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“S peaking of foreign adventures,” Ellen said, “my husband’s aunt has just returned to England. She has been living in America for the past twenty years or so.”

“Really? What made her come back?” Lydia asked.

“Her husband passed away. She said he died while they were negotiating with some natives. They tried to help him, but in the end, there was nothing they could do. She then had to return—a thousand miles—to Boston all by herself! Could you imagine traveling across an unknown, untamed country alone?” Ellen asked. She tried to keep the jealousy from her voice, but she had a feeling some of it creeped through.

“No! Absolutely not,” the duchess said, shaking her head so vigorously her cheeks and chin wobbled.

“I would be terrified,” Lydia agreed.

“It sounds fascinating!” Diana said, her eyes brightening.

“I have to admit that it did to me as well,” Ellen said. “In truth, I would like nothing more than to travel. I am horribly envious of you, Diana, although I don’t know that I would be able to travel such a great distance entirely by myself as Moreton’s aunt has done.”

“You would like to travel?” the duchess asked. “I am quite happy right where I am.”

“Yes, I would. I’ve always lived in my own little world of myself, my husband, and his family, and… well, that’s all. I attend society parties but only because I know I will see you ladies there. I volunteer at the veteran’s hospital and just sit and listen to the fantastic adventures those men have had and wish I could have even the smallest bit of a life beyond English shores.” Ellen ducked her head down. Never had she ever revealed such personal thoughts, not to anyone. There was definitely something about this group of women that brought forth confidences.

Diana reached out and gave Ellen’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “We are very happy to see you at parties too. It is so wonderful to have friends.”

“Perhaps if you started small,” Lydia suggested. “Speaking with people other than us at parties, or traveling to Bath, or even Edinburgh.”

“That’s an excellent idea,” the duchess agreed. “It has been a number of years since your husband passed. You could certainly be more social than you are.”

“And maybe update your wardrobe,” Lydia suggested delicately.

Ellen looked down at her purple dress. It was so true—only widows in half-mourning and ladies of a certain age wore the color.

“You might try wearing bolder colors,” Lydia continued. “Truly, you could wear anything you wanted.”

Ellen gave an embarrassed little laugh. “I’ve been wearing half-mourning for so long now I think I’ve forgotten what it might be like to wear anything but purple and gray.”

“I’m certain Tina would be more than happy assist you,” Diana suggested.

“Do you think she would?” Ellen wondered if she might get more male attention if she wore brighter colors. Well, to be perfectly honest, she wondered if she might get more attention from a very specific male—Lord Pennyston, to be exact. He had been very kind to her the day before, but perhaps he might be more than kind, more than just friendly if she were dressed better.

She gave a decisive nod. “I will write to the duchess and ask her. You may be right,” she told Lydia. “It most certainly is time for me to update my wardrobe and that may very well lead to more adventurous possibilities.”

~*~

He was an idiot. There was no other explanation for why he’d invited Colburne over for drinks. He was a bloody idiot.

Christopher paced back and forth in his study. Whatever made him do this—he just couldn’t fathom. He and Colburne had never been particular friends in school. He’d always been with Warwick, and Christopher had been friends with Merrick and Sinclair Stratton. But now six years later, they were suddenly going to become friends?

Well, why not? It wasn’t as if Christopher was going to seek out Merry and Sin. He couldn’t. He just…

Someone knocked on the front door. His study led directly into the foyer so he could hear the footman greeting Colburne. Christopher panicked and blew out all but one candle. If he were in the dark, Colburne couldn’t see him. He wouldn’t be able to stare at Christopher’s horrid scar. Yes, that was the answer. Darkness was always the answer.

There was a knock on the door.

“Come!” Christopher said.

The footman opened the door and then called into the dark, “My lord? The Duke of Warwick and Lord Colburne are here. Shall I bring them into the drawing room?”

“No, show them in here,” Christopher said, moving away from the candle.

“Er… shall I light—”

“No! Thank you, but I prefer the dark,” Christopher said, stopping the man.

“Very good, my lord,” the footman said. He probably thought Christopher a madman. Indeed, Christopher wasn’t entirely certain he wasn’t.

The door opened again, spilling light into the room. Christopher could see the outlines of the two men.

“Er, Pennyston?” Colburne called out in the dark.

“Yes. Come in. I apologize for the dark but, well, it’s better that way, believe me,” Christopher said.

The men came in, going directly toward the one lit candelabra. It was situated in front of the sofa, so both men sat themselves there.

“Can I get you a drink? I’ve got port and an excellent brandy. If you prefer something harder, I’ve also got a fine Scotch whisky,” he offered.

“Brandy is fine for me,” Warwick said.

“The same,” Colburne agreed. “Can you see what you’re doing?” he asked as Christopher carefully poured the drinks.

“Yes. Actually, I’m used to the dark,” he said.

“Surely, we could have a little more light,” Warwick suggested.

“Not unless you want to be frightened out of your skin,” Christopher said with a little laugh.

“Oh, come now, it’s not that bad,” Colburne objected.

“I’ve had women faint when they saw me,” Christopher said, handing the drinks to the men, carefully keeping himself out of the light.

“That may be, but I am not a woman,” Warwick objected.

“I am well aware…” Christopher started.

“Come now, Pennyston, it’s not that bad. In fact, it’s going to be all the worse for you, heightening his fear in this way,” Colburne said.

Christopher sighed. “My mother always preferred that I stay in the dark whenever she visited me in my rooms,” he admitted.

