Chapter 2. Wildcrafting
The blush of pregnancy was now fully apparent to anyone who saw Tabitha Lennox. Her cheeks held a rosey color and her eyes were brilliant blue set off by the new gold of her hair in the last rays of the setting sun. She drove her hand shovel into the sweet, leaf covered autumn earth digging out a few digitalis plants to winter indoors before the winter's snows blanketed the earth. She secured their rootball in jute netting and placed them into her basket. Wildcrafting was an occupation Tabitha had grown to love. It took her out into the open serenity of the woods, fields, the hillsides of Harmony where she would forget her troubles. Here in peaceful tranquility, she would search for medicinal plants, and in the springtime she would re-seed and replant that which she had taken, to insure their bounty for years to come. It was the nature of Wildcrafting.
The summer stars had begun to fade lower on the horizon, making way for their wintry friends, just now beginning to appear each dusk over the horizon. Her confidence in astrology was offset by her equal knowledge with medicinal herbs. She rarely read horoscopes these days. But there were a few brave Harmony villagers who took the chance of scandal and paid her a farthing or two for readings. They were instructed by their faith to view astrology as witchcraft, as evil doings. Tabitha considered the reading of the stars and planets as a craft that had been used through the ages since antiquity.
Consulting the stars of the zodiac was not only a scientific enterprise in her mind, but it used advanced mathematicks. Declinations and ascendants, degrees used for navigation but was also used for divination. The stars and planets did not compel anyone to do or be anything without the determination of free will. It was merely an influence. She couldn't help but scowl at the locals ignorance and fear at something so beautiful and magnificently intricate that God had created for their use.
It was well past the last traces of dusk when Tabitha found herself on the path beside the cliffs. She happened to see the figure of a man sitting along side the rocks that overlooked the harbor below. He was a well-built, handsome man, who now stared up into the sky just as she had been doing. By the look of his clothing, the white duck trousers and his military jacket, she knew he was a sailor, a man of rank. She cautiously came closer. It was Captain Jeremiah Fitzgerald. She had heard he was now working for Alistar Stoke Crane. A dirty business to be connected to that man, she thought. This proud, independent sea captain was now...she suspected, being blackmailed into Alistar's evil Opium empire.
As she passed him, he stood up brought his hand up to his cap and nodded to her in a gentlemanly manner. "Grand evening, Miss. A beautiful night."
Tabitha clutched her cloak around her obvious telling shape. "Tis lovely, Captain. Full of stars." She glanced up at the rising of the planet Mars, and the constellation of Capricorn.
"Pardon my saying so, Miss, but a young woman shouldn't be wandering about these paths alone at night." He recognized the strange young woman as Tabitha Lennox. His first mate's sister, the Innkeeper's wife had often mentioned the Herbalist's comings and goings, the local gossip Jeremiah wanted to be quitted of, and wished to be back at sea. He already knew she was with child.
Tabitha smiled. "Tis only the Moon, Mars and Jupiter up in the heavens, I've no fear of them." She felt his eyes fall on her protruding abdomen, which she had tried without success to conceal from him. No explanations needed to be made for she soon realized he averted his eyes quickly. An unspoken understanding grew between them and she relaxed.
Fitzgerald was a worldly man. Women having babies was the most natural event in the world. He did not share the local contempt and ill will against this woman of charming constitution because she had no husband. Experience knew the better of him. Her will seemed unviolated, and she showed an inward pride of having not deserved the treatment she has met with. He knew her plight was not going to be an easy one.
"It's a good night for the lunars...." He said to himself, remarking about the lunar tables his navigator would make record of for navigational position. "Westerlies are backing, a fair wind for the west Indies." He said.
"Pardon my asking, Captain...why are you not back at sea?"
His head lowered and he sat back down on the flat rock, stretching out his long legs. "I've lost my ship to Alistar Crane. Why, I thought everyone knew by now."
