Colett began to leave when I reached for her arm. “Colette?”
Glancing back at me, her eyes seemed lost. “Yes, Daniel?”
“Why are you doing all of this for me?”
Her eyes glazed over with the threat of tears. “I’m doing this for love. I see it in your eyes when you speak of Sophia. I hear it in your voice. You love her very much.”
Grinning, I nodded my head. “I do, Colett. I’ll never love anyone like I love Sophia.”
Smiling sweetly, she nodded her head.
“Your eyes, Colett. They speak of sadness.”
Taking in a deep shaky breath, she barely spoke above a whisper, “My heart is still mending, Daniel. I am not sure I can speak of his name without tears falling.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “Colett, what you are feeling, I fear it is what my Sophia is feeling. Maybe what you need is to talk to someone. I couldn’t stand the thought of Sophia being as sad as you seem with no one to talk to.”
The instant the tear fell from her soft brown eyes, I felt ill. “My fiancé died from Scarlet Fever.”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m so sorry, Colett.” Focusing back on her, I placed my hand on the side of her face.
“It was last August, we were to be married here.” Colett broke down crying and I pulled her into my arms. “He was my world, Daniel. I feel as if I cannot breathe.”
Closing my eyes tightly, I held onto Colett as she cried. My heart ached as I thought of Sophia, carrying our child and hearing the news of my ship never making it to England.
Colett fell apart in my arms and I let her. My heart ached for Colett. Sophia and I were much luckier than Colett and her fiancé. For some day soon, I’d hold Sophia in my arms again.
As I held Colett, I had the strangest feeling wash over me. I couldn’t help but wonder what Sophia was doing. Who was holding her while she cried?
“Please don’t cry, Colett. I promise you, everything will be okay.”
If only my heart believed my spoken words.
THE COOL JANUARY morning hit me in the face as I walked along the path with Colett. “Are you feeling better?” Colett asked as she peeked over at me from under the rim of her fashionable hat. I had gotten sick again with a fever and the doctor insisted I had to stay in bed. I was furious. Every time I started feeling better, something would set me back.
“I am.”
Walking along in silence, my mind wandered. Sophia might have already had our daughter. I promised her I would be back in time for the birth of our child. I promised.
Colett cleared her throat as if she was unsure of what to talk about it. “Are your legs bothering you today, Daniel?”
Pulling me from my thoughts of Sophia with her question, I turned to Colett. “No, they are getting stronger by the day.”
“Your hands?”
Lifting my right hand up, I wiggled my fingers at her as she tittered. “I think you should try and write a letter this evening.”
Stopping, I turned to Colett. “Why am I not hearing anything, Colett? Not even from my uncle in England. What if—“
“No! Daniel Stowe, you do not even whisper those thoughts in your head. There has to be a reason as to why our letters are not getting through.”
Nodding my head, my eyes drifted to the river. “It’s beautiful here. I shall miss it.”
Placing her hand on my arm, Colett chuckled. “You shall not. You are heading for home tomorrow, Daniel. The last place you will think of his Bordeaux, France.”
Chuckling, I said, “That is not true. I met a wonderful young woman in Bordeaux, France, who nursed me back to health. Her smile is infectious, and her heart one of a kind.”
Giving me a small nudge, she looked up at me. “I fear I’ve failed on the nursing you back to health with the latest round of sickness.”
“Nonsense, I feel fine and the doctor worries too much.”
Seeing her nod her head from the corner of my eye, I stopped walking and faced her. “Do you think I’m not up for traveling, Colett?”
Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked into my eyes. “I pray that you are. The journey will be long and it is winter months, so storms could delay our trip and—“
Placing my finger to her lips, I shook my head. “I must get home to her. I do wish you and your mother were not being stubborn and insisting on returning with us.”
Looking away slightly, Colett stared out over the river. “Our home is New York, not France. I’m glad we are leaving, to be honest. I’m ready to start a new life, make new memories.”