“And I tell you once more, I am not a woman,” Warwick said.

“Very well.” Christopher got up and lit a few more candles before seating himself once more in his chair across from the men.

Warwick squinted at him or perhaps that was a wince of disgust—it was hard to tell in the faint light. “It’s not that bad.”

Christopher just tilted his head in disbelief.

“All right, it’s pretty bad, but nothing should keep you in the dark,” the man admitted.

“Can you tell us what happened?” Colburne asked. “I understand if it’s too painful.”

“A saber caught me. I believe the man was just pulling from his scabbard when my face got in the way,” Christopher said.

“That’s awful,” Warwick said.

“But did you stitch it yourself? It almost looks…” Colburne said, trying to make out the scar better.

“My batman did. Probably saved my life in doing so. I certainly couldn’t have done it,” Christopher told them.

“But he wasn’t trained. He wasn’t a medic,” Colburne said, nodding his understanding.

“No.”

“That’s why it healed badly. I am sorry for that,” Colburne said.

“Not as sorry as I am. But I am grateful. The alternative would have been worse,” Christopher said.

How often had he thought about that day? Freddie had found him trying to make his way from the battlefield on foot, avoiding skirmishes, holding his face together, praying he wouldn’t lose his eye. His poor batman had done his best, stitching him together slowly and carefully from temple to chin, his hand shaking like anything.

“You’re lucky it didn’t catch you anywhere else,” Warwick commented.

“Damned lucky. If I’d had my head turned the other way, he would have sliced across my throat. I’m not entirely certain that’s not what he was intending to do,” Christopher admitted.

“Shall we speak of happier things?” Colburne suggested to Christopher’s relief.

“Please!”

They proceeded to tell Christopher about their own exciting lives—parents, siblings, and wives were all discussed. Christopher was happy to hear that his friends were doing so well.

“And what of you?” Warwick asked after Christopher poured the last of the brandy into their glasses.

“Me? I’ve not been up to much. I was stationed in Malta for three years where absolutely nothing was happening. When I read about Trafalgar, I requested a transfer to Spain.”

“ To the war,” Colburne clarified.

“Yes. I’m a soldier. I wanted to be where there was fighting,” Christopher confirmed.

The two men clearly understood his position but neither said anything for or against this decision. His parents had had a lot to say when they heard, but then his father had been the one to ensure he’d been deployed to Malta where they knew there would be no fighting, no danger.

“I was injured last summer in a tiny little skirmish. Really, it was almost embarrassing,” Christopher admitted.

“Well, it doesn’t matter how much fighting there might have been. Anyone could get injured anywhere,” Warwick commented.

“Indeed. I was sent home, and that’s where I’ve been until now,” Christopher said, finishing his story.

“What brought you to London?” Warwick asked.

“Freddie, my batman. He was injured and brought here,” Christopher told him.

“We met yesterday when Lady Moreton called me in to take a look at the man’s leg. The surgeon at the hospital wanted to amputate, but it wasn’t really necessary. I convinced him to leave it be for now. I’m sure he’ll be fine once he fights off this infection,” Colburne said.

“Still can’t quite believe you’re a physician,” Christopher said with a laugh. “You were always more interested in your books than anything else, but I’m sure no one expected this.”

Colburne gave him a smile. “I quite enjoy medicine. There’s so much we don’t know. So much we’re still trying to figure out about the human body. I’ve actually been specializing in matters to do with the heart, but I see patients for any reason.”

“Well, I appreciate you coming to see Freddie. He’s a good man.”

“Have you checked in on him today?” Colburne asked.

“Just very briefly. He was doing better, although still feverish. At least he allowed Lady Moreton to leave his side,” Christopher said.

“He hadn’t before?” Warwick asked.

“No. Yesterday, the poor woman was with him from the middle of the night straight through the afternoon,” Christopher told him.

“Now, that’s dedication,” Colburne commented, looking impressed.

“She seems to be an incredible woman,” Christopher agreed.

“I have to say, I don’t know her very well. She’s always seemed rather quiet,” Warwick said.

“She’s called me in to the hospital every so often to give an opinion, but other than that, yes, she isn’t very outgoing. She goes to parties, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her dance,” Colburne agreed.

“Well, she’s clearly recently widowed,” Christopher said.

“No, actually, I think her husband died more than two years ago,” Colburne said.

“Really? But she’s still wearing half-mourning,” Christopher pointed out.

“I don’t exactly know why.” Colburne gave a shrug.

“I believe she’s going to change that. Tina—my wife—mentioned that she was going shopping with Lady Moreton tomorrow to help her choose a new wardrobe,” Warwick said.

Christopher stayed quiet, but his mind was whirling with possibilities. She was coming out of half-mourning after more than two years and that just so happened to coincide with their meeting. No… he couldn’t have had any impact on that decision, could he?

“You know, I don’t think I properly thanked the lady for taking such excellent care of Freddie,” he said.

He hadn’t intended to speak his thought out loud, but both Colburne and Warwick gave him broad smiles.

“Well, clearly you have been remiss,” Warwick said.

He looked at his old schoolmates—both happily married men. Clearly, they seemed to be in favor of him paying the lady some more attention. It was entirely likely that he was going to be rebuffed—one glance at his mirror told him why—but he supposed it couldn’t hurt to speak with Lady Moreton again, offer his thanks to her. He wasn’t quite sure how he might do so, but he could certainly explore some possibilities.