Later that afternoon, Obadiah Hakeswill returned to camp as a married man. Though he'd only won her hand and not her heart as he had hoped, the young sergeant was confident that, given time, he would eventually win Jane's love.
As he made his way past a large group of enlisted men, he gave hard scrutiny to several likely candidates, wondering which of them had been the filthy sod who had taken advantage of his Jane. Normally, he didn't care how many women the other men rogered or how they went about it, considering he did the same thing himself. Since joining the army, most of the women Obadiah had been with had been for one time only, after which he never saw them again.
But this was different. It was Jane, the woman he loved. He'd do anything necessary to defend her; even kill for her if that's what it took.
As he entered the warehouse a short time later, he found Richard Sharpe and the privates not doing much of anything. The warehouse was clean and in order, so he did not comment about their idleness.
Sharpe stood as soon as Hakeswill came through the door. "Sarge! Where have you been? There's a whole lot of requisition forms for you to sign."
"Never you mind where I've been," the sergeant replied irritably, twitching briefly. "Don't you worry none about them requisition forms, neither. Them's my problem, they are." Looking at the entire group, he continued, "'Sides, work's done for the day, so's I need you lot of miscreants to bugger off and leave me be."
"Right away, Sarge," Sharpe said briskly, already moving for the door. He didn't need to be told twice.
After Sharpe and the privates had left, Obadiah attended to the paperwork on his desk, feeling a bit melancholy that he could not spend his wedding night with his bride. Twitching briefly, he did his best to put that out of his mind for the time being, knowing it was important to keep their marriage a secret for the time being.
Hakeswill lingered for awhile in the warehouse after finishing with the requisition forms, not in the mood to engage in the usual banter with the other sergeants in his barracks. He stood looking out the window that faced the northern gate across the parade ground in the direction of Jane and Leadingham.
As he wondered how his new wife was spending their wedding night, he thought of his long departed mother, missing her yet again, and wished that she could have lived long enough to see her only son married. Despite all the years that had passed since his mother's death, he'd never stopped missing her. But now that he had a wife to love, he hoped that the pain of missing his mother would no longer be so acute.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Jane Hakeswill slowly walked through all the rooms of her childhood home, wordlessly saying goodbye to the only life she'd ever known, after Obadiah had reluctantly left to return to his duties in camp. He'd not wanted to leave her on their wedding night, but he had to if their marriage was going to be kept secret.
The young bride stood at her bedroom window idly looking out at the street below as she waited for her father and sisters to return for the evening. Alone with her thoughts at last, she was finally able to contemplate the reality of the events of the last couple of days. As she maintained her vigil, her eyes fell on the hairbrush that sat on top of her chest of drawers, which had belonged to her mother.
Jane's composure melted away at the sight of the familiar object as she began weeping silently. Her wedding was nothing like how she'd always hoped it would be; she was married to a man she was not in love with and on top of that, she would be spending her wedding night alone in her bed. Worst of all, her mother had not been here to see her married. But, on second thought, perhaps it was better that her mother hadn't had to endure the shameful circumstances that had prompted this hasty wedding.
Nevertheless, she was determined to make the best of it, knowing that it was the only practical solution possible to this bad situation; things could have turned out much worse. But right now, before anyone returned home, she felt exceedingly sorry for herself.
Later that evening, the three sisters gathered together in Jane's room to spend one last evening together. Jane was grateful for their company, as it would provide a distraction from thinking about her situation, even if just for one night.
"It's going to be hard to refer to you as Jane Hakeswill from now on," Abby said, rolling her eyes. "I can't say as I'll ever get used to that." She'd spent most of the evening bringing her belongings into the room, as she planned to take it over once Jane had moved out, so that she and Sarah could each have their own rooms.
"Abby!" Sarah chided. "Couldn't you wait until tomorrow after Jane leaves to start moving in here?"
"It's all right, Sarah," Jane said, twisting the heavy gold wedding band Obadiah had placed on her finger earlier that day. "I don't mind. After all, the sooner she gets it done, the sooner you each will have your own rooms."
"It won't be the same around here without you, Jane," Sarah said mournfully. "I'll be ever so lonesome sleeping in a bedroom all by myself, even if Abby is bossy."
