A laugh escaped her. It broke through the tightness in her throat and nearly turned into a sob. She pressed a hand to her mouth.
Mrs. Pembroke patted her shoulder once. “There now. That is quite enough emotion before luncheon.”
Anna lowered her hand. “Will he come back?”
“Yes.”
Anna froze. “What?”
“You heard me. He will come back.”
Anna gaped at her. “When?”
Mrs. Pembroke smiled. “This evening.”
Anna stood so quickly the chair scraped across the floor. “This evening?”
“Do try not to look as though I’ve announced the arrival of an angel.”
Anna stared at her. “How do you know?”
She gave Anna a light shrug. “Because I arranged it.”
Of course she had. Anna could only stare.
Mrs. Pembroke looked her over. “You will wear your blue ribbon. The plain one, not the one Mercy thinks is plain but has entirely too much personality.”
“My… my blue ribbon?”
She gave Anna a curt nod. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you look well in blue, and because I said so.”
Anna pressed a hand to her middle. “Mrs. Pembroke…”
“There you are, saying my name like a confession again.”
Anna gaped at her again. “What is happening this evening?”
Mrs. Pembroke looked toward the window, where the empty laundry line stirred in the breeze. For once, there was no sharpness in her expression. Only purpose. “Something ordinary, yet sacred.” She turned to her. “Something that must remain secret for a time.”
Anna’s breath caught. The room seemed to still around her.
Mrs. Pembroke looked back at her. “Mr. Reed has asked for you properly, though circumstances have made proper things rather difficult. He has also asked a reverend to come by the garden gate after sundown. Caleb Avery will stand as witness, and so shall I.”
Anna’s lips parted, but no words came.
Mrs. Pembroke’s voice softened. “But only if you wish it, dear.”
Anna looked down at the note in her hand. The words blurred again. A secret wedding! Not someday. Not when the war was done or when danger grew polite enough to step aside.
Now. Her heart pounded so hard it frightened her. “But the war…”
“Yes, what about it?” Mrs. Pembroke asked as if bored.
Anna’s eyes widened. “And Major Ellis… and, and… if anyone learns I’m his wife, they could use me against him.”
