“Do you think you’ll marry for real once I’m gone?” Henry asked when I joined him.
“Only if there’s another cousin willing to immigrate to the Colonies. And with my father gone, I’ve no idea where to look or who to ask.”
“You never did tell me why it has to be a cousin.”
“It’s a family tradition. My parents were very strong believers that like should marry like.”
“My father believed the same thing. In fact, it was the last thing we talked about before I left England.”
This seemed a rather odd way to say goodbye. “Was there someone in particular he had in mind?”
“Oh, yes,” he said bitterly. “Our families were very close and we’d been intended since our infancy. Last summer when I turned nineteen, my father presented me with a betrothal contract. He insisted that I sign it to show my intentions of marrying once I turned twenty-one and had finished at Cambridge. I refused, on grounds of having no affection for the girl beyond friendship. He didn’t ask again, and I thought the matter settled until I returned home in February to find that he had forged my name. The marriage would proceed as planned, except it had been moved ahead one year to this summer, just after my twentieth birthday.”
“You were supposed to marry this summer?” My insides took a sudden chill. Although we weren’t really married, I disliked the idea of him with someone else. “But, you told me you weren’t engaged the day we met.”
“I had signed nothing and so far as I was concerned, had no legal attachment to anyone.”
“Would you have gone through with it if you’d stayed in England?”
“I don’t know,” he said, sighing. “To give my father credit, it really wasn’t a poor match. The girl had many fine qualities, and in time I probably would have grown to love her. Besides, with the contract signed, her mother may have sought the King’s favor to force the marriage if I refused.”
“Why would the King get involved? I would think a broken engagement of little concern to someone in his position.”
“Unfortunately, there are times when he finds it necessary to exercise his authority.” Henry stared out into the woods, though by the look on his face, he was even farther away.
“I’m surprised your father consented to have you indentured if the marriage was so important. Seven years of service seems rather contrary to his immediate plans.”
“My father didn’t know I was sent over. At present he probably thinks I’m dead or have run away from home. He will only know of my whereabouts when the letter reaches him through Captain Harlow.”
This news shocked me. “How could you be indentured without his knowledge?”
“Someone thought my father owed a debt, and had me pressed into taking passage to the Colonies.”
My mouth went suddenly dry. Pressed... “You were indentured against your will?”
He waved off my question. “The particulars are not important.”
“But Henry,” I protested. “This isn’t right. We must contact the authorities at once.”
“I’ve written to my father and that will serve for now.” He smiled at me. “Besides, we’ve made a deal. You saved me from Fletcher and I’m going to save you from Crowley. There’s time enough to get matters in England straightened out.”
I shook my head, greatly disturbed by this revelation. It was bad enough that I’d used his station as an indenture to force him into marriage. But if the contract had not been legal from the start, I’d be an accomplice to the far worse crimes of kidnapping and forced servitude. Merciful heavens! I’d be guilty of slavery!
“In good faith, I must cancel the contract. Or at the very least, postpone your indenture until an investigation has been conducted into—”
Henry held up a hand to cut me off. “I’ve already told you that the matter has been dealt with for now, and I see no reason to break our deal.” A hint of a smile spread over his mouth. “Unless you are trying to get rid of me.”
“No!” I practically cried, much to my own surprise. Getting rid of Henry was the last thing I wanted to do.
His smile widened. “Then we will agree to let things rest.”
I bit my bottom lip in thought. “All right,” I said after a moment, “but you must promise to let me know if you have second thoughts.”
He placed a hand on his chest. “Upon my soul, I swear to confess any dissatisfaction with my current situation. Will that do?”