by Kit Morgan
“That’s wise,” her aunt said. “Perhaps I’ve misjudged Mr. Comfort.”
“What do you mean?”
“When he came to supper with the Bergs, we all thought … oh, never mind.”
“No, what did you think?”
Her aunt took a drink of her own coffee, then shrugged. “From the looks of it, he gave every indication he wanted to court you. Even Maddie and Andel thought so. I must say, I’m rather disappointed in the man. It wasn’t right for him to give you false hope.”
“Auntie Belle, I’m not desperate.”
Her aunt smiled and nodded. “I know. But I wouldn’t blame you for being disappointed.”
Touché. Apparently she wasn’t as good as she thought when it came to hiding her emotions from family. Honoria blew a loose wisp of hair off her face. “I am, a little,” she lied. “But he’s not for me. He still lives at the men’s camp, for one – do you really think Papa would let him court me knowing that?”
Belle studied her a moment. “If your father knew he really loved you, then yes, I believe he would.”
Honoria gaped. “Do you really think so?”
Aunt Belle smiled. “I believe I know so. But only if you felt the same about him.”
She closed her eyes, not caring if her expression gave her emotions away. “Well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? He’s marrying Miss Lynch, and I’m going to England. Who knows when I’ll be back anyway?”
Aunt Belle nodded. “Yes. Who knows?”
The next day Honoria, accompanied Logan and Susara into town to help with the auditions. Everyone who’d played a part in previous Christmas plays showed up, plus a few families who were normally in the audience. Some women were quick to volunteer their husbands (who were out working) to take part as well. Honoria wondered how many of the men knew what their wives were up to. They’d find out soon enough.
Right now, she had to find someone to take charge of organizing the refreshments. Mrs. Dunnigan and Mrs. Upton still baked for such occasions, but preferred to leave the managing of the tables to the younger women. Honoria herself oversaw the cookie table last year. Maybe she’d do it again this year – if she was stuck behind a refreshment table, she’d reduce the risk of bumping into Major or his betrothed.
Hmmm, she mused. I wonder what kind of cookies Major likes … no! Stop thinking about him! Maybe she ought to make sure they had all the cookies he didn’t like, so he’d stay away.
“Honoria?” Susara called as she approached. “Do you think you can manage the children?”
“Children?” Thank Heaven, something else to think about!
“Yes, they’re going to be singing a few hymns by themselves. Most of them already know them – it’s more a matter of helping them to stay in tune.”
“Are you saying you want me to conduct?”
“Yes. Can you?”
Honoria’s chest warmed at the thought. It was the first time something had made her feel good since she saw Major and Miss Lynch – shudder – kiss. “Yes, I’d love to.”
“Wonderful!” Susara was off again.
“Congratulations.”
Honoria went cold, enough to have to wrap her arms around herself. Oh no, not now, she thought. She was standing in the center aisle near the back of the church, facing the front, and hadn’t even heard the doors open behind her.
“You must be an accomplished singer to be put in charge of such a task,” Major said as he came around to stand in front of her.
“I can carry a tune,” she said stiffly. He gazed at her but kept silent. Infuriating – why did he have to torture her like this? “Did you need something, Mr. Comfort?” she finally asked, just wanting him to go away.
“No, Miss Cooke,” he said with a weary sigh, twisting his hat in his hands. “I suppose not.”
His brothers entered the church behind him. “There you are, Quince!” exclaimed one of them – Michael, was it? He approached and slapped Major on the back. “This should be fun.” He glanced at Honoria. “Miss Cooke, how nice to see you.”
The rest of the Comfort men seated themselves in the nearby pews and took off their hats. “Mrs. Kincaid will be with you in a moment,” Honoria informed them. “She’s the one assigning parts.”
“Major here has a lovely baritone voice,” Michael volunteered. “I’m sure you’ll love it once you hear it.” Major sent him an icy glare, but Michael ignored it. “Do you sing, Miss Cooke?”
