Unexpectedly Wed to the Officer--A Historical Romance Award Winning Author

by Jenni Fletcher

  ‘What kind of aunt would I be if I hadn’t?’ She reached into the folds of her cloak and drew out a small bundle. ‘Cinnamon Belles for you, Comptessas for Peter and one of everything for Oliver.’ She glanced towards the hatch in the ceiling, tempted to go up and deposit a bucket of cold water over her sleeping brother. ‘Have you had a proper meal today?’

  ‘Mrs Roper gave us some toast and cheese.’ Michael shook his head as he dived into the parcel of biscuits.

  ‘Right.’ Henrietta straightened up, looking around the frigid and messy room with a burst of determination. She was going to have to break her promise to Nancy, but she’d deal with that later. ‘First, we’re going to stoke up the fire, second I’m going to make us all a nice meal and third... Well, third, I’m going to decide what to do with you.’

  Chapter Six

  ‘Good evening, Miss MacQueen.’ Sebastian removed his hat and bowed as he entered Belles through the back door into the kitchen. ‘I trust that you’ve had a pleasant and profitable day?’

  ‘We’ve sold out of biscuits, if that’s what you mean.’ The pugnacious redhead glanced up from where she was polishing a brass plate beside the hearth.

  ‘It wasn’t, but I’m glad to hear it.’ He threw a subtle look towards the hallway.

  ‘If you’re looking for Henrietta, she’s not here.’

  ‘And why would I be looking for Miss Gardiner specifically?’ Maybe not so subtle, after all... ‘It’s a delight to see you again, too, Miss MacQueen.’

  ‘If you say so.’ She gave him an openly sceptical look. ‘Your bag’s over there. I brought it downstairs, but I was starting to think you’d left it for us as a souvenir.’

  ‘Sorry about that. I spent the day with an old friend and lost track of time.’ He reached down and swung the sack containing his few belongings over his shoulder. ‘However, thank you again for your hospitality. If you need me, I’ll be staying at—’ He stopped, puzzled by the way she was chewing her bottom lip between her teeth as if she were worried. She didn’t strike him as a particularly nervous person, but he had the distinct impression that she was preoccupied with something.

  ‘Is everything all right, Miss MacQueen?’

  She looked up again, holding his gaze for a few seconds before shaking her head. ‘No.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘It’s Henrietta. She promised she wouldn’t be gone long, but that was two hours ago.’

  ‘What do you mean gone?’ The words caused his stomach to drop almost painfully. ‘Do you know where she went?’

  ‘To visit her brother over the bridge. She helps out with her nephews most evenings, though I keep telling her she shouldn’t be walking around in the dark.’

  ‘Do they live far away?’

  ‘Around Avon Street.’ The crease between her brows deepened. ‘It’s not the most salubrious area. I grew up there, so I ought to know.’

  ‘I see.’ Sebastian put his bag down again, gripped with a new sense of urgency. ‘Then perhaps you and I should take a walk in that direction? Hopefully, we’ll meet Miss Gardiner on her way home. Otherwise, you can direct us to her brother’s house.’

  ‘I knew it!’ Miss MacQueen was already on her feet and reaching for her hat and bonnet.

  ‘Knew what?’

  ‘That you like her!’

  ‘Of course I like her—as an acquaintance,’ he added hurriedly. ‘At this moment, however, I’m mainly concerned about her.’

  ‘Because you like her and not just as an acquaintance.’

  ‘Miss MacQueen, if I’ve given you the wrong impression...’

  ‘Oh, don’t start with all that.’ She gave the ribbons on her bonnet a vigorous tug. ‘Only a word to the wise. If you do like her, don’t comment on her appearance or give any compliments if you can help it. I know it sounds odd, but she doesn’t like them.’

  ‘I noticed. This morning I told her she looked beautiful and—’

  ‘Never say that!’ Miss MacQueen practically hissed, shoving past him towards the door. ‘That’s the worst thing you could possibly say!’

  ‘That she’s beautiful?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘But why?’

  ‘Because...’ She opened her mouth and then clamped it shut again. ‘That’s her business. Just remember not to—Oh!’

  He never discovered what not to do as the back door flew open suddenly and the woman in question herself bundled in, flanked by two young boys and carrying another, smaller one in her arms.

