Chapter 31
The next two days convinced Gordon that he was going to like being married. He’d always loved Callie’s company, and having her beside him was like their childhood except that instead of catching frogs or riding hell-for-leather, they were organizing a wedding and occasionally stealing secret kisses.
Their first stop was a jeweler and goldsmith, Mr. Tate. When they entered his shop, he was setting trays containing jewelry on the counter. “Good day!” he said cheerfully. “As you can see, I’m just reopening after removing my business from the city for the last unfortunate fortnight.”
“Battles are bad for business,” Gordon agreed. Particularly for a business that dealt in small, valuable, easily looted items. “I hope you’ll be able to give us swift service on a pair of matched wedding rings.”
“Plain gold bands,” Callie said, giving Gordon a mischievous glance. She was looking particularly ravishing this morning with her apricot hair set off by a simple but beautifully fitted dark blue morning gown. “Inside the man’s ring that I’ll give my husband, I’d like you to engrave ‘My Lionheart.’ ”
Gordon grinned. “In that case, inside the ring for my lady, please engrave ‘My Catkin.’ ”
Mr. Tate blinked but recovered quickly. “Please write out the spelling that you wish. Very forward thinking of you to exchange rings. I do believe that it may be a coming fashion.” He smiled. “Naturally it’s a trend I approve of. Let me show you a few versions of a plain gold band, and then I’ll get your sizes. I can have the rings ready tomorrow, if you like.”
“That would be excellent.” Gordon was about to put a deposit on the rings when he noticed a tray of earrings on the counter. One pair was golden topazes dangling on delicate gold wires. He lifted one out and admired how the sunlight sparkled through the faceted gems. He glanced at Callie. “Do you like these? I haven’t given you a proper engagement present.”
“You don’t have to give me anything. It’s enough that you said yes when I proposed to you.” Nonetheless, she picked up the other earring and held it by her ear as she looked into a small mirror on the counter. “But these are lovely.”
For three years she’d been supporting a household of five people with never any money to spare. He had a sudden powerful urge to spoil her. “The gold matches your eyes. How much are the earrings, Mr. Tate?”
The negotiation was quick and satisfying for both parties. Callie slipped the gold wires in her ears, then rose on tiptoes to kiss Gordon’s cheek. “No one has ever taken such good care of me,” she whispered. “And sometimes even the most independent of women wants to be taken care of.”
Feeling ridiculously pleased, he kissed back more thoroughly while Mr. Tate tactfully ignored them and wrote up an invoice.
Then, laughing, he and Callie left arm in arm. He hadn’t laughed so much since their doomed elopement. Callie had always been able to make him laugh and feel good about life, and now that she was no longer tight with worry over war, her responsibilities to her foster family, or fear of being found by Henry Newell, she was her bright, happy self again—Callie, but enriched by fifteen more years of maturity and worldly wisdom.
Yes, he had his best friend back, and the prospect of sharing a bed with her for as long as they both should live was insanely appealing. But for now, he avoided being alone with her in any stair wells since they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. She deserved a proper bed, and that was only a few days away.
The vicar of St. Paul’s had agreed readily to a swift wedding. Harbow had lived many years in Maryland, but he was English born and still capable of being impressed by the fact that Gordon was the son of a marquess. He was also male enough to understand why a man would want to get Callie into his bed as soon as possible.
With church and wedding rings secured, the whole loft family went hunting for premises for the Adamses’ new home and businesses. Even Trey joined in, since the bullet wound in his left leg was healing so well he barely needed a cane.
On the afternoon of the second day, they found the perfect place. A spacious building on Charles Street, in the center of the city, it was only a few blocks from the waterfront. The current owner was a barrel maker, so the large backyard already had a woodworking shed and storage space.
Sarah loved the long kitchen and immediately decided where to place the large oven she would need for her cook shop. The building was in sound condition and the living quarters above were roomy and comfortable. The present owner had decided he wanted to move out of the city, so he was willing to take a bargain price in return for a quick transaction. Henry’s money would cover the purchase price handily.
After, Gordon bought everyone a celebration dinner at the grandest of the city’s taverns. Before they began to eat, he offered a toast. “To future happiness and satisfaction for us all, and no more wars!”
Everyone laughed and drank to that. As he looked around the circle of faces, he realized how much he would miss the Adamses. In a mere fortnight, they’d become like family. No, rather better than his own family. The six of them had been bonded by the shared experiences of war, and it was a bond they would never forget.
He raised his glass for a second toast. “We will all meet again, I promise you!”
“I will happily drink to that!” Josh said as they raised their glasses once more.
No one drank to excess, but they were all merry as they left the tavern and made their way back to the warehouse, two blocks away. It was already dark, but the streets were full of muddy, happy militiamen who had been released from their positions on Hampstead Hill and were now celebrating.
The mood was bright and Gordon and Callie brought up the rear of their small group, holding hands. When they reached the warehouse, a figure was pulling at the door rope and looking up hopefully. Molly recognized him first. “Peter!”
She bolted toward him in a most unladylike fashion, and he caught her in his arms with a kiss. “Molly!”
Ending the kiss but keeping his arm around Molly, Peter turned and greeted the others. “I’m glad to see you all. I wanted to assure Molly of my safety, and I have some news for you, Mrs. Newell.”