She noticed the rest of Major’s brothers were staring at her. “I’ll be conducting the children,” she said neutrally
“I can’t tell you how much we’ve been looking forward to this,” another – Darcy? – said. “Mr. Mulligan and Sheriff Turner have been talking about it for days.”
“They do that every year,” she told him. “You should’ve seen it when Sheriff Hughes was here.”
“I understand this is the first year he’s not,” Major said, breaking his silence. He was staring at her with an intensity she hadn’t seen before.
Against her will, something warmed deep within her, and she didn’t know whether to turn and run or throw herself into his arms. The latter made no sense – he was getting married soon and that was that. The sooner she got away from him, the better off she’d be.
Just then, the church doors opened. Thank heaven the Bergs had arrived, giving her an excuse to part company with Major and his brothers. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak with Maddie Berg.”
“It was a pleasure speaking with you,” Major said in his deep Southern drawl.
Honoria thought her insides were going to pool on the floor. Why, why, why did he have such an effect on her? More importantly, why didn’t he go pester somebody else? “I have to go,” she squeaked. She turned, locked eyes with Maddie and made for her. Was it just her imagination or could she actually feel Major’s eyes follow her retreat?
The look in Maddie’s eyes said her instincts were true. So did the woman’s first words, even before “hello.” “Why does Mr. Comfort have such a funny look on his face?”
Honoria knew she shouldn’t, but turned and looked anyway. He stood, unmoving, gawking at her. “I have no idea.” She spun to Maddie. “Susara put me in charge of the children. Would you like to help?”
“Certainly! Anything we can do.”
Mr. Berg glanced warily between Honoria and Major as he tapped his fingers against his hip. “Hmmm …”
Other than Major’s voice, the last thing Honoria wanted to hear right now was Mr. Berg humming. She grabbed Maddie by the hand and pulled her up the side aisle of the church to avoid walking past Major and his brothers. Near the front Susara and Mrs. Mulligan were herding the children into a corner. Susara told them which hymns the children would sing, then went to assign parts to the Comfort brothers.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Mrs. Mulligan remarked. “I must say, they’re a handsome lot.”
Honoria was confused, then realized the woman wasn’t talking about the youngsters – she was taking about the Comforts. She rolled her eyes.
“I wonder if they can sing?”
“I’m sure they can, or they wouldn’t be here,” Maddie remarked. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to do this. Things are so different in Dalrovia – the country is very set in its ways, including its music. This will be a nice change.”
Honoria smiled, nodded, did her best not to look at Major … and failed. He stood listening to Susara, but his eyes were still fixed on Honoria. A thrill ran up her spine, whispering that he was unable to take his eyes off her. But in her mind, she wished he would – hadn’t he strung her along enough?
“Aye,” Mrs. Mulligan agreed. “Well, shall we get to work, kiddies?” she told the children assembled around them.
Honoria saw Major’s eyes soften, as if inviting her to join him where he stood. She took a step in his direction before she caught herself, swallowed hard and faced Maddie and Mrs. Mulligan. “Yes, children, let’s get started.” Just as well – Miss Lyn
ch had entered and was making a beeline for Major. “Let’s go into the church office where we won’t be disturbed by everyone else,” she added.
“Won’t it be too cramped in there?” Mrs. Mulligan asked.
“We’ll make it work. Let’s go.” Honoria headed for the office, the kids trailing behind. How was she going to get through this? It seemed every time she laid eyes on the man, her heart sunk a little deeper in love with him. And that way lay only more pain, more aggravation. God in heaven, just get me through this and far, far away from here, she prayed silently as she walked.
“What do you think, Major?” Miss Lynch asked. “Are you willing to bury the hatchet, as they say?” He looked at her over the back of the pew as she fanned herself, looking quite demure. He knew better – the woman was a harpy, manipulative, self-centered, annoying, a walking reminder of every grasping society belle he’d gladly left behind in Savannah. Women like that were a major reason he was still unwed at nearly thirty years of age.
