Page 37 of The Colonist’s Petition (Heirs & Heroes #2)

Twenty-Seven

A s soon as the sun rose, Aunt Elaine insisted on returning home.

The carriage was called for a hasty departure.

Upon their return, her aunt retired to her room.

Unusual when there were tasks to be done.

Nettie arrived only minutes after the family finding the entire house to be cold.

After setting the fires to rights, George collected the best of her knitting for her sisters, father, and grandfather.

Small gifts were better than a letter. Small gifts were all that were ever exchanged.

As for Johnathan’s gift, she did not have a scarf worthy of him. After sorting through the projects twice, she went in search of a skein of yarn she saw last week. In frustration, she finally knocked on her aunt’s door.

The door opened far enough to see her aunt’s red-rimmed eyes. “What do you need?”

“Is something amiss?” George struggled to think what it could be.

Aunt Elaine shook her head and opened the door wider. “Nothing more than me behaving like a schoolgirl. Was I needed?”

“I was in search of a skein of yarn I saw last week. It is a bright blue. I thought?—”

To George’s surprise, tears welled up in aunt’s eyes.

“I have ruined it,” said Aunt Elaine as she opened the door fully.

On the bed sat a rumpled mass of bright blue yarn full of curls and crinkles indicative of a project gone awry.

Aunt picked up the tangled wool. “I wanted to give Lord Banbridge something for Christmas. I hoped to bake for him, but then I saw his Christmas pudding this morning when I snuck into the kitchen in search of a bit of toast.”

That explained the tray sent to their room full of fresh buns and steaming chocolate.

“Our pudding is so pathetic. I might as well be a beggar going door-to-door today.”

“I forgot it is St. Thomas day. Do we have anything prepared?” George had never been in charge of the annual gifts for the poor who traveled door to door.

“I have the barrel of apples you convinced your sister to send and gloves enough for those who do not have them. Not many come out this far from our little town.”

“That would explain why no one has knocked.”

“I should be thankful that I am as well off as I am. We have food enough to eat even if it is not as fine as I once ate. The roof is not leaking anymore and we can warm enough rooms to not have to live in close quarters.” Aunt Elaine sat in the chair near the window and wound the yarn around two fingers to start a ball.

“What were you making?”

“A scarf, but I was trying a pattern I learned years ago at school, and I did not remember it correctly.”

“I thought of making Johnathan a scarf, but I am afraid I will not have time before he leaves even if I knit all night. And if he comes to call, I cannot knit then.”

“Call?” Aunt Elaine’s head popped up. “You do not think they will come to call, do you?”

“I hope Johnathan does.”

“We are not prepared.” Aunt set the yarn aside. Tears threatened again.

Alex was better at calming people. What would her sister say? “They will not come for a few hours yet. My sister Alex makes lists when she has too many things to think about.”

“A list. Yes. I need a gift.”

“And you have four days until Christmas.”

“I need to change to receive visitors and plan some food.”

“My sister sent me a recipe for my cook’s apple pudding. If we start soon, it can be prepared.”

Aunt Elaine nodded. “I must change. Fitz—, Lord Banbridge, er, I want to?—”

George understood the sentiment all too well. “We can help each other after we make the pudding. I saw some cinnamon on the shelf.”

Nettie was more than happy to not add extra work to her day and gave up the larger table for the ladies to use.

George peeled and cored the apples. “I have an idea for a gift for you to give Lord Banbridge. A concert.”

“What?”

“Play for him on his pianoforte.”

“How can I practice? I have no instrument.”

“When Alex was recuperating, she longed to play. However, could not leave her bed. Mr. Green, her nurse’s husband, took a long board and traced the keyboard of my grandfather’s pianoforte on it.

Although it did not make noise she could move her fingers on it and imagine.

When she was recovered enough to sit, she played us a Mozart concerto which she taught herself on what she called her piano-silent. ”

Aunt was silent as she crumbed the stale bread. “I could practice some older pieces that way, I suppose. I kept my music.”

“And music is a gift everyone can enjoy. Anne Charlotte will be in raptures.”

A blush bloomed across her aunt’s face. “She is a delightful child.”

As predicted, Johnathan and Lord Banbridge came at the appropriate hour.

Aunt Elaine appeared much calmer than George felt as the men entered the parlor.

Patrick also came and was led away by Timothy.

