ANDREW STOOD TO follow. “Excuse me.”
Before he walked out, Mr. Butler stopped him. “Andrew, would you stay tonight? It will be too late for you to ride back Christopher’s and I know Gwen would be happy to have you here.”
Andrew nodded. “I would appreciate the hospitality.” Andrew rushed to find Gwen. She was in the gazebo, crying and pacing the small space. “Gwen, what’s amiss, beautiful girl?”
“I don’t know!”
“Come here.” He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back while she cried. “Do you not want to get married?”
“What?” she asked in surprise.
“Are you having second thoughts?”
“No! Why? Are you?” She pulled out of his arms. “You are! You don’t want to marry me. I knew it! I’ve had this ominous feeling all day, I just didn’t realize until now it was because you don’t actually want to marry me.”
“Beautiful girl—”
Gwen didn’t even take a breath. “Daddy didn’t ask you to stay, which is probably just as well, especially if you don’t want to. Is this why you haven’t been sleeping? I’m such an idiot!” She stood and made a break for the house.
He caught up to her quickly and gently took her arm. “Gwendolyn! Stop.”
“You don’t have to marry me, Andrew. I’m sorry if you felt pressured.”
Andrew looked down at her and ran his fingers gently down her face. “Beautiful girl, why on earth would you think I don’t want to marry you?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered and dropped her head.
“I love you.” He lifted her chin. “Don’t ever doubt that. And I have never wanted anything more in this world than to marry you.”
“Truly?”
“Gwendolyn! Yes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He saw her subtle smile and grinned slowly as he leaned down to kiss her. “All right, Gwen of my heart, your father has invited me to stay, so you’ll have to see me as soon as you wake up. I wondered where you got your aptitude for teasing and now I know.”
Gwen frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I know you asked your father to invite me to stay, and I also know he purposely waited.”
Gwen sighed. “I know that also.”
Andrew kissed her nose. “If you knew that, why were you so angry?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know! I’m just angry today. Nothing seems to be going right.”
Andrew knew exactly why. He did have three sisters after all, but he’d also learned to never point that out to them, lest you earn yourself a fat lip. Instead he pulled her into his arms. “You just continue to be angry, sweetheart. I’ll love you anyway.”
Gwen laid her head on his chest. “I’m sorry I’m being such a shrew.”
“I have a favor to ask.”
She glanced up at him. “Anything.”
“My knee is bothering me—”
“Oh, sweetheart, sit.” She didn’t let him finish his request. She led him to one of the benches in the gazebo and sat next to him. She began to massage his knee, but eased up when she heard his sharp intake of breath.
“No, Gwen, it’s fine.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
He pressed her hands against his leg. “It seems to last longer if you do.”
“Oh. In that case…”
Andrew growled in pain as she dug her fingers into the muscle. She pushed and kneaded until he could no longer stand it. “Stop now, sweetheart.”
“Are you all right?” Her eyes narrowed with concern.
He nodded. “Yes, it’s much better.”
“Can I get you some ice?”
Lifting her hand, he kissed her fingers. “No, beautiful girl, it’s fine.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her up against him. She leaned her head on his chest and yawned. He lifted her chin. “I think it’s time to sleep.”
She nodded sleepily, but didn’t move, other than to lay her hand on his chest. And then move it under his jacket. Her fingers played with the buttons on his shirt. “I am quite tired,” she admitted.
He held her for close to an hour until he felt her body sag against him and heard her even breathing. “Gwendolyn?” he whispered. She didn’t answer, so he kissed her forehead and lifted her in his arms, thankful his knee felt much, much better. Cradling her close, he carried her to the house, and met up with Mr. Butler as he walked into the foyer.
“You wore her out.” Mr. Butler chuckled quietly.
Andrew smiled. “I think she wore herself out.”
“You may carry her to her room, son, then I’ll have my wife attend to her.”
“Yes, sir.”
He followed Vincent up the stairs and into her room. He laid her gently on her bed and kissed her cheek.
“Andrew?” she said sleepily.
“Goodnight, sweetheart. I love you.”
“Night,” she mumbled and rolled onto her side.
Andrew left the room and followed Mr. Butler down the hall. He showed Andrew to one of the guest rooms and bid him goodnight. He sat on the bed and ran his hands through his hair.
How am I going to sleep in her home and not dream?
He pulled his boots off, but refrained from removing anything else. He lay diagonally across the large bed and took a deep breath. He sat up again and blew out the candle. It was too hot to sleep under the covers, so he settled on top of them and laid his head on the pillow. It didn’t take him long to fall asleep, but he didn’t stay that way for long.
* * *
Blood. Everywhere. The smell of gunpowder and sweat overwhelmed his senses and he couldn’t see anything in front of him.
“Andrew!”
He heard Peter yell for him. “Which way, Pete?”
“West. I’m west of you.”
“I’m on my way.” Andrew rushed toward the sound of Peter’s voice. Men were scattered everywhere. Alive and dead. It was absolute chaos.
“Andrew!”
“I can’t see you. Where are you?”
“West, damn it!”
He stopped and looked around. He was west, but he still couldn’t see Peter.
“Andrew!”
