“B-E-X”. Her fiancé said it loud and bold, a perfect direct address, the climax of the tragedy in this play, only this was true. It was Ester’s life.
“There that is done.” The blacksmith said as he turned around. “Do you, Arthur Bex, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife, forsaking all others, kept to her as long as you both shall live?”
“I will.”
“Do you, Ester Croome, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband, forsaking all others, kept to him as long as you both shall live?
She looked up at Bex, caught the sparkle in his cobalt eyes. “Yes.”
“A ring, Miss Croome.”
Bex swung a hand to his forehead “Can I buy one for her?”
Mama pulled off one of hers, the one with the jade stone, her favorite. “Use this, Ester.”
Willing away tears, she handed it to the priest and just breathed in and out, the ash and sulfur of the hearth and the melting tools.
“Now give it to Mr. Bex.” Mr. Elliot put the ring back into Ester’s palm.
She did, her fingers vibrating every moment of the exchange.
“Now give me the ring.” The blacksmith tugged his hands upon his stained apron and stretched for it.
Nodding, Bex gave it to him. The anvil priest held it up in the light of his hearth. The band reflected the fire. He pushed it to Bex. “Now put this on the fourth finger of her left hand and say these words: with this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, with all my worldly goods I thee endow in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.”
Bex cleared his throat. He turned to look at Ester. “I…” He cleared his throat and took sole possession of her gaze. “I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, with all my worldly goods, I thee endow, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen.”
The blacksmith took her hand and put it on his bandaged shoulder. “You’re supposed to link right hands but that seems impossible. Hope you put up a good fight before landing in the parson’s trap, Mr. Bex.” He winked and chortled.
Papa groaned.
Then Mr. Elliot turned to Ester. “Repeat after me, Miss Croome: what God joins together let no man put asunder.”
These were the last lines. If she would rebel, this was the time. But with Papa looking as if he’d be sick, and Mama wiping her eyes, there was nothing else to do but play the part she’d begun. Pulse raging, she said, “What God joins together let no man put asunder.”
“Good,” the priest said. “Forasmuch as this man and this woman have consented to go together by the giving and receiving a ring, I, therefore, declare them to be man and wife before God and these witnesses in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen. Go in peace.”
Ester’s mother kissed her on the cheek. Her father just shook his head and left the shop.
She wanted to go after him, but she’d let her mother soften him. She now understood the woman’s power. “Perhaps, Mama, we can come to dinner in a week or two. Then you can get to know Bex.”
Her mother kissed her again on the forehead. “No, Ester. You chose to leave us for him. I’ve given you your wish. But you are cut off this day from the Croomes.”
Ester’s heart stopped at least thirty seconds before it started again with a jolt. “But you forgave father for worse. I want to come home.”
“Your father is my business, as much as this man you chose is yours. You wanted his hands on you. Go to him like you left us, with the clothes you smuggled out. No dowry. You will live as he lives. You’re not a Croome anymore, Mrs. Bex.”
“Mama?”
The woman pushed away, head up, but she stopped at the blacksmith’s door. “If you think this is your father’s doing, then you don’t know me. You punished him enough for his flaws, broke his heart every time you washed his nose in it. Now, you’ve done it again, and ripped up mine, too. Take care of her, Mr. Bex.”
“I will, Mrs. Croome. I don’t want a dowry. Don’t let money come between you. She’s your daughter.”
“No. She’s your wife. You’re all she’s ever talked about. Now she has you. Be good to her.” The voice sounded strong but also winded, like it held back a forthcoming sob. The hurt in her mother’s face was worse than the day Ester had found those letters. She reached for her hand.
But it was too late.
Mama had turned her back on her and left.
