Page 39 of The Colonist’s Petition (Heirs & Heroes #2)

Twenty-Eight

Johnathan,

I have a great secret to share with you.

Which I may since by the time you read this letter, the news of it cannot harm anyone.

Lord Banbridge and Aunt Elaine are to be wed by special license on Twelfth Night.

He proposed on Christmas Day while I was out in the garden with the boys.

They are very happy. We are closing up Lightwood Manor.

Only Cook and her husband, and the best mousing cats will stay.

They are rushing the wedding so that Timothy can return to school with Patrick in a fortnight.

Lord Banbridge sorted all the particulars out with the headmaster when he gathered Patrick from the school.

Timothy is too excited to contain himself, as is Elaine.

For now, I am to move to Lord Banbridge’s with my aunt as she does not wish for father to get word of her change in circumstances until after she is wed and protected.

Lord Banbridge says he will bring us both to Town, along with darling Anne Charlotte when Parliament resumes.

This means that I shall be in Town by mid-February.

Weeks earlier than I planned. I have written to my Aunt Healand to advise her of the situation.

I am not sure what she will advise as you are also living at Grandfather’s house on the square and for us to be courting and living under the same roof will cause a scandal.

After the nuptials are complete, I’ll write to Philippa as well.

Alex’s last letter says she has plans to take Jane to Bath after her birthday to see the home grandfather purchased for her.

Father approved the trip and Jane is in raptures.

(I write this forgetting you may well know this as you were likely with them.)

Elaine is pleased that we shall arrive in Town well before the start of the Season, as Lord Banbridge has promised her a new wardrobe. His kindness to her knows no bounds.

As for your kindness, I appreciate the book as I believe I will have leisure time this next month. Even more dear is your miniature. I hold it dear, though the artist missed the intensity of your eyes?—

A t a knock on the door George set down her pen. “I’m blowing out the candle.”

The door opened. “May I come in?”

“Of course, is something wrong?”

“I’m all nerves. So many thoughts I cannot sort them out.” Aunt Elaine brought in a tea tray. “May I talk them out with you? I brought tea and the last of the plum pudding.”

“Would you rather talk in the parlor?”

“No, I want to cozy up on the bed like I did with my cousins when we were girls.”

“You have cousins?” George was not aware of any family.

Aunt set the tray on the bedside table and climbed on the bed. “My mother had a sister with three daughters. Each summer, we would visit. I attended my first ball with my cousins. A year later I met my Horatio. We discussed it once, you know.”

George could not remember any conversation about meeting Mr. Hale. “Discussed what?”

“Me getting married again. Horatio was insistent we talk about his possible death. With the war, we knew him not returning was always a chance. I told him I would never fall in love again.” Aunt sipped from her teacup. “He left me two letters. One to read if the worst happened and one to read if …”

George waited patiently for her aunt to continue.

“If I were to marry again.” Aunt pulled a pristine letter from a hidden pocket.

“I am scared to read it. I thought I made my peace with being a widow. I was content enough with Timothy. Then, Lord Banbridge has me feeling the way I thought I never would again. I know I have Horatio’s blessing so to speak, but I cannot bear to read it.

” Aunt Elaine set the letter between them.

“Shall I then?”

Aunt nodded.

“What if it contains private sentiments?”

“Please?”

George broke the seal. And read.

My most beloved Elaine,

It is with thoughts of the most complex nature that I pen these lines, knowing that should you read them, you have at last resolved to enter again into the matrimonial state.

I can scarce describe my joy that you have found courage to embrace happiness once more.

I earnestly hope that the gentleman who has secured your affections proves himself deserving of such a treasure, possessed as he must be of every virtue that might recommend him to your discerning judgment.

Should he fall short of such excellence, I venture to suggest that his peace of mind may suffer considerably—of this you may be perfectly assured. I will haunt him.

George tried in vain to hold in a giggle at the thought. Elaine laughed until tears came to her eyes. She motioned for George to continue.

I find myself particularly curious regarding his conduct toward our dear Timothy.

Though we did not speak of such matters in our former conversations, I have observed that a gentleman's true character is most plainly revealed in his treatment of those tender souls who depend upon a mother’s protection.

A man of genuine attachment will embrace not only the object of his affection but all that belongs to her happiness.

As for his relations with Felton, should they prove somewhat strained, I confess I should not be entirely displeased.

As any man who enjoys your brother’s company is not worthy of yours.

Aunt Elaine laughed again.

“I agree. Any man who gets on with Father is not the right choice for a husband.”

After they both calmed enough to drink a few sips of tea, George continued:

I know your tender conscience too well to doubt that you question whether this new attachment does honor to my memory.

My dearest love, if he is good and gentle, I beseech you to silence such doubts.

I implore you, do not deny yourself the happiness that awaits.

Give yourself to him with the same generous spirit you once bestowed upon me.

Trust that as your heart expanded to encompass our son without lessening your love for me, so it may now hold both your first love and your second—each sacred, each complete, neither diminishing the other.

I remain, even in death, with the deepest affection and most earnest wishes for your felicity,

Your devoted Horatio

They sat in silence for a long minute. George sipped her tea while her aunt reread the letter. With deliberate slowness Aunt folded and smoothed the paper.

“He had quite a way with words, did he not? I feared he would make it more difficult for me to marry. Instead he gave me permission to love Fitzwilliam too.”

“Do you love Lord Banbridge then?”

“I do. When I was a girl, he was the most handsome man in the parish. But by the time I was out he was already affianced. Which was only right as he is so much older than I. That of course, was not love. Even I knew it was an infatuation of youth. Fitzwilliam only remembers me as a young girl whom Felton despised. It was last summer that he became aware of me. Felton wrote him to ask if he would rent out the last of the Lightwood’s fields at a high rent.

He came by and quizzed me. I was terribly impolite.

Turned him away. Then I discovered he quizzed Timothy and I was livid.

I marched over to his house and made a cake of myself. I yelled like a fishmonger.”

“Surely not.”

“I may have even used a few words I heard down at the docks.” Aunt Elaine covered her mouth. “I ran from the house and vowed never to speak to him again. He, of course, did not take no for an answer. I am terribly glad that your presence finally gave him a chaperone for propriety.”

“Can you imagine how furious father will be when he discovers that sending me here facilitated your nuptials?”

“No more angry than he was when Fitzwilliam negotiated a reasonable rent. Soon after, I started receiving money in the post. I thought at first Felton sent more money. I was stupid enough to mention it in a letter…. You know your father.”

“He cut off more funds. Did he not?”

“I would not have made it through without Fitzwilliam’s care.”

“You are not marrying him out of gratitude?”

“No.” Elaine blushed then covered her mouth in a giggle. “I deeply love him. If I did not, I could not enjoy his attentions so. I must admit that if we had not been granted a special license, I would be in danger of having a very wicked time with him.”

George gasped.

“I forget you have never kissed a man. I should not say such shocking things.”

“Is a kiss that—” George waved her hand, unable to put words to her thoughts.

“Beautiful? Powerful? Intoxicating? They can be with the right man in the right place. That is why we as ladies are encouraged to wait until an engagement to receive such intentions.”

There was a warning in her aunt’s words. Perhaps it was better that Timothy guarded her so with a poker and watched from the window. As she was sure there had never been a man finer than Johnathan Whittaker.