“Come upstairs and tell me there, Peter,” she said as Josh unlocked the door, which now had a new and much more secure lock. “We’ve just come from dinner, but if you’d like something to eat, there is always fine food in Sarah’s kitchen!”
“That would be splendid, ma’am.” His gaze went to Molly again. The lad was seriously smitten, and so was the lass.
Josh lit a lantern in the short passage at the bottom of the stairs and guided them up. The door at the top had also been rebuilt more sturdily and with a new lock.
Inside, as lamps were lit, Peter said, “Mrs. Newell, I thought you’d want to know that your lawyer, Mr. Key, and the other Americans with him were just released by the British and arrived here in Baltimore this evening.”
He paused to gratefully accept a tankard of ale from Sarah. “He and Mr. Skinner were able to obtain the release of the elderly doctor whose captivity sent them to the fleet to begin with, and they also have a list of all prisoners held by the British, which is a great relief to the families.”
“Wonderful!” Callie exclaimed. “For the prisoners, and for me. I have several legal issues that need to be addressed and we were thinking of calling on your uncle, but talking to Mr. Key will be even better. Do you know where he’s staying? It’s too late to call on him this evening, but perhaps first thing in the morning.”
“They’re at the Indian Queen Hotel, not far from here. That big building on the corner of Baltimore and Hanover streets.”
Peter’s eyes lit up when he saw Molly approaching with a tray of hot food. “Thank you, Molly! It’s wonderful to return to civilization after days in muddy ditches. Our big news is the lack of news because after a day of playing cat and mouse opposite our lines, the British troops withdrew in the middle of the night without offering battle. We wondered if they might attack elsewhere, but they boarded the naval ships and they’re now well and truly gone. Is there any news here?”
“You may offer me congratulations,” Gordon said with a ridiculously wide smile. “Callie has agreed to marry me. The wedding will be in three days in St. Paul’s, and of course you’re invited.”
“How splendid!” Peter exclaimed. “I shall certainly attend. Has anything else interesting happened?”
That gave Josh the chance to talk about their new home and businesses. Peter knew the location on Charles Street and approved. If he was bothered by the idea of the girl he fancied living above a shop, there was no sign of it.
Nonetheless, Gordon found himself with a strange paternal desire to ask Peter’s intentions with regard to Molly. Such inquiries should properly come from Josh, but realistically, former slaves might be reluctant to question a young white man from a distinguished and wealthy local family.
Gordon waited till the flurry of conversation had died down and Peter had finished eating before he invited the young man to join him on the balcony. Looking somewhat wary, Peter accompanied him outside.
Gordon closed the door behind them, then leaned on the railing, his hands clasped in front of him as he gazed out at the harbor. “I like your city.”
Mirroring his pose, Peter replied, “So do I. Baltimore’s defense is going to inspire the rest of the country and help our peace negotiators in Ghent, I think. This city is going to grow and prosper and I’m excited to be part of it.”
“I had the impression that the Carroll family already owns a good bit of the city and the state.”
Peter chuckled. “The family is a large one. My branch is well off but not the extremely wealthy Carrolls.”
Glad to hear this, Gordon commented, “So it might be less of an issue if you marry a girl who isn’t as wealthy and isn’t from an old Maryland family.” His voice became edged. “Assuming you’re serious about Molly.”
“If you’re asking whether my intentions are honorable, sir, the answer is yes. Molly is beautiful, but even better, she’s good and she’s wise.” Peter glanced at Gordon in the darkness. “And she makes me feel good. As a newly betrothed man, I should think you would understand that.”
Peter had just given a fine summary of how Gordon felt about Callie. “Yes, I do understand. But Callie and I have known each other since the nursery.”
“While Molly and I have known each other only days,” Peter said quietly. “My feelings might change and so might hers. She’s young and I’m not that much older. I will be unable to consider marriage until my legal training is complete. But for now, I want to court her honorably for as long as we both care for each other. My hope is that someday we’ll be standing at that same altar where you and Mrs. Newell will take your vows. Does that address your concerns?”
“It does.” Gordon chuckled. “I’ll probably be in England and not well placed to observe your courtship, but Josh is quite capable of thrashing you should that be needed.”
“It won’t be.”
The harbor water was dark, but lights were visible on the triumphant Star Fort and around the harbor. Gordon asked, “Do you know how Key and the others returned to the city? The ships sunk to block the entrance to the harbor haven’t been raised yet, so there isn’t normal traffic.”
“Key and Skinner were in a small sloop that edged by the blockade ships. Nothing larger would have been able to get into the harbor.”
“I’m glad small boats can make it in. Our transportation back to England should be along soon.” If a small sloop could enter the harbor, a dinghy from the Zephyr wouldn’t have any problem.
“Back to England?” Peter asked curiously.
“I’m English in my bones,” Gordon replied. “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t celebrate when Baltimore withstood the British attack. If the city had been conquered and burned, it might have effectively destroyed your United States. The world is better off with another Anglo-Saxon nation to balance British arrogance.”
Peter laughed. “You’re very clear sighted about your homeland.”
“I’ve seen a great deal of the world. The parts shaped by British notions of law and justice are better off, but too much power breeds arrogance and bullying. Better when power is shared between nations.” He gazed over the harbor, thinking that within a week, he’d be sailing away with his bride by his side. But this city and these people were part of him now. He and Callie would be back.