Bless Us With Content

by Tinnean

  A cold fury swept over me. I would not throw myself at him. I would not permit it.

  “That will be all, David. You may leave.”

  “Yes, sir!” And Colling would have taken him to task at the alacrity with which he left the room.

  Geo raised an eyebrow at the chilliness in my tone.

  I turned back to the table and took my seat. “Why are you here, sir?”

  “Why should I not be here?” He did not add, I own you, as I might have expected, but simply continued to watch me. “Where else would I be?”

  “As to that, I’m sure I couldn’t say, as I’m not privy to your whereabouts. You’ll join me in breaking your fast?”

  “Thank you.” He helped himself to eggs and sausage before limping to the bottom of the table and seating himself.

  You will not ache! I ordered my heart at the distance that was between us.

  “I must say, I expected a trifle more in the way of enthusiasm in your greeting.”

  “Did you?” The slice of toast in my hand became a crushed mass of crumbs. “You are away for almost two months”—without a word!—“then have the temerity to think things will remain status quo upon your return?”

  He paused with his fork halfway to his mouth, his eyebrow again raised. “Status quo?”

  I felt my temper falling away to hurt. I truly hadn’t expected him to mock my lack of knowledge. “Status quo, quid pro quo, whichever of those ‘quos’ it is. I never had a head for Latin.”

  “Ah, Ash. I have missed you.”

  “Then why did you stay away?” I bit my lip, immediately regretting the words that had escaped.

  His smile became rueful at the note in my voice. Surely it hadn’t been plaintive! “Would you believe it was to prove to myself that I could?”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Don’t you?” He shook his head. “No matter. I had every intention of returning sooner, but I was out of the country.”

  “In Austria with your father?”

  He paused before saying, “In Austria, yes. However, Father’s work takes him along a different path.”

  “I see.” Although I didn’t. I didn’t care where he had been, only that he hadn’t been at Fayerweather. “And so you managed to overcome your feelings for me, whatever they might be. How very fortunate for you.”

  “Ash….” He pushed back his chair and made as if to rise, and I rose myself, a hand held out to stop him.

  “It must make you proud to be a man of such firm resolve. That’s more than I could ever hope to achieve!”

  “Is it? And yet you’ve managed to keep me at arm’s length these months, forever throwing up the debt that’s between us!”

  “Have I reason not to? Would you ever have come to me if not for Sir Eustace’s untimely demise?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, come, sir. I am not the clever sort, but I do know you bore no love for him, who married the woman your father loved, causing your father to marry a woman who, while loving him faithfully, could never hope for a return of the love that should have been hers by right.” I’d had long nights to puzzle this out. “Of course, you’re too honorable to take your revenge upon a woman, but I was fair game—wasn’t I?—once Sir Eustace was no longer available.”

  “It’s true that I meant to make your uncle suffer as my mother was made to suffer—”

  “Thank you for at last being honest with me.” I could scarce catch my breath. Why must he choose now of all times to be honest?

  “Ah, lamb….”

  “No. Do not think to coax me with soft words and sweet names. You… you’ve hurt me, Geo.”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  “And yet you did.” So easily. It frightened me to think how easily he could do it again.

  “If I promise not to make a repeat of it?”

  “Promises are made to be broken.”

  “Who’s made you so wary?”

  “I? Wary?” I choked out a laugh. I’d given him my heart….

  The realization of what had happened—somehow, when I was least expecting it, Geo had effortlessly taken up residence in that foolish organ—left me with no thought except to flee until I had myself under better control.

  “Pray excuse me, sir. I have tasks that require my presence.”

  “Ashton!”

  I looked him over, keeping all expression from my face, from my eyes. Then I bowed slightly and, very deliberately, said, “George.”

  Was it a trick of the light, or had he actually turned pale? No matter. Before he could stop me, I was gone from the room.

  I avoided Laytham Hall the rest of the day, but when I returned home that evening, I learned it hadn’t been necessary.

  “Has Mr. Stephenson already dined?” I asked Colling as I sat down to a light repast.

  “He’s been out all day and has yet to return.”

  “What, all day?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Did he… did he say where he was going?”

  “He asked for directions to Colonel Whittemore’s.”

  I bit back the question Why? Even if Colling knew, I was not about to let my butler know I was curious.

  “Did he take his curricle?”

  “I believe he requested Jezebel.”

  It should have been the chestnut colt, and for a moment I grieved for our handsome lad.

  Then I became worried. The mare had a smooth gait, but she had a tendency to challenge her rider. I’d seen the way Geo had favored his leg that morning, and now that I thought of it, his limp had been more pronounced than the last time he’d been at Laytham Hall. I didn’t like the fact that he’d be putting it to such use.

