Honor by Lindsay Chase

hold you to your promise.” She dried her eyes. “I wish Father were here to give me away and Mother to share in my happiness. I know they’d like Robert.”
    “They’d both be so happy for you.” Theo fished through her pockets. “Well, enough tears. I have to give you something.”
    Honor’s eyes widened. Theo had already given Honor and Robert their law books when they graduated, along with a wedding gift of two thousand dollars. She was also paying for the wedding itself and letting them spend their honeymoon at High Water, the Tree summer house in the town of Manchester by the sea.
    Theo drew Honor over to a chair and made her sit down while she rummaged through her pockets again and removed a small box. “These are for you, to make sure you don’t have a child until you want one.”
    Honor opened the box to find dozens of strange rubber cups no bigger than her thumb. “What are these?”
    “They are anti-conception devices,” Theo said. “Pessaries.”
    Honor’s eyes widened. “Where in God’s name did you get these? They’re illegal. If you got them by mail, you could be arrested and sent to jail.”
    Theo raised her brows. “Are you going to turn your own aunt in to the police for having them?”
    “Of course not.”
    “As you begin your married life, sweet Portia, you’ll discover that no issue is ever black and white. There are shades of gray. This is one of them. Such devices may be illegal, but they shouldn’t be. They give a woman control over her own body and ultimately over her destiny.”
    If Priscilla Shanks had had one of these devices, perhaps she would have been alive today.
    Theo said, “Since I’ve never been able to have a child, I don’t need them, but I know you will. Would you like me to explain how to use them?”
    Honor stared doubtfully at the rubber devices. “Perhaps I should discuss this matter with Robert.”
    “Robert is not the one who could conceive a child on your wedding night,” Theo said dryly. “Robert is not the one who will have to give up practicing law to care for a child. I think that gives you more of a say in the matter, don’t you?”
    Honor sighed. “I have grave reservations, Aunt Theo. I hate keeping secrets from my husband.”
    Theo arched one brow. “All wives keep secrets from their husbands. Has Robert demanded that you have a child right away?”
    “We haven’t discussed children at all.”
    Theo rolled her eyes in supreme exasperation. “I would suggest that you do, and soon.” She added, “This is a serious matter, sweet Portia. If you should conceive a child, your future will be decided for you. You will become a mother, not a lawyer. Is that what you want?”
    “Of course not. At least not yet.” She did want children someday, when she and Robert were settled. “I’ve worked too hard to become a lawyer.” Honor looked up. “Tell me how to use these.”
    And Theo did.
     
     
    “I feel right at home here,” Robert said, staring out over the green Atlantic Ocean sweeping away from the beach to a distant horizon. The sea air smelled fresh today, without the usual salty tang of brine.
    Impatience had characterized Honor during their beautiful wedding ceremony in Trinity Church, and later at the sumptuous wedding breakfast held at the Parker House. She couldn’t wait to begin her wedding trip, when she and Robert would be blissfully alone.
    Now Honor smiled possessively at her new husband and squeezed his hand. “I’ve always loved this beach at sunset, when the day slows down. The ocean is so quiet, even the waves just whisper.”
    “Perfect for me and my bride.” Robert started walking, the dry sand shortening his long stride. He stopped to look at the house nestled in a grove of pine trees beyond the dunes. “How long has your family owned this place?”
    “Theo’s husband gave her High Water as a wedding present,” Honor replied, staring down at her wedding ring for the thousandth time and thinking how bare her