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yet. Moreover, I worry that I cannot give Miss Langton what I did Ann. She seems a very sweet girl and is certainly attractive. She would be very easy to live with and would give me many more children. But she is not Ann.” He ran his finger around the edge of his glass.
    Thomas looked from Barnabas to Jeremy and back. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to have a mother for your children. And you want more children, do you not? And she is another Mary. It is a beautiful name in my book.” He grinned. “I think you have made a good decision. Do you not agree, Jeremy?”
    â€œAye, I do. Hear me, Barn—you were very lucky in your marriage to Ann. Most people never experience love like that. You were so in love, you went and apprenticed her father’s trade. No, you are right, you will not find that again, but it is exceedingly more important to have a mother for those boys and you know that.”
    It surprised Barnabas that Jeremy, the youngest of the three, made so much sense. “What about you, Jeremy? You do not need to work. You will inherit Father’s land, and yet you have plans to build a ship and sail the seas.” He looked at Thomas for agreement.
    â€œIt’s not a matter of needing to work for any of us.” Thomas set his mug down. “Only Father’s exceedingly strict work ethic that hounds us. But Barn, you and Ann were planning on sailing with Jeremy to the New World. Is this something Miss Langton would desire as well?”
    â€œI am sure we w—”
    â€œIt’s the adventure,” Jeremy said. “I have always wanted to sail since I was a small lad. There will be money for certain, of course, but it’s the adventure I want. I’m working on the plans now. I’m going to name her The Swallow. ”
    â€œVery well, but I want you to know if Mr. Langton gives us his consent, I should like a short courtship. My plan is to post the banns as soon as we can. My mind is made up, and I do believe this is what Miss Langton desires as well. I would like to bake the wedding cake, as well as prepare most of the wedding feast. It will miff their cook to be sure, but this will occupy my thoughts and time. It will be good for Joseph and Benjamin to see their father with a purpose once again.” He said it with conviction.
    â€œI wish you the best, Barn.” Thomas drummed his fingers on the table, but lowered his voice. “You know, we all need to be thinking about the colonies. Jane and I have been giving it hard consideration. We’re cloistered here in Mowsley, but I hear more and more of villages nearby where people are publicly whipped simply because they’re meeting in their homes, discussing teachings of the church and Bible.”
    His eyes darted about the room as he continued. “I have been in talks with the Reverend Cotton. He feels more and more pressure from the church and he agrees with the Reverends Davenport and Youngs. They’re not Separatists, like those at Plymouth. They are men who desire to take the church to anew land, to rid it of the pomp. Without all of the harassment we endure here.
    â€œMy good friend William Pynchon left a few months back for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He wanted me to accompany him, and I gave it much thought. I expect to hear news from him soon. Methinks it is time to seriously consider going to Massachusetts, to join in the planting of the church.” He took in a deep breath after his long speech.
    Barnabas nodded his head. “Aye, Thomas, I more than agree. King Charles is, at the least, a tyrant. He’s been through three parliaments in a row and now rules without one. He wants absolute power. Most certainly the Queen is bringing her Catholic beliefs with her. How insulting to the people he rules that he would marry her.”
    He and Thomas looked at Jeremy. Jeremy was not involved with reform of the church in any way, but he did share their interest about