Theresa Romain
Page 27
“Waterloo,” he murmured. “Always Waterloo.”
“They’re calling it the Waterloo Medal. But Henry, it’s for you. For the men who fought at Quatre Bras and Ligny too.”
“Then why call it a Waterloo Medal?”
She met his eyes over the thick paper. The loosened wax seal flapped in a faint breeze. “I don’t know. Maybe just because it was the last battle. Everyone was so glad when the war was over.”
He inclined his head. “That’s true. I certainly was.”
He folded over the top of the paper in Frances’s hand. “Waterloo.” He sounded amused this time, as if Waterloo were a puppy that kept yanking the draperies down in a bid for attention.
Frances squeezed his hand. “The Prince Regent might just be amusing himself with pomp or seeking to honor Wellington. But it would be impolite of you to refuse the medal. Being so close to London, we could easily journey for you to accept it in person.”
Henry groaned.
She trailed her free hand down his chest, teasing. “And if we give enough notice, Emily could plan a great ball in your honor. You could wear your medal and be the center of all attention.”
“You paint a very vivid picture, my dear wife.”
She slipped fingers between the buttons of his waistcoat. “Is it to your liking?”
“Some of it. This part.” His heartbeat thudded strong under her fingertips, and he flexed his arm to pull her fully against his body.
Frances cleared her throat, tried to summon the companion’s brisk voice. “I’m talking about London.” The crisp tone was hardly convincing.
He shook his head. “As you said, I’m just glad it’s over. I don’t need a medal. I haven’t needed one for a long time.” His fingers found hers, entwined with them. “Although I wouldn’t mind going back to London. Students would be glad to call on me in a more convenient location. I could even finish ruining Emily’s Axminster carpet with spilled paint.”
“She would love that even more than hosting a ball for you.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners. When he smiled, it was bright and warm even in the bracing March air. Never that desperate, dented look anymore.
“I would welcome the chance to see Caroline again,” Frances mused. “And you could visit with Bart. He’ll probably return to London soon.”
“You’re very persuasive. All right. If you want to go, we’ll go.” With a quick, fluid gesture, he raised their linked hands and twirled her as if in a scandalous waltz, so that she faced away from him, turned toward the house. He slid a hand down her back and placed a heated kiss just where her neck met her shoulder. She shivered, and not only because the breeze quickened, ruffling her skirts and nipping at her exposed skin.
“Now let’s go inside. There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is that?”
“Oh, nothing, really. It’s just an excuse to get you back into bed.” He stepped up to walk at her side toward the house. “Wasn’t that a favorite trick of yours before we married? You see, I have a good memory too.”
Author’s Note
Writing historical romance is a wonderful job for those who like to poke through the details of the past. For this story, I got the chance to study historic paint pigments with fantastical names: orpiment, atramentum, cinnabar. I also asked my medically-inclined relatives questions like, “What kind of injury would take away the use of my hero’s arm, but wouldn’t require its amputation?” Ah, research.
For the record, Henry has Erb’s palsy, a type of paralysis due to torn nerves (in the brachial plexus, if you too are medically inclined). Though a recovery wasn’t possible during the Regency, if Henry lived today, he could have surgery to correct much of the nerve damage.
Soldiers who fought in the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo really did receive a medal. Its name? As Henry says: “Waterloo. Always Waterloo.”
As for the chilly spring at the book’s end, the year of 1816 was extremely cold, probably due to a massive volcanic eruption in Indonesia in 1815. But in Winter Cottage, we can assume that Henry and Frances found ways to remain quite cozy.
Acknowledgments
I always thank my husband first, because he’s been a wonderful support ever since I began writing romance. Thanks, hon—I couldn’t write heroes without you.
Many thanks to the Sourcebooks team: my editor Deb Werksman; Susie Benton; and the art, marketing, and publicity teams. It’s a pleasure to venture into Regency England with you!
Thanks, as always, to Paige Wheeler, for her wondrous expertise and guidance. I also owe a great debt to my brother, who helped me figure out the perfect way to injure Henry, and to my eagle-eyed beta reader Amanda. Gratitude and huzzahs to my darling family and friends, and to the bright and inspiring authors I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the past few years.
And finally, thanks to my wonderful readers for finding my stories. In honor of Henry and Frances, a special shout-out to all you lefties out there.
About the Author
Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest.
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