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Chapter six

A more luxurious rest I’ve never enjoyed. The maid waited upon me, hand and foot. Which mostly meant several bowls of hot pea soup, pots of tea, and one hot bath ordered by the physician. Colonel Stewart had sent for thick woolen socks and had procured a novel to help pass the time.

All the while, I was outright distracted by our last interaction.

I’d not just time to rest, but to think and think—only my imagination quite ran away with me instead and I couldn’t quite think so clearly beyond the fact that Colonel Stewart had sought me based upon my great uncle’s description and found me pleasing enough to the point of desiring to call me “wife.”

Trust and goodness were an entirely different kind of currency in which to exchange—one vow with another…

The carriage had arrived along with my trunks which thankfully had not been stolen. But, I began to wonder of Colonel Stewart’s own horse—and his appearance when he came to my aid. He’d been in a brawl? Or had he the misfortune of being caught in the hail storm?

What exactly had happened? I’d been in too exhausted a stupor to give that fact a thought until now. I’d been lost in my dreams. Of marriage and the choice I must make.

I drew my laundered cloak about my shoulders as the maid adjusted my bonnet. Was time to travel. I was fully rested and healed from that terrible cold night. And Colonel Stewart waited below stairs.

Next, we would travel to my uncle’s home for Christmas, where, Colonel Stewart said the children waited for us.

I was eager to be there now. To see family and meet Andrew and Rachel. To celebrate the holiday and the possible new beginning. I went downstairs where he stood tall at the newel post.

“Miss Chilton.” He bowed and offered me his hand. “We’ve many hours before us. Are you certain you are up for the trip?”

“I can bear it if you can.” Travel wasn’t the most comfortable of occupations.

He smiled. “Indeed.”

We alighted the carriage together this time, albeit with a new driver.

Colonel Stewart insisted on being my protector all the way to Butterton—regardless of no companion or chaperone between us.

Twould be a scandal if those of my acquaintance in Bath knew of it.

But I trusted Colonel Stewart—as did my uncle.

What had I to fear? We were not entirely alone.

I was once again well provided with hot coals and blankets and flasks of tea. And, the gentleman before me…what had Father said? Wanted to be married by Christmas…

The colonel desired haste. Would there be time for love to grow? Perhaps that was a high expectation. My inner longing for such love had always been a hope I kept kindled. Did not every young woman?

I queried him, what did I have to lose? “I find I must ask you something, yet I do not mean to put you off.”

He smiled from his corner. “I rather hoped we would be able to discuss—well—everything.”

“You may think me foolish, but did you ever think to marry for…love?” He did not care about money, did he care about this? Did love matter to him? Heat rushed to my face as I realized to pertinent nature of my words.

“I don’t think you foolish, Miss Chilton.” He slipped his leather gloves from his hands, one finger at a time. “To answer your question, yes. I’ve every intention of marrying for love.” The look he gave me sent a weakness to my knees.

I dared another question, my voice almost a whisper. “And how do you hope to accomplish so deep an emotion?” In so short a time…

“By deciding to love whom I have chosen.” His voice had also gone a whisper.

“I see.” I looked back to my hands but his firm voice rose.

“Miss Chilton, when I arrived in Bath, I had all but planned to abandon the idea and forego acquiring an introduction to you at the Assembly Ball. I paced the floor of my rooms until I knew naught except that I might as well catch a glimpse of you and then perhaps be introduced. Then, I would know for certain that I must not pursue you because you’d be all wrong.

Like the women I had the misfortune to meet in London.

I’d envisioned a woman I probably couldn’t abide.” He laughed at the memory. “However, the Master of Ceremonies led me straight to you as though God had prompted him. I was entirely taken aback how it came about.

Then we danced, then I found myself leading you to supper—and you weren’t some made-up tale by the vicar.

But a real woman, the kind of whom both captivated and put my mind at ease.

My purpose once again took root. Your humor and candor drew me in.

Your uncle hadn’t led me wrong. I found myself taking leave of you and not desiring to take my leave. ”

He’d revealed much. I swallowed at the whole of it. If only I had been privy to Uncle Harris’ and my parent’s machinations, I might have been—I don’t know. Less stunned? “You are very honest sir.”

Was his turn to ask. “Did you enjoy my company, too?” Hope lingered in his eyes.

I stifled a laugh. “When you left that night, I thought I’d never see you again.”

His lips turned upward. “And yet, here we are.”

“Yes. Here we are.” A sudden shyness took over me. I wondered that Father did not reveal Colonel Stewart’s identity to me at our discussion of my new course. Did he think I might not give him a chance?

We grew quiet and I observed his mended coat—the mark on his jaw had lightened considerably. “Whatever happened to your horse?”

He tensed and flashed his eyes to mine. “Stolen.”

“You fought a man?”

“Miss Chilton, I would keep the unsavory details from your ears.”

His tone had quite changed from gentle conversation we began with. But his words begged more questions. Did I really know who this man was, despite his honorable declarations—or my feelings.

“Unsavory details…” I repeated. “Please, you may trust me. I only hope no wrong has been done to you. I promise I am not the fainting type.”

His jaw shifted as he considered what to tell. “I had some business to tend to on the way—let’s just say that my presence was entirely unwelcome.”

