Chapter Three #2
“I am, and in fact, I was on my way here to seek out such when I fell ill.” He shrugged.
“I’d heard talk in a tavern you needed help.
” When she didn’t answer but only watched him as if she were trying to puzzle him out, he continued.
“In any event, I appreciate the support. Being in the military and on the march wasn’t easy most of the time. ”
“I can just imagine. The horrors you must have seen and enacted while being lonely for home…” Though she shook her head, she made no attempt to move from the chair.
Of course, he didn’t mind, for he rather enjoyed the company. It took very little time to drain the contents of his teacup. “I assume everything I need for personal care is behind the privacy screen?” He asked merely to hear the sound of her voice. It was soothing.
“Oh, yes, of course.” Another blush went through her cheeks. “Your knapsack is in the clothespress. We’ve also put some of my brother’s clothes and necessities in there for you in the event you wished to make use of them.”
“Thank you.”
“Uh, there didn’t seem to be much in the way of possessions in your bag. I wanted to make certain you weren’t a criminal, so when I discovered your military medals and the paper accolades in the leather folio…”
Only then did she decide to let him stay?
To save his life? “It is quite all right. I don’t have that many possessions these days, and even if I did, I have no way to carry them, for my last horse met his own premature end shortly before I came here.
” How could he feel annoyance for her prying when she looked so nonplussed about going through his things?
He didn’t have much to his name any longer, and in many ways, it felt as if he were back on the march with his knapsack and his best pair of boots.
“That’s so sad.”
“Indeed, but life doesn’t always go the way we will it to.”
She nodded and the sadness had returned to her expression.
“I very much understand that sentiment.” When she briefly caught her bottom lip between her teeth, something awoke deep inside of him.
Almost as if she were bringing him back to life in a whole different way.
“And no matter what we wanted our life to be, it will never go back to that time, and we can never recapture what it was that we lost.”
“Yes.” Silence followed, and though it wasn’t uncomfortable, it was…
awkward, so he rushed to fill it, though he did wonder what trials she’d known in her past. “I, uh, was obliged to sell most of my possessions to help cover my father’s debts.
It is nearly the middle of autumn, so I don’t know what I’ll do come winter.
” In truth, he hadn’t had time to think about it.
“I’ll need to find work, obviously, and perhaps rent rooms after that… ”
“Stop, Captain.” Rose waved a hand. “That is for another time. First, you need to heal and recover your strength. Illnesses with fevers take a toll on the body.” Finally, she stood.
“If you should need anything, please either ring or call for the footman. John is on shift right outside this room should you need assistance or have an emergency.”
“Ha.” The act of trying to laugh and of talking had sapped at his limited strength.
Already, he drooped. As gently as he could, Laurence set the teacup onto his tray.
“You’ve put the footman out there in the event I was a deranged person.
If I ever left this bed to terrorize the household, John’s duty was to put me down, or at the very least, detain me. ”
“There is that.” When she grinned, he felt a measure of peace, and what was more, that one seemed genuine. “I’ll let you rest, but it was lovely to meet you, Captain Danbury.”
Clearly, she wasn’t ready for familiarity. He nodded. “You as well, Miss Landry. And thank you again for saving my life. I probably shouldn’t waste this second chance, hmm?”
“Perhaps not, and I do hope your second chance goes better than the first.” She crossed the room but paused at the doorway. “We don’t always have that chance.”
“No, we don’t. However, as much as it might not be fair at the time, I like to hope that the path will lead to a destination that is twice as lovely as what we lost.”
A flash of hope lit her eyes only to vanish at the next blink. “I certainly want to think that’s true. Either way, that is a lovely thought. Rest well, Captain.”
Then, she was gone, and she pulled the door closed softly behind her.
For long moments, Laurence frowned at the spot where she’d stood.
Being alone with his thoughts was somewhat disconcerting.
Settling his father’s debts and selling the estate had taken much out of him, both mentally and physically.
And he was still angry that after fighting for England so many years, he had nothing to show for the effort.
None of it had been his fault, yet he’d had to clean up someone else’s mess.
What the hell do I do now?
There were no immediate answers. With a sigh, he poured more tea into his cup.
His hand shook so badly hefting the pot that he grew concerned.
Obviously, he would need to rest much more to recover his strength.
It wasn’t easy for him to acknowledge that perhaps he needed to take a few days for recuperation.
He was used to action, to always being busy.
A life of leisure hadn’t been something he’d known.
A half hour passed before he managed to finish his toast and tea.
It was almost the same feat as marching ten miles in a day, for it had taken all the diminished strength he’d had.
After moving the tray to the foot of the bed and well away from where he’d lay, he fell back against his pillows and closed his eyes.
Wherever he’d go from here, it had to be better than where he’d come from.
In the meanwhile, he would try to keep the image of his rescuer and angel in his mind, for there was something deep in her blue gray eyes that made him want to uncover all her secrets and perhaps offer her the comfort she sorely needed.
If she might manage to trust him. All that remained to be seen, for a man with pockets to let and nothing tethering him to the world didn’t exactly exude that. But suddenly, he wanted to be a man of respectability if only to remain in Miss Landry’s company a bit longer.