The reverend smiled and drew a small square of paper from his prayer book. “I have written it as agreed.”
He handed it to Mrs. Pembroke, who passed it to Anna. Her hands shook as she unfolded it. On one side, she read,This day, before God and these witnesses, Nathaniel Reed and Anna Turner have given themselves in holy matrimony, and are henceforth husband and wife.
Beneath the words were their names, written in the reverend’s careful hand. Below that, Caleb Avery had signed as witness. Mrs. Pembroke’s signature followed, bold and unmistakably impatient. And on the other side, in the smallest writing Anna had ever seen, came these words:
In a war of secrets and silent signals, we mistook one another for enemies yet remained steadfast in the cause of liberty and in the truth that led us to love. Anna Turner and Nathaniel Reed, Setauket, Long Island New York, October 3, 1778
Anna stared at it until the words ran together. Nathaniel’s hand covered hers. “May I?”
She nodded.
He took the paper, folded it once, then again, with the care of a man handling something more valuable than gold.
Mrs. Pembroke opened the black case. The locket lay inside. Anna’s breath caught as Nathaniel lifted it from the case and opened the first compartment.
Anna saw the words again.
In God We Trust.
Her eyes filled with tears.
He opened the second, hidden section. The paper that had once been there was gone. The errand completed, leaving the space empty, waiting.
Nathaniel looked at Anna. Together, they tucked the marriage note inside. It fit perfectly.
Anna let out a small, unsteady laugh. “Mrs. Pembroke will say that is because she planned it.”
“I did plan it,” Mrs. Pembroke said.
Nathaniel smiled, closed the locket and held it out to Anna. “It should stay with you.”
Anna shook her head. “What if they search me?”
“They will not,” Mrs. Pembroke said tersely.
Anna gaped at her.
Mrs. Pembroke sighed. “But because we do not arrange our lives according to my outrage alone, no. Not with you. Not yet.”
Caleb stepped forward. “I’ll see it safe.”
Nathaniel considered him, then looked at Anna. She understood.
The proof of their marriage had to be hidden just as the earlier message had been hidden. Not because their vows were weak, but because they mattered too much to be placed in careless hands.
Anna touched the locket once. “Until it is safe.”
Nathaniel covered her fingers with his. “Until it is safe.”
Caleb took the locket and tucked it inside his coat, and the garden seemed to breathe around them.
The reverend closed his prayer book. “I will keep the matter in confidence.”
“Thank you,” Nathaniel said.
The older man nodded. “May God keep you both.”
Mrs. Pembroke dabbed once at the corner of her eye, then scowled as if her handkerchief betrayed her. “Yes, yes. Very moving. Caleb, take the reverend by the west gate. Mr. Reed, you have five minutes. I dislike generosity, so don’t make me regret it.”
