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Chapter nine

I slept soundly—no dreams beset my rest. But I woke to a nagging question. What were we to do? It was now but a week before Christmas, the time had been intended to get to know Colonel Stewart, and by way of difficulty, I had already married him.

What would Mother and Father think of the predicaments I’d found myself in?

A maid helped me don a fresh gown and plaited my hair into a coronet.

Would we remain in Butterton as planned? Should we, if danger lurked here? I opened the door to our small common parlor and found Nathan standing before the fire.

“Good morning, Cassandra.” He approached and bent to place a light kiss on my cheek that left a trail of fire. My, but he was handsome.

Did he feel the burn as I did? I knew he had chosen to love me, but did he feel a flicker of passion? I flushed at my own thoughts.

Breakfast had been delivered to the table just under the window. Nathan pulled my chair. “Lord Sherborne states we must reside here for a few days at least, then we may return to the vicarage and enjoy our holiday as planned.”

“What does Simon Smith play at, I wonder? Does he desire to retain control of the children’s welfare?”

“I believe he is most interested in their inheritance, which may already be gone. If the children disappear, then the inheritance, what is left…” He shook his head.

“I do not know. Only that Lieutenant Watson should never have trusted the man with his affairs. I suppose I should be glad he named me caretaker of his children.”

“You knew their father?”

“I knew him well.” He paused with his fork in the air and lowered it. “Died in battle.”

“I sense he was a friend.”

He took a deep breath. “A most trusted friend. Yes.”

“No wonder you are invested in the children’s upbringing.”

“Their father saved my life. Not once, but twice. If only I had saved him as well, the children wouldn’t be without parents. He was the best of men.”

I couldn’t fathom being raised without my own dear mother and father. They were all I had. “Rachel and Andrew shall have us…”

The corners of his mouth lifted. “Us. Yes.” He reached for my hand and slipped his fingers between mine. “I rather like how we are turning out.” He gazed at me with a gentleness that I’d experienced before. “We are a pair.”

My pulse raced. I looked down at our entwined fingers, the band of gold declaring it to be forever true.

“Cassandra, I am as stunned at our circumstances as you are. But a few months ago, I’d only begun entertaining the idea of taking a wife.

After I prayed about it, I knew I must.” He shook his head.

“I just didn’t know how such a miracle would come about.

Or that the vicar had a great-niece—or that when I met her, I would be so instantly taken with her.

Or that strange circumstances would force the deed done.

” He stroked my hand with his thumb. “I’m sorry for the hard parts, but I can’t apologize for our marriage. ”

Had I known that Father’s hardships would turn my life toward something greater and better—I would have spent the better part of my discouragement on my knees instead of wringing my hands at our losses.

Here was a great gain. Simon Smith may have tried to ruin Father—would I ever know? Had tried to interfere with Andrew and Rachel’s lives. No matter the thefts, we would have each other. We would choose to love.

“What is it, Cassandra?”

Oh, the way he said my name. “I am thinking that God has given me much good out of an impossible problem…”

“He sees what we cannot. Knows the difference between what is fair and what is best…and the kind of happiness we would prefer if we left our destinations up to Him.”

I noted the scar that snaked over his collar.

His destination had been battle, a real battle where his life had not only been at stake but had been rescued.

Much of what he’d endured certainly was not fair.

Nay, he’d met with evil in all of its fierceness.

Yet he was able to speak of God’s best with the sound of experience.

“I am to meet with Lord Sherborne as soon as we have breakfasted.” He removed his hand, and I felt the loss. “Mr. Smith may have misappropriated the children’s inheritance for his own gain, but there’s one thing it cannot do is truly benefit him.”

“I can almost pity the wretch.”

“I suppose I’d allow for pity once he is caught.

Or whoever it was that shot at me yesterday.

In truth, I can think of no other reason than he still desires control over the children to retain control of the funds.

There must be a portion left, or why bother?

If I am out of the way, he becomes the legal overseer. ”

I managed to eat some toast and egg, down some hot coffee with rich cream. I felt more myself in that moment than I believe I ever had. I was in the right place at the right time. Regardless of the danger. If Nathan had endured it, so could I.

He pulled my chair and lifted me to my feet. “Let us join the others, shall we?”

We both paused, my hand still in his. The air grew scarce in my lungs. He bent his head and leaned in as the door opened. I startled.

A maid. “Pardon me, Mr. Stewart. Mrs. Stewart. I’ll just take the breakfast things if you are finished?”

Nathan put space between us. “We are quite finished.” He tucked my hand into his arm and led me from the room.

Had he been about to kiss me? We were married. It would be assumed that such affection would grow between us. But I well knew how a single spark led to a blazing fire. The few times his lips had softly grazed my hand, cheek, and even my lips when we’d said our vows, I’d nearly buckled.

I would seem forward if I showed much desire. Was it forward if we were married?

I spent the remainder of the morning with Uncle Harris and his wife inside a rather cozy library with a fire built high. We’d much to catch up on as it had been many months since I’d spoken with him.

Uncle Harris patted my hand. “The Weatherington’s are well known and liked. I do hope your parents will be happily employed there.”

“Father seemed relieved to be given the position, and they are good friends after all.”

“And we equally hope you will be happy with Colonel Stewart?” He looked concerned. “You’d a hasty wedding, with little time to get to know him. You were supposed to have a few weeks and a little more time to decide. Appears God decided for you. How do you feel about that?”

