“A wise choice.”
Pouring a cup of lukewarm tea, I scooped in a large spoonful of sugar. “After breakfast, I shall call on Anne Boyle, who is the wife of one of the Quaker Elders, and then my friend Katrina Oswald. She’s Lutheran, but her mother Martha is respected by everyone in Hopewell. If Nathan has so much as breathed the word witch, they will have heard it by now.”
As Henry nodded his assent, I could see in his face the restraint required not to come right out and ask me about last night. Reaching some sort of decision, he stood up and walked around behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. Warmth passed through my gown and my pulse leaped unexpectedly. He then bent down far enough to speak into my ear. “Be careful while you’re out today, my dear,” he said, his tone low and playful. “I’ve heard there are faeries about. Rumor has it there’s one particularly beautiful creature who’s traipsing barefooted through the woods in no more than her shift.”
His breath tickled my cheek, and I clenched the linen napkin in my lap with both hands to keep still under his touch. “Really? I thought it was leprechauns that lived in our woods, digging holes and hiding their pots of gold. Would you like to know if I see any rainbows while I’m out?”
“I’m not interested in leprechauns,” he continued to tease.
“Good, because they’re beastly creatures with very sharp teeth. You could lose a finger if you’re not careful.”
“What about faeries? Do they bite?”
“How would I know?” I replied tartly. “Try to catch one and see what happens.”
“Maybe one night I will.” He drew a deep breath in through his nose. “I wonder if she’ll also smell of ferns and violets.” His lips brushed against my ear as he straightened, but they didn’t linger long enough for me to know whether it had been a subtle kiss or merely an accident. I shivered all the same.
“I’ve kept Ben waiting long enough. Have a good day, Selah.” He excused himself from the room, leaving me alone to fan the sudden heat from my neck and cheeks.
Well, that was interesting. His talk of faeries had been disconcerting, but at least he hadn’t asked if I’d been out stealing my neighbors’ children or killing their livestock to fulfill some satanic ritual. From his playful tone it didn’t seem like he suspected anything more than a simple frolic through the woods, which was fine by me. I would just be more careful in the future.
Having wasted enough time already, I finished my breakfast and then called for the shay. The distance wasn’t far and could be easily walked in a decent pair of shoes. But dark clouds had moved in during the night and the sky threatened rain.
Since Ben and Henry were out, I drove myself, going first to Anne’s home where she treated me with such warmth, I knew at once she hadn’t heard any rumors of witchcraft in connection to my name. She showed real concern at my being so recently orphaned and asked if there was anything she could do to ease the transition into my new life—any questions I may have since my mother was not available. Assuming she meant my marriage to Henry and all that usually went on between a husband and wife, I blushed and changed the subject to the impending rain. Anne didn’t press the matter, and we visited for another hour before I excused myself.
At the Oswalds’ I sat and talked with both Martha and Katrina, and they too showed no sign of harboring any ill thoughts of me. Mrs. Oswald even offered to host a ball to properly celebrate my marriage and formally introduce Henry to all the neighbors—in a month, of course, out of respect to my father. When I tried to decline, she would have no part of it, saying it was her duty with me just orphaned and being without a mother to help me through this new stage of life. Martha hinted heavily to her real concern and only Katrina’s presence spared me from a barrage of questions and advice regarding the more intimate aspect of my marriage.