His mother walked into the room with a purposeful stride. “Do you want to explain to me why the guest bedrooms are being prepared?”
“I have invited Mrs. Burkard and her son to reside with us until I can find them a more adequate place to live.”
“I’m afraid I am not acquainted with Mrs. Burkard.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. She used to work at the milliner’s shop.”
His mother gave him a blank stare. “Pray tell, why would you invite her into our home, as a guest, no less?”
Colin grew solemn as he shared, “Because she is the wife of the man who saved my life.”
Her face softened as understanding dawned. “Then I shall treat this Mrs. Burkard and her son as our honored guests.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“It is the least I can do.”
Leaning back in his seat, he said, “I had been searching for Sam Burkard’s relations since I arrived home, but I was fortunate to discover that Mrs. Burkard was one of my tenants.”
“What do you intend to do with them?”
“The cottage they were renting is uninhabitable,” Colin said. “I intend to gift them a cottage on our lands and see to it that Peter is properly educated.”
“That is most generous of you.”
Colin shook his head. “It is just a little thing.”
“To you, perhaps, but you are changing their lives for the better.”
He hesitated before saying, “There is one thing that I need your help with.”
“Which is?”
“Mrs. Burkard does not have proof that she was wed, and I’m afraid the people in the village do not believe she is a respectable, married woman.”
“How awful,” his mother said. “That is why it is so important to safeguard the marriage lines.”
“I agree, but there were some extenuating circumstances,” he replied.
“Such as?”
“I’m afraid she lost the marriage lines in a fire. They barely escaped with their lives.”
His mother came and sat down nearby. “Has she returned to the vestry and reviewed the parish register book?”
“The clerk has denied her that right.”
“That is most unfortunate.”
“I will not rest until I prove that Mrs. Burkard was properly married to her husband.”
“And if you can’t prove that?”
Colin shrugged. “It changes little for me.”
“I can tell this is truly important to you.”
“It is,” he replied firmly.
