As we entered the kitchen door, I saw that Dorothea and Mistress Prudence were sitting at the kitchen table drinking their nightly cup of tea. Master and I poured cups for ourselves, then he sat at the table with Mistress. Turning from the fireplace, I looked at Dorothea and casually asked, "When I return, will you marry me?"

She started to cry. Then she jumped from the table to my arms, and I don't think she touched the floor on the way. I spilled my tea on the floor when I caught her.

"You heathen!"she sobbed. "I was afraid you wouldn't ask me before you left. Of course I will. Must we wait till you return?"

"Yes, we must, impetuous girl. We will do things properly! Tomorrow morning we will go to see Father O'Reilly and ask that he announce at the service tomorrow night that we have plighted our troth. The Banns can be posted after I return."

Master and Mistress came to us then. I saw that both of them had moisture in their eyes. Mistress hugged me, a thing she had not done except on the day that my father died. Master John took my hand, shook it firmly, and said, "Thank you, son. I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life!" Then they both hugged Dorothea and discreetly left us alone.

Dorothea returned to my arms. I tried to hold her off so that I could wipe up the spilled tea, but she wouldn't let go. "I want to wipe up the tea." I protested.

"Leave it!", she said. "I want you to hold me for a minute longer."

"Very well, then." said I, "But I really would like a cup of tea before I go to bed.

"Oh, all right!" she answered with a smile, "But that cup of tea is going to cost you kisses before you go to bed." Taking the cup from my hand, she filled it and told me to sit at the table and drink it. After adding a dollop of honey, I did so. She wiped up the spilled tea, then came to the table and sat across from me.

"Will, why must we wait till you return to marry?" she asked. "I'd far rather we be married before you leave."

"I know that," I answered, "and so would I. But one of the things that sets us apart from the British is our desire to do things properly before both God and man. I treasure that difference, and would not have it lost. The British hounded my mother and father because of their Catholicism and their Irish birth. I would have us do all things as the Church wishes them to be done."

"So be it then, but I pray this war is over SOON! You are a strong man, Will. You must be my strength when I am weak. And I will always support you in any way I can." Then she moved to my side of the table and softly said, "Put down your cup, or you will spill your tea again."

The next morning, I arose at my normal time. When I entered the kitchen, Dorothea was putting my cup on the table for me. "Your tea is ready, Will."

"Nicely done, miss." I told her, then asked with a grin, "May I expect this service for the rest of my life?"

"Perchance, you may." she bantered with an arch look. "But only when you are at home." If I find that you've been seeking the same service away from home, you'll learn what it is like to wear hot tea!"

"There lad, now you've been told." said Master John. Mistress Prudence said, "Dorothea! Will is not that type of man and well you know it!" They had come into the kitchen while my back was turned.

"One after your hide, and one on your side.", laughed Master John. "At least it's not me in the middle for a change."

I laughed with him and went out to get wood. To my surprise, he joined me and filled his own arms too. As we turned for the house he asked, "What are your plans for today?"

"I thought to take my trunk and bedding to the shop and put them in the wagon. Then I would like for you and me to go talk with Father O'Reilly."

"What about?" Was Master John's question.

"The service this evening is for the regiment, is it not?" I said.

"Yes, it is a Rosary for the safety of our boys that are leaving," answered Master.

"Then, I would like to ask Father to announce that Dorothea and I have plighted our troth. He will want to be sure that you have given your permission"

"He will also want to talk to you and Dorothea, so perhaps we should all go. You and I can carry your trunk down to the shop, and Mistress and Dorothea can carry the bedding. Once we have it all stowed in the wagon, we can go on to the church to talk to Father."

As we were walking to the church, I remembered something.

"I forgot one thing that I need to do. I'd better do it now, or I'll forget it again. I'll run back to the shop and take care of it. Walk slowly, and I'll catch up with you." Not giving Dorothea time to object, I turned and ran back to the shop. Gathering up the fireplace tools that I had made for her yesterday, I went out through the side door, ran to the house, slipped up to the second floor and put them on her bed. Then I ran BACK to the shop, in the side door, and out the front. Running down the street, I soon caught up with them.

"What was that all about?" asked Dorothea. I was still panting, so didn't answer her right away.

"Will?"

"Something I wanted to do in the shop for your father. It's a surprise, so I don't want to talk about it, for fear he might overhear." I whispered.

When we knocked on the rectory door, there was a short wait until Father O'Reilly answered the door. When he saw who was waiting, he held the door open and said, "Come in., come in. To what do I owe the honor of this visit!"

