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sight.
    “You mustn’t walk laden down with your belongings. Mansfield will take you. You must let me do this, Miss Gardiner. I owe you that much.”
    “Mr Weston, you forget. It was you who was set upon by my father. You owe me nothing.”
    “My mind is quite made up. Now gather your things so you and Mansfield can be off.”
    “And what if my father returns?”
    “If he remembers me, I’ll tell him the truth: You’re visiting friends, and I’m waiting for the carriage.” Weston smiled. “He might even offer me tea.”
    Anne smiled. She couldn’t help herself.
    “Go along now,” Weston said quietly, his eyes watchful.
    Anne moved to the door without another word. When she was inside, Weston turned to his manservant.
    “Was she this sweet and unspoiled for the last five days?”
    “Yes, sir,” Mansfield answered quietly.

    The Manse
    Anne gladly returned the hug Judith Hurst gave her the moment she was safely inside her pastor’s home.
    “We’ve been concerned,” Judith offered, holding the younger woman at arm’s length so she could study her. Pastor Hurst was next in line, hugging Anne and welcoming her to a comfortable chair.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I am, yes.”
    “Would you like something?”
    “No, I’ve just eaten.”
    “Can you tell us about what has happened, Anne?” the pastor asked kindly.
    With a certain measure of relief, Anne did just that, finding that it did her heart good to speak of it.
    “You say that when Mr Weston returned, he was calmer?” Pastor asked when the story had been unfolded.
    “Yes, even apologetic. I was somewhat amazed.”
    “How old a man is he?”
    “Mid-twenties, I would guess.”
    “Do you know him, Frederick?” This came from his wife.
    “I’m not certain. Maybe I’ll have a chance to meet him and find out.”
    The threesome fell quiet for a few minutes, and then Judith spoke again.
    “Anne, we do not have good news for you.”
    “My father?” She looked pained when she asked.
    “He is well, but the day after the incident he went into town and told everyone you’d been married the day before and that you’d gone away on your wedding trip.”
    “Oh, Father,” Anne said quietly, the color draining from her face, her mind scrambling with this new information. Two other times she’d been forced into this same type of “marriage” to satisfy her father’s heart, but never had she left with the man. She had certainly never spent five days in his home. Because of her father, Anne’s station in town was something of an oddity, but her reputation had never been questioned.
    It would seem this would no longer be the case.
    “May I stay here?” Anne asked next.
    “Of course you may. Judith made a room ready when the news reached us.”
    “Thank you.”
    “I think a warm bath…” Judith suggested, and Anne looked so relieved that the older woman smiled. From that point on, even during her bath, Anne bent her mind to dealing with her father.

    Mansfield returned to Levens Crossing to find Weston waiting patiently on the stone bench in the front yard. Clearly Anne’s father had not returned.
    “Where did she wish to go?” he asked as soon as the carriage was in motion.
    “A manse.”
    Weston’s brows rose.
    “At the church were Pastor Hurst ministers?”
    “I’m not certain.”
    Weston described the building, and Mansfield agreed it was the same. The men rode in silence for a time, but Weston had made up his mind just before reaching Brown Manor.
    “I’m off to a rocky start here, Mansfield, but I’m still making this move. I’ll be starting a list of what I want from London, as well as the shopping I wish to do. Figure out which staff you want to remain in London and which is to come here. Hire whomever you, Cook, and Sally need to run this house.”
    Mansfield didn’t comment, but he was quite satisfied. He felt that Brown Manor suited Mr Weston very well.

    Tipton
    “Hi,” Palmer said quietly to his wife on Saturday