Aunt Elaine and Lord Banbridge sat in the seats nearest the window leaving the settee for George and Johnathan.

The arrangement was ideal for two private, yet chaperoned conversations.

Johnathan sat next to her allowing space between them. “We would have been here earlier, but Lord Banbridge insisted we wait for the proper time. I am not sure which one of us watched the clock closer. At least he has your tradition of St. Thomas Day to keep him occupied.”

“And what did you do?”

“I spent time with the children. I miss my nieces and nephews, so I found it refreshing. Patrick found a book about the Americas and spent quite some time quizzing me. There is much I do not know as I have never traveled more than twenty miles from my home before traveling to England. I could tell him nothing of plantations and little of the natives. I believe he finds me a great disappointment.”

The conversation fell into an easy cadence. Nettie brought in tea and informed Aunt that the boys were taking theirs in the kitchen.

Johnathan took a bit of the Apple crumb pudding. “This reminds me very much of the one your cook made.”

“It is her recipe.” George did not disclose that she and her aunt made it.

Lord Banbridge might overhear and what would impress Johnathan might mortify her aunt if revealed.

George glanced at her aunt to find her leaning forward in her chair as did Lord Banbridge.

Had his chair moved? It seemed much closer to her aunt than she remembered.

“They seem very much enamored of each other.” Johnathan moved an inch closer. His hand brushed hers as he moved.

“It does appear so.” Her words came out too breathy. Aunt was not the only one enamored.

“I am glad of it. I have worried about your aunt’s welfare if your father loses his place in line for the earlship and is forced to return here.”

“I have thought the same thing. I pray you do not mention their relationship to my family. If my father were to learn before things are settled—” she braved setting her hand between them on the settee.

“He would interfere. You have not told your sisters?” Johnathan’s hand covered hers as if it was the most natural action to take.

Warmth greater than that from the fire radiated up her arm. “No. I do not know when father will be at Kellmore and if he will read my letters to them.”

“Do you write to your father as well?” His fingers danced over her hand, sending the most agreeable sensations up her arm.

George tried to appear unaffected as she answered. “As I must.”

Johnathan chuckled, an action that seemed to have very little to do with the words passing between them. “He was not happy to discover that the earl would be descending on him for the festivities.”

“Father much prefers when we go to The Willows for Christmas and New Year’s day. Then he does not have the expense of hosting.”

“So I gathered. Although I believe I am more of a problem to him. He cannot throw me out since you grandfather owns Kellmore.”

“When will you return?” Her fingers responded to his and explored. Not all of his calluses faded, giving evidence to his hard work.

“I depart in the morning.”

“Early?” She drew a question mark.

“At sunrise, I’m afraid.” He caught her fingers softly in his hand, stilling them for a moment, but sending other feelings dancing through her.

“So I will not see you again?” There would not be other moments to sit touching and enjoying each other’s nearness. Sharing in this way could not happen in a letter. Even if she possessed the words to write of the feeling, she could not, lest they be intercepted.

“If you allow me to call at such an unfashionable time. We can have our farewells in the morning.”

George looked at her aunt, deep in conversation. “I believe I can gain her approval.”

“That suits me very well.” Johnathan clasped her hand inside of his.

Across the room, Lord Banbridge stood. “I am afraid we have pushed the bounds of propriety by staying so long.”

“It was no bother at all.” A schoolgirl blush bloomed on Elaine’s cheek.

Johnathan stood as well. “I wish we were in Massachusetts. Society is not so strict.”

“Hardly anyone comes here. You are unlikely to be discovered if you overextend your stay.” George took Johnathan’s offered arm to walk him out of the room.

“While that may be true, I gather there are several women in the area who keep a close eye on his lordship’s comings and goings. He does not wish to harm Mrs. Hale’s reputation. More than he has.”

“You have discussed this.”

“We have.” Johnathan put on his thick wool coat and like Lord Banbridge, prepared to leave.

Patrick appeared with Timothy begging to stay longer. His objections were overruled.

Johnathan took advantage of the commotion and leaned close to George’s ear. “Until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.”

George watched with her aunt as the men departed.

“I suspect you are going to ask for permission to have Mr. Whittaker call quite early. As he is departing the area, I see nothing wrong with it. Now if you excuse me, I have a piano-silent to practice. If you think you can make something with the blue yarn you are welcome to it.”