Eight Hunting Lyons (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Chapter Fourteen

An Abrupt Departure Provides an Opportunity

Meanwhile, back at Havenhurst in Kent

“T his matchmaker. Have you met her?” Charles asked of Amy, concern in his voice. Surely if the woman knew of Miss Sinclair’s skills, she would see to a match with a man who would support her desire to be a nurse.

“I have. Yesterday morning, in fact,” she replied. “She was not at all what I expected. Tell me, Captain, have you ever met a matchmaker?” she asked as if she wanted to be sure he understood the circumstances.

Charles’s eyes widened. “I have, but truth be told, I think she was more an opportunist than a matchmaker. Makes her living running a—”

“Pardon, sir,” Corporal O’Riley said as he came abreast of Charles and Amy.

“What is it, Corporal?”

“I wish to accept your offer of employment, sir.”

Charles blinked. “Very well, O’Riley.” He glanced around. “When we’re ready, there’s a coach that can take us back to the ng inn. We can meet the mail coach there—”

“I’ve a traveling coach, sir. It’s how I was able to bring the colonel’s body here,” O’Riley interrupted. “We can use it to get back to London.”

“Oh,” Charles replied, surprise evident in his expression.

“Corporal O’Riley has been ever so helpful. Ever so resourceful,” Amy said to Charles. “He made all the arrangements for today. I don’t know what I would have done without him.”

“You’re very kind to say so, Miss Sinclair,” O’Riley said. “But it was my…, well, I can’t exactly say it was my pleasure, but it was my proud duty to see to the colonel.”

“Sounds as if I’ve hired the right man to be my valet,” Charles said, watching for Amy’s reaction. He wasn’t disappointed when a huge smile appeared beneath the netting.

“I’m so very glad to hear it. I had asked our butler if there were any positions available at our Westminster townhouse for Corporal O’Riley, but there are none,” she explained. “My father would be glad to know he’ll be employed by a fellow officer.”

Charles nodded at hearing her approval and then remembered Cooper. “My things are in a coach for hire. Mr. Cooper said he was going to move the coach closer to the house. Could you…?” He rummaged in his waistcoat for his purse and pulled out some coins. “See to paying him for his time and to transferring my things to your coach?”

O’Riley nodded. “Of course, sir. I’ll see to it right away.” He paused a moment. “It’s not really my coach, sir.”

“Oh? Did you steal it?” Charles asked with a grin.

“Borrowed it from a lieutenant colonel, sir. I told him I’d see to returning it on the morrow. Day after at the latest.”

“And so you shall,” Charles said. “We’ll work out the particulars when we return to the capital.”

He watched the batman go, rather liking that he had someone to send in his place to speak with Cooper. He wanted nothing more than to spend time in Amy Sinclair’s company.

They climbed the two steps to the front door of Havenhurst, a white portico supported by two columns providing a bit of shade from the afternoon sun. The front of the country manor house was covered in green ivy, making it difficult to determine that it was built of brick.

Already open for the few who had made it to the house before them, the dark red front door sported a lion’s head knocker and beyond it, Havenhurst’s butler stood at attention.

Amy preceded Charles into the house, shedding her redingote and gloves into the arms of the butler. “The food is this way,” she said as she waved toward the dining room. She lifted the netting from in front of her face, her gloved hands rolling up the fabric until it rested on the rim of her hat.

“You’ve a beautiful home,” Charles murmured when he was sure no one else but Amy could hear him. Given the fine furnishings and the silk that covered most of the walls, he realized the colonel had probably come from a family with money. Either that or Mrs. Sinclair had. Perhaps her pinched manner was because she regretted having married beneath her station.

Charles had already decided he wanted to stay as far from the widow as possible. She seemed annoyed by the afternoon affair, at least when she wasn’t regarding the major with cow eyes. Charles wondered if she and Major Culkins had been having an affair while the colonel was on the Continent. He couldn’t recall the officer as having been assigned in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

“Thank you, sir,” Amy replied to his comment about the home. “Father’s mother would be beaming in delight at your compliment,” she added as she led him to the table. “She was very proud of how she changed this from a hunting lodge to a home.”

So Havenhurst had come by way of the colonel.

“I suppose it’s your brother’s house now,” Charles murmured. “Is he here?”

Amy stared at him a moment before she gave her head a shake. “Oh, I have no brothers. No sisters either,” she explained. “I suppose that means I may have inherited some of this, but I won’t know until Mother and I pay a call on the solicitor later this week.”

At the mention of a solicitor, Charles knew immediately whom she meant. Andrew S. Barton, Esq. How else would Barton have known the particulars of the funeral? Charles was about to mention he had met the man but thought better of it. He would only speak of him if Amy brought up his identity.

He regarded the dining room with appreciation. Place settings had been set up around the walnut table that could easily seat twenty. With less than half that in attendance, there was room to sit away from the others, who had paired off into quiet conversations.

The sideboard displayed a veritable feast—plates of sliced meats and cheeses, bread, sliced fruits, and a variety of desserts were arranged along the length of its marble top.

Pulling out a chair for Amy, Charles asked, “May I fill a plate for you?”

She dipped her head. “I wasn’t planning to eat anything—”

“You need to eat, my lady,” he stated.

Amy’s eyes widened at hearing both the honorific and the concern in his voice, and a sob caused her entire body to shudder. “I suppose I could do with some nibbles.”

“I’ll be right back.”

While a footman saw to beverages for those at the table, Charles took Amy’s plate to the sideboard and proceeded to place the smallest of all the offerings on it. When he set it before her, she gave him a watery grin. “I thought I said some nibbles,” she chided him.

