ANDREW AWOKE WELL past ten the next morning and wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist.
“Morning,” she whispered, scooting closer against him.
“Morning, beautiful.” He kissed the nape of her neck. “How did you sleep?”
“Well.” She rolled to face him. “You?”
“Better than I ever have. You calm me.”
She smiled, kissing him gently. “How’s your knee?”
“It’s not bad. Whatever you did last night helped immensely.”
“Good.”
“Stay here,” Andrew said, and climbed off the bed.
Gwen sat up slightly. “Where are you going?”
“To get breakfast. I’ll bring you a tray. Would you like coffee or chocolate this morning?”
“Coffee, please.”
He gave her a quick kiss and left the room. Gwen took the opportunity to get cleaned up and climb back into bed. She was thankful the day was not sweltering. She’d always hated the heat.
Andrew came back into the room carrying a tray loaded with options. Gwen climbed out of the bed and hurried to clear a place for him on the small table in the corner. “This looks incredible.”
“Yes, Mrs. Bean outdid herself this morning.” He prepared a plate for her and poured them each coffee. “If you feel like leaving the house later, we have an open invitation for dinner with the Fords.”
“What do you mean by open invitation?” She smiled.
He didn’t elaborate.
“Jamie wasn’t jesting when he said you eat there every day, was he?”
“Not every day,” he grumbled.
Gwen smiled. “All right, sweetheart. Perhaps not every day, but why at all? Mrs. Bean’s cooking is superb.”
“I know.” Andrew sipped his coffee. “But it’s not much fun eating alone.”
“No, I suppose it’s not. I remember you telling me you wanted a full house.”
He glanced up at her. “I do.”
Gwen grinned. “Well, aren’t you lucky—”
“Because now I have you?” he interrupted.
“I wasn’t going to say that, but of course you’re correct.” Gwen squeezed his knee. “I was going to say you’re lucky that Jamie and Sophie seem to like you. You’ve acquired an open invitation to eat with them.”
“Are you forgetting my sister lives there?”
“Not at all.” Gwen broke off a piece of pastry and slipped it into her mouth. “But the Fords seem to like you better than Nona does.”
Andrew laughed. “You might be right. Christine even seems too busy for me. The only sister I see on a regular basis is Liza, but Adam is part of that package, unfortunately.”
“Poor Adam.” Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Why do you argue so much with him?”
“He put you in danger, Gwen.” He growled. “It’s unacceptable.”
“Oh,” she whispered.
“Sorry, sweetheart.”
She stood in front of him and laid her hands on his shoulders. “I’m not in danger.”
He rested his hands on her hips and pulled her close. “No, not currently. But he’s involved in something that could be dangerous and I don’t want you touched by that.”
She kissed him. “You’ll keep me safe.”
“Yes, you’re right. I will.” He pushed her robe aside to kiss her stomach. “How are you feeling?”
“Better.” She sat back down and smiled at him. “I have a feeling I know why Christine is too busy for you.”
“Oh?”
“If Stephen is half as good as you, then she’s too busy.”
Andrew dragged his hands down his face. “Gwen! That’s not something I need to think about.”
“Sorry.” She grinned as she bit into a strawberry.
“Why don’t I believe you’re truly remorseful?”
“Because I’m not.” She leaned over and kissed him.
He laughed out loud. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For having a sense of humor.” He poured them another cup of coffee.
“You can either thank… or blame… my father and brothers for that.”
“I will most definitely thank them.”
Gwen grew sullen. “What do you think Adam is involved in?”
“You’re not easy to distract, are you?” Andrew sighed.
Gwen shrugged. “I’m my brothers’ sister.”
“He believes the man who confronted you may be his cousin.”
Gwen gasped. “What does he want?”
“Adam and I invested in a steamer that was built in England. It’s being used as a blockade-runner, however, we plan to use it once the war is over. We essentially split the cost with the government, which gives us ownership once everything is concluded.”
Gwen ran her finger across the top of her coffee cup. “What does that have to do with Adam’s cousin?”
“We don’t know… or rather, I don’t know. Adam’s being evasive.” Andrew pulled one of her feet onto his lap and began to rub it. “It’s all a big mess, without answers. Until we can speak with the cousin.”
Gwen wrinkled her nose. “Well, Quincy has always had a philosophy not to borrow trouble, so we have nothing to worry about just yet, right?”
“No, sweetheart, you’re correct. But we do need to stay alert.”
She nodded. “That shouldn’t be difficult.”
Andrew laid his hand over hers. “It means you are to go nowhere alone.”
She widened her eyes. “Is it that serious?”
“Yes, Gwendolyn, it is.”
She sat in silence for several minutes. “All right. I don’t think it’ll be difficult to do that.”
Andrew smiled.
“I don’t like it, though, and I will do it somewhat in protest.”
Andrew laughed. “And there it is.”
Gwen’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I had a feeling you were agreeing a little too quickly. You’ve been around Hannah long enough to develop some of her ideas.”
Gwen frowned. “My ideas are my own, Andrew. Not just because of Hannah.”
“I don’t mean to imply your mind is not your own, sweetheart.”
She gave him a curt nod. “I would hope not.”
“I want you safe.”
Gwen sighed. “I know.”
He stood and took her hands, pulling her from her chair. “No more talk of you in danger, beautiful. How are you feeling?”
“I feel very well.”
“Is there anything you’d like to do?”
