The offer of the locket caused Ebenezer to burst out laughing. "You offer me money? Oh, please. I finally have my father's... difficulties... near resolved, trying though it's been. I have no use for money." A hand negligently waved away the offer.

"But your betrothed," he started once his chuckles died away. The church scholar became thoughtful as he mused out loud, the easiest way for him to organize his thoughts outside of pen and parchment. "You live in his household though you are not yet married, a marriage arrange by your father from what gossips wag. So you must have no other family to shelter you, your betrothed being the closest to relation as you might have. As it is his household, he has the right to discipline you as he sees fit. To whit, with his fists. I can see now why the son is more terrible than the father!"

Falling to silence, Ebenezer let his thoughts ruminate further in search of a solution. As his mind worked, his body drew attention to other facts. Mirabella was a young woman, a comely young woman in fact, whose innocent nature seemed only to increase her attraction. His eyes seemed to continually seek out the gentle curves of her neck as they graced their way downwards, and the way the pale skin of her bear arms glowed in the moonlight made him think of other moonlit nights and other women. Not to mention the tantalizing glimpses of her bare ankles below her slips.... Mind and body agreed on an idea then. It was a solution born of lust and opportunity, but one that would serve them both nicely. No doubt it would cause other troubles within the community. Only there were few situations in which problems would not arise. And this one came to his benefit. 

After all, a married man was more respectable than a single one. Such respectability would make his past all the harder to find him.

"Refuse the choice put upon you to marry him," he abruptly burst forth. "It is your right, though you are not expected to ever use it. They might argue custom and tradition, but the judge himself can not argue the law. Quit his house and his hand, seek another family to watch over you and keep you from falling into such temptations. Once under another man's roof and wed to him, the judge's son has no claim upon you."

Ebenezer stood then and moved close to her, the warmth of his body within inches of hers. Save that there was nothing overly warm in his eyes as he looked down at her frightened face. "There is the price of my silence, Mirabella. Keep you your silver. Marry me instead and be free of that brute while learning a proper wife's due and duty. Give yourself to me, and I shall give you my silence."

He slowly raised his hand as though to stroke her cheek but without actually touching. No, she would have to lean into that caress if she so chose. "You'll not find me an unkindly husband, Mirabella. And in time, as the preacher's wife, you shall have more security than you had ever dreamed of."