Master John looked at me and said, "Your place, lad,"

I answered, "Father, Dorothea and I would like you to announce during the Rosary this even that we have plighted our troth. Master John and Mistress Prudence have agreed."

"Well! I wondered if you would ask before you left or not. Seeing the look of confusion on my face, he added, "Will, little is said or done in this town that I do not soon hear! I've seen the look in Dorothea's eyes a couple of times. But I had feared that you were blind until I heard that you were holding hands in front of the print shop night before last. Certainly I will announce your betrothal. But there is one change.

"Rather than a Rosary this evening, we will celebrate a special Mass for the Regiment tomorrow morning before you leave.

"If you are willing, I will call the two of you forward for a blessing. I plan to call all of our boys to the front anyway. I want the parishioners to KNOW the faces of the boys that are fighting for us. So they will know whom to pray for and who is earning their gratitude."

Father said that he would like to talk to Dorothea and me for a bit, so Master said that he and Mistress would return to the house. "We've not eaten yet today, these impetuous youngsters hauled us from the house with naught but a cup of tea to break our fast!"

Mistress laughed and said, "I'd best be after fixing us a meal then, when we get to the house. Do you suppose I could prevail upon you to gather the eggs for me as you used to do when we were first married?"

"You might, though I may have forgotten how, it's been so long." was Master's rejoinder as they left.

"Couldn't pause to break your fast, eh?", chuckled Father "You will need more patience than that before the Banns are posted, you know."

"Aye Father, we know," I replied. "We will be, though 'twill not be easy, I fear." And Dorothea nodded her head in agreement.

After a short lecture on restraint, we left to return to the house. I was surprised to see Robert at the wagon as we approached the shop.

"I thought you were going to spend the day with your family, Robert," I said when we were close enough to speak.

"I was, but it's a little weepy at the house this morning, and I needed to get away for a bit." He answered, "What do I see here, though? A single man and an un-married lady walking together? And holding hands as well? Twill give scandal I fear!"

Looking at Dorothea I asked, "Shall he be the first to know? It would be a savings, for if we tell him, the whole town will know within the hour." I was grinning as I said it, so I knew Robert would understand that I was joking.

"Know what?", Robert asked.

Dorothea nodded, so I replied, "Last even, I asked Dorothea to be my wife. She consented and we are returning from the church where we have been talking with Father. He will make the formal announcement tomorrow morning during Mass. The Banns will be posted when we return."

"I am the first to know?" Robert demanded.

"Aye, indeed you are! Other than Master and Mistress and of course Father. Beyond that, I've a favor to ask of you. When the Banns have been posted, will you stand for me? I have no kin, and no closer friend."

"Now I am indeed honored," Robert replied in a more serious voice. "I will be proud to stand at your side. I'll even keep my mouth shut so that Father's announcement tomorrow morning may be a surprise to the parish."

"Thank you," I told him, "That is kind of you. Well, we'd best be getting back to the house. Mistress is fixing breakfast. Have you broken your fast yet?"

"Aye, I have. I'm only going to check and be sure I've got everything I need in the wagon, and then return to the house. I want to see if there is anything I can do for father or mother today. And I need to spend a bit of time with my brothers as well."

"Then we will see you in the morning at Mass," I told him as we turned to leave.

Mistress was preparing a meal fit for a king when we entered the kitchen. She had even brought a side of bacon from the root cellar, and I could smell fresh bread in the oven. Dorothea hurried to get her apron, telling me to "Shoo! Leave us to our work." with a smile. I went up to my room to see that all was in readiness for the next morning. I was making a small roll with my razor, strop and shaving mug, when I heard Dorothea squeal.

"WILL DUNAGEN!, you fibbed to me!"

"I did no such thing." Then she was in the door of my room.

"You did so! You said you were fixing something for father, and you SNEAKED back to the house to put these kitchen utensils on my bed."

I could hear Master and Mistress laughing downstairs as I indignantly told Dorothea, "I did NOT sneak! I ran like the wind so I could get back to you. I did it so your father would not be tripping over them while I am gone." I suspect that my grin gave me away though.

She put the utensils on the bed and came to my arms with a soft laugh.

Shortly I heard "Ahem!" from down stairs. "That's your father telling us that we've been quiet long enough! Back to the kitchen, wench."

"Wench am I? I'll show YOU, Will Dunagen!" she laughed as she gathered the utensils and left the room. I heard her say, "Mother. Look what Will made for me!"

Continued in chapter 4