Chapter 12 #3
“You know how he rarely takes up his seat in Lords. Well, I told him this matter was too important, and if he cared a fig for me and the years I spent in the trenches, he’d go down and start listening to all the debates and doing his own research before being sold someone’s opinion.
That I’d be happy to share with him my first-hand experiences here. ”
I’d rarely heard Sidney so resolute when it came to his family.
Normally the Kents just floated along in parallel lives, content to interact when their lines happened to cross of their own volition.
I could count on one hand the number of times I’d even eaten dinner with his parents, though his sister had been slightly more present.
So for him to have spoken to his uncle in such a way was a major aberration. And it got me thinking.
“Are you considering running for a seat in the House of Commons?” He hadn’t shown any particular interest in politics before, but I had to admit that as a good-looking war hero, he would have a strong chance of winning.
“Heavens, no!” he answered emphatically, putting an end to such speculation.
“I’ll take my seat in the House of Lords when I become marquess, as is my duty, but I’ve no desire to enter Parliament a moment sooner.
” He smoothed his hands down the sleeves of my blouse, his expression perturbed.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stand idly by any longer while those who do have a say and a vote waste it because they can’t be bothered. ”
“Does that mean we should urge Max to return to London?” As the Earl of Ryde, he also held a seat in Lords.
“No. I’m actually rather glad of Ryde’s presence.
He’s proved remarkably helpful over the past few days, and I suspect we may have need of him and his influence.
Especially since Bentnick will soon have to return to Oxford.
” Sidney tilted his head to the side. “If nothing else, Ryde will prove an extra escort for you.” His mien turned serious.
“I don’t want you going anywhere alone. I won’t risk it. ”
I didn’t argue, recognizing a sensible precaution when I heard one.
“Plus, Ryde has his own reasons for wanting to see Ardmore brought to justice.”
I murmured in agreement, thinking of all the pain Max carried knowing that his father had colluded with Ardmore at one time, and then been murdered for attempting to expose his former partner as the traitor he was.
“So he stays as long as he wishes to.”
“It’ll be good to have his help,” I affirmed. “Speaking of which”—I turned toward the door—“we should probably rejoin our guests.”
“First …” Sidney halted me, pivoting me to face him. “Tell me truly, how do you feel?”
I should have known he would doubt my earlier assertions that I was fine. “Better than yesterday,” I told him, uncertain how else to gauge it. I grimaced. “To be honest, I was a bit surprised how well I was able to sleep.”
He brushed a stray auburn curl away from my temple. “You were exhausted. Probably hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in some weeks, and you’d reached your limit. The body has a way of making you shut down eventually, whether you want to or not.”
I knew he was speaking from experience. After all, life in the trenches hadn’t exactly been a picnic, and his cot in the officers’ dugout had likely been dark, damp, malodorous, and claustrophobic in the best of times. The worst of times didn’t bear repeating.
Recognizing this gave me the courage to admit, “I suppose I was worried I might have nightmares.”
My gaze had dipped to Sidney’s chest, but he tipped my chin up, not letting me hide. “You might still.”
I swallowed, having already suspected it.
He leaned closer, his midnight-blue eyes staring intently into mine. “And if you do, I’ll be there.”
My heart squeezed in love and gratitude for this man, who had been through hell and back, and by some miracle had returned to me.
Tears flooded my eyes, and I swiped them away as they fell, forcing a brave smile.
“I was never a watering pot until the past few days. Why am I starting now?” I attempted to jest.
“You have good reason.”
“No, I don’t,” I protested even though I didn’t know why I was arguing with him.
“When Freddy kicked the football into my nose and nearly broke it, then I had a good reason, but I didn’t.
When the passeur leading me back across the border into the Netherlands got caught on a strip of barbed wire and the Germans strafed his body with bullets while I was forced to cower and watch, then I had a good reason, but I didn’t. When Crispin—”
“Enough, Ver,” Sidney declared, and then sealed this command with a fierce kiss before pressing his forehead to mine, struggling to regain his own composure.
“Now, come,” he urged, taking my hand. “Or Ryde and Bentnick will think we’ve been spirited away.”
“If they thought that, I suspect we’d hear them telephoning the cavalry.”
As if to accentuate this point, the telephone began to ring, as it had been doing off and on much of the morning. None of the calls had been worth taking or returning, and I could only shake my head, wondering who was dogging us now.