It’d been almost a week since his brief conversation with Honoria at the auditions, and he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since. Making peace with Lucretia Lynch would only make it harder – mainly because he wouldn’t have the bothersome woman to distract him from Honoria. His whole body tightened at the mere thought.
“Major, are you listening to me?”
He slowly turned back to her, realizing he’d twisted away to scan the church for a sign of the one person he wanted to talk to but couldn’t find. “Not really. I’m sorry, Miss Lynch.”
“Oh fiddle-dee-dee. After all we’ve been through together, surely you can call me Lucretia. After all, I’ve been calling you Major for weeks.”
He smiled coldly. “So you have, Miss Lynch, so you have.”
That had the expected reaction. “Oh! You are so frustrating! Can I help it if … well, call it whatever you want! But I certainly do hope your daddy is ashamed of what he’s done! Have you heard back from him yet?”
“Oddly, no. I haven’t.”
“You don’t think that …” She put a hand over her mouth. “Lord forbid, but you don’t think that he’s passed on, do you?”
His eyes widened. “Miss Lynch, I’ll ask you not to even suggest such a thing, especially in the presence of my brothers,” he told her sharply.
She batted her eyelashes at him. “Well, I do apologize, but one has to think of these things. Why else would he not write?”
“A good question. But if he’d fallen into ill health, my aunt would’ve let us know.”
“I see.” Suddenly she looked past him.
He turned to see what had gotten her attention – Honoria! She emerged from the church office with several children in tow, went to Annie King the preacher’s wife and started speaking with her. His heart skipped at the sight of her. He wanted – no, needed to speak with her!
“I envy that woman,” Lucretia said.
Involuntarily, he turned. “Miss Cooke?”
She gave him a calculating look. “Now how would you know if I was talking about her?”
He shrugged. “Lucky guess,” he answered dryly.
She rolled her eyes. “Why, Major, here I traveled all this way to marry you, only to find that some local farm girl caught your eye.”
“Miss Lynch, I warn you to speak more kindly of the people here. Some of them are friends.”
She smiled again, with a flutter of lashes. “Well, that friend of yours is headed to England, so I hear.”
“England?!” Major felt his heart sink into his shoes. Honoria was leaving? He pressed his lips together and put his hands in his pockets, lest Lucretia see his clenched fists. “I … hadn’t heard that.”
“It’s all the talk of the sewing circle. The Bergs are escorting her there shortly after Christmas.”
Major’s gut twisted into knots. Honoria was leaving Clear Creek, leaving him. He’d spent the last week agonizing over how to approach her and her family. He wanted to court her eventually, but knew that after all that had happened he’d have to prove himself first. Not to mention show her father he could work hard, save his money and have enough to take care of his daughter one day. Now it looked as if he might not get the chance.
“Major, are you all right? You’ve gone pale.”
Did Lucretia actually look concerned about someone besides herself? He must look horrid indeed. “I’m fine. A bit tired, perhaps.”
“What’s goin’ on with ya two?” Jasper Kiggins asked as he joined them. “Ya as excited about the performance as I am?”
“Hello, Jasper,” Major said as his eyes drifted back to Honoria and Mrs. King. He wanted to go to her, take her in his arms and tell her all the reasons why she couldn’t go to England. How he’d thought of nothing but her, how he couldn’t fight what was in his heart any longer. He wanted her more than he’d wanted anything since he’d survived the war. But what did it matter? He had nothing to offer, not a penny to his name. She was better off going abroad. A blessing, really.
Maybe by the time she got back he’d have enough money saved … if she came back. And if she didn’t find a man in England who could give her the life she deserved. Her uncle was an honest-to-goodness duke, after all – there were probably plenty of suitable gentlemen in his circle.
He caught Lucretia studying him out the corner of one eye. “Is there something else you wanted?”