Tabitha smiled. "Indeed, I do not get about town these days."
Jeremiah nodded with acknowledgment. The barbarous insults to a pregnant, unmarried woman would keep her away...."By god, that devil will have my family out in the streets if I don't take his bloody ships to Canton. Alistar Crane destroyed my papers, and claims ownership of The Passion Flower. I'm legally in his debt, according to the King's Law. You see, I detest being under an obligation. But-- I must swallow my pride for the sake of my family."
Tabitha nodded sympathetically. "He's a remorseless man--- of unspeakable cruelty." She said in almost a whisper, her voice trembling with expression, that surprised herself. She turned from him, her handkerchief to her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she wept.
Jeremiah touched her arm in a gesture of compassion. "I-- see---I didn't know. Nobody would have ever guessed that you and he--- I'm sorry."
"No sorrier than me." She gave him a very brief account of her unwillingness to yield to Crane and that was all, for it was too much, and yet she felt at ease speaking to this handsome stranger.
Jeremiah made observations upon the subject, as if it came from the mouth of a person who would soon be a companion of angels, like his sister Penelope, long ago buried in Harmony churchyard. Looking up at the rising moon, Jeremiah was hardened with resolution against Alistar Stoke Crane. His oldest sister, Penelope had fallen victim to Alistar while working in his kitchen, many years ago when Jeremiah was just a boy. Penelope had just turned 16. The scandal of his sister's ruin was spoken of for many years. He had found her pregnant body hanging by a rope in the upstairs closet. Many of the townsfolk claimed it was the will of God. "Would to Heaven," said Jeremiah, I would put it in my power to repair the wrongs if I could." I shall never forget, Jeremiah thought.
"He should be thrashed!" Jeremiah's eyes softened with kindness toward Tabitha. "It's a vile man who would take an unprotected woman against her will..."
Tabitha stood a little embarrassed for him to be speaking about this subject so deeply buried in her heart, she stepped away from him, ready to dart away. Jeremiah touched her arm once more.
"Be still, Tabitha. I'll not betray your secret, if you do not wish it."
Tabitha relaxed, with so much graceful easy and beauty, and propriety of accent that would have made bad poetry delightful. "Thank you, Captain. You are an honorable man. My spirit is overwhelmed within me and my heart is desolate. I watch; and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top. My days are like a shadow that declineth, and sometimes I am withered like grass."
Such is the woman, such is the angel standing before him, Jeremiah thought more of this woman, whom Alistar Stoke Crane has deceived and ruined-sweet creature! And yet, she was made of stronger stuff than his sister had been. How effectually would her story, were it generally known, warn all of her sex against coming into the power of such a man and drive the men in this town up in arms against him?
There were women, who were not utterly abandoned, who would easily be taken advantage of, without regard to principle, decency or honor. The women would be affecting ignorance and modesty, but showing meanings too obvious to be concealed. A pretty scarf, a piece of jewelry....Of those women, Crane would triumph, jest with laughing impertinence, and an obscenity too shameful even to the guilty.
Crane would then show his intentions mingled with a disdain of that woman's despicable worthlessness. He thought all women were the same. Crane would make a toy of them. Crane would rob any angel of purities if he could, deciding the difference between angelic and brutal qualities. Without regard to the passion itself, the less of soul in the woman, the more accelerated her ruin. Crane had a soul, though a corrupted one; his appetite for power in the end was for conquering. Man, woman or child.
"Be easy, Tabitha." Jeremiah took her hands in his. "I know that you have been vilely treated by a man who, to treat YOU ill, must be the vilest of men. Where all the world has a different opinion of you, I have not altered in mine. I deplore those sufferings, which encourage me to boldly hope...that you might someday...consider marrying me."
"Sir!" Tabitha felt weakened. Jeremiah helped her sit beside him on the rock.
