Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Leonard and Samuel waited in the carriage for Honora to make her appearance. And he was getting a little worried as time lagged.
But she could handle herself. That much he knew. Yet, his leg still insisted on bouncing away.
Samuel sat across from him, leaning heavily on the wall of the carriage, his eyes nearly shut, but a whisper of a smile lingered on his lips.
“Happy?” Leonard’s voice caused Samuel’s eyes to fly open.
He sat up. “Yes. Incredibly so.” Samuel rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I was going to wait for Honora to get here, but I wanted to say thank you.”
“For what?” His brow scrunched.
With a sigh, Samuel leaned back. “For not letting me give up on myself. I do think I am capable of more than the doctors or our parents say. But sometimes . . .” He stared out the window, and Leonard patiently waited.
“Sometimes,” he continued, “it becomes easier to believe them than to fight them.”
Leonard’s lips tightened. “I understand.”
They shared a look, heavy with unspoken words.
The door to the carriage opened, and Honora appeared with her bag. She had changed back into her dark, modest dress and bonnet, covering her hair.
“About time you showed up,” Samuel said with a grin, leaning over and shutting the door after she took the seat beside Leonard.
“Sorry, I had to hide for a moment as a particularly slow servant made their rounds.” She removed her bonnet and swiped at her hair. “Goodness. What an evening.”
“You loved it,” Leonard said, the corner of his mouth turning up.
Honora looked at him, her eyes vibrant and alive. “Of course I did. I am more than happy to use my skills for the greater good. Perhaps you should call me Robin Hood.”
Samuel laughed, then he lay his head back again.
They ambled home, the ride about a half hour, as the Feltons resided a short way out of town. A pleasant, comfortable quiet settled in the carriage. Honora’s shoulder pressed against his, jostling with the slight sway.
The carriage rolled to a stop just down the street from his parents’ townhouse. Samuel had dozed off about halfway through their trip, and now he roused as the movement stopped.
Honora hopped out first, and Leonard followed. He turned to help Samuel down.
Samuel walked with them, though his steps were slow. Leonard wondered if he should have had Nichols park nearer, but he hadn’t wanted to draw his parents’ attention.
“How are you holding up?” he asked Samuel.
Samuel appeared to be putting a fair amount of weight on his cane.
“I will get you two to the back door, and then I will head home,” Honora said, walking to Samuel’s side.
But then Samuel stopped walking altogether.
“Samuel?” Leonard asked, hand hovering over his brother’s back, ready to stabilize him.
Samuel leaned on his cane. “Just give me a moment, please.”
They waited.
And waited.
“We need to get moving,” Honora said, glancing over her shoulder.
“I think . . .” Samuel’s words trailed off, and his eyes flicked to Leonard.
Leonard didn’t waste time. He walked to Samuel and hooked a leg behind his knees as Samuel put a free arm about his shoulders. In the end, Samuel was cradled against him.
“Goodness, Samuel,” Leonard grunted out. “You aren’t as light as you appear.”
“Just get us home,” he bit out.
Leonard headed to the back of the townhouse, with Honora acting as their lookout. When they arrived at the door, Honora went ahead and gripped the handle. She paused, looking back at them.
“It’s locked.”
Leonard sighed, but then his brother shook in his arms. Leonard’s first reaction was alarm until he looked down and saw Samuel’s eyes pinched shut and a huge smile on his face.
The man was laughing.
“What?” Leonard asked, trying to adjust his arms and distribute Samuel’s weight evenly. His arms were protesting the load.
Samuel wheezed as he tried to hold his laughter in. “This is all just so ridiculous.”
Honora was already at work, reaching into an old tie-on pocket and removing some tools. She slipped two long metal instruments into the lock, maneuvering them while Leonard stood with his brother, who was laughing hysterically in his arms.
“Stop it,” Leonard bit out. Though his mouth quivered as well.
Samuel’s head lagged back, and he pointed at Leonard’s face. “You are trying not to laugh too.”
“Yes, because of how childish you are being.” Leonard’s smile widened, and his chest jerked. Then he shook his head. “I have to ask.”
“What?” Samuel choked out.
“Was it worth it?”
Honora gave a small shout of triumph and slipped her tools back into her pocket. She pushed the door open.
“It was worth every second,” Samuel finally answered.
“I guess I can’t argue with that.”
The three of them stumbled into the house.
At least, Leonard did. Honora had her arms entirely unburdened, and Samuel was getting a free ride, which was still making the man laugh.
It was quite a ridiculous situation, so much so, that Leonard wondered if he would wake up tomorrow and it would all be a dream.
Eventually they made it to Samuel’s room, and Leonard walked him to the bed and set him on his feet beside it.
“You better be able to walk tomorrow,” Leonard teased, “or Mother and Father will have my head.”
“I will be fine,” Samuel said, waving him off. “I only need a good night’s sleep.”
Leonard nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. He went to leave, and just as he opened the door, he looked back at his brother. “You had better be careful, or this one night won’t be enough.”
Samuel sat against the edge of his bed, hands propping him up on either side. “That’s the idea, is it not?”
Leonard turned the handle. “It is indeed.”
He shut the door behind him, careful to keep the click of the latch to a minimum, then turned to see Honora waiting in the hall.