Gracious, my uncle was forthcoming. “I can honestly tell you that I’ve never felt more at ease in anyone’s company. Not even Susan Richards…” Or a ball of nerves, or so aflame… but this I would never confess.

“Ah, this is how it is.” He took his wife’s hand. “Margaret and I felt much the same upon our meeting, did we not?”

She laughed. “I never thought to marry until he walked through my door.”

Uncle Harris’s smile widened. “If you both desire it, your love will blossom overnight.” He winked. “I rather think it already has.”

“Uncle!”

“No shame, my dear. God created romance with all of its facets, and we must not be ashamed to feel these things He created us to feel, without restraint.”

“I believe in your case, my dear vicar, some restraint might be needed upon occasion.” His wife chided.

He released a great guffaw. “I kissed her before the lady’s circle last week and stunned them to silence. Including Margaret.”

She rolled her eyes. “King Solomon in all his glory…”

“Boasted far more than I, the rascal.” He slipped an arm around her shoulders and grinned at me.

I didn’t know where to look. “I think I must give you privacy this very moment.” I dashed from the room to his laughter chasing my back.

The next words I heard rather stopped me in my tracks. The drawing room door had been left open, and men’s voices came from the other side.

Lord Sherborne spoke. “What will you do when you return?”

Nathan responded, “You may think me daft.”

“You don’t strike me as a simple-minded man.”

“Indeed, mayhap a lovestruck one.” Nathan was lovestruck? I covered my mouth.

“In love with your wife already?” Lord Sherborne’s voice tinged with humor.

“I cannot help it. Never did I believe in love at first sight. Thought it but Cupid’s myth.”

“Until you saw her—and you knew, didn’t you? As though an arrow had pierced your heart through?”

“She may think me mad if I tell her such.”

“Must you tell her?”

Silence. He was in love with me? And not just choosing to be?

Lord Sherborne cleared his throat. “Would you believe me if I told you I experienced nearly the same strong emotion? I saw Elaina, and it was as though God Himself had stamped her image on my heart.”

Nathan spoke. “Indeed. As soon as I dined with Cassandra—and escorted her home, every protective instinct rose within me. I couldn’t sleep.

Couldn’t rest. And when I hired the best possible carriage to deliver her to Butterton, I planned to follow some paces behind. A good thing I did. Or—” he paused.

“Ah, we mustn’t think about the what-ifs. Doesn’t help. She is safely yours.”

Urgency tinted Nathan’s voice. “I had not planned that danger would beset our path.”

Lord Sherborne agreed. “I don’t think anyone plans that.” Footsteps shuffled across the floor. “I shall hie to my study and peruse my papers and affidavits from the Banbury case—I’m certain I’ve heard the name of Simon Smith before. Could be something there to help you.”

I turned around and made as though I’d just come upon them and entered the doorway.

“Cassandra.” Nathan smiled.

Lord Sherborne bowed. “If you will excuse me. I will let you know if I find out anything. Joseph Carter, Matthew, and a few other men are scoping out the village and surrounding areas for any unusual arrivals. Hopefully, the threat, whoever it is, will do us a favor and cease his harassments for the holiday—if not indefinitely.”

Nathan agreed. "One can hope."

Lord Sherborne left us alone.

Nathan’s brows rose. He folded his arms and confronted me. “How much did you hear?”

My head bent in shame even as a betraying smile raised my lips.

He stepped to me, bringing his hand under my chin and lifting my face to look at him. He tried a rather militant voice. “I await an answer.”

The handsome cut of his jaw, his wavy, sandy hair. The lines that bespoke days of hard living, the scar that I’d yet to fully know…his eyes—melted the whole of me. He saw the truth. I’d heard his words but dared not shame him for it. Indeed, no…

His hand stayed beneath my chin, the other slipping to my back and ever so gently pulling me forward. His eyes asked the question, nay, begged an answer. I blinked slowly, suddenly unable to think.

He dipped his head closer to mine and angled his face. A whisper of a kiss met my lips and stayed. The first kiss—a spark, the next a flame. My hands crept up his chest as his other hand pressed me closer to him, the next kiss afire.

One would think we were starved for this kind of affection, mayhap we were. He put his hands on either side of my face and whispered my name. “Cassandra…you have my heart.”

“Colonel Nathan Stewart, you have mine.”

He bent and kissed me again, then held me close to his chest.

I pitied the Season’s debutantes. The many young ladies.

Susan Richards…they may never know such a love as mine.

Then I prayed for them, that a sort of revolution would come upon the hearts of the ton, that they might choose to love as Nathan and I had done, that God might smite their hearts open to such compassion and passion.

“I hate to break the newlyweds apart, but Colonel Stewart, I find a strong reason for us to ride to Simon Smith’s office and pay him a rather special visit.”

I stepped from Nathan’s embrace to see Lord Sherborne with a sheaf of papers in his hands.

An hour later, Nathan kissed my hand and rode away. “I’ll be but a few days at the most, Sherborne says.”

Elaina and I waved to them.

Kissing hadn’t satisfied me. No. It only woke a longing for more, for his arms to ever be about me. I was not prepared, though I be his wife for under two days, to be separated from him. No matter how short a time it was to be.