A sudden, irrational fear took hold of her as he spun around to go away. “Will I see you again?” she nearly yelled.
His hard features softened. “I will seek you before leaving for London for a proper farewell.”
Farewell. How sad. But he was a stranger. She shouldn’t feel shattered by his departure. Yet as he raised a hand in goodbye, heading for the town, she couldn’t deny the sense of loss gripping her.
two
THE INN ON the outskirts of the town where Ethan had booked a room was still standing, but the innkeeper wouldn’t allow anyone to enter. A crack had ripped through the wall like a bolt of lightning, and the roof was set askew. Unless Ethan wanted to risk being buried under the rubble again, his only chance was to spend the night in the camp and leave for London the next day. He’d hoped the inn would have been undamaged since it wasn’t in the town centre. No such luck.
If he were honest, he didn’t mind the idea of staying. He’d have the opportunity to see how Cora and her son were faring one last time. Hard to believe such a sweet woman was Lord Roxbury’s wife. He hadn’t told Cora the complete truth. He knew her husband better than he’d let her believe. Lord Roxbury had been at the military academy with Ethan. When the order to join the British army on a real battlefield had arrived, Roxbury had quietly been dismissed after his father had pulled all possible strings to keep his precious son safe. Not that Ethan could blame a parent for wanting to protect his child, but while Roxbury was a formidable fighter, he didn’t shine for bravery, humility, or kindness.
If Roxbury had been a common man and not a titled one, he would have been dishonourably discharged for his outbursts about refusing to go to battle, his arrogance, and his insults against fellow cadets. Cora might not be aware of her husband’s shameful cowardice, or maybe she didn’t care. Or perhaps Roxbury had grown to be a wise man. Whatever the truth was, informing her of how Roxbury had begged his father to be removed from the academy was none of Ethan’s business. Many men didn’t possess the courage to march to the battlefield, but Roxbury had retired from the army right after receiving the order to leave for Lias. He was nothing more than a deserter.
The closer Ethan walked to the camp, the faster he went. He changed his mind about talking to Cora when he spotted her out of her tent, hugging her son and laughing softly with him. Mother and son shared the same auburn hair and eyes the colour of warm whiskey. When she laughed as heartily as she did now, her whole face brightened, and the scatter of freckles on her pert nose became more evident. No, he shouldn’t disturb her. She was happy and safe. That was all that mattered. Somehow, leaving her started an ache in his chest, but he was about to sail to the Indian Ocean on a dangerous mission. He needed to focus.
He turned around when she called him.
“Ethan. It’s me.”
The amount of happiness surging inside him at hearing his name on her lips was ridiculous. “My lady.” He faced her and bowed.
She brushed a curl from her face. “You really don’t like children. Is this why you were leaving without saying a word?” Her light tone tore a smile from him.
“I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Not at all. I was telling David how brave you were in the church while I was terrified.”
He shifted his weight, not sure why the compliment started an odd flutter in his belly. “Hardly brave. I’m afraid I can’t do anything about earthquakes. We were lucky.”
“You’re being modest.” She positively glowed when David shuffled closer to hold his mother’s hand.
“Evening, my lord.” David stared up at him with large eyes before averting his gaze.
“Lord Stark, this is my son, David.” She caressed his curls with a tender gesture.
“Thank you for saving my mama.” David offered Ethan a small, shaking hand.
The boy had courage. Ethan had to give him that. David looked terrified but was ready to shake the hand of the man who intimidated him.
Ethan obliged. “It was an honour.”
He closed his hand around David’s tiny one, and an odd sense of responsibility weighed on him, which didn’t make sense. He would soon leave for the other side of the world. Why would he feel responsible for a child he barely knew and who had a loving mother?
David flashed a smile before putting some distance between them.
“We were going to the canteen to help with the dishes since many people were wounded. Would you like to join us?” Cora said.
David nodded, half-hiding behind his mother.
“I would,” Ethan said. Why not be useful?
As they walked along the path between two rows of tents, David threw curious glances at him. The child had none of his father’s features. Hopefully, his character was different.
Ethan’s military training proved useful in the canteen. He set up a chain of work to wash, rinse, and dry the dishes as Coraand David worked next to him. The boy tried many times to say something, but he always stopped before talking.
“Is there something you want to tell me, lad?” Ethan tried not to sound too serious.
Cora gave David an encouraging nod.
