So it was that Anna found herself set up in a cozy cottage in a village just down the hill from Sir Ambrose. That first night they met in a grand, old inn that had seen better days but still, to Anna's taste, served glorious meals and offered comfortable beds. Sensitive to her evident exhaustion, Ambrose left her to her rest that night but returned the next morning and unfolded his plan.
For her own sake, Anna would have refused him. Though he asked nothing but her companionship and that he have the opportunity to help her and the child, still it felt to her sensibilities that she was nothing more than a kept woman. She reassured him that he had no obligation; she could be quite certain the child was not his. But this was of no consequence to him. He had, he said, grow somewhat unreasonably fond of her company. And for Jacob's sake, she had relented.
Thus began the pattern of many years. Nearly every night, when business did not keep him in town, Sir Ambrose came to the cottage on the green to talk with Anna. True to his word, he never asked for more. Often he would take her and Jacob out for rides in his carriage or the three of them would stroll together through the village and the surrounding fields and hills. He appeared unconcerned with what the villagers might think and it soon became clear that for their part the people of the town were not just dependent on Ambrose but genuinely fond of him. After a period of inevitable chilliness, this affection came to be extended to the demure woman and her well-fed child.
For Jacob indeed became chubbier by the day, or so it seemed. He was a quiet child with large, wise eyes who gazed at anyone who was speaking with a preternatural calm. Once the women of the town overcame their reticence, Anna was amazed at how often they would come by to speak to her and share their secrets. Jacob would sit in his corner and seem to be listening intently, though he was too young to understand what was being said. When no one was speaking, though, Jacob was a happy, gregarious child who loved to play and babbled almost incessantly.
As he grew older, Anna feared that he was beginning to understand what was being said in the confessional sessions and would send him out of the room or outside to play by himself. He was very content to do this and entertained himself easily and well. The playtime seemed to do him good and he grew more slender and handsome as the years rolled by. After the novelty wore off, her women friends seemed to come less often, but were as friendly as before. Anna was very content in her new life.
When Jacob was in his early teens, Anna started to notice that his weight had started to climb again. At first this was very subtle, but became more and more pronounced. Little had changed in the way the boy ate or his level of activity, yet he grew more and more stout. His mother puzzled over this change, but her son seemed so contented she was loath to correct him. She was amused to see that the girls of the town took much the same interest in him that the women had when he was an infant. She shook her head when she saw him in yet another conversation with a young, tearful girl who walked away looking relieved, but saw no reason for concern. Anna vowed to be more careful what she cooked for him, sighed and turned away with a smile.
Chapter Six is here.
For her own sake, Anna would have refused him. Though he asked nothing but her companionship and that he have the opportunity to help her and the child, still it felt to her sensibilities that she was nothing more than a kept woman. She reassured him that he had no obligation; she could be quite certain the child was not his. But this was of no consequence to him. He had, he said, grow somewhat unreasonably fond of her company. And for Jacob's sake, she had relented.
Thus began the pattern of many years. Nearly every night, when business did not keep him in town, Sir Ambrose came to the cottage on the green to talk with Anna. True to his word, he never asked for more. Often he would take her and Jacob out for rides in his carriage or the three of them would stroll together through the village and the surrounding fields and hills. He appeared unconcerned with what the villagers might think and it soon became clear that for their part the people of the town were not just dependent on Ambrose but genuinely fond of him. After a period of inevitable chilliness, this affection came to be extended to the demure woman and her well-fed child.
For Jacob indeed became chubbier by the day, or so it seemed. He was a quiet child with large, wise eyes who gazed at anyone who was speaking with a preternatural calm. Once the women of the town overcame their reticence, Anna was amazed at how often they would come by to speak to her and share their secrets. Jacob would sit in his corner and seem to be listening intently, though he was too young to understand what was being said. When no one was speaking, though, Jacob was a happy, gregarious child who loved to play and babbled almost incessantly.
As he grew older, Anna feared that he was beginning to understand what was being said in the confessional sessions and would send him out of the room or outside to play by himself. He was very content to do this and entertained himself easily and well. The playtime seemed to do him good and he grew more slender and handsome as the years rolled by. After the novelty wore off, her women friends seemed to come less often, but were as friendly as before. Anna was very content in her new life.
When Jacob was in his early teens, Anna started to notice that his weight had started to climb again. At first this was very subtle, but became more and more pronounced. Little had changed in the way the boy ate or his level of activity, yet he grew more and more stout. His mother puzzled over this change, but her son seemed so contented she was loath to correct him. She was amused to see that the girls of the town took much the same interest in him that the women had when he was an infant. She shook her head when she saw him in yet another conversation with a young, tearful girl who walked away looking relieved, but saw no reason for concern. Anna vowed to be more careful what she cooked for him, sighed and turned away with a smile.
Chapter Six is here.
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