“Then it is settled. We shall both be excited about our adventure across the sea tomorrow.”
Tossing her head back and laughing, Colett agreed. “Yes. Our adventure starts tomorrow.”
As we walked back to her family’s house, Colett and I talked about everything. It was very easy to talk to her; she had an interest in everything. Her dream was to own her own boutique in New York City. Her mother thought it a silly plan, but her father thought it was brilliant. Colett had been buying fabric with each trip we took into town. I’d carry it back the best I could since my hands were both still healing and the moment we got home she took to her sewing machine. Her dresses were beautiful and, dare I say, modern.
“What of you, Daniel? What are your plans when you get back to Sophia?”
Swallowing hard, I stared straight ahead. “Our plan before my ill-fated trip was to open a restaurant on Tybee Island, which is right outside Savannah.”
“Do you like to cook, Mr. Stowe?” Colett asked playfully.
Giving her smile that made her blush, I nodded my head. “Indeed, I do, Ms. Fortier. I very much like to cook.”
Placing her hands on her hips, she shook her head. “I shall make you cook me something this evening before we leave tomorrow. My last real meal for at least three weeks.”
A chill ran over my body. Three weeks and I’d be in New York. Then I would take a train to Savannah and straight to my parents’ house where I will wrap my darling Sophia in my arms.
The door to the front of the house whipped open and Josephine, Colett’s mother, came running out. “Daniel! Colett! It’s Phillipe, something is wrong. Come quickly.”
Moving the best I could, I told Colett to run ahead. I watched as she lifted her skirts and ran into the house.
Reaching the front door, I walked in and headed to Phillipe’s office. Stepping through the door, I looked down to see Colett holding her father’s head in her lap, crying hysterically.
“Daddy! Daddy, no please don’t leave us. Please!”
A few seconds later, the doctor rushed in and had me pull Colett away from her father. I’ll never forget the sounds of her screams for as long as I live.
Two weeks later, I was in the office waiting for my telegraph to be sent. When I got confirmation it was sent, I slowly turned and walked out. Pushing my hands through my hair I let out a frustrated sigh. Why was I not hearing back from anyone? I needed to get back to Savannah and now I wasn’t sure when I would be able to. Colett’s father passed away exactly two weeks ago today. Colett refused to come out of her room and her mother had taken to drinking, heavily. Since, Mr. Fortier owned all the shipping boats that left this part of France, everything was on hold. Nothing shipping out, nothing coming in. It seemed like fate was attempting to keep me from Sophia.
Stepping into the carriage slowly, I sat down. My legs throbbed still but at least I was able to walk around longer without exhaustion sweeping over me. As we rode back toward the Fortier’s house, I thought about Colett. I couldn’t leave Colett right now. Even though a part of me wanted to find a way to England and set sail from there, I couldn’t abandon her. Not after everything she and her family had done for me.
The carriage stopped at the front of the house with a slight lurch forward as I slowly made my way out and into the house. Greeted by the butler, I nodded my head. “Ms. Fortier?” I asked.
Smiling, he motioned toward the back. “She
is in the gardens, walking.”
Letting out a breath of relief, I slapped him on the back. “Thank the heavens.”
As I stepped outside and began looking for Colett, I was taken aback by the gardens. The colors were amazing and the smell of flowers had me inhaling deeply. The scent triggered the memory of the first time I gave Sophia an orgasm in my mother’s gardens in Savannah. Smiling, I could almost taste Sophia on my lips.
Coming to a dead stop, my eyes landed on Colett sitting on the ground, crying. Rushing over to her the best I could, I attempted to kneel at her side. Her head snapped up and she quickly jumped up. “Daniel, no. You must not hurt your legs or you will delay your trip even more.”
A loud crash came from behind us. Turning, I looked to see what it was.
“It’s mother. She is destroying everything in their bedroom.”
Dropping my mouth open, I looked up to Josephine’s bedroom window. “Why?” I asked in whispered voice.