“Peter, where are you?”
“Andrew!”
“Damn it, I can’t see you.” He moved again. Toward the sound of Peter’s voice. Something spurred him to move faster.
All hell broke loose.
A loud explosion.
Blood.
Pain.
“Peter,” Andrew rasped when the smoke cleared. He tried to roll over. So much pain. He couldn’t see Peter.
“Andrew,” he heard his friend groan.
“Pete, I can’t see you.”
“Andrew.” It took him a minute to realize it was no longer Peter’s voice. “Andrew, sweetheart, wake up.” He forced his eyes open and groaned. Gwen stood over him and stroked his face.
He sat up quickly. “Are you all right?”
“Of course.” She smiled in concern. “You were the one yelling.”
“I was? I’m sorry.” He took in her long braid falling over her shoulder and her robe, tied loosely closed. She was adorable.
“What were you dreaming about?”
He slid his legs over the side of the bed and ran his hands down his face. “Nothing, sweetheart. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not fine, Andrew. Is this why you’re so tired?” He climbed from the bed and made his way to the bureau. Gwen’s tiny hand fluttered across his back. “How often do you have these nightmares?”
Andrew poured water into the porcelain bowl. “Nightmare.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s the same one.”
“The same nightmare?” He nodded. Her hand shook. “Every night?”
Andrew nodded again and then splashed cold water on his face.
Handing him a dry towel, Gwen smiled up at him. “I’m looking forward to being able to distract you.”
Andrew dragged the linen down his face and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
Gwen bit her lower lip and nodded. “Yes.”
Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he pulled her between his legs.
Gwen looped her arms around his neck and leaned down to kiss him. As he wrapped his arms around her waist, he realized that all she wore was an entirely too thin nightgown. One that showed parts of her anatomy he couldn’t see without a physical reaction. “Gwen,” he whispered in between kisses.
“Yes?”
“You need to return to your bedroom.”
Gwen sighed. “Yes, I know. But I cannot leave you in such distress.”
“Beautiful girl, we are in your parents’ home. It would be wrong for you to linger in here… regardless of how innocent the intent.” He stood and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll be fine.”
She rested her forehead on his chest. “Will you sleep?”
“Yes.”
“How is your knee?”
He stroked her arm. “Much better.”
She glanced up at him. “All right. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He kissed her one more time before letting her go.
* * *
Gwen woke sometime around six. She jumped out of bed despite her exhaustion, and quickly dressed. She made her way to Andrew’s room and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so she quietly opened the door, hoping she would find him asleep. Instead, the room was empty.
Closing the door, she made her way downstairs. He wasn’t in the parlor or the dining room. She walked through the foyer and reached the front door just as it opened. “Andrew?”
“Good morning, sweetheart. I was about to have one of the staff wake you.” Andrew leaned down to kiss her cheek.
“I know we have a long ride ahead of us, so I woke early.” She raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “Where have you been?”
“I was checking on my horse.”
“Did you sleep?”
He closed the door and turned to face her. “Did you?”
“I asked you first, Andrew. You look tired.”
He stroked her cheek. “You look beautiful.”
“Stop trying to distract me with pretty words. Did you sleep?”
He leaned down and gave her a lingering kiss.
Gwen pushed him away. “Andrew, stop trying to distract me.” He grinned and she narrowed her eyes in frustration. “One day, my love, you’ll tell me everything.” He leaned down to kiss her again, but she grasped his chin and pushed him away. “We should have breakfast. I would imagine you’re starving, and as you said, we have a long ride ahead of us.”
He chuckled. “Yes, sweetheart.”
“I’m wondering if you shouldn’t have married Emma.” Gwen turned and moved toward the dining room. “You both eat about the same amount.”
“She doesn’t hold a candle to you, sweetheart.” He pulled her back and lifted her fingers to his lips. “Plus, we’d never have enough food to satisfy both our appetites.”
Gwen snorted. “Aren’t we the charmer this morning?”
They sat at the dining room table, and Gwen’s parents walked in a few minutes later.
“What are your plans today?” Vincent asked the couple.
Andrew poured Gwen a cup of coffee and then made himself one. “Christopher found a townhouse close to his that we’re going to have a look at.”
“They’ll love that.” Wilhelmina laid down her fork. “Especially with the baby coming.”
Vincent squeezed his wife’s hand and glanced at Andrew. “Will you be back tonight?”
Andrew nodded. “We hope so. If we are able to see the property by three, we’ll have time to catch the four o’clock train and be home by dark.”
They continued their breakfast and finalized plans for their trip the next morning and upcoming details for the wedding. Andrew excused himself to ready the horses and returned to collect her for their ride to the train station.
He helped her mount and they took off at a gallop. Gwen loved this ride. The countryside was beautiful and if they veered off the main road, they could jump several fences along the way. They arrived at the train station just in time to the train after leaving their horses at the livery.
They made it to the city in record time, earlier than their predicted ten-thirty arrival time, and hired a buggy to take them to the townhouse. The driver pulled up in front of the house and Andrew paid him, and then lifted Gwen down. Christopher’s housekeeper answered the door and led them to the parlor. Christopher sat on the sofa with Hannah’s head in his lap and they were laughing.
