GWEN JUMPED BACK guiltily, but she noticed Sam’s smirk. “Andrew,” she whispered. “It’s not what you think.”
Sam took Gwen’s hand and kissed it. “Andrew Simmonds, it’s good to see you again.”
Gwen tried to pull her hand out of Sam’s, but he wouldn’t relinquish it.
Andrew scowled. “I told you to get your hands off her.”
Once again, Gwen tried to pull her hand away.
“I’m courting her, Andrew. I don’t believe I will.” Sam stroked her palm.
“Sam,” Gwen hissed in warning.
Sam smiled as he kissed her hand again. Andrew advanced on him.
Gwen yanked on her hand. “Sam, please,” she begged, and he finally let her go. “Andrew, what are you doing here?”
Andrew glared at Sam and then turned to Gwen, his expression one of unease. “I was concerned about your absence.”
“She needed time alone.” Sam smiled at Gwen. “With me.”
Andrew stepped back. Stern, lips pressed together. “Obviously, my concern was misplaced. You appear to be in capable hands.” He straightened his shoulders before turning and walking out.
Gwen turned to Sam, incensed. “You knew he was there, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I saw him as I was walking in. He was on a mission to get to this room, so I guessed you were here.” Sam grinned.
Gwen narrowed her eyes. “So, you purposely made it look like we were in an intimate moment.”
“Guilty,” he said, looking entirely not guilty.
Gwen groaned. “I don’t know what to say.”
Sam leaned against the wall. “Thank you would do nicely.”
She sat back down on the window seat with a heavy sigh. “You’re going to ruin my reputation.”
He chuckled and nodded toward the hall. “The door is open, we’re in full view of anyone walking by. Your reputation is safe.”
Gwen sighed. “Well, I think I should return to the reception.”
Sam offered his hand. “I’ll come with you. We’ll find your future husband and tease him mercilessly.”
“You’re an evil man.”
Samuel escorted Gwen back into the ballroom. “We’re getting a reaction.” He brought Gwen’s hand to his lips.
“Why are you poking the bear, Samuel?”
“What a unique saying.” Samuel let out a forced laugh. “He’s been hibernating for too long, Gwen, he needs to wake up.”
Gwen bit her lip. “He was injured.”
“He was a fool,” Samuel muttered.
“Is there a problem?”
Gwen gasped as she turned toward Andrew. “Not at all. Why would you think—”
Samuel squeezed her hand, interrupting her, and raised an eyebrow. “Is there something I can help you with, Andrew?”
Andrew nodded. “I noticed you had a scowl on your face while conversing with Gwendolyn, and I’d suggest you remove it.”
“This is really none of your concern.” Samuel’s voice delivered an ominous warning.
“Andrew, he wasn’t scowling at me,” Gwen broke in trying to explain.
Samuel kissed her hand. “Gwen, darling, this really is none of his concern. This is between two people who are courting, wouldn’t you think?”
“Sam,” she whispered for Sam’s ears only, and then looked at Andrew. “Andrew. Truly. He wasn’t scowling at me.”
“Gwen, truly. It’s none of his concern. Wouldn’t you agree, Andrew?”
Andrew took a deep breath. “You’re absolutely right. Please excuse me for the intrusion.”
He walked away, and Gwen’s eyes misted. Samuel turned her, so her back was to the rest of the room. He wrapped his arm around her waist as though they were in a lover’s whisper. “Don’t let him see that it affects you. Hold your head up high and smile.”
* * *
Andrew stood in the corner of the ballroom, watching their exchange and seething.
“Andrew, it’s your sister’s special day.” Jamie handed him a drink. “Why do you look as though you’re going to kill Gwen?”
“Not Gwen.” Andrew took the drink from him. “Samuel.”
“Ah.”
As the guests milled around them, Andrew tried to keep his voice quiet. “Look at him. He’s forcing himself on her.”
“Is he?” Jamie sipped his drink.
Andrew tipped his drink toward them. “Yes, look at the two of them.”
“I am looking.”
Andrew scowled. “He keeps touching her.”
Jamie shrugged. “Then put a stop to it.”
Andrew stared into the glass. “I don’t have the right.”
“Why don’t you have the right?”
“I walked away, Jamie. She’s made a different choice.”
Jamie chuckled quietly. “Yes, it certainly appears that she’s done that.”
Andrew slowly let out the deep breath he held.
