Awake my Soul

Anna Smith is 16 years old and has just been signed up for an arranged marriage. John Bates is an soldier who needs a wife to tend to his home while he's off to fight the Boer war. Anna has always wanted to marry for love, but it's been reduced to a business transaction. For her, it's love at first sight when she sees John. But when John comes home from the war wounded, will she get a chance to make John fall in love with her?

This story is a collaboration between a-lady-to-me and I, I'll try to post a chapter a week. :)

16 year old Anna Smith did her best to smile as she and her parents walked up to the registrar's office. It was her wedding day, she should be happy. But she'd always wanted to marry for love, but last month when her father had come home and said he'd made plans for an arranged marriage her hopes and dreams had been reduced to a business transaction. Her soon to be husband seemed like a nice man, he was certainly more handsome then the farm boys Anna had seen before.

She could feel her mother squeezing her hand, silently conveying her support to her daughter.

Hours later, it was done. She was married and going home to hers and her new husband's home. With one look at the house, Anna could see why he wanted someone to keep house. It wasn't filthy but it could use a good cleaning. She made a mental note to start cleaning as soon as she was able.

"I've got some work to do at the base, I'll be going out next week, you can do what you want with the house. I've also got my pay being sent directly to the post office where you'll have to pick it up, but you'll have the funds directly. You'll have to take care of all the bills."

"I understand." Anna said quietly, she looked around the house, "Do you have any rags for cleaning?"

"They're in laundry. You'll have your hands full cleaning the house at first, I'm not much of a housekeeper."

"That's all right." Anna said, "I'll just go through and see what needs to be done, when you're speaking with your superiors."

Her husband nodded. "All right. Use what you can first before buying anything. I also made room for your clothes in the wardrobe."

Anna nodded and her husband went outside to bring Anna's things in. After her husband had left, Anna started cleaning the kitchen. She started on dinner then, not knowing when he would be home, but it would not do for her to starve in case her husband did not come back for dinner.

She cleaned the kitchen and then the sitting area. The house was small and Anna made good progress cleaning. It could use a good scrub but it looked much better by the time her husband got back. He looked around the house, clearly surprised at the progress Anna had made. "You're a good housekeeper. Your father was right."

"Thank you, I'm used to keeping the farm house clean. Are you hungry?" Anna said, after he nodded, she spooned some soup into a bowl and set it in front of him.

"I'll give the house a good scrubbing, but I do need to buy some food tomorrow." Anna said, "Is there a market anywhere near?"

"I go to the one by base, but there's a woman who lives next door, she may know of one closer." John said, he continued eating as Anna spooned herself a bowl and sat across from John. They ate in silence and by the time they were finished, John light the lamp. After leaving his and moved into the sitting area. Anna quickly scraped the dishes and then rinsed them before setting them to drain. She could always do a better wash of the dinner dishes after breakfast when it was light in the house again.

She found John beginning to read and he looked up as Anna came in.

"I have to be up for work early, so I'll be going to bed soon."

"All right." Anna said quietly. "I'll go to bed with you."

John's eyes traveled her body. "Good." He couldn't help but continue to look at her, Anna fidgeted under his gaze. "You really are beautiful." His voice was soft. "I'll be in bed soon, why don't you go get ready?"

Anna nodded, "all right."

She went into the bedroom and put on her nightgown. Her mother had given her the nightgown, saying she'd sewn this nightgown for Anna years before, especially for her wedding night. John came into the bedroom as she finished brushing her hair.

She turned as her husband entered the room. He looked to her and he slowed as he made his way to the wardrobe. "Is there anything in particular you need for the house?"

"I was thinking I could replace the curtains." Anna said, he opened the wardrobe and dug around in it for a moment. He pulled out a nightshirt and began to undress. Anna blushed as she realized that this would happen every night, except when he was off to war. She could see a broad chest with a generous amount of hair on it. Then long legs, also with hair.

She took in a breath and spoke, "I hope you don't mind that I changed the sheets, but the one's you had needed to be washed."

"That's fine." John said, Anna blushed as he stood there without any clothes on. He dressed slowly, first undershorts then undershirt, Anna turned to the bed and slipped into bed. What was going to happen now?

John turned to see Anna on the bed, she blushed and looked away as she could still see the outline of him through his undershorts.

"I know women have sensibilities at first, but we are married, we should get used to this." She could see his hands shake as he pulled a nightshirt over his head.

"I've never seen a man..." she trailed off, still blushing.

"I won't hurt you." John's voice was quiet.

Anna tried to smile as he stepped towards the bed. "God, Anna, you really are beautiful." his voice was quiet.

She took a breath in as she felt him climb into bed next to her. She could do this. She had to.

*!*!*

The next morning, Anna woke first, she could feel the scratchy sheets against her skin but her mind wasn't on the sheets. Her thoughts were on the man next to her in bed. She turned so she could see John better, she could tell by his breathing that he was still asleep. She couldn't help but smile slightly as she remembered the night before. In the early morning light, he seemed much younger then he was. He had mentioned that he had turned thirty the year before, which Anna had thought a bit old but now that she could see him properly he seemed much younger.

Despite his promise not to hurt her, there had been some blood and pain. But it hadn't been as bad as her mother had described. But now she was a properly married woman. Looking at the clock on her husband's bedside table she realized it was time for her to get up to make John's breakfast.

Hurrying into her dress, she went to the kitchen. She could only find some bacon and toast for breakfast but set to make it, they didn't have any tea which Anna would have preferred but she wouldn't complain. It wouldn't do to start married life by complaining about everything, she would simply get some when she was out.

She jumped, startled when John moved behind her, touching the small of her back, as he moved between her and the table.

"Morning." He had barely taken the time to put some pants on and Anna smiled again at the memories of the night before, except for the bit of pain and blood, it really had been much nicer then her mother had described. "I'm sorry I hurt you last night." his voice was low.

"My mother said it always hurts the first time," Anna responded, "It felt better than I thought it would...so it's all right." She turned to get the bacon off of the stove and caught her husband turning pink. She smiled at the fact.

John didn't seem to mind the meager breakfast and told her where he'd left some extra money so that she could get some food and other necessities for the house. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before leaving the house after getting ready for work. "I'm usually home by six."

"I'll have dinner ready for you." Anna promised. And like that, she was left alone for the day.

After cleaning up as best she could, she got ready and went next door, the lady who lived next door was just stepping out and Anna caught her attention. "Excuse me, I was wondering if there's a market close to here." Anna said, "I just got married and moved to London."

"I'm going to the market right now, you can follow me." The woman said. "What's your name?"

"Anna, Bates, I just married John Bates." Anna smiled. "and you are?"

"Phyllis Baxter." the woman introduced herself. "Is your husband going to be going off to the Boer war?"

"Yes," Anna said as they walked, "He leaves next week."

As they walked Anna stole a look back at the house. Maybe being a wife wouldn't be so hard after all.

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