Unexpectedly Wed to the Officer--A Historical Romance Award Winning Author

by Jenni Fletcher

  ‘Ah. You mean that he drinks often?’

  ‘Yes.’ Her whole face seemed to crumple. ‘More and more since Alice died. I’ve been telling myself that he’ll stop eventually, but now he’s lost his job and I can’t see any way for things to get better.’

  Sebastian started to reach a hand out and then stopped himself. The atmosphere still hadn’t quite returned to normal and, after that morning, he didn’t want to risk any more misunderstandings between them.

  ‘What happened to your sister-in-law?’ he asked softly instead.

  ‘She thought it was another baby at first, only she got thinner instead of bigger. The doctor was never sure why.’

  ‘Poor woman.’

  ‘It was dreadful. She was so young and such a good mother. She’d be horrified if she knew how David was behaving now.’ She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging herself as if she were cold. ‘I try to help as much as I can, but it’s not enough. I know that I ought to do more, that I should go and live with him and take care of the boys and the house, but...’

  ‘But you have your own life?’

  ‘Yes!’ Her eyes shot to his, a glimmer of pain swirling in the depths. ‘I feel so torn. I don’t see how I can do that and run Belles properly, but they’re my nephews and I love them, too. And who will take care of them if I don’t? It’s wicked of me to want to do otherwise.’

  ‘It’s not wicked at all.’ This time he couldn’t stop himself from reaching for one of her hands, clasping it tight between both of his. ‘I understand about feeling torn. I don’t know your brother, but I expect he is, too. Sometimes people drink to forget their pain. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count. Maybe your brother’s not ready to face reality yet.’

  ‘But he needs to be ready!’ An angry expression crossed her face before she clapped her other hand over her mouth. ‘Oh! I shouldn’t have said that.’

  ‘Why not? It’s the truth. He has three sons to care for and a sister who’s desperately worried about him. You’ve every right to be angry, but he’s only human. Knowing how we ought to behave and actually doing it are often very different things. He’ll face reality when he’s ready.’

  ‘What if he drinks himself to death in the meantime?’ Her voice caught as her expression turned anguished again.

  He squeezed her hand, unable to find an answer for that and unwilling to voice empty platitudes. He wanted to comfort her, if only he knew how...

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to burden you with any of this.’ She drew her fingers away abruptly, her eyes welling with tears as she took a few steps backwards, retreating towards the kitchen before he could say or do anything to stop her. ‘Goodbye, Mr Fortini. Have a good journey.’

  Chapter Seven

  ‘What now?’ Nancy rolled a lump of cinnamon-flavoured biscuit dough out on the table. ‘I don’t mind the boys staying here, but we can’t look after them and manage the shop.’

  ‘I know.’ Henrietta drew a flour-stained wrist across her forehead. ‘They go to the charity school in the mornings and then Peter and Michael used to go and help David in the mews, but now he’s lost his job...’ She heaved her shoulders and cut out a row of perfectly square Comptessa biscuits. ‘I’ll go and speak to him after I take them to school, before he has a chance to start drinking again.’

  ‘Good idea.’

  ‘Hopefully it won’t take long, but I’m sorry to leave you alone again.’

  ‘Pshaw.’ Nancy waved a hand dismissively. ‘Don’t worry about me, but what will you say?’

  ‘I’m not sure yet.’ She began to arrange the biscuits on a baking tray. ‘Mr Fortini said that some people drink when they’re not ready to face their pain, but David can’t go on as he is and I can’t take the boys home until I know that he’s better. I need to make him understand that. In any case, I’ll bring the boys back here this afternoon.’

  ‘I’ll find them some jobs to keep them out of trouble.’ Nancy looked thoughtful. ‘Maybe we could offer complimentary shoe-shining with every bag of biscuits?’

  ‘I’m not sure how Mr Redbourne would feel about that, considering he has a shoe-shiner outside his store.’

  ‘Does he? I hadn’t noticed.’ Nancy’s tone was altogether too uninterested. ‘Speaking of Mr Redbourne, I wonder if Mr Fortini has left yet. Did he say what time his stagecoach was leaving?’