"Your sufferings have exalted your character. I pride myself in this, that while your friends persecute and banish you, and do not look upon you in just light, as I do, while you are destitute of protection; and everyone standing aloof, I solemnly declare, to stand forth for I offer my life, at your service. Will you marry me?"
Tabitha was shocked and drawn to this brave soul with feelings she could not name. "You are a good man, but we have only just met. Perhaps you offer yourself out of pity, and you are to be commended as a gentleman. However-I cannot accept your offer of marriage."
"I can see you abhor insincerity, and I admire you for it." Jeremiah was growing more fond of this compelling woman. "We need not stay here in Harmony forever. Come away with me, and we will travel the world together, where your history is not known."
Tabitha considered his proposal. She knew in her heart that she was no ordinary woman, although she wished she were. There was Hecuba, who had followed her to Harmony. Hecuba would make this man grow to hate and despise her when he learned of the arrest in England, that she had been charged as a witch. She lowered her head sadly, for the handsome sea captain was shining and brave, beyond any man she had ever known. "I cannot. Sir, you are a man who is good and has that quality in himself which dignifies the human race. Your actions toward me, I know, are made out of pity. I made a resolution not to marry for any reason but love."
He lifted her chin in his, staring at her face, now reflecting the moonlight. "Perhaps we can grow to love each other, you and I. You are a companiable woman, smart, capable and fair. I beseech you to accept my protection."
Tabitha pressed his hand back in hers. "Sir, you distinguish yourself in my opinion. Your frankness and generosity of purpose convinces me that I am morally compelled to decline your offer. My choice is the single life." A tear slipped down her cheek which she quickly swiped away. "There is no need for protection and favour, which you so generously offer. I have a strong heart." Tabitha stood up, unsure if she was able to resist this man if he were to take her in his arms, and her heart was breaking to turn him down.
"I pray in the presence of God, to bless and protect you if I cannot." Jeremiah said.
"And may God bless and protect you in all that you do." Tabitha took up her basket of herbs and ran down the path, never turning back.
The blush of pregnancy was now fully apparent to anyone who saw Tabitha Lennox. Her cheeks held a rosey color and her eyes were brilliant blue set off by the new gold of her hair in the last rays of the setting sun. She drove her hand shovel into the sweet, leaf covered autumn earth digging out a few digitalis plants to winter indoors before the winter's snows blanketed the earth. She secured their rootball in jute netting and placed them into her basket. Wildcrafting was an occupation Tabitha had grown to love. It took her out into the open serenity of the woods, fields, the hillsides of Harmony where she would forget her troubles. Here in peaceful tranquility, she would search for medicinal plants, and in the springtime she would re-seed and replant that which she had taken, to insure their bounty for years to come. It was the nature of Wildcrafting.
The summer stars had begun to fade lower on the horizon, making way for their wintry friends, just now beginning to appear each dusk over the horizon. Her confidence in astrology was offset by her equal knowledge with medicinal herbs. She rarely read horoscopes these days. But there were a few brave Harmony villagers who took the chance of scandal and paid her a farthing or two for readings. They were instructed by their faith to view astrology as witchcraft, as evil doings. Tabitha considered the reading of the stars and planets as a craft that had been used through the ages since antiquity.
Consulting the stars of the zodiac was not only a scientific enterprise in her mind, but it used advanced mathematicks. Declinations and ascendants, degrees used for navigation but was also used for divination. The stars and planets did not compel anyone to do or be anything without the determination of free will. It was merely an influence. She couldn't help but scowl at the locals ignorance and fear at something so beautiful and magnificently intricate that God had created for their use.
It was well past the last traces of dusk when Tabitha found herself on the path beside the cliffs. She happened to see the figure of a man sitting along side the rocks that overlooked the harbor below. He was a well-built, handsome man, who now stared up into the sky just as she had been doing. By the look of his clothing, the white duck trousers and his military jacket, she knew he was a sailor, a man of rank. She cautiously came closer. It was Captain Jeremiah Fitzgerald. She had heard he was now working for Alistar Stoke Crane. A dirty business to be connected to that man, she thought. This proud, independent sea captain was now...she suspected, being blackmailed into Alistar's evil Opium empire.
