“Of course, Your Grace,” Mother stammered out.
Then Danby turned on Sam, waving that blasted cane in his brother’s direction. “And you will attend me this evening.”
“Me? What of Nathaniel?”
“I have other plans for him.” Danby poked Sam in the chest with his cane. “Dress for a ball, and I will retrieve you tonight.” He glared back at Mother. “It will also allow me to make sure your mother is doing as ordered.” Danby then turned to Nate and pulled a pouch from the inside of his suit coat. “Deliver this to Kirkland House. My donation to the good work they do.” He turned and marched from the room, leaving them all in stunned silence.
As the front door clicked, his mother burst into tears.
* * *
“Lady Chester, a gentleman is here with a donation.”
“Thank goodness,” Isabella’s employer breathed out. Lady Chester founded Kirkland House years ago after her brother had been killed in battle, and funds to operate the home had been running low.
“Why don’t you go,” she said to Isabella.
“Me? No, you should.”
Lady Chester grinned. “Shortly, this house will be your responsibility,” she reminded Isabella. Kirkland House was actually a number of townhouses along one block.
Her employer was increasing and soon would no longer be able to hide her condition. Thus she was leaving for the country in a few days, leaving Isabella to watch over this home while others looked after the rest. “Are you certain someone else shouldn’t be taking over in your absence?” Isabella wasn’t at all comfortable with the idea of stepping into Lady Chester’s shoes, even on a temporary basis.
“As I told you,” she said with a smile. “You are the first person who has come to work at Kirkland House who not only cares about the soldiers but understands them as well. Even better than I. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather leave in charge.”
Isabella’s face heated at the compliment.
“My husband will be stopping in periodically. If something is amiss, all you need do is send word to me.” She leaned back, placed a hand on her abdomen as she puffed her cheeks and blew a breath. “You should take the donation.” Lady Chester covered her mouth. “Perhaps now is not the best time for me.”
Isabella recognized the sudden, pale and greenish tint to Lady Chester’s skin. This usually led to her employer grabbing the receptacle and tossing up her accounts.
“I’ll go,” Isabella blurted out. Not that someone becoming ill bothered her, she just knew her employer would prefer to be left alone when these sudden instances of illness struck.
After taking a steadying breath, Isabella made her way to the small receiving room at the front of the house but was brought up short to find Nate standing by a chair.
A smile slowly formed on his lips as he took a step forward. “This is where you’ve been hiding?”
Her back stiffened as she clutched her skirts, hoping Nate didn’t notice her hands were shaking. How did he find her? “I’m not hiding. I’m employed by Kirkland House.”
His smile slipped. “Employed?”
“Yes. I have a position, which I intend to keep, so I hope you did not seek me out with the intention of talking. I don’t have time.”
His green eyes narrowed. “I didn’t seek you out. Well, at least not here. I’ve called at Felding’s, but you are never in.”
This was just a coincidence? Did he really come to give a donation not knowing she was here?
“What is this place?” he finally asked.
“If you’re here to give a donation, I assumed you would know.”
Nate shook his head as he thrust his fingers through his dark hair. “My great-uncle sent me with a donation.” He retrieved a pouch from his pocket.
Please let there be enough funds to see them through for a few months, she silently prayed. “Thank you.” She held out her hand.
The corner of Nate’s mouth tipped. “Not yet.”
Was Nate going to withhold the funds until they finally had the conversation Isabella had been hoping to avoid?
“Tell me about Kirkland House.”
Inwardly, she relaxed. “It’s a home for soldiers who have been injured in battle and are unable to support themselves any longer.”
His eyebrows shot up. “What is your position?”
“Much as it was back on the Continent. I read, play games, whatever they need.” This time she smiled. “Some require medication, which I dispense. Others have wounds that have never truly healed. I do whatever is required of me. This particular house serves soldiers from Quatre Bras and Waterloo.”
Admiration lit in his green eyes. “Can I be shown around?”
It wasn’t unusual for someone wishing to make a donation to want a tour, to make sure their funds were being used as intended. However, Isabella suspected it was more to Nate. He was a soldier and could have ended up like these men. Not so much needing to live in a place like Kirkland House since his family was wealthy, but he could have been injured, needing to rely on the care of others.
“Of course,” she finally answered.
Chapter 23
Could Danby have known that Isabella was here and that Nate had been seeking her out? Danby didn’t even know Isabella existed. If he had, the man would have sent for her at Christmas and not Mary.
Then again, Danby did have a way of knowing practically everything, so how could he have learned about Isabella? Nate had never confided his feelings to anyone. Well, other than Isabella and only hinted at them to Dr. Valentine. Neither one of which even knew Danby.
Suspicion settled in the pit of his stomach. Yet, he couldn’t be angry at his great-uncle for this manipulation of events. It could very easily be a coincidence, but where Danby was involved, nothing was coincidental. Nate had half a mind to thank the old bugger, but in doing so, it would only encourage Danby to continue interfering in his life, which Nate did not need.
At least now he didn’t. Now that he knew where Isabella had been hiding.
