Chapter 28
A few weeks later, Anne received a letter from Miss Lotty reminding her that her room in Yew Cottage was ready and waiting whenever she wanted to come back.
Lotty also wrote that she missed her, as did several other people in Painswick—one in particular.
Anne could guess whom she meant. Whatever Lotty’s motives, Anne realized she was ready to return, so she wrote back to accept the invitation.
The following week, Anne traveled back to Yew Cottage.
Her father brought her in the gig, helped carry in Anne’s things, and then stayed for tea.
He and Lotty talked of old times, and of Anne’s mother.
It was a poignant pleasure to hear stories and remembrances of her dear mamma from two people who had loved her so well.
Eventually, her father thanked Miss Lotty for her hospitality to him and to his daughter, rose, and took his leave.
Anne bid him farewell and had just waved him on his way when she spied Dr. Finch striding across the churchyard with his medical bag, out on some important call.
Noticing her, he stopped in his tracks and raised a hand.
She waved back and was surprised and pleased when he diverted his course and jogged toward her, nearly colliding with a passing cart in his hurry.
Anne held her breath, unsure what to expect. He seemed so eager she thought he might throw his arms around her or pick her up and swing her around.
Instead, he said, “Oh good. You’re back.
” He paused, trying to catch his breath.
“I know you’ve just returned, so I hate to ask, but might you assist me at the poorhouse?
I told you about Miss Cox and her mother, did I not?
I’ve helped them a few times now, and Miss Cox just let me know two new families have arrived there, with a few children who need medical care.
One with cuts and bruises, another with mumps and perhaps dysentery. I know it all sounds awful, but—”
“Not at all.”
“Good. Oh, and remember Mr. Hinton, that mill worker who lost his arm last year? I visited him again yesterday, and his stump itches terribly. Perhaps we might see if anything in that medicine case of yours could help him.”
To Anne’s surprise, tears sprang to her eyes, just as they had the last time he had asked her to work alongside him.
Dismay creased his face. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you again. I just thought, now you are back . . .”
“I am not upset.”
“But you are crying.”
“I know. I guess I’m just . . . glad to be here.” She sniffed and squared her shoulders. “And of course I will help you.”
The cottage door opened, and Miss Lotty handed out her medicine case without being asked and with a knowing twinkle in her eye. “Told you someone missed you.”
Anne spent the next few months in happy industry, helping Dr. Finch, assisting at the poorhouse infirmary, spending time with Miss Lotty and Miss Birt, and visiting Rosa, Mrs. Baylis, and Katherine Fitzjohn to catch up on what she had missed when she’d been gone.
One recent development was a growing friendship between Jasper Paine and Rosa Stark.
Anne guessed the time he spent with Rosa and her son had less to do with making up for his cousin’s past wrongs and more to do with a genuine interest on his part.
After all, Rosa was a lovely, sweet-natured young woman.
And she seemed to be equally interested in the kind and honorable Jasper Paine.
Time would tell, but Anne wished them both well.
Eventually the news arrived that Richard Marsland had been convicted of murder, his sentence commuted to service as a ship’s doctor on board a convict vessel and transportation for life.
Miss Lotty, Miss Birt, and even Anne agreed it was a fitting consequence and were glad he would not hang for his crimes, while at the same time relieved he would not be returning to Painswick.
In happier news, Katherine and Mr. Palling quietly became engaged and planned to marry after a respectable mourning period had passed.
And in the best news of all, Anne received a joyful, glowing letter from her sister announcing she and Mr. Norton were expecting their first child. Anne wrote back with congratulations and began daily prayers for a safe delivery.
She and Dr. Finch often spent time together, working, talking, laughing, and sharing meals either at Yew Cottage or Valley View Lodge.
When she saw him tenderly care for his patients, read to children, or cuddle his great-nephew, her heart warmed and softened.
When he held her hand or kissed her cheek .
. . her heart softened all the more. Anne began to think she might have a future with Dr. Finch.
She didn’t know for certain, but she was willing to trust God with all her days to come, whether single or not.
One day, when Anne had been back in Painswick for nearly three months, Ernest asked her to meet him in the churchyard at noon. He hadn’t specifically said to meet him under the wedding tree, but that’s where she went to wait for him.
He was already there.
He knelt on the path before her and took her hands in his.
“I love you, Anne Loveday. Will you marry me? Join your life and your calling to mine, so we may serve together and love together all the days God gives us? Relying on Him to guide and help us through all the future holds in store?”
Anne hesitated for a few heartbeats, thinking, Fanny was right.
Even Nancy, in her way, had been right when she’d said there was more than one path to happiness.
Anne had stubbornly resigned herself to a useful but solitary life.
She had been wrong. She could not be a doctor, but she would marry one and share his life and his calling, his failures and successes.
That was what she wanted now, what she needed.
And God, the Great Physician, had known it all along.
Freedom blew over her like a fresh wind, rustling the yew trees and filling the air with hope. Finally, she was able to see herself as God saw her, and as Ernest Finch saw her, as lovely and valuable just as she was. And she was ready and willing to join her life and her future to his.
“Yes, I will. With all my heart.”
On a beautiful spring day, almost a year after they had first met, Anne (with an e) Loveday married Dr. Ernest Finch in St. Mary’s church, Painswick. Rosa and Jasper attended them.
After the service, family and friends joined them for a picnic in the churchyard—rather than a typical wedding breakfast—hosted by Charlotte Newland, Ursula Birt, and Katherine Fitzjohn-Palling.
Anne’s sister, round with child, and her husband were there among the guests, as well as her father, stepmother, and half siblings.
Anne and Ernest sat at a small table beneath the entwined boughs of the wedding tree, the high-pitched courtship song of goldcrests in the branches above them, and memories of her mother and grandparents very near.
Miss Lotty cheerfully bustled about, passing plates of food and refilling glasses, while congratulations flowed along with the cider and lemonade.
Little Robbie toddled happily toward Rosa and Jasper, arms outstretched, while Anne’s half siblings showered Louie with treats and ear rubs.
Albert Palling gave Matty a ride on his shoulders, and later, when she scraped her knee yet again, it was Dr. Finch—Anne’s new husband—who tended her wound.
Looking around with satisfaction, Anne realized these were her people. And Painswick, her place.
Anne leaned toward her groom, and Ernest met her in a sweet, lingering kiss, right there under the shelter of a yew tree, with all its myths and symbolism of death, rebirth, and eternal life.
When they broke their kiss, the onlookers cheered.
Anne smiled and thanked God for this perfect day. All of her living loved ones, together and happy, the unknown future stretching brightly before them.