As she passed him, he stood up brought his hand up to his cap and nodded to her in a gentlemanly manner. "Grand evening, Miss. A beautiful night."
Tabitha clutched her cloak around her obvious telling shape. "Tis lovely, Captain. Full of stars." She glanced up at the rising of the planet Mars, and the constellation of Capricorn.
"Pardon my saying so, Miss, but a young woman shouldn't be wandering about these paths alone at night." He recognized the strange young woman as Tabitha Lennox. His first mate's sister, the Innkeeper's wife had often mentioned the Herbalist's comings and goings, the local gossip Jeremiah wanted to be quitted of, and wished to be back at sea. He already knew she was with child.
Tabitha smiled. "Tis only the Moon, Mars and Jupiter up in the heavens, I've no fear of them." She felt his eyes fall on her protruding abdomen, which she had tried without success to conceal from him. No explanations needed to be made for she soon realized he averted his eyes quickly. An unspoken understanding grew between them and she relaxed.
Fitzgerald was a worldly man. Women having babies was the most natural event in the world. He did not share the local contempt and ill will against this woman of charming constitution because she had no husband. Experience knew the better of him. Her will seemed unviolated, and she showed an inward pride of having not deserved the treatment she has met with. He knew her plight was not going to be an easy one.
"It's a good night for the lunars...." He said to himself, remarking about the lunar tables his navigator would make record of for navigational position. "Westerlies are backing, a fair wind for the west Indies." He said.
"Pardon my asking, Captain...why are you not back at sea?"
His head lowered and he sat back down on the flat rock, stretching out his long legs. "I've lost my ship to Alistar Crane. Why, I thought everyone knew by now."
Tabitha smiled. "Indeed, I do not get about town these days."
Jeremiah nodded with acknowledgment. The barbarous insults to a pregnant, unmarried woman would keep her away...."By god, that devil will have my family out in the streets if I don't take his bloody ships to Canton. Alistar Crane destroyed my papers, and claims ownership of The Passion Flower. I'm legally in his debt, according to the King's Law. You see, I detest being under an obligation. But-- I must swallow my pride for the sake of my family."
Tabitha nodded sympathetically. "He's a remorseless man--- of unspeakable cruelty." She said in almost a whisper, her voice trembling with expression, that surprised herself. She turned from him, her handkerchief to her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she wept.
Jeremiah touched her arm in a gesture of compassion. "I-- see---I didn't know. Nobody would have ever guessed that you and he--- I'm sorry."
"No sorrier than me." She gave him a very brief account of her unwillingness to yield to Crane and that was all, for it was too much, and yet she felt at ease speaking to this handsome stranger.
Jeremiah made observations upon the subject, as if it came from the mouth of a person who would soon be a companion of angels, like his sister Penelope, long ago buried in Harmony churchyard. Looking up at the rising moon, Jeremiah was hardened with resolution against Alistar Stoke Crane. His oldest sister, Penelope had fallen victim to Alistar while working in his kitchen, many years ago when Jeremiah was just a boy. Penelope had just turned 16. The scandal of his sister's ruin was spoken of for many years. He had found her pregnant body hanging by a rope in the upstairs closet. Many of the townsfolk claimed it was the will of God. "Would to Heaven," said Jeremiah, I would put it in my power to repair the wrongs if I could." I shall never forget, Jeremiah thought.
"He should be thrashed!" Jeremiah's eyes softened with kindness toward Tabitha. "It's a vile man who would take an unprotected woman against her will..."
Tabitha stood a little embarrassed for him to be speaking about this subject so deeply buried in her heart, she stepped away from him, ready to dart away. Jeremiah touched her arm once more.