  ‘Does it matter?’

  ‘Not to me, no.’

  Henrietta kept her eyes on her dough. She’d been trying, unsuccessfully, not to think about Mr Fortini for most of the night and since she’d woken up that morning, still mortified by her near tears the previous evening. He’d been so sympathetic and understanding that she’d been strongly tempted to rest her head on his shoulder and start sobbing. Strangely enough, she had a feeling that he would have let her, too, despite the way she’d behaved on their walk. What would he have thought of her then? What would he have reported to Anna? That she was an emotional mess, most likely...which she was starting to think wasn’t so far from the truth.

  ‘If he hasn’t left by now then I’m sure he’ll be on his way soon.’ She tipped her head to one side as if she expected to hear a stagecoach rolling past at any moment. ‘I don’t suppose we’ll be seeing him again.’

  * * *

  ‘Breakfast is served.’ James set two plates of sausages and egg on the table with a flourish.

  ‘You know, I could get used to this.’ Sebastian lifted his feet off a neighbouring chair and picked up his fork with a grin. ‘Don’t you have a maid to cook for you?’

  ‘No. I can’t see the point when I can manage perfectly well by myself.’

  ‘Spoken like a true bachelor. It’s funny, but I would have thought you of all men would be married by now.’

  ‘Why me of all men?’

  ‘You always seemed like the marrying type, that’s all.’

  ‘Maybe I just haven’t met the right woman.’

  ‘Really?’ Sebastian paused in the act of spearing a sausage. There was something distinctly evasive about his friend’s tone. ‘Why don’t I believe you?’

  ‘Because you never could mind your own business.’ James gave him a swift kick under the table. ‘As it happens, I thought I had met the right one once, only it turned out the feeling wasn’t reciprocated.’

  ‘Well, plenty more fish in the sea.’ Sebastian stopped and put his utensils down again. ‘What a ridiculous phrase that is. I wonder who came up with it?’

  ‘A sailor?’

  ‘Probably, but it’s not true, is it? I mean, there are fish and then there are fish.’

  ‘Succinctly put.’

  ‘What I mean is that it makes women sound interchangeable when they’re clearly not.’

  ‘True. I suppose some of them are mackerel and some are sharks.’

  ‘You’re not bitter, then?’

  ‘Maybe a little, but I can’t blame her for what happened. She never gave me any encouragement, I just hoped, that’s all.’ He laughed ruefully. ‘So the stagecoach leaves at nine. It goes to Bristol first, I presume?’

  ‘I think so, but the truth is, I was wondering whether you’d mind me staying for a few more days?’

  ‘Not at all.’ James gave him a searching look. ‘I’d like to think it was for the pleasure of my company, but something tells me it has more to do with Miss Gardiner. Is the ice thawing a little?’

  Sebastian didn’t answer, vaguely surprised by his own request. He really ought to be heading north. He wanted to see his mother and Anna again and to start enjoying his newfound freedom, too, yet he couldn’t quite bring himself to leave. Miss Gardiner needed his help and somehow that seemed more important. He wasn’t quite sure what she’d meant when she’d said she’d misjudged him, but they seemed to be friends again and he couldn’t just abandon a woman in trouble, especially one who worked in his family’s s
hop. In the absence of Anna, it was his responsibility to help, surely?

  Yes, that was it, he reassured himself. He felt compelled to stay because she was Anna’s employee and Anna would want him to help. It had nothing to do with her specifically. He was attracted to her—it would have been frankly ridiculous to pretend otherwise—he liked her, even, but that had nothing to do with his decision, especially since she’d made it clear that flirtation was out of the question. He would have helped Miss MacQueen in a similar situation, too. Probably.

  ‘It’s not that difficult a question.’ James gave him a puzzled look. ‘The food’s going to get cold if you keep staring at your plate much longer.’

  ‘Sorry.’ Sebastian came back to himself with a jolt. ‘It is to do with Miss Gardiner, as a matter of fact, only not in the way that you think. She needs help.’