“Not that I’m ever likely to get. You go about your business and I’ll go about mine.” She smiled oddly, making him flinch, then stood and sashayed down the aisle to speak with Ada Brody. He hoped that meant she was prepared to drop once and for all this business of marrying him.
“She sure is purty,” Jasper whispered beside him.
“Yes, she is. But …”
“But what? She ain’t ornery, is she? Cain’t stand ornery women.”
“She’s … well …” Major turned to look at Honoria, but she was gone. She must’ve retreated back to the church office to work with the children. “Blast,” he sighed.
“What’s the matter?” Jasper asked.
“Nothing. I’ll see you back at the men’s camp.” Major left, not caring if he was missed.
Chapter 17
“Are you packed?” Honoria’s mother asked as she came into her room.
“Not yet.”
Sadie sat on the bed next to her. “Why not? You leave shortly after Christmas.”
Honoria took a deep breath. Christmas was only two days away, and she’d immersed herself so deeply into the town’s Christmas concert, she’d hardly had time to think. Intentionally – it kept thoughts of Major at bay. She hadn’t caught more than a glimpse of him lately, and hadn’t seen Miss Lynch (who wasn’t involved in the singing) at all.
“Honoria, are you all right?”
She dared not look at her mother, knowing what it would do to her.
“Honoria?”
Her lower lip began to tremble and before she knew it, she was lost.
“Honoria!”
“Oh Mama …”
Sadie wrapped her arms around her. “Sweetling, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything.”
“You’re not making sense,” Sadie gently pushed them apart. “What is it? Have you changed your mind about England?”
Honoria shook her head. “No, I have to go.”
“What do you mean, have to go?”
She straightened, wiped her eyes and swallowed hard. “I’m fine.”
Sadie sighed. “No, you’re not. But when you’re ready to tell me, I’m here.”
Honoria sniffed, nodded and stood. Her mother knew her all too well. Best retreat while she could. “I have to go to Dunnigan’s Mercantile. I’ve hardly made any gifts.”
“Do you need money?”
“I have some, thank you.”
Sadie eyed her. “Fine. I’ll see if anyone’s around to drive you.”
“I’d rather ride. It’d be quicker.”
Sadie gave her a stern look.
“I won’t race anyone, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“All right. Can you get me some cinnamon while you’re there? I’m almost out.”
“Yes, I can.”
Sadie stood. “I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.”
Honoria’s eyes filled with tears again. Curse that Major Comfort – for her, he was anything but! He was making her life miserable without even being around. To make matters worse, Miss Lynch was quickly gaining friends in town. She’d been spending a lot of time helping Lucy White out with the Christmas food preparations, and Preacher Jo mentioned she wanted to volunteer at the church after the holiday. The thought turned Honoria’s stomach. Well, at least by then she’d have left for England.
“If you’re going to go, you’d better hurry,” Sadie suggested.
“Yes, Mama, I know,” she said with all the enthusiasm of someone going to the gallows.
Sadie took one last look at her, shook her head in dismay and left the bedroom.
As soon as she was gone, Honoria sighed in resignation, gathered what she needed and headed off to saddle Rowley. The ride to town was quiet and cold – it had snowed a little every day for the last two weeks, and the landscape was muffled in white drifts. No one was out on the road – or in the mercantile except Mrs. Dunnigan. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone, so this suited her fine.
“Good morning,” Mrs. Dunnigan huffed. “What do you need?”
“Mama needs some cinnamon, and I need to get some Christmas gifts.”
“You sure waited ‘til the last minute.”
Honoria smiled. She liked how Irene Dunnigan spoke her mind and got away with it. “I know. I also know you have things my brothers and sister would want.”
“Better get to it, then. There’s some new hair ribbons in Savannah would like.”
“Good – I’ll take a look.” She knew where the ribbons were displayed and went straight to them. She picked out two green, a blue and a red, and set them on the counter.
“That Major Comfort was just in here,” Mrs. Dunnigan remarked.
Honoria paled.
