“Lonely. We’re getting sick of each other’s company. Travis is going to England in the spring to look for a wife.”
“To England? But there are several beautiful young women right around here.”
Wesley shrugged. “That’s what I told him, but I think you spoiled him. Personally, I’m going to wait for you. If Clay doesn’t wise up soon, I’m going to try to steal you away from him.”
“Don’t say that, please,” she whi
spered. “I think maybe I’m superstitious.”
“Nicole, something is wrong, isn’t it?”
Tears came to her eyes. “I’m just so tired and…I haven’t seen Clay in weeks. I don’t know what he’s doing. I have this awful fear that he’s fallen in love with Bianca and doesn’t want to tell me.”
Smiling, Wes put his arms around her, pulling her close. “You have too much to do, too much responsibility. The last thing you should have to worry about is Clay’s love. How can you think he’s in love with a bitch like Bianca? If she’s in his house and you’re here, then it’s for a damned good reason.” He paused. “Your safety, maybe, since I can’t think of anything else that would keep Clay away from you.”
Sniffling, she nodded against him. “Did he tell you?”
“Some of it, but not much. Come on, let’s go help them build a snowman, or better yet, let’s challenge them to a snowman duel.”
“Yes,” she smiled, drawing away from him. She wiped her eyes with her knuckle. “You’ll think I’m no older than the twins.”
He kissed her forehead as he smiled. “Some child! Come on, let’s go before they use up all the snow.”
A voice crying from the direction of the river stopped them. “Hello! Is anyone home?”
Wesley and Nicole turned and walked toward the wharf.
An older man, heavyset, with a fresh scar across his left cheek, was walking toward them. He wore the dress of a sailor, a knapsack thrown over his shoulder. “Mrs. Armstrong?” he said as he came to stand before her. “Don’t you remember me? I’m Dr. Donaldson from the Prince Nelson.”
He did seem vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t remember exactly where she’d seen him before.
Several lines showed at the corners of his eyes as he smiled. “The circumstances were, I admit, not the best when we met, but I see things have turned out well.” He held out his hand to Wesley. “You must be Clayton Armstrong.”
“No,” Wes said as he took the man’s hand. “I’m a neighbor, Wesley Stanford.”
“Oh, I see. Well, then, maybe I am needed. I hoped things had changed, I mean with this young lady being so kind and pretty.”
“The doctor on the ship!” Nicole gasped. “At the marriage!”
“Yes.” He grinned. “As soon as I got to England, a message reached me that I was to return to Virginia at once since I was the only witness who would testify that it was a forced marriage. I came as soon as I could and got directions to the mill. It was confusing about where the Armstrong plantation was and who lived at the mill. I took my chances and came here first.”
“I am so glad you did. Are you hungry? I could scramble some eggs and there’s ham and bacon and a pot of beans.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.”
Later, when the three of them were seated at the table, the doctor told them of the captain of the Prince Nelson and his first mate, Frank. Both men had been drowned on their return trip to England.
“I refused to sail with them again after what they’d done to you. I guess I should have tried to stop them but I knew they’d just get another witness, and besides, I knew the annulment laws too. I knew I’d be the witness you needed if you did want that annulment.”
“Then why did you go back to England so fast?” Wes asked.
The doctor grinned. “I didn’t exactly have a choice. We were all in a tavern celebrating our safe arrival. The next thing I knew, I woke aboard ship with a splitting headache. It was three days before I could even remember my name.”
A loud tapping coming from the ceiling interrupted his talk and made Nicole jump. “My mother! I forgot her breakfast. Please excuse me.” With deftness, Nicole poached an egg and carefully set it atop a day-old slice of brioche, next to an apple tart on a separate plate and a steaming cup of café au lait. She hurried up the stairs with it.
“Sit with me for a while,” Adele said. “It’s very lonely here.”
“There is a guest below, but later I’ll come and we can talk.”