A sob escaped Colett’s lips. Turning, she left the room.
“Daniel, I need you to listen to me, son. When did your ship leave Savannah?”
“July tenth.”
Closing his eyes he turned away briefly before looking back to me. “She most likely has already been told your ship never made it to England. I’m afraid your wife already thinks you have died.”
Tears began rolling down my cheeks. “I promised her, sir. I promised her I would come back.”
Nodding his head, he stood. “And so you shall. My family and I will do everything in our power to get you home to your family. You must heal, though, Daniel. Now that you are awake, we can begin feeding you and getting you healthier. Colett will write a letter to your Sophia and let her know you are alive. I will personally sail you back to America in one of my ships.”
“The baby, will I be back in time for the baby?” I asked with pleading eyes.
“When was she to deliver?”
Attempting to control the trembling in my body, I whispered, “Late January.”
There was a knock on the door. “Come,” Phillipe said in a controlled voice. A young girl walked in carrying a tray. Phillipe pointed to the table and she set it down, gave him a slight bow and made her way back out of the room.
“The winter months is no time to be attempting to travel across the ocean, but we do it all the time. We shall get you healed up and healthy enough to travel. We will get you back to your Sophia, but I cannot say if it will be in time for the birth of your child.”
Standing on the balcony, I looked over the French countryside. It has been over a month since I had woken up and learned I was in France. I was strong enough to get up and take short walks, but even I knew I didn’t have the strength or the health to make it across the ocean yet. My progress was not moving along as fast I would like. Hearing Colett clear her throat, I turned to her. Her smile reminded me of Sophia. Full of life. Her eyes were always sad, though. As if she knew the pain I felt. “There was no post today, Daniel.”
Nodding, I turned back to the view. “I don’t understand why we have not heard back from my parents or Sophia. None of it makes sense.”
“What of your uncle in England? We could draft a letter to him, maybe the post is having a hard time getting from France.”
Spinning around, I looked at Colett. Her family had done so much for me. They treated me as if I was a part of their family. I would forever be grateful to them for their kindness. I had promised Phillipe I would pay him back every bit of money he had spent looking out for my well-being. He would not hear of it, he would say. I walked toward Colett. She had been my rock the last few weeks. My strength if you would. Taking her into my arms, I gave her a quick hug. “I do believe I would be lost without you, Colett. That is a very good idea.”
Giving me a grin that said she was happy that I was pleased, she took my hand and led me back into the parlor. Sitting, she pulled out a piece of paper and the quill. As I talked, Colett wrote down my words. Folding the paper, Colett slipped it into the envelope and sealed it. “I shall deliver this to the post immediately. I have a few things to pick up for Christmas supper tomorrow.”
Colett began to leave when I reached for her arm. “Colette?”
Glancing back at me, her eyes seemed lost. “Yes, Daniel?”
“Why are you doing all of this for me?”
Her eyes glazed over with the threat of tears. “I’m doing this for love. I see it in your eyes when you speak of Sophia. I hear it in your voice. You love her very much.”
Grinning, I nodded my head. “I do, Colett. I’ll never love anyone like I love Sophia.”
Smiling sweetly, she nodded her head.
“Your eyes, Colett. They speak of sadness.”
Taking in a deep shaky breath, she barely spoke above a whisper, “My heart is still mending, Daniel. I am not sure I can speak of his name without tears falling.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “Colett, what you are feeling, I fear it is what my Sophia is feeling. Maybe what you need is to talk to someone. I couldn’t stand the thought of Sophia being as sad as you seem with no one to talk to.”
The instant the tear fell from her soft brown eyes, I felt ill. “My fiancé died from Scarlet Fever.”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m so sorry, Colett.” Focusing back on her, I placed my hand on the side of her face.
“It was last August, we were to be married here.” Colett broke down crying and I pulled her into my arms. “He was my world, Daniel. I feel as if I cannot breathe.”
Closing my eyes tightly, I held onto Colett as she cried. My heart ached as I thought of Sophia, carrying our child and hearing the news of my ship never making it to England.
Colett fell apart in my arms and I let her. My heart ached for Colett. Sophia and I were much luckier than Colett and her fiancé. For some day soon, I’d hold Sophia in my arms again.