"I won't be far away." Jane patted her youngest sister on the arm. "And soon you'll be an aunt! I know how much you love babies." After a pause, she belatedly added, "And you've gained a brother in law as well."
"Some brother in law," Abigail snorted.
"I like Obadiah," Sarah insisted. "He's always been nice the few times I've met him."
"I think I'd rather be ruined than have to marry such a homely and completely unsuitable man," Abby sniffed. "Of course, I would have never put myself in such a predicament in the first place."
"Must you always be so uncharitable?" Jane asked, sighing wearily. "Just for once, can't you be happy for me?"
"Don't pay her any mind," Sarah said. "It's just sour grapes."
"I just wanted better for you, is all," Abby said, turning away to look out the window. "Don't you remember the grand weddings we used to plan when we were little girls?"
"We must deal with life how it is, not how we wish it would be," Jane reminded her. "It won't be so bad. I respect Obadiah and I like being with him and he loves me. There aren't many men who would be willing to marry a woman carrying another man's child." Giving her sister a stern glance, she added, "I know this isn't an ideal marriage, but it will go much better if I have the support of everyone in my family."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Sergeant Hakeswill wasn't able to get away from camp the next day until well after the noon hour. He hadn't mentioned his wedding to anyone, but went about his duties as if it was an ordinary day. But as soon as he could slip away without attracting attention, he headed to Jane's new lodgings at her aunt's home. He wouldn't be able to rest easy until he saw she was settled in comfortably.
He stopped in Leadingham on the way to her aunt's house to get Jane a couple more oranges, figuring they would be good for her and a nice treat besides. As he continued on his way, his mind was in planning mode, thinking of all the things he'd need to get for the baby soon to arrive and items he and Jane would need to set up housekeeping together as man and wife.
A pale young woman, wearing an apron over her modest gown, appeared when he knocked at the door to the secluded cottage some time later.
"You must be Sergeant Hakeswill," the woman said timidly. "Miss Jane has been 'spectin' you." Remaining in the doorway, she did not move aside to let Obadiah pass.
"Step aside and let the man in, Sally," came an impatient voice from inside the cottage.
Jumping out the way, Sally muttered, "Beggin' your pardon..."
Obadiah stepped inside to see a frail looking elderly woman sitting in a comfortable chair by the fireplace.
"Come closer, young man," the old woman said. "I want to see the man who married my niece, but I don't see as well as I used to."
"Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, at your service, Mrs Cutler." He stood by the fire so she could see him better.
"Do call me Aunt Caroline," she insisted. "You are family now." Clearing her throat, she added, "And you had best treat my great-niece well, or else you will have me to answer to."
"I loves Jane," Obadiah assured her. "Nothing for you to worry about, there ain't."
The old woman harrumphed, then gave him a brief smile. "Go on with you, then. Jane is out back in the garden waiting for you. Don't stay out there too long, because Sally will have dinner ready soon. You must stay and eat with us; I won't take no for an answer."
Obadiah found Jane sitting on a wooden bench, looking pensive and preoccupied, as he stepped into the garden a couple of moments later. She was so deep in thought that she did not notice her new husband until he'd put a gentle hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Obadiah." She reached up to pat his hand, still resting on her shoulder. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming today."
"Couldn't get away 'fore this, missy," he told her. "Lt. Morris kept me busy all morning at the warehouse, so's I couldn't leave without him asking me all sorts of nosey questions." Reaching into his haversack, he pulled out the oranges and handed them to her. "Thought you'd like some more oranges. But I wants you to keep 'em for yourself, 'cos you needs to keep up your strength for the baby."
"I promise to eat them myself," she said, smiling. "Thank you."
"Nothin' too good for my wife." He took a seat beside her on the bench. "When did you get here?"
"Da brought me out early this morning on his way to make some deliveries. I'm afraid it's going to be frightfully boring here. My sisters and I had disagreements all the time but, oddly enough, I already miss their company."
"You won't be here that long," he reminded her, twitching briefly. "I'll try to come out here every day to see you. You can spend time sewing clothes for the baby and making lists of things we needs to get to set up housekeeping together after the baby is born."
"You're right," she said. "I'll have plenty to keep me busy."
"And you'll be busier yet, once the baby comes. You ought to enjoy restin' while you can."
Obadiah took her hand a moment later, after which the newlywed couple went inside for dinner.