“The pain of losing Daddy is too great she says. She wants nothing that reminds her of him.”
Thinking of Sophia, I looked away.
I have to get back to her.
“She’s leaving me.”
Pulling my head back, I stared at Colett. Taking her arm, I guided her over to a bench. Sitting, I couldn’t help but notice how red and swollen Colett’s eyes were. “Who is leaving you?”
Glancing back toward the house, Colett furrowed her eyes. “My mother. She intends on leaving and going to Paris. She said I shall be the one to handle all of Daddy’s affairs. She signed it all over to me, Daniel. I don’t know what to do.”
Placing my finger on her chin, I pulled her eyes to me. They were no longer just sad, they were frightened and lonely. I knew Colett had to be scared out of her mind.
“Colett, you cannot handle this all on your own.”
Throwing her hands up to her face she began crying. “I don’t know what to do. What am I going to do?”
Taking Colett in my arms, I held her. “Shh … it’s all going to be okay. I’m not going to leave you alone, Colett.”
“Daniel, no! You have a wife and child. You have to return to America. You have to!”
Giving her a weak smile, I reached up and wiped away her tears. “How about this, let me help you settle things up with your father’s estate, we’ll get your mother taken care of and you and I will go back to America together. I’ll take you to meet my Sophia. She’s going to want to meet the woman who saved my life.”
The smile that spread across Colett’s face pleased me. It was the first one I’d seen in two weeks. “I think that sounds like a grand plan,” Colett whispered.
Four months after Colett’s father, Phillipe, passed away, we were finally on a train and headed to Paris. From there we would head to the English Channel and make our way to England. I knew I was just that much closer to Sophia. Settling things here in France had been much harder than Colett had thought. Being the gentleman my mother would have wanted me to be, I had stayed in France to help Colett, even though she had begged me to leave for America. I could not turn and walk away from the woman who had stood by my side for all those months and nursed me back to health. Sophia I knew would have wanted me to help Colett. I felt it in my heart.
Glancing my way, Colett raised her eyebrows and smiled. “Finally,” she said as she gave me a flirtatious wink.
Nodding my head, I agreed. “Finally, indeed.”
Arriving in Canterbury, we were greeted with another round of bad news. A storm had been brewing out in the Atlantic and no ships were sailing until it passed. Walking into the pub, I spotted Colett. She sat at a table drinking tea and reading a book.
Setting my hat on the table, I sat as Colett’s eyes met mine. “What’s wrong?”
Scrubbing my hands down my face, I let out a sigh. “I found out why we never heard back from my uncle.”
Colett looked at me with a wondering expression on her face.
Closing my eyes, I said, “He passed away last October.”
Covering her mouth with her hand, Colett shook her head. “No. Oh, Daniel, I’m so very sorry.”
Dropping my head, I let out a chuckle. “Why is he keeping me from, Sophia? Why?”
I felt Colett take my hand in her hand. “We’re going to get there, Daniel. I promise.”
“When Colett? In a month? It will be damn near August by the time I get to Savannah. My daughter will be seven months old by the time I finally arrive home.”
Swallowing hard, she turned away. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t shown weakness after my father passed away, you would have left. You’d be home with your wife and child right now.”
Placing my other hand over Colett’s, I squeezed it. “We are in this together now, Colett. Do you understand? Together.”
Nodding her head, she whispered, “I understand.”
Standing, I walked to the door and peered out over the sea. It was angry and frustrated and delivered it in the form of massive swells.
My heart felt the same way. Closing my eyes I silently prayed to God that nothing else would stand in the way of me getting back to Sophia.
OPENING MY EYES, I looked into the face of an angel. Colett had nursed me back to health, again. Smiling, she raised her eyebrows. “Your fever has finally broke. Do you know where you are?”
Looking around, I noticed I was in a bedroom. From the décor of the room I knew we must have made it to New York and, somehow, Colett had gotten me to her house.
