was looking lovely in pale blue with matching ribbons in her hair, and she smiled coquettishly as Aaron slipped the reins from the hitching post and prepared to mount.

“My dear Aaron,” she simpered, “I realize well your whole heart is not in our wedding. However, for every cloud there’s a silver lining, is there not? On our wedding night, you may perhaps forget your infatuation with Hannah Winstead.”

She raised her eyes to meet his, and his steely expression both frightened and excited her. He said nothing. After a moment’s hesitation, his mouth curled in a bitter smile, and he turned and mounted his horse.

“I don’t want our engagement announced until I’ve informed Hannah. Do I have your word on that?”

She nodded her acquiescence. He turned his horse and cantered away.

Maria smiled after him. “I will break your haughty pride, my love. Wait and see.”

During the next few days, Aaron’s most difficult task was to keep Hannah from noticing his anxiety and misery. Gabriel didn’t help, for he repeatedly told Aaron he was a fool for going through with the marriage to Maria.

“Go back to England and put the whole matter behind you!” Gabriel declared impatiently.

“How can I?” Aaron retorted bitterly. “I gave the colonel my word as a gentleman. Who would ever trust me again if I break my promise to him?”

“Your code of honor is too strict for your own good, brother!”

“And what would you have done, Gabe? Allow Hannah to die?”

“No,” answered his brother immediately. “But I wouldn’t tie myself to a woman like Maria Compton. Hannah is safe, and in a few weeks this house will be in the hands of Captain Whetherton. The Carnes will have the farm, and your life here will be over. Ride to Providence with Hannah, take the mail packet to England, and leave the evil chit Maria waiting at the altar. It’s what she deserves.”

Aaron was silent. He longed to do exactly as Gabriel suggested, but he couldn’t. What sort of man would Hannah think him to be if he broke his word to Maria and her family? How could Hannah ever trust him? How could he win her love if he had deserted another woman to whom he had become engaged of his own free will?

One morning about two weeks after Hannah’s return to River’s Edge, Aaron stepped into the parlor, where she was reading to the boys.

“Hannah, I’m going to drive to a farm about five miles from here to inquire about a heifer Mr. Carne is interested in purchasing. Would you like to go with me? An airing might be pleasant for you.”

“Certainly,” she replied. “Are the boys going as well?”

Aaron hesitated. “No…not this time. To be honest, Hannah, there’s a matter I must discuss with you.”

Hannah dropped her eyes and attempted to busy herself with the boys. She knew well what he must discuss with her. It was obvious—he was going to ask her to leave! She felt her face growing hot with shame. She couldn’t blame him. How could he keep her here to teach the children? She, a convicted murderess!

With promises to finish the story later in the day, Hannah turned the boys over to Clara and made ready for the journey. The weather was warm and sultry for the time of year, so she chose a light frock and shawl but brought her woolen cape along in case of coolness later in the day. With a heavy heart, she stepped into the gig. Aaron slapped the reins, and the bay trotted briskly down the drive. Despite herself, Hannah felt the joy of being free and out of doors. Her mood lifted, and she returned Aaron’s smile as he glanced at her.

They took the road along the river, following it into the low hills northward. After driving half an hour, Aaron turned the horse off the smooth earthen road into a field. Wagon tracks formed a sort of roadway through the grass, which had been cut for hay and was golden in the sunlight. Milkweed was still blooming, soft and pink, at the edges of the field, and the trees standing in copses were a mixture of deep green, gold, and scarlet. Hannah gazed about in appreciation of the colors glowing in the hazy autumn sunlight.

When they reached the other side of the meadow, they could see a barn standing at a distance. They turned toward it, passing through a line of trees and into another field. Hannah, looking about, was rather surprised to see no grazing cattle or even a herd of goats or sheep.

“Is this the farm you intended to visit?” she asked. “It has rather a look of being deserted.”

“I didn’t tell you the truth,” Aaron replied. “I had no need to visit a farm. I wanted to get you away where we could talk undisturbed. You’re correct. This farm is deserted. I own it, but in a few weeks’ time, I’ll turn it over to Mr. Carne per the agreement I made with him seven years ago.”

“That’s very pleasing to me to know,” she replied. “But why did you take me here? Why could we not have talked in your study?”

He sighed. “Because you’re not going to be happy about what I have to tell you, and I wanted no interruptions until I’ve said my piece and reconciled you to…a certain circumstance.”

“You misjudge me,” she replied, distressed that he would drive her into the country to find privacy for telling her she must pack and go. “I’m sure I know what you want to tell me, and you can count on me to raise no objections to whatever you’ve decided.”

