22-25 June 1721 – Hampton, Virginia

Anne and Joseph were married by the vicar promptly at seven o’clock in the morning. The ceremony was witnessed only by the vicar’s wife and Anne’s father. Anne wore a simple white bodice over her shift and a skirt embroidered lovingly by Sarah with blue lines representing waves at sea. Joseph wore the same coat and breeches he had on the night before. After they said the vows, Joseph put a small gold band on her left hand. She felt like it was choking her whole hand bloodless. Then she realized, at least he’s given me a ring. James Bonny had married her without benefit of jewelry, something Anne had never quite forgiven him for.

After the ceremony, they walked to the ship that would take them to Virginia. “She sails on the mid-day tide,” said Joseph.

“So you said. About one then?” Anne looked out at the ship at anchor and recognized the Captain as the man Joseph had been laughing with when they arrived.

He nodded. “We have to be on board by noon. I assume you’ve packed the things in your room? We should get them onto the ship soon.”

“Can we inspect her before we board?” Anne asked.

“No,” said her father.

She put the glass down and glared at him. “Why not?” she asked, turning to face him.

“Because Captain Stoutley says we’d be in the way. He comes highly recommended by friends of Joseph, in case you were wondering,” he added, waving a hand at his new son-in-law.

“Yes, through a former, uh business partner. Stoutley seems quite competent.” Joseph told Anne, who continued to glare. “Although you would be a better judge of that than I.”

“Thank you,” she mumbled.

The dock bustled with activity and although she refused to acknowledge it, Anne realized that Stoutley had been right. She would have said the same thing.

They strolled back to the boarding house where Anne packed her good clothes into a valise her father provided. The rest of her trousseau, such as it was, had been put in a trunk with some linens and dishes. It was already on board the ship. She changed into a loose gown over her shift, tied on her pockets and skirt, carefully hiding the brooch, wrapped in a piece of linen, inside a shoe. Men’s clothes are so much more comfortable, she thought, shaking her head.

When she was done, she lay down on the bed and fell fast asleep.

A knock on the door woke her. “Yeah?” she called out, shaking the fuzziness out of her head.

“We need to go to the dock, my dear,” replied her father’s voice. “Give me the valise and come down so we can send the boy with it.”

Anne pulled herself up to a sitting position with her legs dangling over the side of the bed. “Be right there.”

After she inspected the room, she picked up the leather bag and went downstairs.

Joseph met her at the bottom and immediately took the valise. “The boy’s right outside.”

At the dock, a sailor stood by the pier looking impatient. Joseph went up to him. “For the Waverly,” he said.

The sailor nodded and, muttering “about time,” led them down to where a rowboat bounced in the water. He climbed in and looked up at the passengers.

Anne turned towards her father, keeping here visage neutral. “Well, Father, once again, farewell.” She stood, uncertain what to do next. Her feelings about her father had changed since he had rescued her. She recognized now why he had opposed her marriage to Bonny, although she would never agree that she shouldn’t have left. She also realized how stupid she had been at sixteen.

Her father stepped forward, put his arms around her, and squeezed her breathless. Anne curled her hands around his back and hugged him back. “I wish you good fortune, Anne. Better than you have had to now. Write if you will. You are my daughter and I love you dearly. We will likely never see each other again, but I would like to know now and then that you are well.”

Anne nodded, silently. She knew she should say more but she didn’t know what. Finally she managed, “Thank you, Father. For rescuing me. And for taking care of me.”

He kissed her on the cheek and stepped aside, offering a hand to Joseph. The men shook warmly and then, to the surprise of both, William Cormac hugged his son-in-law. He let go, turned, and strode back up to the wharf without a backwards glance.

Anne watched him go, a single tear rolling down her cheek. I’ll never see him again. Just when we were beginning to trust each other. She reached up and brushed it away. Taking a deep breath, she stepped, with Joseph’s unnecessary assistance, into the boat.

Once they had climbed aboard, Joseph went off to talk to Captain Stoutley, but Anne remained on the deck as the ship drifted out of the harbor and hoisted her sails. She watched Charles Town recede in the hazy summer sun. She glanced up to the Quarterdeck and spotted Joseph standing with the Captain, laughing and watching the activity on board with interest. I wonder if this‘ll be my last voyage, Anne thought, overwhelmed by conflicting emotions: sad, trapped, angry, curious and excited. After they had cleared the harbor, Joseph appeared at her side.

