Page 13

Chapter ten

I spent idle hours helping Elaina and Emmaline wrap gifts for the tenants who lived on Goodwyn's land. It was festive work involving tissue and satin ribbon that the girls would undoubtedly wear in their hair all year long.

I was not accustomed to the idea of tenants, though I believed Nathan had them. I plied Elaina to teach me how to go about being a proper mistress of such a living. How I might do good to those dependent on Nathan’s land.

The hours sped by, night fell, and morning came. Three days had passed, and still, Nathan and Lord Sherborne had yet to return.

I played games with the children when they could be coaxed from Callum’s side, and of an evening, and read aloud fairy tales from a book I’d enjoyed as a child.

They were lively, sweet, and rambunctious and gave me a glimpse of what my life would be like when we made Nathan’s estate a home for us all. I wondered what Highgate looked like, how far away…

Mr. Carter and Matthew took Andrew aside and gave him his first fencing lesson while we watched his moves and clapped at his valor. Confidence replaced the boyish smirk, and I could see the man he would become.

Uncle Harris and Margaret were given leave by Mr. Carter to return to the vicarage to put it back to rights and prepare for me and the children to join them the next day.

Twas but two more days until Christmas. Snow began to fall, white, thick, and crisp.

Mr. Carter helped the children and me into the carriage with our things and rode behind so that I might feel at ease.

By the time we arrived at the vicarage and Mr. Carter had taken his leave, snow already measured so deep, I worried Nathan wouldn’t be able to return at all.

What if evil had befallen him? And Lord Sherborne?

The children and I baked gingerbread men with Margaret, helped set the pudding to steam, and brined a small turkey while Uncle Harris prepared for Christmas services. We were busy, but the loneliness in my heart stretched as wide and far as Nathan was gone from my side.

I worried. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve.

Andrew tugged at my elbow. “When is Colonel Stewart coming back?”

“Soon, I hope.”

Fear rested behind his eyes. And I realized. He had awaited his own father’s return—but he’d died in battle. Distress pricked.

“We shall pray for him and Lord Sherborne, yes? No doubt they are delayed by this snow.”

He nodded and chased off after his sister. My chin trembled, and Margaret came to my side and took my hand. She bowed her head and prayed for Nathan and Lord Sherborne’s safety—her words soothed. Never before had I understood how much I needed to talk to God before my troubles—and blessings—began.

I was not to worry much longer. I had just opened a book to read when the door to the vicarage opened and in walked Nathan. My husband…

I am not ashamed to say that I ran straight into his arms. He held me tight and kissed my face as though I were a long-lost love. May it never be.

We drew apart, and I poured him a cup of tea. “What did you find?”

Nathan shook his head. “Absolutely nothing. When we arrived, Simon Smith’s office had been entirely vacated.

Every scrap of paper was gone from the place.

We followed a few leads to no avail. Yet, Lord Sherborne bears an affidavit that he was involved in one of Banbury’s speculating schemes—apart from stealing from Andrew and Rachel. ”

“Indeed?”

“Lord Sherborne believes it was his own scheme that ruined your father, not Banbury’s.” He swallowed more tea and closed his eyes. “The man tried to mimic his predecessor, all told. If done badly.”

“Father is usually a good judge of character.”

“Some gentlemen are quite good at posturing a business proposition that is a mere facade. When other good businessmen are involved and add to the influence, it can be hard to see the lies.”

He placed an arm around my shoulders and leaned in. “I hated being apart from you.”

The children ran into the room just then and bounded upon his lap. I spied Andrew swiping a tear from his eye. The poor soul had lost far too much for one so young.

We gathered for a cozy meal that evening. Uncle Harris blessed the food and the six of us partook of a simple stew and hot rolls.

Uncle Harris and Margaret retired early, and Nathan and I tucked the children into their beds together. Familial bliss, a moment that will forever be marked in my memory. Watching him pull the covers over Rachel’s sweet, little form. The salute he gave to Andrew…

The boy whispered to me when I knelt by his side and stroked a lock of hair from his eyes. “I’m glad you are come.”

“I am too.”

He smiled as his eyes fluttered with sleep.

Nathan took my hand and blew out the chamber stick.

A mere taste of what our lives would be had changed me in a moment.

Nathan led me from the room and to the highbacked bench beside the fire.

He took my face between his hands and kissed me as softly as before.

And again—was love so rich? He kissed my temples, my jaw.

I tugged at his cravat, unknotting it at his throat, and slipped it away from his neck. There was the scar.

I pulled back the fabric and traced my finger along the line, but the line did not stop where the shirt remained buttoned. My heart thumped as I chanced a look at his eyes. He kissed my forehead. He drew back, but I drew close—and kissed the scar at his collarbone.

“How bad was it?” I whispered.