“I’ve never known business to come to fisticuffs…” A loss of fortune, to be sure, but fists and a stolen horse?

“Ah, certainly in the business of war—but war this was not, though I was ready to start a skirmish if need be. Turns out, the solicitor was not above board, cares little for the affairs of children, and will fight—aye—even steal my horse to ensure I understood that my wards will not receive an inheritance due them.”

A crooked solicitor? “How can he prevent this?”

“To my shame, Andrew and Rachel have been at his mercy the year long while I was in Spain. I was informed a nursemaid cared for them and I was not to concern myself. As one who directs their affairs, I suspect the solicitor has misdirected the inheritance and now the children may have little to nothing left, aside from what I deem to provide.”

“Theft?”

“The worst kind.” He glanced from the window and turned back and observed me. “He assumed wrongly that I wanted nothing to do with the children. I tried for months to return to England, to be released of my command.”

“Will nothing remain of their parent’s estate?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “That is the question the solicitor danced around until he led me down a rabbit trail, attempting to entice me into a new speculation—no doubt planning to steal from me as well. Twas suspect. And when I confronted him, his assistant threw a fist to my jaw—quite out of the ordinary. One expects it on the battlefield, not in a solicitor’s office. ”

“How very strange. What happened to the solicitor? Did you fight him?”

“The man grabbed a sheaf of papers and ran from the room, leaving me to fend for myself against the young brute.”

“Such doings!”

“I have much to sort out after the holiday—when we—when I return to Highgate. Simon Smith must be held accountable.”

“Simon Smith?” I’d heard the name many times. Was he not my Father’s solicitor? Had he not been in Father’s company that fateful day we lost everything? Due to Lord Banbury or some such man a few years dead? “You say one Simon Smith is solicitor to your wards?”

Colonel Stewart leaned forward. “Do you know the man?”

I shook my head. I did not know him per se.

He’d been to dine with Father a time or two, twas all I knew.

I feared I must confess it. “I do believe he is also my father’s solicitor.

” I clenched my hands together. “I’ve only ever heard his name, mind you.

” I shifted in my seat, suddenly uncomfortable with the dismay written across Colonel Stewart’s face.

“On the day we discovered our losses—he was within our home—inside Father’s office with a few other businessmen. I heard him speak…I…”

A smile quirked at his lips, the lift rather endearing. My, how my face flamed at every turn.

“You were eavesdropping?”

I glanced from the carriage window and back to him. “I didn’t mean to do such a childish thing, only Mother knew nothing and I grew restless sitting in my room staring at four walls, waiting to fully understand what was happening to my family.”

“I do not blame you. But,” he took a breath and folded his arms. “Did your father tell you the reasons for his losses? Was Simon Smith involved?”

I licked my dry lips, desiring the flask of tea nestled within the basket.

“I only know that Father has taken a great deal of guilt upon himself. I’ve never seen him so.

” In truth, the sadness that stretched across his face pained my heart more than I could bear.

“He has begged our forgiveness time, and time again.”

“Mmm.”

I must make Colonel Stewart understand. Father was respectable in every way.

“He has never known difficulty of this nature. Ever. His investments are always entirely above-board and—and—losh. What do I truly know? I am kept out of the details of his business. Only that you must believe that my Father is a man of honor.”

Colonel Stewart bowed his head. “Of this I have no doubt, do not trouble yourself to save his reputation on my account. I spent an hour with him in his study after our assembly dance—tis when I gave him your uncle’s letter.”

Simon Smith —an unease filled my mind the same as it filled the carriage.

The man all but had my would-be fiancé beaten.

Stolen his horse—and mayhap mishandled an inheritance that didn’t belong to him.

What else had he done? Had he swindled my own father?

“Did the constable help you, Colonel Stewart?”

He grimaced. “The constable and the magistrate were both deep in their cups, too inebriated to be of any use.”

“What will you do next?”

He took a deep breath and tried to smile.

“I will attempt to enjoy my holiday…our holiday. Handle this issue afterward.” He shrugged his shoulders and held out his palms. “I would raise the children without what was left to them. Only their father died fighting for England. His earnings should be theirs.”

I felt my father should be told. “Should we write to Father and tell him the man isn’t to be trusted?”

Compassion now graced his eyes. “I do believe, forgive me, Miss Chilton, there is nothing left for the solicitor to assist him with or misappropriate. Your father has cut away from his business relations, all of them.” He bowed his head with respect.

“The Chilton’s are penniless. Whether by way of this Simon Smith or not, your father understood that there was no recourse to the matter.

Even if he did discover duplicity somewhere—as he has already questioned. ”

He was right. We were penniless. However, I pulled from my reticule a single pence and held it between us. “Only one remains.” I don’t know why, but I handed it to Colonel Stewart. “You are brave to desire wards as your own and to court a now penniless Chilton.”

His eyes pierced mine as he took the pence and held it aloft in the light between us. He slowly pressed a kiss to the back of the coin. “You give me all you have; I will do the same for you.” He pocketed the coin and gazed upon me until fire burned down to my toes.

I could not catch my breath, though immobile. I looked away, nestled in a corner, and did my best to sleep. Hours and hours of road remained…

Alone with this stranger who was determined to give me his heart.