Charles picked up a plate from the setting next to hers, deciding it would be less awkward to sit next to her than across from her. He had the distinct impression that every time she looked at him, she remembered what she had done to him that night in the field hospital, which meant she would probably avoid looking at him.

He certainly remembered. It took all his efforts of concentration not to allow the memory to affect his manhood. The very last place he wanted to experience an erection was at a funeral.

Absently filling his plate with some meat and fruit, Charles returned to the table, glad to see the chair next to Amy’s left was still empty. He hadn’t even placed his serviette on his lap when Mrs. Sinclair stood at the other end of the table. He quickly rose, as did the other men.

“Don’t mind me, gentlemen,” she said as Major Culkins began making his way toward Charles. “I find I must return to London earlier than I thought. Thank you all for coming, and please, stay as long as you wish.” With that, she moved toward the door.

Major Culkins stopped behind Charles and bent down. “Are you armed, Captain?”

Charles stiffened and turned his head so only Culkins could hear his response. “I’ve a pistol, sir.”

“Good. Can I trust you to provide protection for Miss Sinclair’s trip back to London? I’ll speak with the driver. Let him know of the arrangement.”

Charles thrilled at hearing the major’s request, but he managed to keep an impassive expression on his face as he nodded and said, “Of course, sir. I’ll see to it she’s returned to the capital unharmed.”

“Glad to hear it. In the meantime, I’ll see to the widow.” Culkins straightened and took his leave of the dining room at the same moment Mrs. Sinclair stopped behind Amy’s chair.

“Don’t stay too long, darling. I don’t want you traveling in the dark.”

Amy turned her head. “Must I go back today? I could stay here—”

“You’re going back to London today,” her mother insisted. “We have a meeting with the solicitor on the morrow, and we’re sure to have a message from Mrs. Dove-Lyon by then.”

Charles gave a start at hearing the name of the gaming hell owner, but he did his best to keep his attention on his plate.

Once Mrs. Sinclair had taken her leave, he turned to discover Amy wiping away a tear. About to offer his handkerchief, he remembered he had already given it to her, so he lifted his napkin from his lap and offered it.

“Oh, I’m fine,” she whispered. “I apologize for my mother’s abrupt departure. She wasn’t aware there would be a funeral until I returned from the Continent with Corporal O’Riley the day before yesterday.”

Charles wondered why the woman wouldn’t expect there to be a funeral for a well-respected British officer of the army, but he thought it best not to pry. He could tell the young lady’s emotions were already quite raw.

“Major Culkins said he is accompanying your mother back to London.”

Amy’s gaze went to the dining room door. “He’s taking her in his coach,” she murmured. “He’s had a tendre for her for some time. Apparently, he was the one who gave her the news of Father’s death—a few days before my letter reached her,” she said as one eyebrow arched. “I don’t expect she’ll mourn for even a month before they marry.”

“With a matchmaker arranging a husband for you, it sounds as if you won’t be allowed to either,” Charles whispered.

Amy inhaled softly. “I suppose not.”

Corporal O’Riley entered the dining room and quickly made his way to Charles’s side. He handed over some small coins. “Mr. Cooper says he was happy to help and looks forward to driving you again in the future. He took off and was following Major Culkins’s coach, last I saw.”

Charles chuckled. “Thank you for seeing to his pay.”

“Do help yourself to a luncheon, Corporal,” Amy encouraged.

O’Riley nodded. “Thank you, miss,” he said before taking a plate to the sideboard.

“I don’t wish to be alone in the coach this afternoon,” Amy murmured. She let out a breath and added. “I can’t believe what I just said. You must think me…rather fast.”

Charles regarded her a moment. “The thought hasn’t crossed my mind,” he replied. “Besides, won’t your lady’s maid be with you?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t had a lady’s maid since before the war.”

Charles blinked, deciding he could sit inside the coach with her rather than with the driver on the bench. “Well, Major Culkins has asked that I accompany you back to London. Then O’Riley will be free to leave when he’s ready with the coach he brought.”

He realized then he would have to tell O’Riley where to go. The batman probably didn’t have a home of his own in the city. He could instruct him to head to Leicester House—there was probably an empty room on the servants’ floor he could use—or he could have him go directly to his aunt’s house in Mayfair. My house .

“Oh, I’d like that very much,” Amy said. When Charles didn’t respond, she asked, “What is it?”

He gave his head a shake. “I really wish my leg had healed better than it has,” he murmured, thinking that with a townhouse in Mayfair, he had much to offer other than himself.

Amy angled her head. “Truth be told, I was surprised to see you could walk with a cane.”

“I’m usually on crutches,” he admitted.

“Still. It’s far better than being stuck in a wheeled chair,” she countered.

He winced. “I suppose that’s true.”

The two resumed eating and stayed at the table until the rest of the officers had taken their leave.

When the newly hired valet announced he was leaving, Charles gave him the address for the Mayfair townhouse. “Let the butler know I’ll join you there later this evening and have him show you to your quarters.”

O’Riley glanced at the paper and then looked as pleased as punch. “Very good, Captain. Safe travels.”

Amy watched the last of her guests leave and then turned a curious gaze on Charles. “He seems very happy.”

He nodded. “He has a position and a home now,” Charles replied. “And I can’t tell you how glad it makes me that he’ll be my valet.”

For the first time that afternoon, Amy allowed a brilliant smile. “It’s the same for me. Thank you.”

Charles’s attention went to the window, where it was apparent the time had grown late. “Much as I’d like to stay here, we need to get back to London,” he said. “It will be dark in a couple of hours.” He offered his arm, and Amy placed her hand on it.

A few minutes later, they were in the Sinclair coach heading toward London.