  ‘What on earth...?’ Miss MacQueen’s mouth fell open. ‘What happened?’

  ‘David’s lost his job.’ Miss Gardiner sounded breathless. ‘And when I got to his house he was—’ She stopped, her eyes widening in surprise as they settled on Sebastian.

  ‘Sozzled.’ One of the boys finished her sentence for her. ‘Bosky. Three sheets to the wind. Stewed. That’s what Mr Roper said.’

  ‘Mr Roper’s one of the neighbours,’ Miss Gardiner explained with a pained expression. ‘I gave his son a shilling to stay and keep an eye on David tonight, but I didn’t want to leave the boys. I was going to make them a meal, but...’

  ‘It looked like a pigsty,’ the same boy piped up again. ‘That’s what Mrs Roper said.’

  ‘It was.’ Miss Gardiner looked faintly mortified and then sighed. ‘I thought about tidying up, but there was so much to do and it was getting late so I decided to bring them here for a bath and something to eat instead. They can sleep in my bed tonight.’

  ‘And you can share with me.’ Miss MacQueen had already removed her outdoor clothes and was rubbing her hands together briskly. ‘Right, boys. Come with me and I’ll show you where you can put your things.’

  ‘Let me help, too.’ Sebastian stepped forward, holding his arms out for the sleeping child in Miss Gardiner’s arms and feeling somewhat shaken by the intensity of his emotions. He’d been so relieved at the sight of her that he’d actually found himself unable to speak for a few moments. ‘This one looks heavy.’

  ‘I’m not!’ a sleepy voice protested from over her shoulder.

  ‘Only because you’re such a strapping young man.’ He smiled as a youthful face turned to peer at him. ‘You’ll soon be carrying ladies about yourself, I’ll wager. How old are you? Fifteen?’

  ‘Five.’

  ‘No! That’s incredible.’ He turned back to Miss Gardiner as the boy giggled. ‘Please? You look as though you’re about to collapse.’

  ‘I admit I am a little tired.’ She hesitated for another moment before handing the boy over with a sigh of relief.

  ‘Your nephews, I presume?’

  ‘Yes. This is Oliver and the other two are Michael and Peter.’ She gave a tentative smile. ‘Michael’s the talkative one, but I’m sorry for bringing them here. I hope you don’t mind.’

  ‘Why would I mind?’

  ‘Because Belles belongs to your family. You should know, I would never have brought them if it hadn’t been necessary.’

  ‘Miss Gardiner.’ Sebastian bounced Oliver up on one arm. ‘I abnegated responsibility for Belles when I joined the navy. You’re the manager now and this is your home, which means that you may treat it as you see fit. If my sister trusts you, then so do I. That’s all there is to it.’

  ‘Thank you.’ The expression in her eyes softened in a way that caused an abrupt lurch followed by a warm glow in his chest.

  ‘Now let me find somewhere cosy to put this young man and I’ll help to prepare that bath.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that.’

  ‘Ever hear the phrase “all hands on deck”?’ He arched an eyebrow. ‘You’re the captain here tonight, Miss Gardiner. Just give me your orders and I’ll endeavour to see them fulfilled.’ He flashed a quick grin. ‘Anna will have my head if I don’t.’

  ‘I never thought of that.’ Her lips curled and the di
mple he’d noticed the previous night appeared for the first time that day. Aha! he thought with a definite sense of triumph, there she was. There was the woman he’d met during the night, the one he’d wanted to walk with that morning. She was back and she couldn’t have looked any less like a fortune-hunting ice queen. And maybe, just maybe, Miss MacQueen was right.

  * * *

  Mr Fortini, Henrietta decided, was going to make an excellent father some day. His light-hearted, easy-going manner seemed infectious, so much so that her nephews took to him instantly. During bathtime, an event that had soaked a considerably greater area of the kitchen floor than she would have liked, he’d regaled them all with stories about fantastical sea monsters, each one of which he claimed to have confronted, outwitted and finally defeated in hand-to-fin or hand-to-tentacle combat. After that, he’d bundled them into clean sheets and then sat them down at the kitchen table for steaming hot platefuls of pie and gravy while she’d washed their clothes in the remaining bathwater. Despite her concern for David, it had proved a strangely enjoyable and entertaining hour’s work. Even Nancy had laughed on more than one occasion.