"Be still, Tabitha. I'll not betray your secret, if you do not wish it."
Tabitha relaxed, with so much graceful easy and beauty, and propriety of accent that would have made bad poetry delightful. "Thank you, Captain. You are an honorable man. My spirit is overwhelmed within me and my heart is desolate. I watch; and am as a sparrow alone upon the house-top. My days are like a shadow that declineth, and sometimes I am withered like grass."
Such is the woman, such is the angel standing before him, Jeremiah thought more of this woman, whom Alistar Stoke Crane has deceived and ruined-sweet creature! And yet, she was made of stronger stuff than his sister had been. How effectually would her story, were it generally known, warn all of her sex against coming into the power of such a man and drive the men in this town up in arms against him?
There were women, who were not utterly abandoned, who would easily be taken advantage of, without regard to principle, decency or honor. The women would be affecting ignorance and modesty, but showing meanings too obvious to be concealed. A pretty scarf, a piece of jewelry....Of those women, Crane would triumph, jest with laughing impertinence, and an obscenity too shameful even to the guilty.
Crane would then show his intentions mingled with a disdain of that woman's despicable worthlessness. He thought all women were the same. Crane would make a toy of them. Crane would rob any angel of purities if he could, deciding the difference between angelic and brutal qualities. Without regard to the passion itself, the less of soul in the woman, the more accelerated her ruin. Crane had a soul, though a corrupted one; his appetite for power in the end was for conquering. Man, woman or child.
"Be easy, Tabitha." Jeremiah took her hands in his. "I know that you have been vilely treated by a man who, to treat YOU ill, must be the vilest of men. Where all the world has a different opinion of you, I have not altered in mine. I deplore those sufferings, which encourage me to boldly hope...that you might someday...consider marrying me."
"Sir!" Tabitha felt weakened. Jeremiah helped her sit beside him on the rock.
"Your sufferings have exalted your character. I pride myself in this, that while your friends persecute and banish you, and do not look upon you in just light, as I do, while you are destitute of protection; and everyone standing aloof, I solemnly declare, to stand forth for I offer my life, at your service. Will you marry me?"
Tabitha was shocked and drawn to this brave soul with feelings she could not name. "You are a good man, but we have only just met. Perhaps you offer yourself out of pity, and you are to be commended as a gentleman. However-I cannot accept your offer of marriage."
"I can see you abhor insincerity, and I admire you for it." Jeremiah was growing more fond of this compelling woman. "We need not stay here in Harmony forever. Come away with me, and we will travel the world together, where your history is not known."
Tabitha considered his proposal. She knew in her heart that she was no ordinary woman, although she wished she were. There was Hecuba, who had followed her to Harmony. Hecuba would make this man grow to hate and despise her when he learned of the arrest in England, that she had been charged as a witch. She lowered her head sadly, for the handsome sea captain was shining and brave, beyond any man she had ever known. "I cannot. Sir, you are a man who is good and has that quality in himself which dignifies the human race. Your actions toward me, I know, are made out of pity. I made a resolution not to marry for any reason but love."
He lifted her chin in his, staring at her face, now reflecting the moonlight. "Perhaps we can grow to love each other, you and I. You are a companiable woman, smart, capable and fair. I beseech you to accept my protection."
Tabitha pressed his hand back in hers. "Sir, you distinguish yourself in my opinion. Your frankness and generosity of purpose convinces me that I am morally compelled to decline your offer. My choice is the single life." A tear slipped down her cheek which she quickly swiped away. "There is no need for protection and favour, which you so generously offer. I have a strong heart." Tabitha stood up, unsure if she was able to resist this man if he were to take her in his arms, and her heart was breaking to turn him down.
"I pray in the presence of God, to bless and protect you if I cannot." Jeremiah said.
"And may God bless and protect you in all that you do." Tabitha took up her basket of herbs and ran down the path, never turning back.