  “Did he say when he might return?”

  “As to that, Sir Ashton, Kincaid informed me that as he had the evening free, he would be going to the Crown and Gauntlet in the village; since David was also free, he volunteered to go along to show him the way. Therefore, I imagine Mr. Stephenson won’t be back until quite late.”

  “I see. Very good, that will be all for now. I’ll ring if I should want anything else.”

  “Yes, sir.” He bowed himself out, and I was left alone with my thoughts.

  I should have known better than to snap at Geo, for that resolved nothing, and once again I owed him an apology.

  I hadn’t made much progress in completing the puzzle of Waterloo. Once I finished dining, I’d repair to the rose sitting room to work on it until Geo returned home.

  I didn’t get very far with the puzzle. In fact, I’d been trying to place the same piece since I’d picked it up, with growing frustration.

  When the small clock on the mantle announced the hour, chiming twelve times with still no appearance by Geo, I lost all patience and upended the table; the various pieces scattered over the rug.

  Very well. If that was the way it was to be, I’d just take myself off to bed and—no. I’d be buggered if that was the way it was to be! I crossed to the bellpull and gave it a savage yank.

  Colling appeared so quickly I was taken aback. “Yes, sir?”

  “Have word sent round to the stable. I want Blue Boy saddled.”

  He knew better than to mention the lateness of the hour. “Yes, sir.”

  And while he went to find a boy to do my bidding, I ran to my chamber to dress for the ride to Colonel Whittemore’s estate.

  Whittemore Manor—the Colonel was anything but imaginative—was a hulking shadow in the darkness of that moonless night.

  Save for the windows of the rooms on the first floor at the front of the house. Drapes kept in most of the light, but enough shined through to reveal the silhouettes of two figures who passed periodically before them.

  Both figures were masculine. So that was…. How could he….

  I clapped my heels to Blue Boy’s sides, and he bounded into a gallop. In moments we were before the front door.

  I leaped from his saddle, stalked up to the door, and began pounding on it, having little
care for the time of night.

  “Here now, what’s all this?” Fielding, Colonel Whittemore’s butler, opened the door and held up a branch of candles. “Sir Laytham? Oh, I beg your pardon, sir!”

  “I’d like to see Colonel Whittemore.”

  “At this hour?”

  “Yes.”

  The man looked uncomfortable. “He’s… he has a visitor.”

  “I have no doubt,” I gritted out from between clenched teeth. “Nevertheless, you will tell him I’m here.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that, sir. I was given explicit orders—”

  “To hell with his orders!”

  He turned pale as I brushed past him, snatching up a candle. I took the stairs two and three at a time. I’d be damned if I waited like some schoolboy to be seen at the headmaster’s convenience. I was going to drag Geo out of Colonel Whittemore’s embrace, and if that called for punching the Colonel on the nose—I clenched the fingers of my right hand—then by God, that was what I was going to do!

  “Oh, sir! Oh, sir!” Fielding came trotting up the stairs after me, but I was younger and swifter, and was able to reach the Colonel’s bedchamber before he could stop me.

  I raised my fist to knock, then changed my mind. This wasn’t the time for politeness. I twisted the knob and stormed in.

  “See here, Colonel Whittemore! Stephenson is mine, and I’ll thank you to unhand—” My steps stumbled to a halt, and the words dried up in my mouth.

  “What is the meaning of this?”

  “Er….”

  The Colonel looked furious, as well he should. It wasn’t Geo in his embrace. The young man had tousled blond hair, a neat moustache of a slightly darker shade, and in fact the only resemblance he bore to Geo was his pale blue eyes. I recognized him as someone Whittemore had introduced in the neighborhood as his nephew.

  “I’m so sorry, Colonel.” The butler was all but weeping. “I tried to stop him, but—”

  “It’s all right, Fielding. I’ll deal with this. Go back to bed.”

  “Yes, sir.” He snatched the candlestick from my hand with a sniff and left.

  “Miles, shall I go?”

  “No, Ned.”

  “Colonel, I beg your pardon.” I held myself stiffly. This was one of the reasons I endeavored to curtail my temper. The outcome was never pleasant. I swallowed heavily. “You have every right to demand satisfaction. I will meet you at dawn on whichever day you choose to name. All I ask is that you give me a few days.”

  “To spread about the countryside what you’ve discovered here this night?”

  “Good God, no, sir!”

  “Then why the delay?”

  “I should like the time to set my affairs in order.” The Colonel was not only a crack shot, but a superior swordsman.