“With Samuel,” Jamie added.
“Yes, Samuel.” Andrew frowned.
“Her good friend.”
“Yes, her good friend.” Andrew turned and scowled at his friend. “What are you trying to say, Jamie?”
“You’re an idiot, Andrew.” Jamie smirked. “I say that with all due respect. But, seriously, you’re a moron.”
Andrew growled.
“Look at them,” Jamie pressed.
Andrew glared.
“Look. At. Them,” Jamie said a little more forcefully.
“I am looking at them!” He postured with his drink, nearly spilling the liquid over the rim. “He keeps kissing her.”
“He keeps kissing her hand.”
“So?”
“He hasn’t touched her face, or kissed her cheek, or made any other romantic gestures towards her.” Jamie raised an eyebrow. “He hasn’t even kissed her fingertips.”
Andrew turned and watched their interaction.
“Watch them closely. Not from a spurned lover’s perspective, but try to see it from her perspective. Every touch is somewhat impersonal. There’s nothing intimate about those two.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I courted Sophie, I couldn’t get enough of her. Her skin, her smell, her hair. I caressed her. I especially loved her neck.” Jamie went off into his own world for a minute. “Sorry. Anyway, her hand was only one of many parts of her that I touched.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“That’s because you’re refusing to see it. He doesn’t kiss her palm or her wrist. Not even her fingers, Andrew. He kisses the top of her hand and that’s it. Take the blinders off and look.” He clapped Andrew’s shoulder and walked away to join Sophie.
Andrew reeled as he tried to see what Jamie saw. Sipping his whiskey, he stared at Gwen and noticed she would occasionally look his way. When she moved away from Sam and out of the room, Andrew decided to follow. Setting his half-empty drink on a table, he walked into the hall. “Gwen?”
She stopped, mid-stride, but didn’t turn.
“Gwen? Look at me, please.” As if in slow motion, she turned to face him, tears streaming down her face. Heart pounding, Andrew quickly closed the distance between them. “What did he do?”
“Who?”
“Samuel.”
Gwen frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You’re upset.” Andrew narrowed his eyes. “What did he say to you?”
Gwen wiped her tears away angrily and turned away. “You’re infuriating.”
“Gwendolyn,” he growled.
“Go away, Andrew.”
Instead of walking away, he gently grabbed her arm and pulled her into the library.
“What are you doing?” Gwen gasped as he turned her to face him and gently slid his hand to her neck while he pushed her against the wall.
Leaning down, he took her mouth hostage. She grabbed his forearms, and he felt her body sag as he intensified his assault. His tongue teased her lower lip and she grasped the lapels of his jacket.
I have been an idiot.
He’d been so blind. Andrew broke the kiss and rested his forehead on hers. “Sweet Gwendolyn.” He stroked her cheek, her tears dampening his fingertips. “I am so very sorry.”
Gwen sniffed. “Why, Andrew? Why are you doing this?”
He handed her his handkerchief. “Doing what, sweetheart?”
She pushed him away, and the feel of her tiny hand on his chest elicited a physical response. He shifted his weight and took a deep breath.
Gwen let out a frustrated squeak. “This! You walked away from me years ago, and you continue to walk away from me.”
“I actually limp away, beautiful.”
“Andrew!”
Lifting her hand, he kissed her palm. “A bad jest. Please continue.”
“No.” She tried to pull her hand away.
He pulled her to him. “Please, continue, Gwen. I’m sorry for making fun.”
“You kiss me, but hold another woman in your arms in front of God and everyone,” Gwen accused. “I don’t know what to think.”
“Are you referring to Ann?” Andrew smiled down at her. “Ann is a friend, nothing more. The only reason she was ‘in my arms,’ as you so eloquently put it, is because she has a nasty injury to her foot and cannot walk.”
“That doesn’t negate the fact that you can’t just pull me into your arms and kiss me as though you have the right.”
He squeezed his eyes shut briefly. “Gwendolyn, it’s complicated.”
Pushing away from him, she turned toward the fireplace. “What’s complicated, exactly?”
“The events surrounding my separation from you.”
Gwen hissed over her shoulder. “They’re ‘events’ now? You act as though you didn’t have a choice.”
“I would consider the war an event, Gwendolyn.” He fisted his hands at his sides. “And certainly not a choice.”
