Shortly after church began, Jamie slipped out of the service. He was shocked that Albert actually helped him by telling their parents they wanted to sit with the boys choir and plan their next performance. His father seemed to approve of this.
He slipped out and ran to where Octavia was supposed to meet. She was no where to be seen. Jamie's heart was in his throat.
She had changed her mind. She wasn't coming with him.
He was almost in tears with the thought of leaving her behind, but he would go without her, the new land and the stories George told tantalized him.
As he was about to leave their special spot, for the last time, he saw her dog Lily was there and around her collar was a message.
It read:
Come to the house, everyone is away at church.
I need you to help me, I can't carry my bags and Piper.
Love Octavia.
. . .
"Good dog Lily," Jamie said, feeling bad for having to leave her behind. But Ethan, Octavia's little brother loved her and would care for her.
When he arrived Piper greated him as Octavia finished her packing. Jamie had taken his luggage to George's gig last night.
"Want to go for a long trip little guy?" Jamie said thinking the puppy would make it with no problem, he had made a little carry bag under his cloak for him. No one would even notice the puppy if he was quiet.
They went to stash Octavia's bags in Georges gig, the horse was hitched and they were ready to go.
"I can't believe we are really going!" Octavia said smiling into Jamie's face.
"Come on let's go before church lets out, everyone is in church but us." George called.
Jamie and Octavia looked around at the village, where she had lived for a bit over a year, and he had lived all his life.
"Let's go!" they both said, and giggled.
Georged hoped he wasn't making a big mistake. Women were bad luck on ships but he had a plan to help that if they made it to the port.
The drove all morning, first very fast, then slow, then stopping to rest the horse. Then on to the inn. It was called the Laughing Dolphin. Octavia giggled at the name. This was so much fun.
George told them the innkeeper was his mother cousin so they would be staying for a lower rate. They would have to watch their pence.
"Piper you travel well now you wait quietly in the room while we go get something to eat I will bring you something later, please be a good dog," Jamie told Piper.
Then laughed as the puppy tried to lick him.
"Jamie, the room has only one bed," Octavia whispered.
Jamie was deep in thought for a few moments.
"We should get married, it is not right that you and I share a room without the vows." Jamie said.
If Octavia had any doubts about Jamie, they were gone.
"Oh Jamie, could we it would mean the world to me," Octavia said, she was the happiest she had ever been.
"Let us go down to the great room and tell George, and see if he knows how we can have vows with out banns, I know some of the more unfortunates do so all the time," Jamie explained.
"George I need you to do me a favour," Jamie said.
"We want to get married," Octavia said.
"And we need someone to do the marriage." Jamie said, "perhaps your mum's cousin . . ."
"Now hold on. You got to think about this, maybe it would be better to wait for the new world on that." George pleaded.
"Why should we wait," Octavia asked?
"Well for one thing, a wed sarry-mony costs a bit of coin, we may need," George said, "Understand girl, Jamie loves you, he don't need papers to love you."
"But it's a sin to . . ." Jamie said wide eyed.
"We could just have a simple joining by a cleric," Octavia reasoned, "Surely that would not cost more then a few shillings."
"Well perhaps, I will ask my mothers cousin, if he knows one," George sighed.
A bit later George returned and said, "Well the innkeepers wife knew someone but they would have to pay him to come out."
"Well pay him George, here," Jamie said giving him the money he had in his pocket.
"Not that much, and Jamie don't be flashing that much around." George hissed.
"We will have dinner and await you and the cleric," Jamie said smiling. George was such a worrier.
"Oh George you-you're back," Jamie said his voice slipping up almost an octave.
"Yes, I would like to introduce you to his honorable Jack Wells," George said, "Sir this is Octavia St. Laurent and James Warwick."
"Well met, yesh, you look a lot like George, so you want to marry childrens," Mr. Wells slurred and Octavia could smell the whiskey on his breath.
"I am George . . . um that is James over there sir," George said wondering if the man was really a cleric, but if he was lucky Mr. Wells wouldnt remember the shillings he was to be paid.
"Please I wish to speak to the darling girl a bit, and you speak to the young man, be a lad George," Mr. Wells said.
"All right," George said grinning, he was only 18 hadn't planned on giving a man to man talk until he was at least thirty with his own son.
"Young lady," Mr. Wells said wavering a bit, but seemingly clear of mind.
"Yes sir?" Octavia said, she felt like she was full of jelly inside the unpleasant mint kind her aunt always made for Easter.
"Now thou knows your parents are not knowing of this marriage I suspect, and maybe not approving?" he said sternly, but still slightly unsteady but clearly in control of his thoughts.
"They would approve, if they knew what had happened, but sometimes adults can be easily fooled by headstrong greedy people who don't care who they hurt." Octavia said softly, "Jamie is the best of men, and I love him with all my heart and breath, and is not that what is important for a marriage?"
"Oh but of course young miss, but you know what a marriage will wish from you?" Mr. Wells asked.
"I suppose so, I am to be a wife and a mother to his children," Octavia said.
"And do you know what the stallion does with the mare so a foal may be born?" Mr. Wells asked.
"Yes sir," Octavia said flushing, she had not thought of that.
"So I believe it is time for us to have a ceremony," Mr. Wells said.
"Dearly beloved we are gathered here this day in the year of our lord seventeentwentyone to join together in the holiest of sactums . . Matrimony.
Jamie was so nervous he wanted to giggle, cry, and pass out all at the same time.
Octavia was feeling as if she was about to loose the meal she had just eaten. It had been very good but suddenly it felt like a lob of morter mix on her stomach.
George too was shaking and looking pale and he was only a witness.
Octavia could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She wanted to run home and cry her mother and fathers pardons.
Then Jamie touched her hand and she could smell his natural woodsy odor and she felt steady once again.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride," Wells said.
"Go ahead, Kiss her Jamie," George said nervously, he was not sure about this marriage business at all women made him nervous, even his mother did.
Jamie and Octavia kissed and it was almost like the first time. The room disappeared and they seemed enveloped in fog, nothing was important but the taste and feel of the other. Oh how he loved her, and she returned that feeling.
Next Jamie hugged George. "Thanks for everything, you are a true friend."
"I hope so, Jamie, I hope you are not making a mistake, she is a beautiful girl but . . ."
"we will be fine, don't worry," George stammered.
"Have a nice life young folks now I need to get back to the Falcons Rest er . . I mean my congregation." Mr. Wells said only staggering slightly on the way to the door.
"Thank you sir," George said smiling, he forgot to ask for his fee.
"Come Jamie you are my husband, you must lie with me now," Octavia said, as Jamie stood gulping like a fish out of water.
"But I don't know what . . to-to do. oh God," Jamie said.
Silence filled the room and and after what seemed a long time, he cleared his throat.
Octavia said, "Well I have a general idea what to do. But you must change into night clothes first dearest husband."
"Ah . . .umm of course," Jamie said sounding more twelve then sixteen.
