Enduring Love Read Online Free PDF

my property. And later I was told Margaret had died. I left London believing myself to be a widower.”
    “I do recall hearing about that. Wasn’t Henry caught in a swindle here in Sydney Town?”
    “Yes. He was.”
    “He’s in prison?”
    “Newcastle.”
    “And as I understand, you had a hand in his capture?”
    “That’s right.”
    The reverend nodded. “All right, now what’s happened?”
    “Hannah and I were in Sydney Town for a short holiday with friends when Margaret approached me.”
    The reverend sat back. “That must have been quite a shock, eh?”
    “Yes, and more.” John cleared his throat and glanced at Hannah. “It was and it is devastating for us both.”
    Hannah could feel the staggering blow of the meeting as if it had just occurred.
    “What happened then?” The reverend pressed his palms together and steepled his fingers.
    “Margaret asked to meet with me, and so I went to the boardinghouse where she’s staying. She explained that she’d never left willingly with Henry, but that he’d taken her prisoner, and soon after, she became gravely ill. He left her, took my properties, and disappeared.” John leaned back, resting an arm on the settee. “By that time I’d been transported.”
    The reverend nodded. “And why has she come here now?”
    “She says she loves me and wants to be reunited.”
    Tears blurred Hannah’s vision. How had her dream come to this?
    “Before you were imprisoned, had she ever been disloyal or corrupt in any way?”
    “No. Not that I know of.”
    “And her only reason for coming now is to reconcile?”
    “That’s what she says.” John glanced at Hannah. “I don’t know that I trust her completely, but she certainly couldn’t be out for financial gain. The farm is doing well, but we’re still just getting on our feet.”
    “What gives you cause to doubt her now?”
    “Nothing, really. But I’ve thought for so long that she betrayed me, and it’s hard to believe anything else.”
    The reverend nodded thoughtfully. “And why didn’t she write all this time? That would seem the customary and easiest way of contacting you.”
    “According to Margaret, she did write but didn’t get a reply.” John shrugged. “I didn’t receive any word from her.”
    The reverend cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose that’s so unusual, prisoners often don’t get their mail.”
    A hush spread through the room like a dark vapor.
    “Have you any reason to disbelieve her?”
    “I don’t know. At first I thought her a liar. Now I’m not sure what I believe. When I saw my cousin, he never mentioned Margaret.”
    “Yes, of course. But your cousin would have had no reason to tell the truth in this instance. That would have implicated him in another serious crime.”
    Hannah held her glass with both hands and could feel the coolness of the water. She sipped but could barely swallow past the tightness in her throat.
    The reverend leaned forward in the chair. “What is it you’d like to do?”
    “I was hoping to get a decree of divorce . . . after all, I’m married to Hannah.”
    With a nod, the reverend looked at Hannah. “And you, are you in agreement?”
    Hannah didn’t know how to answer. She wanted this all to go away; a divorce could make that happen. But what would God think of such an action? “I love John and can’t imagine life without him. But I have a fear of the Lord. In my understanding of Scripture, God does not take marriage lightly . . . nor should we. I don’t know what’s right.”
    “What’s right is for us to remain married.” John stood. “Hannah and I are married. Tell her, Reverend.” When the minister didn’t answer immediately, John continued, sounding desperate. “You know we are. We stood at the front of your church and vowed to cherish and to love one another until our last breath. You presided over our vows.”
    “Yes, John, I remember. Calm yourself. Please, sit.” The minister kept his tone soft and steady.