by CJ Archer
"If you were around more you would."
Nicholas had the sickening feeling that he was to blame for Isabel’s leaving all along. Even so, he had to persevere. Had to know, even if it meant heartache deeper than anything he'd ever experienced.
"They told me you and the Forster boy had run away to Canterbury together," he said dully.
"Then they were wrong."
"So it would seem." He felt almost weak with relief. She had no lover.
"I suspect Jacob Forster and I had the unhappy coincidence of leaving Newport at the same time. I’m sorry you thought I left you for another man. I didn’t." She thrust out her chin again, not sounding sorry at all.
Nicholas straightened. "Then why did you leave?"
She turned away and busied herself with the herbs laid out on the bench. Being an apothecary’s daughter, she had always been interested in medicines and herbal remedies, but he had never thought to find her working as a shop girl. Not the wife of Nicholas Merritt. Sir Nicholas now.
"There are too many reasons to go into here and now," she said.
"Then when and where? I have a right to know what...what I did wrong. Was it my absences?"
She sprinkled some dried leaves into a mortar and crushed them with a pestle using far more force than necessary. No doubt the leaves gave off a powerful odor but he couldn’t distinguish it amidst the jumble of other pleasing scents emanating from the cauldron bubbling over the fire.
He was about to press her for an answer when the door at the rear of the shop opened and a man entered.
"Isabel, I—" The gentleman spotted Nicholas and stopped. "Forgive me, Sir, I’m sorry for interrupting." He bowed and turned to Isabel, frowning at the tension in her face. "Are you all right?"
He must be someone of considerable wealth to have a pearl earring and velvet cloak, but what concerned Nicholas more was that he called his wife—his wife—by her first name. Not Mistress Camm or whatever, but Isabel. By rights, the only man alive who should be calling her that was himself.
"Perfectly fine," she said, although anyone who knew her would detect the sharp edge to her voice and know that everything was far from fine.
"Is this man bothering you?" The gentleman drew himself up to his full height, still several inches shorter than Nicholas, and gave him a glare meant to convey superiority.
Nicholas had to applaud her friend for trying. With his soft hands and slight stature, he was clearly not used to being cast in the role of protector. He looked out of his depth trying to intimidate. But, more importantly, the dandy was prepared to do it. For Isabel. Nicholas knew what that compulsion felt like. He was prepared to do anything for her too. If only he knew what she wanted.
"He... I...," she stuttered, her face slowly reddening. It seemed she wasn’t prepared to tell the newcomer that her husband had found her, or indeed that she had a husband. "We were just..."
"We were just discussing my terrible case of..." Nicholas searched for a suitable ailment.
"Flaccid erectus," she said.
His eyes widened as he glared at her. She responded with a sly smile. "Not exactly flaccid," he said, "more...crooked."
"Whatever is wrong with your yard, be sure to listen to Isabel," the gentleman said, relaxing his stance a little. "She’s one of the finest apothecaries in London. As physician to the queen, I employ her herbal remedies on occasion and have found them to be most beneficial. Your condition should clear up in no time if you follow her instructions. Good day, Sir. Isabel." He nodded to them both then left the shop.
Isabel blew out a breath.
"Strange, I don’t seem to recall there ever being a problem with my yard in our relationship," Nicholas said. "But I didn’t see your departure coming, so I might be wrong on that score too."
She slumped back against the bench as if suddenly deflated. "Nick—" She broke off and rested her head in her hand.
He reached for her, but dropped his arm at the last moment. "I’m sorry," he said. "This has been a trying time for us both."
She nodded. "Let’s at least be civil to one another."
"Of course. But tell me, who was that man?"
"Lawrence Shawe. My employer’s son. He’s a newly appointed physician to Her Majesty."
"A little informal with his address, don’t you think?"
She glared at him. "What he calls me is not your concern. So what did you come here for? A remedy?"
"Remedy? Yes. Of course. I have...a sore throat."
"A sore throat? Then why didn’t you say so when Lawrence was here? It might have saved you some embarrassment."
Because Nicholas didn’t think of it then. "I wouldn’t be embarrassed if you hadn’t given me an erection problem."
"It suited my mood at the time." A faint smile played at her lips. It faded and she turned her back to him. He watched as she mixed three different powders together then packaged them up and handed it to him. "Dissolve this in a cup of red wine and gargle it three times a day. If the ailment continues then come and see me next week."
"I’ll be back tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is Sunday. The shop won’t be open."
"I know."
He opened the door and left without turning back to look at her even though every part of him wanted to. As he walked down Bucklersbury Street he tried to sift through his emotions and set them aside so he could think clearly.
But the only clear thought he had was that he had found Isabel. After all his searching, he had uncovered her by pure chance. No, not chance. Not exactly. He almost laughed at the irony but there was nothing humorous about it. The very thing that had kept him away from her for long periods after their marriage was the same one that had brought him to her now. Spying.
**Honor Bound is now available for immediate download from your preferred ebook store.**
What the reviewers are saying about Honor Bound:
"This story was quick to grab my interest, and I remained enraptured as it unfolded page after page. I thought it was uncommonly well conceived and beautifully constructed... I loved this story and look forward to the next book in the series." ~ 5/5 from Laurie, reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Awarded the Coffee Time Romance Reviewer's Recommend Award which recognizes outstanding writing styles in all book types and genres. "Your book has received this award because I feel it is above and beyond a 5 Cup Rating." ~ Laurie, reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
"I could not put down Honor Bound." ~ 5/5 from Once Upon A Chapter reviews
About The Author
C.J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember. She worked as a librarian and technical writer until she was able to channel her twin loves by writing historical fiction. She has won and placed in numerous romance writing contests, including taking home RWAustralia’s Emerald Award in 2008 for the manuscript that would become her novel Honor Bound. Under the name Carolyn Scott, she has published contemporary romantic mysteries, including Finders Keepers Losers Die. After spending her childhood surrounded by the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, Australia, she lives today in suburban Melbourne with her husband and their two children.