Jane Orcutt - All the Tea in China

I was certain he could see right through my red head covering, for his gaze seemed focused completely on mine. Tears formed at the edge of my vision. I had dreamed of being loved and cherished by a man, but never one like Phineas.

Glory loosened our clasp, then bade me take Phineas’s hand and repeat after him. I did not think I would be able to say the words, for a lump of joy lodged in my throat. “I, Isabella, take thee, Phineas, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth.”

Glory asked for a ring. I turned to Phineas, certain he would be embarrassed at his lack. To my surprise, he laid a lovely green ring on the book Glory held, as I had seen countless grooms do. Glory took the ring and handed it back to Phineas, who placed it on the third finger of my left hand. “With this ring I thee wed,” Phineas repeated after Glory, though the words sounded as though they were written just for us, “with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

The rest of Glory’s final words were a blur: “… God hath joined together let no man put asunder… consented together in holy wedlock, I pronounce that they be man and wife together, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Though it was not in accordance with a Chinese wedding, after the Christian portion of the ceremony was concluded, Phineas lifted the red head covering to reveal my face. He looked at me as though it were the first time, then smiled. He kissed me sweetly, a soft touching of our lips, and when he straightened beside me-my husband now-I realized the enormity of what I had done.

Glory and Precious Spring laid out a great deal of food for us to eat: chicken, fish, a special soup that, naturally, was to bring us good luck. (I believe someone said it contained lotus seeds-whatever those were!) I ate it all in enjoyment, only afterward feeling much guilt. Glory and Precious Spring obviously did not have much money. I hoped we had not eaten a month’s worth of their food. It certainly seemed as though we had.

While we were dining and laughing, I noticed that Precious Spring disappeared for a while. I assumed she was tending to Honor, who had slept peacefully through the entire ceremony. At last she returned and nudged Glory, who had just said something that made Phineas and me laugh.

“Glory, it is late.” Her voice carried just a hint of scolding.

Glory rose. “Yes, of course.” He motioned for Phineas and me to rise. Somehow he and Glory got behind us, maneuvering us toward the room where I had dressed. Smiling, Precious Spring opened the door. The bed had been changed to red linens, and a dragon and phoenix candle glowed on an adjacent table. Next to the candle sat two goblets filled with wine, attached to one another with a red string.

Still smiling, Glory and Precious Spring herded Phineas and me forward, forcing us to sit on the bed. Phineas may have understood this apparent tradition, but I did not. Surely my face reflected my mortification!

Glory and Precious Spring smiled fondly at us, as though we were two children. “You know that we would normally tease you both, but instead we will simply say good night,” Glory said.

I rose. “But… but this is your room. We cannot take it.”

“It is our only room for sleeping, so tonight it is yours,” Precious Spring said, then winked. “Would you rather sleep on a mat?”

“Thank you,” Phineas said, acknowledging the gift. “You have made this a wonderful day. A wonderful wedding.”

Retreating, Glory and Precious Spring smiled, softly closing the door behind them.

I continued to stand, unnerved. “We have been alone together many nights,” Phineas said softly, touching my hand, rising beside me.

“But not like this,” I said. Tonight there would be no canvas sail between us. To change the subject, I gestured at the wine glasses. “What is the significance?”

He lifted one and handed it to me. “Can you not guess?” He took the other, then crossed arms with me. He drank from his glass, and I drank from mine. Then we drank from each other’s glass, smiling as we tried not to tangle the string between them.

We sat down again, side by side, and Phineas took my hand. “A Chinese legend says God ties a red string around the ankles of the man and woman who are destined to become husband and wife.” He touched my cheek, his voice husky. “No matter how far apart they are, they will eventually get married.”

I covered his hand with mine. “Phineas,” I murmured.

“Do you not know that God has brought us together, Isabella?” He dipped his head and pressed a kiss to my lips. “We were born worlds apart, yet we are here together now. For many men, the first time they see their bride’s face is when they remove the red veil at their marriage bed.” His voice dropped even lower. “I am thankful to have known you much longer than that.”

I nodded, unable to speak. My heart beat faster, then there was no need for words…

Later I lay in his arms, full of wonder and joy as bold as the red silk sheets. The dragon and phoenix candle burned lower, and I could barely see my husband’s face. “You have not spoken of Wo-Ping and Mei in a long while,” I said, teasing.

He laughed softly, kissing my temple as he twirled a strand of my hair between his fingers. “Didn’t I tell you? They gave up fighting each other and joined forces to fight for righteousness. They had no need of secrets, and they kept nothing from each other.”

My thoughts turned serious. “And you? Have you any need to keep secrets from me?”

He ceased playing with my hair. “What secrets do you wish to know?”

“Are you still harboring a desire for revenge on the East India Company?”

“That has not been a secret from you for a long time.”

I raised up on an elbow. “Then that is still your plan? Despite that you know my feelings?”

“Isabella.” He eased me back down. “Would I ask you to abandon your dream?”

“Mine is different,” I said stubbornly. “Mine is God’s work.”

“Mine is too. You have seen the people addicted to opium since we have been here, have you not?”

I closed my eyes. Yes, I had seen them. They loitered near buildings with apparently no place to go, their eyes vacant, their feet only good for shuffling without purpose. I had not seen the opium dens where they smoked away their lives-and no doubt the futures of wives and children as well-but I knew they existed.

“You have seen them,” he insisted. “Their numbers will only increase. Every year the British bring in more opium even though it has been illegal to import in China for nearly twenty years. The British will not suddenly acquire a conscience and stop the trade.”

“I am British,” I said, my eyes stinging with tears. “My countrymen could not do such a thing. Do you think that Captain Malfort or Thomas Gilpin or Mr. Calow, for that matter, would harm a fellow human being?”

“They do not see this country as you do, Isabella,” Phineas said. “They are not willing to share their true feelings with a lady, but their business-nay, their whole lives-are concerned with bringing Britain her tea. At any cost whatsoever.”

“Then would you have Britain take over China and move here so that she might have the pleasure of yum cha?”

“I would not, but there are those in Britain who would gladly annex my country solely for her tea.”

I could not help the tears that pricked my eyes. “Your country, Phineas? You told me you have spent over half your life in Britain. To which country do you belong-England or China?”