She turned to face him again. “Fine, but after you came home, you pushed me out of your life. You alone. You cannot stand there and make it sound as though, in that instance, you didn’t have a choice.”
“I didn’t have a choice.” His hands grasped the back of a chair, knuckles white. “I had to protect you.”
Gwen stomped her foot and scowled at him. “Protect me from what, exactly? War? I know about war, Andrew. My brother, Quincy, is knee-deep in it! Could it be you were protecting me from something else perhaps?”
Andrew reached out to take her hand. She pulled back. “I was protecting you from me.”
“That’s crap!”
“Gwendolyn!” Andrew was shocked by her use of a word not common to their time. Hannah must be influencing her.
“No, Andrew. You don’t get to make this about your misguided sense of honor.” She sidled past him and walked out the door.
Andrew froze, momentarily shocked by her sudden burst of backbone. She wasn’t the same Gwendolyn he’d fallen in love with six years ago. He smiled. She was much, much better.
He knew what he needed to do now. She loved him, and he would never let her go.
* * *
Gwen returned to the ballroom and Sam met her at the door. He took her hand and slipped it into the crook of his elbow. “Are you all right?”
She looked up at him in surprise. “Of course, why?”
“I saw Andrew follow you and was about to rescue you.”
Gwen drew her eyebrows together and sighed. “No need.”
Samuel raised an eyebrow. “Are you certain?”
“Yes… absolutely.”
“All right, I’ll take you to your brother.”
Hannah intercepted them as they made their way to Christopher. “I’d like to steal my sister-in-law, if you don’t mind.”
Sam smiled. “Not at all. I’ll see you later, Gwen.”
“Thank you, Sam,” Gwen said. “For everything.”
He grinned and walked away from them, stopping to speak to a few people on his way out the door.
Hannah linked her arm with Gwen’s. “How are you?”
Gwen smiled. “I’m fine, why?”
“I saw Andrew follow you.”
Gwen stalled.
“Gwen?” Hannah pressed.
“He kissed me,” she whispered.
Hannah giggled. “Did he, now?”
Gwen nodded.
“Did you like it?”
“I loved it,” Gwen whispered back.
“Well, let’s not reveal that just yet.” Hannah patted her hand. “Speaking of Andrew. He’s watching you, but don’t look.”
“What do I do now, Hannah?”
“Nothing. Let Andrew make the next move.”
“I just wish I knew exactly how he felt. I get so many confusing signs,” Gwen grumbled.
“Oh, lovey, he adores you,” Hannah assured her. “Everyone knows that, including him. He’s just trying to figure out if he deserves you.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”
Hannah gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “He wants to be sure that what he has to offer is enough. He’s fighting against the same emotions he had when he was first injured. He pushed you away to protect you, and now he isn’t sure if he should do that again.”
“How do you know all this?” Gwen narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
Hannah sighed. “He told me.”
“Pardon me?” Gwen said, a little louder than she meant to. “When?”
“On the train when I came back from Harrisburg.”
“He told you all that?”
“All that and more.”
“Why did he tell you, but not me?” Gwen huffed.
Hannah laughed. “Because he’s in love with you and he wants to make sure you’ll be happy. He doesn’t want to disappoint you.”
“I just want to be with him.” Gwen laid a hand over her heart. “I don’t care about anything else.”
“Tell him that.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m not ready just yet.”
“Fair enough. Just don’t wait too long.”
“I’ll consider your advice.” Gwen turned to scan the room, standing taller to see over the crowd. “Where’s Charity?”
“She was just here.” Hannah narrowed her eyes. “Oh, look. She’s dancing with Richard.”
“She is?” Gwen followed Hannah’s gaze.
“She’s beaming, don’t you think?”
Sophie and Emma joined them, effectively interrupting their conversation, and Emma linked her arm with Hannah’s. “We’re going to help with the gifts and then go for a ride. Does anyone want to join us?”
“I’d love to,” Gwen said.
“Me too,” Charity piped in from behind them.
“I thought we’d lost you.” Gwen smiled. Charity’s face flushed slightly. Gwen raised an eyebrow in question, but she knew Char would fill her in later.
“I’ll need to bow out, but you guys have fun.” Hannah glanced toward her husband. “In fact, I’m getting the evil eye as we speak, so I’ll see you later.”
With a swish of her skirts, Hannah made her way to Christopher.
