“I can say the same thing about you.”
Colin took a sip of his drink. “You don’t fight in the army and not pick up a few of your own demons to fight.”
“You are home now, and it is time for you to let go of your past.”
“I only wish it was that simple,” Colin said.
“Why can’t it be?”
Colin set his glass down onto the drink cart. “I can’t walk long without limping because of my wound.”
“That will heal with time.”
“It has been nearly eight months.”
“You must be patient.”
“That is what the doctors keep saying, but I am of a mind that they are all quacks,” Colin declared.
John gave him a frustrated look. “Not all doctors are quacks.”
“Regardless, I refuse to let the doctor blood-let me again,” Colin said. “I hated having leeches on me.”
“When did this happen?”
“After I was shot,” Colin replied. “I woke up in a tent full of the wounded as the doctor was stitching me up. Afterwards, he suggested I would benefit from bloodletting, and I was too weak to protest.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, but I’m pleased you were able to come home.”
“I’m not,” Colin replied. “I would have preferred to continue fighting. I was fulfilling my duty to my king and country.”
“By taking up your seat in the House of Lords, you are also doing your duty.”
“But it is much less exciting.”
“I don’t dispute that, but earls should not be fighting on the front lines.”
Colin picked his drink up again and took a long sip. “I don’t know why it matters, since you are my heir.”
John put his hands up. “Much like you, I have no desire to be an earl,” he protested. “I hope you have a long life and sire many boys.”
“If I ever marry.”
John smirked. “You will just have to slowly woo Arabella,” he said. “You did it once before, and you can do it again.”
“The situations were very different,” Colin remarked. “I’m afraid it is much more complicated now.”
John walked over to the door. “Be careful with her,” he counseled. “I have always believed that she was the best thing to ever happen to you.”
“I agree.”
“Then go convince her of that.”
Colin reached out and set his empty glass on the tray. “Wish me luck.”
* * *
Arabella pulledthe needle and thread through the fabric as she glanced over at the window. She had no doubt that Colin would be calling on her soon, but she truly wished he wouldn’t. Seeing him again caused a stirring of her old feelings for him. Unwanted feelings; whatever they’d had between them ended the moment he broke off the engagement.