“I don’t remember much. Just the sore throat coming on and the headache when we were on the ship.”
Nodding, she helped me lift my head to the water she held at my lips. The cold water moving through my body felt exquisite.
“I’m thankful we were only a day out from New York or I fear they would have taken you somewhere. Scarlet Fever has been bad, especially in the south.”
Rolling my eyes, I moaned. “Scarlet Fever? What did I do to make God so angry with me?”
Colett covered her mouth, attempting to hide her smile. “It is not funny, I know, but I’ve never met anyone whose luck was not on their side like you, Daniel.”
Sitting up in the bed, I took a good look around. The walls were covered in beautiful blue tapestries. Silk drapery hung from the windows. The four-poster bed I was in was enormous and swallowed me up. Glancing back to Colett, I laughed and gave her a wink. “Tell me about it. At least I’m closer to home.”
Giggling, she stood. “True. I trust you are comfortable in my bed? Do you need anything before I fetch you some soup?”
“This is your bed, Colett?”
Looking at me surprised, she said, “Yes. Why?”
Shrugging my shoulders, I pushed down on it and as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them. “I bet you could be fucked good and hard in this bed.”
Jerking my head to Colett, I held up my hands as her face turned red. “Forgive me, Colett. I’m not sure why I even said that.”
Squaring her shoulders off and tilting her head, she gave me the most seductive smile I’d ever seen her give. Usually her smiles were sweet, innocent-like.
Taking in a deep breath, Colett blew it out and said, “I see being back on home soil brought out the southern gentleman in you, Monsieur.”
Colett was about to walk out the door when she turned and looked me in the eyes. Seduction still dancing across her face as she spoke. “As far as the bed goes, I can tell you, your statement is true. You can be fucked … good … and hard.” Winking, she walked away.
Holy shit. My Colett has a dirty side to her. Laughing, I turned my attention to the window on the other side of the room. I could hear the hustle and bustle of New York. I wondered if Colett would like Tybee Island. She seemed to love the country and hated being in the city. A part of me thought she only stayed in New York City because of her fiancé. Colett had told me that he had worked for his father here in the city at some big time bank.
Opening the door back up, Colett ca
me walking in with a tray. Setting it down on my lap I saw it was soup.
“Dig in, Mr. Stowe. We have a train to catch in a few days to Savannah and you need to be healthy.”
Lifting the spoon, I was swept away by the smell of the broth. “Hmm … what did your cook put in this broth, Colett?”
Laughing, she climbed up on the bed and tucked her legs under. “I’m insulted that you would assume a servant made that.”
Lifting an eyebrow, I asked, “They did not?”
“No! I did.”
Setting the spoon back down, I made a funny face. “Truly? You made this broth, Colett?”
Reaching over and hitting my shoulder, she said, “Yes, Daniel! Don’t be so surprised. I keep a fresh herb garden all year for my cooking.”
Taking another sip, I moaned in delight. “Will you share the recipe with me?”
Throwing her head back, she laughed which caused me to laugh. “Oh, my dear sweet, Daniel. Maybe someday I’ll share it with you.”
“Why won’t you share it now?” I asked as I kept spooning the broth into my mouth. It was heavenly.
I’d never noticed how the left side of Colett’s mouth barely rose when she was being silly. She was a beautiful woman, not as beautiful as my Sophia, but beautiful still.
“Only the man I marry will get to see my recipes.”
Making a sad face, I dropped my head. “Damn.”
“Rest, we have a trip in a few days, Daniel.”
Taking the tray and the empty bowl from me, Colett instructed me to get more sleep. I did just as she said. The sooner I got better, the sooner I was back to my Sophia.
Colett and I had taken her carriage to her aunt’s house in Philadelphia and stayed the evening so we could board the train early in the morning. A train had jumped the tracks between New York City and Philadelphia, causing there to be no service between the two cities. It was yet another setback.
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