“Captain Stoutley has invited us for brandy in his cabin,” he said.

Anne nodded. “I will go change,” she said without looking at the man she was now bound to.

In the small cabin, a narrow cot, built into the side of the ship, had been made up with sheets and a blanket. Anne’s trunk sat against one wall with a chair next to it. A small table jutted out from a third wall. She opened a second, smaller trunk to find Joseph’s second set of clothes and some personal items. It suddenly dawned on her that he had a smaller wardrobe than she did. Who is this man? she wondered, not for the first time.

Stoutley and Joseph chatted and laughed for over an hour while Anne listened. She was a good mimic and she would need that skill to blend in. She occasionally threw in a comment, but she mostly held back. The quicker I can learn to talk like regular folk, their speech and small talk, the safer we will be.

Finally, the Captain rose, which prompted Joseph and Anne to stand as well. “I have kept you too long from your honeymoon bed,” he joked with a wink at the couple which caused both to blush deep red.

“Quite all right, Captain Stoutley. Anne and I will manage.” Joseph said. Stoutley bowed, as did Joseph. Anne remained standing until the Captain opened the door to let them out.

They walked in silence to the tiny cabin which was back under the Quarterdeck, close to the Captain’s quarters. Joseph held the door open. They each gave silent thanks that none of the crew were nearby to snigger.

The newlyweds stood in the small cabin, only a foot apart, and stared at each other.

Finally, Joseph broke the silence. “I will not take you against your will, Anne. I know you are experienced, but not with me. I do not condone force. When we join, we must join by mutual desire.”

Anne nodded. “Thank you,” she said. “If you’ll turn, I’ll undress.”

Joseph replied, “If you will also turn, I will undress as well.”

Joseph slid onto the cot first, and rolled onto his side facing the wall. Anne joined him in the bed, lying on her side and facing the room. They both lay listening to the other’s breathing until finally Joseph heard Anne’s soften and become regular. He smiled to himself. Matter of time, he thought as he fell fast asleep.

Late afternoon on the third day, the Waverly landed at Hampton, Virginia. Anne and Joseph stood at the rail watching Stoutley skillfully manoeuver the ship into the harbor, drop anchor, and call for the jolly boats. By six o’clock that evening, they had found lodgings at Mistress Johnson’s Boarding House. Joseph went off to see about the horses and wagon.

Anne stood on the porch looking at the harbor in the increasing gloom. Lights had begun to flicker along the waterfront and on the ships bobbing in the harbor. Her mind raced forward and backward and then settled. “Goodbye old life,” she whispered. Turning her back on the water, Anne Cormac Bonny Burleigh walked slowly back to the Mistress Johnson’s and closed herself in her room.

Joseph found her there an hour later. She was sitting in a rocking chair with her feet up on her trunk. She looked up at him, expressionless as her mind roiled with uncertainty and fear. Can I do this? Can I be who I am and be his wife? A farmer’s wife? Although I don’t think he’s ever been a farmer.

Joseph sat on the bed. “The horses are secured and the wagon. We can leave in the morning as planned.” He waited but she did not speak. “It’s time for supper. There’s a place up the road that the Captain recommends.”

She realized that she was hungry. So she put on a simple bodice of linen over her shift and a plain skirt. Her hair was pulled back from her face but fell loose down her back. The fancy clothes remained in the trunk.

“I think you look bewitching, my dear,” Joseph told her, rising to offer a hand to help her up. She swung her legs off the trunk and took it. For the first time, she felt a slight jolt of electricity at his touch. She gasped a little, but covered it with a cough.

The dining room of the King’s Raven was almost full when they reached it. Joseph led the way to a small table beneath tall windows that looked out onto the passing traffic. They sat uneasily on chairs that faced each other, each deliberately avoiding eye contact by staring at the people and wagons going by.

Anne noticed a woman on the far side of the street carrying a bundle of packages, some ribbon tailing out the back. Lovely color, that orange, she thought. Another woman went by on their side wearing an engraved gold locket. Oh, that’s nice. At least ten doubloons. She caught herself and looked across at Joseph, who was now watching her.

“Appraising the locals?” he asked.

“What if I am?” she retorted.

“Fine with me,” he raised his hands defensively. At that moment, they were rescued by the waiter. They ordered food and Madeira, Anne’s favorite wine.

“Well, that’s done then,” Joseph said. “Back to the window?” he asked. Anne blushed briefly.

