Sentence of Marriage (64 page)

‘Amy,’ he said in a low voice, ‘I didn’t want to come today any more than Harry did. But I came anyway.’

‘Thank you, John. I’m glad you did, it’s nicer for Pa.’

‘That’s not why I came. I just wanted to tell you…’ He stared earnestly at Amy. ‘If you change your mind—even at the last minute—just remember I’m here. No one can make you go through with this, you know.’

‘John, don’t make me cry,’ Amy begged. On an impulse, she kissed him on the cheek. ‘Stop worrying about me. This is what I want.’

Jack and Susannah were standing in the porch waiting for them. Amy knew they must be wondering why she and John were taking so long. She hurried up the steps to her father’s side.

‘Take my arm,’ Jack said. ‘We’ll do this properly.’ Amy slipped her arm through her father’s, leaving Susannah to shepherd her children, with John in the rear of the little party. They walked in the door, through a small anteroom, and into the office of Ruatane’s Resident Magistrate.

Mr Leveston was sitting behind his desk, while Charlie stood against one wall turning his hat around between his hands. Both men looked up at their approach, and Mr Leveston smiled warmly.

‘So the bride has arrived—and a particularly beautiful bride, if I may say so.’

‘Didn’t keep you waiting too long, did we, Charlie?’ Jack asked.

‘No.’ Charlie stared at Amy, and she had to turn away from the intensity of his gaze. It made her feel as though she were not wearing anything.

‘Now, Mr Stewart has brought the licence, and everything seems in order.’ Mr Leveston scanned the piece of paper in front of him as he spoke. ‘Yes, I see you’ve signed your permission, Mr Leith, as your daughter is under age.’ He glanced up at Amy for a moment. ‘Well under age,’ he murmured, his eyes flicking briefly to Charlie then back to Amy. A puzzled expression flitted across his face. He cleared his throat and continued.

‘Mr Stewart, Miss Leith, if you’d both stand in front of me?’

Amy let go of her father’s arm and walked across the room to stand beside Charlie as Mr Leveston picked up a small book from his desk.

‘First of all, I must ask all those present if they know of any impediment to this marriage’s taking place.’

Mr Leveston looked around the room at them all for a long few seconds, until Amy wanted to shout at him to get on with it. The longer she had to wait, the more clearly a forbidden picture formed in her mind: a vision of Jimmy rushing in the door and saying it had all been a terrible mistake, gathering her in his arms and taking her away to fetch their baby.
I mustn’t think about another man when I’m getting married. It’s wicked
. But when there was a noise at the door, Amy could not suppress a small cry of excitement. Mr Leveston glanced at her in surprise, then spoke briefly to the clerk who had just brought the mail in to him.

‘I must apologise for that interruption,’ Mr Leveston said when the clerk left. ‘I’m afraid the bride was a little alarmed.’ He picked up his book once more and continued.

‘Charles Alexander Stewart, do you take this woman as your lawful wife?’

‘I do.’

‘Amy Louisa Leith, do you take this man as your lawful husband?’

‘I do,’ Amy heard herself say in a tiny voice.

‘Then by the authority vested in me, I declare you to be lawfully married.’ Mr Leveston put down his book and smiled at them, and Amy realised that the ceremony was over. It had lasted no more than two or three minutes.

‘Mr Stewart, do you have something for your wife?’ Mr Leveston prompted.

Amy saw Charlie looking expectantly at her father. Jack stepped over and pressed something into his hand. ‘It was your ma’s,’ he said to Amy. ‘I told Charlie I wanted you to have it.’

Charlie held out his hand and waited for Amy to place hers on it. With his other hand, he slid a narrow gold band onto her finger. Amy shivered at the unfamiliar touch, and studied her wedding ring rather than meet his gaze.

Mr Leveston broke in on her concentration. ‘I must say what a great deal of pleasure it gives me on the rare occasions when I have the opportunity to join two youn—’ He broke off for a moment; one of the two people before him was most definitely not young. He cleared his throat and went on in the same pompous tone. ‘Two people together. I’m afraid a good deal of my time is spent passing sentence of justice on miscreants. It’s certainly a more pleasant task to bestow a much happier, ah, sentence,’ he laughed at his choice of words, ‘if I may use the term. Yes, a very happy sentence indeed, and a good thing, too, since it’s a life sentence. Congratulations, Mr Stewart, and my very best wishes, Mrs Stewart.’

Mrs Stewart. That’s my name now
. It sounded strange to Amy’s ears. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured. She turned to look at her new husband.

It’s done. I’m married. I belong to him now
.

~~~

The next book in the series,
Mud and Gold
, is available at Smashwords and other retailers:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1187

I was born in New Zealand, and apart from two years in England have lived here all my life. I’m fascinated by social history, particularly that of my own country.

I’m married to my childhood sweetheart, who grew up in the farming valley that’s the inspiration for my imaginary one. We have a few acres in the countryside, where we have an orchard and a large vegetable garden, and a small flock of sheep to keep the grass down. We make our own wine, cider, jams, jellies and sauces.

Family trees, extra background to the book’s setting, and how to contact me:

http://www.shayneparkinson.com/

Mud and Gold (
Promises to Keep
, Book 2)

Settling the Account (
Promises to Keep
, Book 3)

A Second Chance

Daisy’s War