Sentence of Marriage by Shayne Parkinson

Author:Shayne Parkinson
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: romance, family saga, marriage, historical fiction, teaching, victorian, new zealand, farming, nineteenth century, farm life
Publisher: Shayne Parkinson

20

February 1884

‘There’s a lot of mushrooms in some of the paddocks,’ Harry mentioned at breakfast the following Thursday. ‘I haven’t had mushrooms for ages.’

‘Mmm, I just fancy some mushrooms with lunch,’ said Jack.

That was enough of a hint for Amy. After breakfast she took a large basket and prepared to set out on a mushrooming expedition. She was in the porch putting on her boots when Jimmy came through the gate.

‘Have you got another basket?’ he asked. ‘I’ll come and help you.’

‘Shouldn’t you be working somewhere?’

‘Oh, they won’t miss me. Anyway, we can pick more if we both go.’

Amy did not need much persuading to fetch another basket, and they set off together.

‘Have you written to your father yet?’ Amy asked as soon as they were safely out of earshot of the house.

‘I haven’t got any notepaper. I’m not sure what to do, I can’t ask Susannah for any, because I don’t want her to know I’m writing.’

‘Her paper’s pink and scented, anyway,’ Amy said, remembering letters she had seen Susannah write to her mother. ‘That wouldn’t impress your father!’ They both laughed at the thought.

‘You don’t have any, do you?’ Jimmy asked.

‘No, I never write letters—who’ve I got to write to? Except sometimes I help Pa if he has to order things from Auckland or write to the bank, things like that. I don’t see how I can ask Pa for any of his notepaper, though. He’d want to know what I wanted it for.’

‘I’ll have to buy some in town, then. If I can get in there without Susannah wanting to come, that is. Yes, I’ll try and find some excuse to ride in by myself this week.’

They found mushrooms in the low-lying paddocks, but they had to cover a large area before their baskets were half-full. They worked their way along the bank of the Waimarama until they reached the point where the stream emerged from the bush.

‘Are there any mushrooms in there?’ Jimmy asked, indicating the trees.

‘Not many. There might be a few in the clearings.’

‘Let’s go and see. We’ve about cleaned out this paddock.’

Amy hesitated, torn between the desire to be alone with Jimmy and the fear of what might happen if she was. ‘I don’t know if we should.’

‘Oh, come on,’ Jimmy said, pulling at her hand. ‘It won’t be for long. I can’t kiss you out here in the open.’

‘Well…’ Amy said. ‘I’d like to, but—’

‘Please?’ Jimmy gave her a beseeching smile. ‘I haven’t kissed you for days—not properly, anyway.’

‘All right, then.’ That thing’s not going to happen again, though—not until we’re married, she told herself firmly. The last time they had both got over-excited; this time she was prepared.

When they came to the first sunlit clearing Jimmy put down his own basket, then took hers out of her hand and placed it on the ground. ‘Now let’s not waste any more time.’ His mouth came down on hers. Amy flung her arms around his neck and kissed back enthusiastically.

Jimmy slid his arms

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