“Looks like a pretty prosperous port,” she noted. “Nice clothes. People well kempt. Streets clean.” She paused, then glancing back at Joseph asked, “How big is it?”

The waiter brought the food and drink.

“About two thousand and growing. Tobacco going out; goods coming in. The port is indeed prosperous, as you have discerned,” he nodded to her.

“Have you been here before, then?” Anne asked him.

“Only once, to see the property. It will take some work to make it a comfortable home but we can live in it as is.”

“And how, Joseph, do you define comfortable?” Anne asked.

“Comfortable chairs, a good bed, a well-stocked larder, nice silver and china and tobacco growing happily outside the door.” He looked at her, his head cocked. “And you?”

“Not sure about the tobacco, but I agree with the rest.” She looked at him. “Is this getting to know each other talk?” she asked.

Joseph laughed. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

“And are you a religious man, Joseph Burleigh?” Anne looked at him from above a spoonful of soup.

“Nay. And I can’t believe that you are either,” he said with a big smile. “I think that’s enough for tonight. We can get more information out of each other on the road.”

Joseph poured the last of the wine into the two glasses, handed one to Anne and lifted the other. “To us,” he said, “and our new life together.” He clinked his glass on hers.

Anne stared at him and gulped. “’Tis a new life, isn’t it?” She looked down at the table for a moment before taking a long drink and then moving the glass over to clink against Joseph’s. “To all that,” she said.

After they finished, they decided to delay the evening further by taking a walk around the town, Anne leading Joseph away from the bluff and its view of the harbor. He asked her questions about what foods she liked, what colors for her clothing, and did she ride horseback.

“Most assuredly,” she answered. “Do we have horses?”

“Indeed. Two for now, but I’m hoping to build a stable.”

She looked at him in surprise. “To breed?”

“Yes, diversify our income. Not all in one crop with nothing else.” They stood watching the sun go down in a blaze of red against distant clouds scudding across the sky. The evening was hot and muggy.

“You’re full of surprises, Joseph Burleigh,” Anne told him.

“I have a few more I’m saving,” he said with a smile. She laughed.

“Let’s go back,” Anne said, turning back in the direction of the boarding house.

Once in their room, Anne and Joseph stood, as they had on the first night of their marriage, facing each other. Each knew that this night would be different, but neither knew quite how to proceed.

Finally, Joseph stepped forward, put his arm around his wife and pulled her gently towards him. Leaning over, he put his lips on hers with increasing pressure until suddenly he felt her whole body respond. Her tongue came out and the resulting kiss was more passionate than he had expected.

“You have some surprises left as well, Anne Burleigh,” he said, pulling her even closer. She could feel his manhood through her light skirt as he could feel vibrations running through her body.

They pulled apart, panting. Without a word, Anne reached over and began to unbutton Joseph’s jacket, which she dropped to the floor. She slipped the waistcoat off his shoulders and left it to fall on top of the jacket. As she pulled out his shirt and reached for the buttons on his britches, Joseph stopped her hand.

He carefully unlaced her bodice which fell to the floor behind her, starting a new pile of clothing. Her skirt and pockets, untied, simply slid down. At that point, Joseph curled his arm around her waist again and pulled her back to him. Anne whimpered slightly as she returned his hard kiss.

The rest of their clothes hit the floor in moments. The newlyweds fell on the bed still clinging lip to lip, but with their hands roaming each other. Anne arched against Joseph who leaned over to kiss her breasts, biting them slightly. Anne’s eyes opened wide and then closed for good. She groaned as Joseph’s mouth moved down her body to caress between her legs, an area that was now moist and hot. Reaching for his already engorged penis, Anne stroked it with increasing vigor. He took a breath, pulled back and thrust into her. She stifled a moan and he rocked back and forth slowly at first and then faster. It didn’t take long for the pent-up passion they both felt to explode inside Anne’s body. Joseph arched and cried out then collapsed onto her chest without pulling himself out.

They both panted, covered with sweat, letting the heat of the act and of the summer evening dissipate in their sweat. When Joseph could breathe evenly again, he lifted himself up to look at her. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he said, leaning over to kiss her on her forehead. “With the most attractive freckles.”

“I hate my freckles,” she protested. He just smiled in response. “You’re damned good at this,” she added.

He laughed again, which caused him to fall out of her. He rolled over with his back against the wall. “Well,” he said, “there’s at least one thing we won’t ever fight about.”