Gwen nodded. “I don’t want to stay in bed all day, especially since we can’t do what we did last night. Could we visit with Jamie and Sophie?”
“Of course we can. Are you feeling well enough?”
She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Yes.”
“All right. If anything changes, tell me and I’ll bring you home.”
The couple dressed and made their way over to the Wade’s. Andrew lifted her from the buggy and took her hand, refusing to relinquish it even when they sat down for lunch. Gwen leaned over and whispered, “I need my hand back love, unless you plan to feed me.”
He smiled. “That could be a possibility.”
Gwen giggled and squeezed his leg under the table. “Where’s Charity?”
Sophie poured a glass of tea. “She went for a ride with Richard.”
“Speak of the devil,” Jamie said as Richard and Charity walked in.
Gwen stood and hugged Charity. “Just in time for lunch.”
Charity nodded. “I’ve been known to have impeccable timing.”
Gwen led her to the table, and Richard waited for Charity, holding the chair while she took her seat.
When lunch was over, Nona pushed away from the table. “We have the croquet course set up for everyone, if you’d like to play, and there’s cold lemonade on the veranda.”
The group eagerly made their way outside, and Gwen challenged Andrew to a game using her rules. Charity groaned. “Careful, Andrew… she makes the rules up as she goes. You’ll never win.”
“Oh, I don’t need to win. Gwen always seems to make my losing a pleasure.” Andrew gave Gwen a secret smile.
Gwen raised an eyebrow in challenge. “I’ll keep that in mind while I’m winning.”
Andrew kissed her cheek and whispered, “Keep other things in mind as well, sweetheart. If you win, you’ll be making it up to me later.”
Gwen blushed and smacked his chest playfully. “You’re terrible.” She took a calming breath and turned to face Richard and Charity. “Would you like to join us?”
Richard shook his head. “Unfortunately, Jamie and I have work to do.”
Jamie nodded. “Yes, we do. A new unit is riding out in three days. They need to be ready.”
Charity’s face fell, but Gwen saw her force a smile as Richard kissed her hand. “I’ll see you for dinner.”
Charity nodded. “I look forward to it.”
Jamie kissed Sophie and then the men made their way toward the arena.
One of Nona’s maids, Betty, stepped outside and gave a nod to the group. “Mrs. Ford, Master Ford is awake and hungry.”
Sophie smiled. “Thanks, Betty. I’ll be right up.” She turned to the ever-dwindling group. “Sorry, I’ll bring Junior down after I feed him.” Sophie followed Betty inside.
Charity bit her lip. “Would you mind if I rested?”
Gwen frowned. “Everything all right?”
Charity smiled. “Yes, fine. I’m just tired.”
“If you’re certain.”
Charity squeezed her hand. “I’m certain. I was up early for our ride this morning, and I’d rather not fall asleep at the dinner table.”
Gwen nodded and watched her leave the veranda. She turned to Andrew. “Does she seem solemn to you?”
“She seems tired.” Andrew handed her a croquet mallet. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Charity’s fine.”
Gwen took the mallet and followed Andrew onto the grass. They started to play a pathetically distracted game, but on Gwen’s fifth attempt to hit her ball through an arch, Andrew pulled the mallet from her hand and kissed her cheek. “Why don’t you go and check on Charity, my little worrier?”
“Are you certain?”
He returned the mallets to the holder. “Yes. I’ll be at the arena if you need me.”
She kissed him quickly and scurried into the house. She made her way upstairs to the room Charity was staying in and pushed open the door. Peeking her head inside, she saw Charity lying on top of the quilt, and her quiet snore indicated she was asleep, so Gwen pulled the door shut again. As she moved down the hallway, she saw Sophie sneak out of the nursery and close the door.
Sophie turned and put a finger to her lips. “Hi. I just got Junior back down.”
Gwen nodded and followed her down the stairs.
Sophie led her to the parlor. “Are you okay?”
Gwen smiled and sat in one of the chairs near the open windows. “Yes, fine. I was concerned about Charity, but she seems fine.”
Sophie sat in the chair facing her. “Richard’s been keeping her busy. I don’t know how he’s doing it, actually. He and Jamie are so busy, but he’s making time to spend with Charity, and I’d venture a guess, he’s just as tired as she is.”
“She’s forming an attachment. I can tell.”
“He is as well.” Sophie grinned. “And it’s about time. Now, Gwendolyn Simmonds, tell me how you are.”
“I do love my new name.” Gwen ran her hands over her skirts. “I’m doing very well. Thank you.”
Sophie stood and opened another window. “I remember when Jamie and I married, and I could officially begin to sign things with ‘Ford.’ I’d grin every time I sent a letter or wrote a check. I still do.”
“What’s a check?”
Sophie took her seat. “Oh, right. It’s like a bank draft.”
“Oh. I’ve only ever seen one… I’ve never been allowed to sign one.”
Sophie leaned over and patted her hand. “One day, you might.”
Gwen didn’t say anything for several minutes as she and Sophie sat in companionable silence. “Sophie?”
“Hm?”
“May I ask you a few questions? Personal questions?”
Sophie nodded. “You can ask me any kind of question you like.”
Gwen felt the heat rising up her neck. “Well, I was wondering… ah… that is, I’d like to know how to please Andrew.”
Sophie rose to her feet. “Well, then let’s retire to the library. It’ll be much more private there, and I have something that might help.”
Gwen followed her and spent the next two hours learning things that kept the heat in her face for the duration.