  ‘With the shop?’ James looked surprised.

  ‘No, some trouble with her brother and nephews.’ He picked up his knife and fork again. ‘It’ll probably only be for a few more days, just until I know that she’s all right. The end of the week at the most. It’s what Anna would want me to do.’

  ‘Naturally.’ James smirked over the rim of his coffee cup. ‘What other reason could there possibly be?’

  * * *

  ‘Do we have to go to school?’ Michael complained as Henrietta marched him and his brothers out of the shop and along Swainswick Crescent. ‘Can’t we stay and help you sell biscuits?’

  ‘No. Learning is more important.’ She clutched Oliver’s five-year-old hand firmly in hers. ‘Besides, it’s only for the morning. Then you can come back and do some jobs for me.’

  ‘Will you teach us to bake?’

  ‘If you like.’

  ‘I’d rather learn about life in the navy,’ Peter interjected. ‘I’m going to be a sailor one day.’

  ‘Really?’ Henrietta glanced at him in surprise. ‘I didn’t know that you liked the water.’

  ‘He wants to run away to sea like Sebastian when he grows up. He said so last night.’ Michael smirked, elbowing his brother in the ribs and earning himself a fist in the arm back.

  ‘No fighting, the pair of you!’ Henrietta jabbed a hand between them. ‘And it’s Mr Fortini to you.’

  ‘He said that we could call him Sebastian.’

  ‘That’s not the point.’

  ‘But he said so!’

  ‘It’s true, I did!’ a familiar deep voice called out from behind them. ‘As may you, Miss Gardiner, if you wish?’

  ‘Oh!’ Henrietta whirled around in surprise, spinning Oliver along with her. ‘Where did you...?’

  ‘Come from?’ He grinned lopsidedly. ‘The same place as you, only I went into Belles through the back way and Miss MacQueen told me you’d just left through the front. I have to admit, it was quite a challenge to catch up with your fast pace.’

  ‘We’re late for school,’ Michael informed him.

  ‘But I thought you were leaving?’ Henrietta gasped and then winced at the sound of her own words. ‘Not that I wanted you to leave. Or to stay,’ she added quickly. ‘I just...’ She shook her head, wondering what was the matter with her tongue. Not to mention her stomach, which seemed to have bounced all the way up to her chest, lifting her spirits along with it. Even her pulse seemed to be accelerating, pounding so fast it was actually hard to draw enough air into her lungs. Despite the embarrassment of the previous night, she felt quite ridiculously, ludicrously happy to see him again—and somehow unable to stop smiling. ‘Forgive me, I’m just surprised, that’s all. I thought you’d be on your way north by now.’

  ‘So did I.’ He shrugged in a faintly bemused manner. ‘Only I decided I wasn’t quite ready to leave yet. I have a few old friends I’d like to catch up with, as well as three young cadets to train.’

  ‘Really, sir?’ Peter’s face lit up. ‘Will you teach us to be sailors?’

  ‘As long as you go to school first and without any complaining.’ Sebastian winked at him. ‘I actually wondered if you’d allow me to walk with you, Miss Gardiner? To signal the start of our new friendship?’

  ‘You should call her Henrietta,’ Michael interjected. ‘If she’s allowed to call you Sebastian. It’s only fair.’

  ‘I wouldn’t presume...’

  ‘But Michael’s right. It is only fair.’ She found herself smiling even wider in agreement. ‘I’d be delighted if you’d escort us... Sebastian.’

  ‘Then it would be my pleasure.’ He tilted his head to one side, his dark eyes gleaming with what looked like satisfaction. ‘I’d offer you my arm, but it appears this young gentleman has beaten me to it. What do you two say?’ He held his hands out to Peter and Michael. ‘Will you walk with me instead?’

  ‘Yes, Sebastian!’

  Henrietta led the way, laughing softly as he was immediately bombarded with questions about life in the navy. Just like the evening before, however, he seemed completely relaxed and at ease, impressing his young audience so much that she was half afraid they might both enlist before the end of the week.