Andrew knocked on the open door before stepping inside the room. “Good morning.”
“Hi.” Hannah stood and hugged Gwen as Christopher shook Andrew’s hand. “Perfect timing, the sandwiches and lemonade just arrived. I hope you’re hungry.”
Gwen rolled her eyes when Andrew snatched a sandwich from the tray on the side table.
Christopher chuckled. “We have an appointment with the seller at one. Does that work for you?”
“Perfectly.” Andrew smiled through a full mouth.
After they finished their sandwiches, Andrew settled Gwen beside him on the opposite sofa. “Tired?”
She yawned. “A little.”
“Why are you tired, Gwennie?” Christopher raised an eyebrow in Andrew’s direction.
“I just didn’t sleep well last night.” Gwen sighed. “It’s of no concern.”
“I’m going upstairs to take a quick nap, would you like to join me?” Hannah stood and held a hand out to her.
Gwen nodded and took her hand. “Yes, that sounds nice.”
Andrew kissed her cheek and then the girls disappeared upstairs.
Christopher leaned forward and rested his hands on his knees. “What’s amiss, Andrew?”
“Nothing, why?”
“Why is my sister so tired?”
Andrew ran his hands through his hair. “It’s my fault.”
“Yes, I deduced that fact,” Christopher said.
Andrew shook his head. “It’s not what you think.”
Christopher shook his head. “You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“I can imagine,” Andrew retorted.
“Fair enough.” Christopher sat back on the sofa. “Why don’t you tell me what it is, then?”
Andrew stood and began to pace. “I have been plagued by nightmares.”
“Oh?”
“I didn’t realize they were out loud.”
“Ah.” Christopher settled an ankle on his knee. “Let me guess. You woke her and she refused to go back to bed.”
Andrew grimaced. “Something like that, yes. It took me almost an hour to convince her to leave my room.”
“That’s a relief.” Christopher smirked
“It shouldn’t be.” Andrew rubbed his forehead. “It’s your parents’ home and we are not married. She shouldn’t have been in there to begin with.”
“My sister’s headstrong and can be persuasive.”
“No! I never knew that about her,” Andrew droned.
Christopher chuckled.
“She must not have gone back to sleep, even though she went back to her room.”
“A sleepless night isn’t going to hurt her,” Christopher assured him.
“I dream every night, Chris, and my concern is what the impact of that will be on her.”
Christopher raised an eyebrow. “Andrew, I had no idea.”
“Why would you?” Andrew shrugged. “I told no one.”
“A lot of the men returning from war have been dealing with the same types of issues. Have you tried laudanum to sleep?”
Andrew shook his head. “No.”
“Have you tried anything else? Morphine perhaps?”
Andrew scowled. “No, nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“No.” Andrew chuckled.
“What do you do about the pain in your knee?”
“I live with it.”
Christopher let out a low whistle. “I haven’t shown you enough respect over the past few years.”
Andrew chuckled. “I agree, but not for that.”
“I apologize regardless.”
“I accept your apology. Now, I have something to discuss with you.”
“That sounds ominous.” Christopher crossed his arms.
“I would like to tell Gwen.”
“About?”
“The Fords, Emma, Hannah.”
Christopher nodded. “Perhaps that would be prudent. We’ll talk to Hannah and see how she feels.”
Andrew nodded. They talked for close to an hour about the war, life and love. It was the longest conversation Andrew had ever had with Christopher and getting to know him better was enlightening.
* * *
When Hannah knocked on her door a few hours later, Gwen groaned as she forced gritty, dry eyes open. She was still exhausted and the room had grown stifling hot. She felt thick.
“Gwen?”
“Go away,” she grumbled.
“Are you okay?” Hannah let herself into the room.
“I don’t know. I’m tired and irritable… I have been for two days.”
“I see that.” Hannah sat on the edge of the bed. “When is your monthly due?”
“Not for another week.” Gwen pushed damp hair away from her forehead. “But I’m not usually like this until a few days before.”
“It sounds as though you may have PMS.”
Gwen gasped. “That sounds awful! Will I live?”
Hannah laughed. “Lovey, it’s not life-threatening. It’s premenstrual syndrome. It happens before each per—I mean monthly. For some women it’s much worse than others.”
“Oh,” Gwen whispered.
“I’m sorry, Gwen. That sucks… I mean, that’s very unfortunate.”
“If that’s true, then I’ll be early and my wedding night will be ruined!” Gwen sat up further on the bed, dejected. “What am I going to do, Hannah?”
Hannah wrapped an arm around her. “Everything will be fine. If you can’t have your wedding night on Saturday, you will in a few days.”
Gwen slapped her thighs. “But I want my wedding night on Saturday! I don’t want to wait a few days.”
“Perhaps there’s nothing to actually worry about.”
Gwen flopped back down onto the bed. “There’s always something to worry about.”
“Do you have any questions about your wedding night?”
“I live on a farm, Hannah. I know what happens,” she snapped.
Hannah didn’t say anything.
“Sorry.” Gwen sighed. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“It’s fine, Gwen. No worries. I’ll give you a few minutes, okay?”