He glanced at her and then pulled up the horse. “What do you think I’m going to tell you?”

“That I must leave of course. I’ve been expecting this.”

“But…what would be my reason for asking you to leave?” he inquired, feeling a prickling fear she had somehow learned the truth.

“Your reason? How can you ask that?”

He looked at her impatiently. “Hannah, I don’t have the faintest idea of your meaning. You answer my questions with questions of your own. You say I’m going to ask you to leave, but you have no reason for this strange assumption?”

They stared at each other, each filled with emotions so painful, they were unaware of what was happening around them. A large black cloud had swelled across the sky, and with no warning, a great crash of thunder sounded and a fork of lightning slashed into the trees through which they had just passed.

Hannah cried out as the horse reared in terror. Aaron leapt from the gig and seized the animal’s bridle. Throwing himself astride, he kicked the horse to make him run forward so he would not buck in the traces and overturn the carriage.

“Hang on!” Aaron called. The bay leapt forward, jerking the gig off its wheels. Hannah seized the sidewall and hung on as the horse galloped across the field. Aaron guided him toward the barn in the distance while the storm raged over them. Rain beat down at them, followed by hail that froze Hannah’s gripping hands.

By the time they reached the barn, Aaron had pulled the heaving horse to a trot. He called back to Hannah, “Open the barn door, Hannah! If I let him go, he’ll bolt!”

Aaron pulled the dancing horse to a stop, and Hannah jumped out. Pelted by freezing rain, she seized the wooden handle of the barn’s big door and yanked it up. Pulling with all her might, she swung the creaking door open. Aaron kicked the horse, pulling his head around, and horse, gig, and rider lunged into the dark interior of the barn. Hannah ran in after them and pushed the heavy door closed.

Once inside the barn, the horse stood still, but he was shaking and his eyes were rolling. Without a word, Hannah and Aaron began to unhitch him. When the animal had been freed from the traces, Aaron began to pull the harness off his back. Hannah stood at his head holding his bridle.

The thudding of hail on the barn roof was suddenly interrupted by a crash of thunder so loud, the earth shook beneath their feet. The horse threw his head up, jerking the reins from Hannah’s hands. Aaron lunged forward to push Hannah to safety, but he tripped over the harness and threw her and himself backward into a pile of hay. The horse jumped away and retreated to the back of the barn with the harness dragging behind him.

Hannah landed hard in the hay with Aaron falling on top of her. Hay and dust flew everywhere as they attempted to disentangle themselves from each other.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, finally managing to push himself off her. His hand went round her head feeling for bumps and cuts.

“I’m not hurt,” she replied, and then she burst into giggles. She pointed to his head and laughed merrily. He reached up and brushed great sprigs of hay out of his hair and then gazed unsmilingly into her mirthful face. Without a word, he took her in his arms and kissed the laughter away.

After the first breathless shock of his kiss, Hannah was filled with a passion so sudden and powerful, she could do nothing except throw her arms about him and draw him closer. When his mouth finally left hers, he whispered incredible words against her ear: “Hannah, oh Hannah, I love you!”

She pulled away enough to look into his face. “Aaron, what are you saying? You…you can’t mean—”

“I love you,” he replied pulling her against him. He kissed her again, and the storm, the barn, the past, and the future all disappeared. They were lost in each other, and Hannah was powerless to stop whatever he might attempt to do.

Locked in his embrace, she was shocked to realize she was in love with him. She had buried her feelings, but his kiss had revealed them to her in a rush of passion and longing. And he loved her also! Nothing they did could be wrong, for they loved each other!

“Oh, Aaron,” she whispered, “I love you, I love you.” He sighed and tightened his arms about her. His lips caressed her face, seeking her mouth. The next kiss left her breathless with desire.

He stroked her arms and shoulders as he crushed his mouth against hers. His lips traveled to her breasts, and she arched upward and moaned with pleasure. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer.

Suddenly, uttering a hoarse shout, he jerked away from her and jumped up. Hannah cried out in shock. He stood with his back to her, raised a fist, and pounded it against the wall.

“I cannot do this!” he groaned and plunged across the barn. He began talking to the horse and pulling the harness off. Shocked and distressed and beginning to turn red with shame, she dragged herself up and brushed off her dress.

Not knowing what else to do, Hannah stepped into the gig and sat still. Aaron finished with the horse and walked back to her. He climbed in and sat next to her.

“I despise myself,” he said quietly, “and when I tell you all, you’ll despise me also.”