  She was so preoccupied with listening that she almost walked straight into another woman hurrying around the railings at the corner of the street.

  ‘Pardon me.’ She looked up, straight into the eyes of the woman from the pavement the day before.

  ‘Oh! No, it was my fault.’ The woman hesitated, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something else, before she noticed Sebastian and scampered quickly onwards again.

  ‘An acquaintance of yours?’ he asked quizzically when she was out of earshot.

  ‘Not exactly.’ Henrietta looked back over her shoulder for a few seconds and then carried on walking. As much as she wanted to help anyone in distress, her nephews needed to get to school and she needed to speak to David. At that moment, she had more than enough problems of her own to deal with.

  Chapter Eight

  Henrietta found Sebastian exactly where she’d left him, leaning casually against a red brick wall opposite the schoolyard. In broad daylight, he looked even more ruggedly handsome than she’d remembered. His coat was hanging open as usual and his dark hair was swept away from his face, all except for one black curl that seemed determined to take up residence over his nose. That appendage was also looking noticeably less bruised today, allowing her to focus on his twinkling dark eyes as she approached.

  There was something slightly wicked about them, she thought as she came closer, or, if not wicked, then definitely mischievous. Yes, that was a much better word. There was no malice in them, although now that she’d got past the initial pleasure of seeing him, she wondered if she was simply being naive again.

  He’d said that he was staying longer in Bath to visit old friends, but then why was he here with her? She thought she’d addressed the issue of potential misunderstandings the day before, but why was he helping her if he didn’t expect anything in return? They might have decided to be friends, but she still couldn’t help feeling a little suspicious. Not to mention alarmed when just the sight of him made her stomach start fluttering as if there were a swarm of butterflies inside looking for a way out.

  ‘So where next? Your brother’s house?’ He uncrossed his ankles and pushed himself upright to greet her.

  ‘Yes, although I’ve no idea what I’m going to say.’ She felt instantly anxious again. ‘I want to help him get better, but I feel so powerless.’

  ‘Maybe just tell him that.’ He looked sympathetic. ‘Is it far?’

  ‘Just a few streets away.’

  ‘Then let’s go.’ He bent his elbow and she curled her hand around it, without hesitation and without mistaking it for a wild creature this time either, which was definitely progress, she thought ironically as they made their way through the backstreets. His arm felt just as big and solid as it had the day before, although there was something reassuring and supportive about it now, too. R
eassuring with butterflies. She wouldn’t have thought it possible to feel tense in two such different ways at the same time and yet she did, her concern for David vying with a new sense of repressed excitement with Sebastian.

  ‘Here we are.’ She stopped outside a small two-storey wooden building, squeezed between two equally ramshackle others. ‘Would you mind—?’

  ‘Waiting outside? Of course not.’

  ‘I don’t know how long I’ll be.’

  ‘Take all the time you need.’ Sebastian squeezed her arm gently before releasing her. ‘I’ll be right here.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She opened the door without knocking and stepped inside, only to find the room just as she’d left it. Messy, freezing and apparently deserted.

  ‘David?’ she called softly as she made her way through the downstairs, but there was no answer, not as much as a murmur of acknowledgement. Carefully, she climbed the steps up into the loft space, but that was empty, too, rumpled bedsheets the only evidence that her brother had ever been there. Everything else was eerily still and quiet and forbidding somehow. A lump of dread started to form in her stomach, apprehension getting the better of her nerves. If David hadn’t gone to work, then where was he? Surely he couldn’t have started drinking again already?

  ‘Henrietta?’ Sebastian’s shout summoned her back down the steps.

  ‘What is it?’ She hurried towards the front door, flinging it open and then stopping dead at the sight of her brother’s neighbour confronting Sebastian. ‘Oh! Is everything all right?’

  ‘So he is with you then?’ Mrs Roper’s belligerent expression bore a strong resemblance to Nancy’s. ‘He said he was, but you can’t be too careful.’

  ‘No, I suppose you can’t.’ Henrietta closed the door behind her, unable to mask her disappointment. ‘Mrs Roper, do you have any idea where my brother is?’