  His expression had been deadly, but it gradually relaxed to wry amusement. “Ned, there’s a decanter of brandy on the sideboard in the study. Would you mind bringing it here, as well as three glasses? I think we could all do with a little fortification.”

  “Yes, Miles.” The young man slipped into a dressing gown and left the room.

  “Tell me something, Laytham. What did you hope to achieve by bursting into my home in this manner?”

  “I… er….” Heat rushed up to the roots of my hair. “I was under the impression that Mr. Stephenson was still with you.” I didn’t know what else to say.

  “Well, as you can see, he ain’t.”

  “No, I can see that. I do beg your pardon,” I repeated miserably. “I… I await your pleasure, sir.”

  “Oh, don’t be such a cork-brained young idiot. I gather I needn’t worry about you spreading tales of me and my ‘nevvie’?”

  “Of course not; you have my word as a gentleman to keep silent on the subject. But what of Fielding?”

  “He won’t say anything.”

  “You trust him so implicitly?” If any of my servants discovered such a scandalous secret about me, it would be all over the county quicker than the cat could lick her ear.

  Whittemore stared at me as if I were mad. “He was my batman before we retired. He would never betray me!”

  “Indeed, sir. But….”

  “I understand the colt you bought from me was to be a gift to Stephenson.”

  “How—” Of course. The servants. “Yes. Unfortunately, I had to put the colt down when he suffered an accident.”

  “You did?”

  “I’m the master of Fayerweather. It was my responsibility.”

  He observed me intently, then said, “I’m interested in showing you how that mare is coming along. She’s got all the makings of a fine hunter.”

  “She’s a good mount. I regret having to sell her.”

  “But you wanted the colt.”

  “Yes.” I chewed my lip. “Forgive me for asking, but what of Miss Petre?”

  “What of Miss Petre?”

  “Word has it you intend to woo her with an eye to matrimony.”

  He shrugged. “I must needs have an heir.”

  “Yes.” Ned had returned. He handed the Colonel a snifter, then gave me one as well. “I see I won’t have to help you conceal a body, Miles.”

  I choked on my brandy.

  “At your ease, Captain!” The Colonel growled as he pounded my back. Through watering eyes I saw him glower at his nephew, who I had no doubt was not his nephew.

  “Is it wise to let him go?” Ned scowled at him.

  “Yes. He’s in much the same boat as we are. And Laytham, you have my word as an officer and a gentleman to keep mum on the subject.”

  “Thank you, sir. I… I must return home. Again, I apologize for bursting into your home in this manner.”

  He waved it aside. “Ned’s leave is over in a fortnight. Come ’round to visit me. It gets lonely here.”

  “Miles—”

  “No, Ned. I know you can’t stay, and I wouldn’t dream of pressing you to.”

  “May I… may I ask one last question, Colonel?”

  “You may.” Whittemore crossed to the fireplace. He took a cheroot from a box on the mantle and leaned forward to light it in the fire. His face was florid in the firelight. “Not to say I’ll answer it.”

  “How do you bear it?”

  Fortunately, he didn’t make me explain. “One finds other things to take one’s mind off the absence.”

  “Another man?” I couldn’t….

  The Colonel’s eyebrow raised.

  “No.” It was Ned who responded with a trace of bitterness. “The very charming Miss Petre. The promise of a family.”

  “Not tonight, Ned.”

  Ned muttered something that sounded very like, “Not ever, apparently.”

  “Come, Laytham. I’ll see you out.”

  “No need, Miles. I’ll show him to the door. Just don’t drink yourself into a stupor while I’m gone.”

  Colonel Whittemore ignored his lover’s words. “Come see me again, Laytham.” He held out his hand. “But not at one in the morning.”

  “No, sir. Thank you again for your forbearance, Colonel. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

  Ned gestured for me to leave the room ahead of him and followed close on my heels.

  “Did you really think the Colonel had designs on George Stephenson?” he asked as we descended the last of the stairs.

  “We… we quarreled,” I said by way of an explanation. “I was away all day, and returned to learn he himself had been gone the entire time. Visiting with Colonel Whittemore, I was told. It grew late, and I….” I sighed. “I’m such a fool.”

  “We’re all fools, to one degree or another.” He hesitated a moment before opening the door. “If Miles would but ask, I’d resign my commission in an instant.”

  “But he won’t?”

  “No, he won’t.”

  I wanted to rest my hand on his shoulder in commiseration, but I didn’t know him well enough to offer him anything. Instead I extended my hand.

  “It was a…
a pleasure meeting you, sir.” I realized I didn’t know Ned’s surname.