“No,” she replied. “I could never despise you. I’m sorry I behaved so badly. You must think me entirely without morals or scruples of any kind, but I…”

She could say nothing more and in silence turned away from him and looked straight ahead. He moved his hand as if he would take hers but then changed his mind and placed his hands on his knees.

“Hannah—”

“Aaron, you don’t need to explain. I’m not a child, and I know that a man can…sometimes say what he doesn’t mean…because he—”

He did not pretend to misunderstand her. “I didn’t tell you I loved you to seduce you, Hannah. I do love you. But—the truth is, I am engaged.”

“Engaged!” Hannah turned to him, her eyes wide with wonder. “You’re engaged to be married?”

“Yes.”

A bolt of lightning flashed through her brain, and Hannah knew beyond a doubt to whom he was engaged.

“Maria Compton,” she said breathlessly, still staring at him. “You’re going to marry Maria.”

“Yes.”

“Good God, Aaron!” She could say nothing more until she recalled that a few minutes before she had been lying in a pile of hay with him, unable to deny him anything, such was her passion. Her shame turned to anger.

“I pity her!” she cried. “If your behavior of the last few minutes is any indication, she will have a most unhappy marriage! What were you thinking, to…to—”

She had no words to describe what he had done, and she was well aware she had been a most willing participant.

“Hannah, hear me out,” he said wearily.

“Very well,” she replied coldly.

“If you had paid the least attention to your second trial, you would have realized both Maria and Captain Whetherton changed their testimony.”

She didn’t reply, for she had let her mind drift away during the trial. She had heard nothing until the final day when the shocking words of “not guilty” had roused her.

“I’ll attempt to make a long story short,” he continued. “In order to save your life, I had to bargain with the two people whose lies had convicted you. To Maria, I offered myself if she would change her testimony, but she wouldn’t until Gabe abdicated his right as firstborn to inherit my father’s title.”

Hannah’s eyes were wide with unmitigated shock as she stared at him. “No! Do not tell me you agreed to marry her to save me! No, I cannot…cannot hear this!”

“What would you have had me do, Hannah? Let you die? Sit back, loving you as I did, and watch you die?”

“Aaron, Aaron, I wouldn’t have had you throw your life away to save mine!”

“I know, but I didn’t give you the choice, and so you must accept my decision.”

“No, no, I can’t accept it!” She began to cry bitterly then, and with no apology, he took her in his arms and held her until the sobbing stopped. She drew forth a handkerchief and pulled slowly away from him.

“We must not allow ourselves—” She stopped and simply turned away, leaning against the side rail of the gig and staring into the dark barn.

“That’s not all I have to tell you.”

She turned toward him, her eyes full of grief and sorrow.

“While Brockton and Gabe were negotiating with Maria, I was bargaining with Whetherton. In two weeks’ time, he’ll claim his reward for telling the truth—my three ships and River’s Edge.”

“What!”

“I preserved this farm for the Carne family, and it will give them the landowners’ rights that will be important for their future.”

“Dear God, Aaron!” Hannah shook her head sorrowfully as she watched his face.

“Gabe is going to take the children to England before Maria and I are married. I want you to go with him, Hannah. My parents will assist you. You can stay there for a time…until—”

He stopped speaking, and they stared at each other in the dimming light.

“Until,” she whispered, “you bring Maria there to meet them. She will not tolerate my presence.”

“No, she will not,” he replied softly. “But a suitable situation will be found for you.”

They were silent, each contemplating a bleak future.

Finally, Hannah spoke, her voice barely audible. “I should express my gratitude for all you’ve done. But I wish you hadn’t thrown your happiness away to save me, Aaron. Now I must live all my days knowing how unhappy I’ve made you. And…never to see you again…”

She did not allow herself to weep, for her emotions were so deep and poignant that tears seemed vain and childish.

“We must reconcile ourselves to what will be,” he replied. “I’ve given my word as a gentleman to Colonel Compton, and I cannot dishonor him by reneging.”

“No, certainly not. You must marry her and perhaps, in time…you’ll come to care for her. I pray that you will.”

“Nothing will make me stop loving you, Hannah.”

“You mustn’t say that. We must forget that we were…foolish. We must forget our feelings and make our lives somehow—”

He smiled at the entanglement of her words. His hand reached for hers automatically, but he pulled it back. That must never be. He must never touch her again. For a moment, he was overcome by a grief so profound, it seemed impossible to bear.

Hannah stepped out of the gig and pushed open the barn door. The storm was over, and the afternoon sun was washing the earth with gold. Aaron pushed the gig outside. Silently, they hitched the horse and began the journey back to River’s Edge.