Except, she hadn’t actually been hiding? Maybe Isabella simply did not have time for him.
“This is the main parlor. Many of the men spend their days in here or in one of the other common rooms.”
Nate followed her into a room where about ten men were playing cards or chess. A few were missing limbs, another had a patch over his eye. They weren’t old men, but they were scarred and weary from battle, aged beyond their years, even though their physical years were no more than his own.
They glanced up when he entered, and a man pulled himself from a chair, balancing on a pair of crutches.
“Captain Storm,” Blaine grinned at him, and Nate’s heart constricted. The night before Waterloo the two of them had sat together in the rain, sharing a flask of whiskey and bottle of brandy and talking about where they wanted to be when this was all over. Nate talked of the warm sands of Barbados, and Blaine was going to find a piece of land and then the perfect miss to marry and become a farmer. Blaine had no family, no funds, and it would have been difficult. Now that he’d lost a leg, the dream was impossible.
Nate stepped forward and shook the man’s hand. “It’s good to see you, Blaine.”
“Good to see you too, Captain. What brings you to Kirkland House?”
“My great-uncle sent me with a donation.” Nate looked around at the faces. “I didn’t know this place existed.”
“It’s been a saving grace to all of us.” Blaine grinned. “A place to live for those who can’t work and have no funds.” He grinned at Isabella. “Pretty women to keep us company. A man could do much worse coming home from war.”
“How many men live here?” Nate asked.
“In this house, nearly two dozen.”
His eyes widened. It wasn’t that large.
Blaine laughed. “It’s not so bad. We sleep four to a room. And in real beds, not cots, and we aren’t out in the rain or cold.” He patted Nate on the shoulder. “It’s a good place to be.”
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“Blaine, get your arse in here,” a man called as he walked into the room. His face immediately colored. “Begging your pardon, Miss Valentine.”
She simply chuckled. “I’ve heard worse, Hastings.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Storm?”
Nate grinned. “Hastings.” He shook the man’s hand. He seemed well and whole, but Nate knew as well as anyone that not all wounds were visible.
How was it that the two men that he drank with the night before the English sent Napoleon running had both ended up here? Nate knew he’d been lucky to survive unscathed, but the faces in the room and seeing two men he’d spent so much time with, brought home the reality of how very lucky he was.
“Captain Storm’s family has been very kind to give us a donation, and I was showing him around Kirkland House.”
“I hope you can stay for supper, Captain. It would be good to catch up,” Hastings offered.
In that moment, Nate knew that he would spend much more time here, and not just because he needed to settle everything with Isabella once and for all. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
“Of course, there won’t be much of a dinner if Blaine doesn’t get his carcass to the kitchen and get to work.”
“The man behaves as if he holds rank over me,” Blaine grumbled has he moved to the entry.
“I run the kitchen and if you want to eat, I have rank,” Hastings reminded him. “I’ll see you at supper, Captain.”
“Nate,” he corrected. “Just Nate.”
* * *
“How many servants are in the house?” Nate asked when the tour concluded.
She’d shown him all of the common rooms, the sleeping chambers and taken him outside where a few men always congregated, no matter what the weather, because they couldn’t stand being cooped up inside.
“A few maids come in during the week. Another woman takes care of the laundry. There is Lady Chester, who runs Kirkland House, and me.”
“For nearly two dozen men?” Nate asked in disbelief.
“They aren’t invalids and hate being treated as if they are. The men see to their own meals and help those who are bedridden see to their personal needs.” There was one room in the back of the house for the men who could not walk. Most had chairs, but often their pain was too severe for them to leave their beds. That was where Isabella spent a good portion of her time. Reading to them to help take their minds from the tedium of their situation. At least they had a nice room in the house. A larger, former parlor, with long windows that opened to the back gardens. In the warm months, the doors were often opened to let the fresh air inside. Just because the men were mostly bedridden, didn’t mean their room needed to be shut up and smell like a sick room. “They take care of themselves and each other. This is simply a place where they can live.”
Nate hadn’t mentioned anything about what occurred at Lady Richmond’s ball, or that she’d left without a goodbye. Instead, the tour and conversation was much like it had been before Lady Richmond’s ball, when they spent so much time together, talking and working together. Nate always seemed to be around so much back then when she needed assistance, and the questions and concern he showed today were no different from how he’d been back then. Once again, she was reminded of why she’d fallen in love with him and why she still loved him.
Nate cared. Not just for himself but for every single man that he served with and most especially those under his command. She could tell he was saddened at the reminder of what damage the war could cause, and he took a few moments to gather his emotions before they entered another room. He didn’t say much. He just asked for a moment, not meeting her eyes. Their being together today had nothing to do with them, but the soldiers. The past and future of these men.
He also brightened the soldiers’ day. There wasn’t a room they entered that he didn’t know at least one of the men.
Lady Chester stepped into the foyer where Isabella and Nate were standing. She was dressed to leave for the day. Then Isabella remembered that it wasn’t just the day, but weeks, if not months, and Isabella hadn’t spent any of the remainder of the day with her employer. Instead, she’d been showing Nate the home. Of course, usually the tours were quicker because most visitors didn’t spend time talking at length with the men.