  All in all, she had to admit that it was possible she’d misjudged Mr Fortini’s character. He seemed to genuinely want to help—surely a man who was only interested in flirtation wouldn’t inconvenience himself to such an extent? It was hard to imagine either Mr Willerby or Mr Hoxley going to so much trouble. Maybe he was a man who could be trusted, after all...

  ‘There we go,’ she announced finally, pegging the last pair of trousers up on a rack above the hearth. The boys’ stockings, she noticed, were almost threadbare in places, though she’d only darned them again a couple of weeks ago.

  ‘Anyone for a glass of milk before bed?’ Nancy stuck her head out of the pantry.

  ‘Yes, please!’

  ‘That doesn’t mean you have to wolf down the rest of your pies,’ Henrietta admonished them quickly. ‘The milk isn’t going anywhere, we promise.’

  ‘Is there anything else I can do to help?’ Mr Fortini stole a chunk of pie crust from Peter’s plate and popped it into his mouth with a wink.

  ‘You’ve already done more than enough.’ Henrietta shook her head, feeling self-conscious again as he got up and came to stand before her. ‘I’m very grateful. We all are.’

  ‘It’s been my honour to serve.’ He reached for his jacket and drew it over his shoulders. ‘Now, if you need me, I’ll be staying at Redbourne’s store tonight.’

  ‘Redbourne’s?’ Nancy’s head poked out of the pantry again.

  ‘Yes. James Redbourne and I were best friends growing up. He’s given me a bed for the night.’ One of his eyebrows quirked upwards. ‘I believe the two of you are also acquainted?’

  ‘We’ve met.’

  ‘Well...’ He shrugged when no more comment appeared to be forthcoming. ‘That’s where I’ll be.’

  ‘Just for tonight?’ Henrietta was dismayed by how awkwardly high-pitched her voice sounded.

  ‘Yes. I’ll be taking the stagecoach north tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh.’ Somehow the words made her feel deflated inside, as if she’d just lost something important. If she could have gone back to that morning, then she had a feeling she would have behaved very differently, but it was too late now. The opportunity was gone and the realisation felt like a cold lump in her stomach. ‘Then I suppose this is goodbye.’

  ‘I suppose it is.’ He inclined his head though his eyes never left hers. ‘It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Miss Gardiner.’

  ‘You, too, Mr Fortini.’ She was horribly aware of colour rising up her throat and over her cheeks. Even with Nancy and the boys in the kitchen, the situation felt too intimate, as if some unspoken communication were passing between them. Only she wasn’t sure what exactly they were trying to say either. It was less of a conversation and more of an awareness...one that was raising goose pimples on her skin and causing more fluttering than ever. ‘Sorry again about your nose.’

  ‘What happened to his nose?’ Michael chirruped from the table.

  ‘I hit it with a door.’

  ‘For perfectly good reasons.’ Sebastian averted his gaze finally. ‘Your aunt thought I’d broken into the shop to steal all the biscuits.’

  ‘Like a pirate?’

  ‘Exactly like a pirate. But now I can leave safe in the knowledge that she has three young men to protect her.’ He lowered his voice confidentially. ‘Can I trust you all to act as my marines?’

  ‘Yes, sir!’ Peter and Michael both sat up straighter at once.

  ‘Very good. Carry on then, men.’ He raised a hand in a salute before bowing to Henrietta and Nancy. ‘Miss Gardiner, Miss MacQueen. I’ll leave through the shop if you don’t mind?’

  ‘Of course not.’ Henrietta smiled, though for some reason she felt more like crying. ‘Goodbye, Mr Fortini.’

  ‘Goodbye,’ Nancy added, waiting until he was out in the hallway before giving her a sharp nudge in the ribs. ‘Well?’

  ‘Well what?’ Henrietta lifted her chin.

  ‘You know very well what well means!’

  ‘What does it mean?’ Michael looked between them both quizzically.

  ‘Nothing. Finish your milk.’

  ‘Go after him.’ Nancy wasn’t so easily put off. ‘Say goodbye properly.’

  ‘I just did.’

  ‘With about as much warmth as an icicle!’