At the entrance of the ballroom, Gwen noticed an officer arrive and make his way to Richard. He handed him a note and Richard rushed out of the ballroom with a serious look on his face. “I wonder what that’s about?”
Charity frowned. “Maybe there’s something wrong with a horse.”
“You’re probably right.” Gwen shook off her concern and focused back on Charity.
“May I have everyone’s attention?” The hum of conversation lowered as Nona clapped her hands and stood in the door of the drawing room. With a broad smile, she gestured to Christine and Stephen. “Mr. and Mrs. Paxton are leaving. Let’s see them off in style.”
Christine blushed and ducked her head into Stephen’s shoulder. He led her to their carriage, and amidst hearty good wishes, they left for their home. Andrew and Jamie helped guests retrieve their horses and carriages and soon the house settled back into its customary quiet.
* * *
“Wasn’t it a beautiful wedding?” Charity handed another gift to Gwen. “You’re a wonder, Mrs. Wade.”
They were helping Nona gather the gifts so Jamie could load them into a wagon and take them over to Stephen’s home the next morning.
Nona smiled. “Thank you, dear.”
“Yes. Christine positively glowed.” Gwen stacked the last gift then stepped back to survey the pile.
“That’s all the gifts. Why don’t you girls take a well-deserved break and go enjoy yourselves.” Nona bustled out of the room, calling for Betty as she made her way through the foyer.
Gwen wanted to check on Hannah before their ride, so Charity agreed to meet her outside the stables. After changing into her favorite riding habit, Gwen was first to arrive and went in search of someone to saddle the horses. She found one of the soldiers hanging bridles.
“Sir? When you have a moment, would you please saddle a couple of horses for Miss Charity and me? I believe Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Madden will also be joining us.”
He nodded. “Yes ma’am. Mrs. Ford is with Samson now.”
“I’m in here, Gwen,” Sophie called and then peeked out of Samson’s stall. “Emma’s next door, getting one of her horses.”
Gwen smiled. “Excellent.”
“I’ll be a few minutes. Samson rolled in the dirt, so I’m having to do a little extra brushing.”
Gwen waved her hand dismissively. “No problem. I’ll wait for you outside.”
“Sounds good.” Sophie disappeared into the stall again.
Gwen returned to the entrance and watched for Charity. Behind her she could hear the quiet nicker of horses stabled in the barn. A soft breeze caught the curls of her hair and tugged them out of her pins. Although it wasn’t quite summer, the air felt balmy and she lifted her face to the welcoming warmth of the sun. Her mother would probably chastise her for allowing her fair skin to become freckled by the sun, but Gwen didn’t care. It was a glorious day and she meant to enjoy every minute of it.
A few minutes later Charity rushed around the corner, breathless. Gwen laughed as Charity’s riding hat tilted down the side of her hair.
“This blasted thing never wants to stay put.” Charity straightened the pert little hat and viciously jammed a pin into her hair. “Have you been waiting long?”
“No. I’ve only been here a few minutes. One of the soldiers is getting some horses ready for us.”
“Oh. Then would you mind if I did something quickly?” Charity asked Gwen.
“Not at all. What did you have in mind?”
“I want to have a look at Mr. Madden’s horses. I’ve heard they’re incredible.”
Gwen raised an eyebrow. “You have, have you?”
“Yes.” Charity stood a little taller, her hand fluttering across her stomach.
“Would you like me to come with you?”
“No,” Charity said quickly. She paused before saying further. “I think I can walk next door without you.”
“All right. Don’t be long… we only have another two hours or so of light. I’ll wait for you here.”
Charity, head down, rushed toward the door. Before Gwen could call out a warning, Charity ran straight into the solid frame of Richard Madden. Startled, he reached out and stopped her from falling.
“My goodness. Mr. Madden, I’m so sorry.” Charity blushed a becoming pink.
“No, it was my fault, please forgive me.” A glint of amusement sparkled out of his eyes.
Charity looked up at Richard. “That’s very gracious of you.”
“If I may be so bold, may I ask where you were rushing off to?”
“Actually, I was going to have a look at your horses. I’ve heard stories of how incredible they are, and I must admit I was curious.”
“Would you like a tour?” Richard still held her arms. “I’m afraid it’ll have to be short, but I’d be happy to show you.”
“That would be lovely.”
Gwen smiled at the exchange and moved further into the Wades’ barn. She stood just outside the tack room and waited for the soldier to finish.