“You’ve been unusually quiet,” Henry said, glancing at her. “I hope you can also overlook my unfortunate birth. Your friendship would be a most grievous loss.”
“Who am I to judge?” she laughed. “My grandfather was a pirate and a scoundrel of the worst kind. If my family could survive such an ancestor, there must be hope for you still.”
“Glad to hear it,” Henry said, his smile widening. “It would be sad indeed to know that you had given up on me.”
A light knock sounded on the door, and Alice came into the room.
“The constable is here for ye, sir,” she said to Henry. “Would ye like me to show him in?”
Anne stood up and smoothed her skirts. “That won’t be necessary. Nora and I will go speak with George.”
Taking her cue from Anne, Nora also got to her feet. “Godspeed to you, Henry. I truly hope to see you again.”
“Thank you, Nora,” he said, standing to say goodbye. “And thank you, Anne, for helping Selah. I am in your debt.”
Anne looked at him kindly. “Clear your name and marry her, then your debt will be released.” She picked up her straw hat and put it on, neatly tying the ribbon beneath her chin. “I should be able to convince George that you can find your own way over to the tavern in an hour or two. Good day, Henry, and safe journey.”
Nora gave me a quick hug and followed Anne out of the room.
Once they were gone, Henry sat back down at my side with a heavy sigh. I should have been grateful for a little more time, but all I could think about was how much I dreaded the morrow.
“I can hardly bear the thought of you leaving,” I said, tears coming to my eyes. “I don’t know why the magistrate had to be so stern today.”
Henry brushed an errant tear from my cheek. “Ely thinks I’m a bad influence. To his credit, he was acting to protect you.”
“All he has done is taken away the sole source of my happiness. The next five months will be unbearable without you.” I had already done the calculation numerous times. Five months was the best-case scenario for him to return with a royal pardon. If the weather or the King proved difficult, Henry could be gone for a year.
If he returns at all...
The wretched thought pricked at my heart. What if the Duke of Norland demanded Henry abandon me for the sake of his birthright? Would the memory of our love be enough to sustain him? Or, over time, would my features begin to blur into another lady’s face? Even from three thousand miles away, I could sense Princess Amelia lurking in the shadows, eager to welcome Henry home.
He picked up my hand and pressed it against his lips. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” he murmured, his breath tickling my skin. “You need not be unhappy on my account.”
“Of course I do. How else am I supposed to feel while you’re gone?”
He focused on my hand for a moment, slowly tracing the lines along my palm until I shivered from his touch. Then he looked at me with a shy smile. “Come to England with me,” he said.
The breath stuck in my throat, and I stared at him, speechless. He can’t be serious...The very idea made my head spin like a whirligig.
“I’ve been working alongside Ben nearly every day since I arrived in Hopewell. He’s more than capable of bringing in the wheat. And Mrs. Ryan can manage Brighmor in your absence.” Henry’s fingers closed around mine. “Selah, I’ve been thinking about this for some time now. It might be an uphill battle trying to convince my father and the King to let me give up Princess Amelia for an unknown lady from the Colonies. But once they’ve met you, they’ll have to agree with my choice.”
His deep voice flowed over me, weaving together the most terrifying and exciting possibilities, and before I knew what was happening, the first seeds of hope had taken root inside of me. No doubt Henry was right about Mrs. Ryan and Ben managing in my absence. And by engaging Alice’s help, I could easily be packed by morning. But what of the altar? How would I renew my powers?
Brigid’s warning came back in a flash...Refusing to drink from the spring will ultimately end in your death. What if I didn’t refuse, per se, but lacked access? Would my fate be the same? And what did she mean by ultimately? A few months or a few years? I’d never tested the limits of my power, but longer periods had to be possible, or my grandparents would never have made it to the New World. Surely once I arrived in England I could find another altar. And if that failed, then Ireland was only a skip away, and no doubt covered with places to cross over.
Henry gazed at me in earnest. “I love you, Selah. Please, come with me to England.” Thinking his words might not be sufficient, he drew me into his arms and kissed me.
My initial hope grew into a giddy joy that filled my heart beyond anything I had ever felt before. Nothing at Brighmor, or in all the Colonies for that matter, was more important than Henry. I loved him and had already risked everything so we could be together.