  ‘Don’t call me an ice queen!’ Henrietta whirled on her. ‘You know how I hate that.’

  ‘All right, but he deserved better and I don’t say that about any man very often. He was very worried about you earlier.’

  ‘He was?’

  ‘Yes! We were going to go and search for you when you arrived.’

  ‘I still don’t think...’

  ‘Go!’ Nancy pointed an imperative finger towards the hallway. ‘Say it properly and without an audience. You’ll regret it if you don’t.’

  * * *

  ‘Mr Fortini?’

  Sebastian had one foot out of the door and on to the pavement when Miss Gardiner came hurrying through the shop towards him. After all the commotion of the evening, she was looking somewhat dishevelled. Still beautiful, but with a few golden tendrils hanging loose around her face.

  ‘Miss Gardiner?’ He shifted his weight back over the threshold. ‘Did I forget something?’

  ‘No, but I...’ She stopped a few feet away and clasped her hands together, seemingly reluctant to meet his eyes. ‘I had a message for Anna.’

  ‘Indeed?’

  ‘Yes. If you don’t mind, that is?’

  ‘Not at all.’ He waited a few seconds. ‘Only you might have to tell me what it is first.’

  ‘Oh...of course... Just tell her that everything’s all right here. With Belles, I mean. And please give her my best wishes.’

  ‘I’ll be sure to pass that on.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Was there something else?’ He lifted an eyebrow when she didn’t move.

  ‘I... Yes.’ She pulled her shoulders back and looked at him finally. ‘I wanted to say thank you for being so kind to my nephews. They’ve been through a great deal over the past few months.’

  ‘Peter told me about their mother, that she passed away in the summer. I’m sorry.’

  ‘But the way that you spoke to them tonight, telling them to take care of me like that... I think you’ve made them feel ten feet tall.’

  ‘I hope so. There are a lot of boys in the navy around Peter’s age. Powder keggers, cabin boys, servants... It’s not uncommon for them to feel lost away from home, but giving them a sense of purpose always helps.’

  ‘Well, you’ve helped them—and me.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Which is why I also want to apologise for the way I behaved this morning. There are certain subjects that I’m a little sensitive about.
Oversensitive, perhaps. I thought that you...’ She stopped and gave her head a small shake. ‘It doesn’t matter what I thought. What matters is that I misjudged you and I’m sorry.’

  ‘I see.’ He regarded her steadily for a few seconds before closing the door softly behind him. ‘Then shall we shake hands and be friends?’

  Her shoulders seemed to sag with relief. ‘Yes. I’d like that very much.’

  ‘As would I.’ He extended a hand and she took it, placing her fingers in his with a smile that seemed to spread and then falter abruptly. Which was strange, he thought, because he was aware of his own smile doing the same thing at the exact same moment. The very ambience in the room seemed to shift suddenly, as if some of the air had been sucked out of the door when he’d closed it.

  Standing all alone, cocooned together in the dimly lit shop, he had the bizarre impression that they were the only two people in the world and that something significant and irrevocable was happening. The mere touch of skin against skin seemed to have set all of his nerves thrumming, so much so that he could actually hear blood rushing in his head. It was like the feeling before a thunderstorm, the atmosphere stretching and crackling with tension. If he’d been on board a ship, it would have been time to start battening down the hatches. On dry land, he didn’t have the faintest idea what to do.

  All he knew was that he couldn’t look away from her or move his gaze even an iota to one side, as if she were hypnotising him the way she had on that first night. Not that she had actually hypnotised him, obviously, but whatever strange effect she’d had then seemed to be happening again... He had a powerful urge to wrap one of her golden tendrils around his fingers and draw her closer.

  Fortunately, she blinked first. Several times, in fact, enabling him to look away.

  ‘Do they have any family on their mother’s side?’ He cleared his throat, deafeningly loudly, or so it seemed in the silence.

  ‘Not close by. Alice came from Taunton and I’d hate to send the boys so far away.’ Miss Gardiner’s throat appeared to need clearing as well. ‘They can be quite a handful, but they’re good boys really. My brother just isn’t able to pay them much attention at the moment.’ Her chin wobbled slightly. ‘I’m afraid he grieves for his wife very much.’