She was introduced to the other ladies present. Some of them had brought their maids as well and Vickers joined them. Soon Elizabeth was cutting strips of linen while others were scraping lint to ensure that no fabric could get into a wound and cause an infection.
Sometime post-noon, there was a faint rumble in the distance. Elizabeth stopped what she was doing. “Artillery.”
“Already?” a lady said in a trembling voice. “My husband told me the battle would not be until tomorrow.”
They worked mostly in silence for the next hour or so before breaking up to go home. Georgy walked with her to therue Royale. “I shall most likely see you tomorrow.”
“I only pray that the bandages we made today are not needed.” A useless prayer, but the only one Elizabeth could think of.
“I as well.”
Geoffrey had still not returned to the house when she and Vickers arrived.
With her walking gown covered in lint, Elizabeth changed into a day dress and waited for him to come home. Fortunately, he arrived a few minutes later.
Striding into the parlor at the back of the house Elizabeth had claimed as a morning room, he kissed her. “Let me wash off my dirt, and I’ll be right down. When do we dine? I’m famished.”
For the first time that day, she laughed. “There is time for you to wash and have a glass of wine. Do you have news?”
“Yes. I’ll tell you what I know after I’ve washed and changed.”
Several minutes later, he was back, and she handed him a glass of claret. “We heard the guns today.”
“So did we all.” He drew her to the sofa and sat down beside her. “Napoleon surprised Wellington by attacking Charleroi. We had heard that, but today there was a battle at a place called Quatre Bras. There has been some pretty heavy fighting there.” He swallowed half his glass. “The king is in Alost. We will be leaving in the next few days. As soon as Napoleon is defeated, Sir Charles wants to get him to Paris as soon as possible.”
Elizabeth took a sip of her wine wishing she could gulp it down like her husband did. “Will we move to Alost?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I think we will. Unless the king comes to Brussels, that is.” Setting down his wine, he took her hands in his. “Do you mind all this uncertainty?”
“Not at all.” Or only a little, but not enough to matter. “I have informed our senior staff that they must be ready to depart at any time.”
For the second time that day, he pulled her into his arms, and she forgot she was supposed to be cold to him. “You are the best wife a man could have.”
Elizabeth’s heart swelled with joy, but her head was less sanguine. What did that mean to him? She had been so sure he’d begun to love her before she was afraid to trust herself now.
Unable to stop herself, she put her arms around him.
Drat the man.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Geoff dressed quickly and opened the door to Elizabeth’s room. The curtains were still drawn and she was sleeping soundly. He considered waking her, but satisfied himself with kissing her lightly on her lips. She stirred for a moment, and he waited, but it came to nothing when she rolled over.
Soon she’d be back in his bed where she belonged.
Last evening, he was certain she had almost forgiven him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t pursue the matter now.
He left the house, and as he turned ontorue Royalhe was met by the sight of bloodied soldiers straggling back from the battlefield. He did what he could to help a few of the men, but he had to get to Sir Charles.
Dragging a hand down his face, Geoffrey’s mind slipped to Elizabeth; she was never far from his thoughts. He had no doubt once his wife was up and about, she would be aiding wherever she could. Mayhap he should send a note telling her to remain in the house.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a lady kneeling to give water to one of the soldiers and knew he’d not be able to stop his wife from giving succor to those who needed it.
When he arrived at work he was informed that Wellington had sent a dispatch to Sir Charles that had arrived shortly after seven that morning providing an account of the battle and stating that the allies still held their ground.
“The next few days will tell,” Sir Charles said ominously. “Stand ready to remove from Brussels at a moment’s notice.”
“My wife has already given our servants that exact same order.” Geoff was more than grateful that Elizabeth had their household firmly in hand.