“I leave Kirkland House in your hands,” she announced to Isabella.
Her stomach lurched. So much responsibility and she wasn’t the least bit prepared.
“Are you certain you must leave tomorrow? I’m not ready.”
“Of course you are,” Lady Chester insisted. “I would not be leaving if I didn’t have the utmost confidence that you’ll take care of my soldiers.” Then she turned to Nate. “Thank you for visiting with the men. I hope you can return. They’ve enjoyed talking with you.”
How could Lady Chester know Nate had been visiting with the soldiers? Isabella hadn’t even seen Lady Chester since she left her.
“A few stopped in and mentioned how good it was to see you. You’ve brightened their day.”
“It would be my pleasure to return, often,” he assured Lady Chester. “Had I known of Kirkland House, I assure you, I would have been here much earlier.”
Her smile broadened. “And thank you for the donation. After the tour, I’m sure you understand how much we need funding.”
His eyes widened as he drew the pouch from his pocket, as if he’d forgotten it was there. “Of course.” He held it out to her. “I promise, there will be more.”
“Give it to Miss Valentine. I’m placing her in charge now.”
Nate lifted a questioning eyebrow as he held the pouch out to her. She took it and relaxed. It was heavy and needed. And she didn’t need to have an uncomfortable conversation to obtain it. “Thank you.”
“No. Thank you!” Sincerity lit in his green eyes. The warmth in them heated her blood.
Drat! She should not allow herself to be affected in any way by Nate Storm.
“Well, I must be on my way. Send word if you need anything at all, Isabella.”
“What does she mean you’re in charge?’ Nate asked after her employer was gone.
“Lady Chester is in an interesting condition,” Isabella whispered. “And has decided to retire to the country for the time being.”
“She left you in charge?” He almost sounded surprised. Did Nate not think she could take on the responsibility?
Isabella lifted her chin. “Yes!”
The side of his mouth quirked. “I don’t believe she could have found a better person for the task.”
The warm timbre of his voice further heated her blood. This was not good, not good at all. “So, you see, I’ve been far too busy and carry too many responsibilities to be at home for callers.” He didn’t need to know that she was intentionally avoiding him and that her two purposes at the moment happened to work well together.
“Yes. I wish I’d known.” He glanced around again. “It’s a good place and a good thing Lady Chester has done.”
“This isn’t the only home,” she advised. Perhaps Nate would visit the others and not begin spending all his time here. “Nearly this entire block is part of Kirkland House. Each houses soldiers, but they have been divided into sections according to where men served and in which battle they were injured. It helps when a man finds a friend in his new home.”
“It isn’t a coincidence that Hastings and Blaine are both here. They’ve been together since they purchased their commissions.”
“No. It’s hard enough that a soldier’s life is altered so dramatically because of war. They should be around friends if nothing else.” Nate nodded in understanding.
“The first house on the block was the beginning of Kirkland,” Isabella continued. “Those soldiers go back to the beginning, when Napoleon first became a problem.”
“You’re in charge of all the houses? How many are there.”
“There are six, but I’m only in charge of this one, temporarily. The others have a housekeeper, cook, a
nd other servants. Many of them, the soldiers are aging now, and their injuries are more severe than those who live here.” Maybe now he would understand that this was where she belonged and not sitting at home, waiting for him, or anyone else for that matter, to call. It was better this way. They could continue their friendship, and he’d never need to learn the truth she’d always hid from him.
Chapter 24
Isabella may have been successful in avoiding him before, but now Nate knew exactly where to find her. And even if she wasn’t there, he’d still visit, often.
He’d stayed at Kirkland House much later than he intended last evening, enjoying supper with the soldiers, sharing stories with Blaine and Hastings and the others. The men had a decent life, and even though they relied on charity to keep Kirkland House operating, they weren’t charity cases. Their only complaint was that alcohol wasn’t allowed. That rule was set down by Lady Chester. One she also turned a blind eye to and was well aware that her husband often provided spirits when she was not present.
Those spirits were also running low, which Nate learned at supper, after Isabella had left for the evening. He never did get a chance to ask his questions, but what had been driving him in the past was no longer of as great an importance. He still intended to learn the truth, but these were his men. Some of them at least, and time with them was more important than answers.
After the door had been locked, and the table cleared, cheroots and brandy came out of hiding.
“You will not tell Miss Valentine,” Hastings warned.
“I wouldn’t dare!” Nate grinned.
It was a late night, but one Nate hadn’t realized he needed. Since Waterloo, he’d wandered and traveled, trying to forget Isabella, which was impossible. He’d also tried to forget the horrors of what he’d seen in battle, which were as equally impossible. He’d been running, and as he drained the last of his brandy, he realized that this was what had truly been missing from his life. The understanding and the friendship that can only be born from serving side by side with honorable men. And he found the two things he needed, Isabella and the men, in one place.
Weathering Captain Storm Page 11