“It doesn’t hurt any longer.” He drew my lips back to his, and time passed. The clock chimed midnight. He scooted away and held out his hands. “Retire, Cassandra.” As tired as his voice sounded, yet there was a command about it.

I did not want to leave him. I knew he did not want to leave me. I felt some shame at being pushed away.

He took both of my hands in his. “I would see my bride installed on my estate…”

“I see.”

“I would court my wife on Christmas week. May I have this honor?”

“You may.”

“Good.” He pressed another kiss to my forehead.

Festivities began tomorrow—and Nathan had returned in time. For this, I was thankful.

I made for the stairs just as I heard door hinges squeak. A blast of cold crept at my ankles. I turned, and I heard a click.

A stranger had entered the room. Someone had forgotten to bolt the front door. Simon Smith held a pistol before Nathan. I swallowed a scream for fear he’d shoot.

“Run, Cassandra.” Nathan bit out the words, but all I could do was back weakly against the wall. I could not leave him.

“If it isn’t the Chilton miss. What scandal shall reach the ears in Bath soon, eh?”

Nathan growled. “What do you want with me?”

“I want you to resign your rights to the children.”

“No.”

“Shame it has to come to this.”

“Why care you for the children?”

“I don’t.” The solicitor stepped closer to Nathan. “You were supposed to die in the Peninsula.”

“Was I indeed? I’m glad you are not God that you can choose.”

Mr. Smith laughed at that. “Would that God held the gun and I did not.” His lips curved back into a straight line. “I can indeed choose to kill you.”

“If you kill me, you think the children will be yours to do with and none to discover what you did with their inheritance? Is that it?”

“How astute.” He sneered. “And what does a young single Colonel desire with children? Naught but a burden.”

Nathan flicked his chin. “You’ve lost your mind. You’d never get away with it.”

“Won’t I?”

“Someone is after you, is that it? The late Lord Banbury has double-crossed you, and you’ve been double-crossing everyone else to pay your own debts. You must be running out of time if you are desperate enough to come after mere children.”

Mr. Smith did not reply but cocked the pistol and aimed.

My vision blackened. A shot was fired, then another, but I fell into a heap on the floor.

A scream, a shout, and voices rang about my head. Visions ran in short clips in my mind.

“I’ve got him, he’s down.”

Yes, no. Take her.

Palms slapped my cheeks. Tears flowed. Nathan.

Strong arms lifted me. Nathan. Nathan lifted me. Another man joined him. Others. I blinked to reality. I was in my room.

“He’s deceased. Colonel Stewart.” Mr. Carter plunged inside, red-cheeked and cross-strapped with a long rifle and powder horn, a pistol still in his grip. “Man lost his mind!”

Mr. Carter. He’d come. Had he shot him?

I looked to Nathan who still held me. “You aren’t wounded?”

“No, my love.” He looked back to Mr. Carter. “How did you know to come?”

“I’ve been tracking him since you returned. Sherborne had a keen sense you both were being followed and thought it wouldn’t hurt to send men out to be certain.” He shook his head. "The man was a fool to come back. Utterly careless."

Concern overflowed…Andrew and Rachel must be terrified. “The children?”

Nathan rubbed my shoulder. “They slept through it. Margaret is with them. Your Uncle left to fetch the magistrate.” He kissed my cheek, “All is well.”

Nathan left my side and followed Mr. Carter downstairs, where Mr. Smith lay. I wondered at the desperation, the greed that would drive a man to madness. I was all but convinced he’d stolen from my father. But what now?

As Nathan had already mentioned, likely naught to be done about it. I wrestled in my mind the things that had happened. How close I’d come to losing my love. No matter how new, it would have been the deepest of losses, for I was convinced we’d enjoy the deepest of loves.

An hour passed, then another. I could not keep my eyes open. I did not know when Nathan opened the door to my room or when he slipped beside me. Only that when I woke, I’d slept in his arms, my head upon his chest.

Indeed, there was nowhere I’d rather be.

When I woke, he kissed me. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

“Merry Christmas.” I smiled up at him, still clothed in his shirt and trousers, absent the cravat I’d removed the night before. I blushed at the thought of what I’d done, of what I wanted.

Margaret brought a tray to my room. “Good morning,” Her brow wrinkled with concern. “How do you fare after last night’s shock?”

I leaned out of Nathan’s arms, mindful that this was not at all decent. I spied the ring on my finger. And recalled what Uncle had told me. In God’s eyes, we were not only decent but to relish the joy of our status.

“Don’t mind me, dears. Don’t mind me at all.” She winked.

Christmas Eve passed with much napping between assisting in the kitchen and then, finally, attending midnight services at church.

Nathan and I stood side-by-side, with a child on either side of us, singing Adestes Fideles, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant.

We were triumphant. And we would indeed come to Him to sing adoration for how He was able to turn one man’s greed into another man’s noble gift.