Page 94 of Holding Onto Love

Vanessa balked. Who? Who could have come? “What do you mean?”

“He passed by, and I was outside and he tipped his hat and asked if that was your cottage and I said yes.” Charlotte drew a breath. “I don’t think he would’ve said his name, but I introduced myself.”

“Charlotte!” Introducing herself to strange men?

“Mr. Frederick Bastion, he said. Just like that. Proper. Like you.”

“Bastion?” Why did that name sound familiar?

“He said he fought with Henry in Portugal and came to pay his respects. He has some memories and a couple of Henry’s things.” Charlotte looked at her hopefully, as if this were the man she must be waiting for, who would whisk her away.

“I-I’m trying to remember him.” How would a fellow soldier know where to find her?

“Hard to believe he was an infantryman though.” Charlotte tugged at the tight waist of her dress. “I’ve never seen such a horse.”

Ah.

“Was he very tall and blond? Thin?”

Charlotte giggled. “Like a fence post.”

Crispin. She hoped nothing was wrong.

“I remember him.” She started walking again. Faster. Charlotte trotted alongside.

“Handsome fellow.”

“Yes. Yes, he was.” She changed the subject. “I wrote to the ladies I knew back in London. I think they will buy boots.”

She babbled on until she could think of nothing more to babble about. Charlotte dove back in.

“Is Mr. Bastion married?”

“Yes.” Thank goodness. An easy out. “I recall his wife. Lovely girl. There were two children, too, if I remember rightly.”

Charlotte’s face fell. Vanessa walked even faster so that they both grew breathless and could not continue conversing until they reached Charlotte’s house. Ahead, Vanessa could see a horse grazing in front of her own cottage. She could see what Charlotte meant. That had to be the fabled Mercury.

“Should I come with you?” Charlotte asked.

She probably should. But Vanessa decided going into her cottage alone with a man could not scandalize Charlotte any more than the conversation she and Crispin would have. And she was tired of stepping so carefully all the time to protect a reputation for propriety that she did not deserve.

“Oh, no. It’s fine. He’s not dangerous.” Ha! “And I want to hear what he has to say about Henry.”

She left Charlotte staring after her and tried to walk more sedately the last many yards. Closer, she saw him. Lolling at her gate.

“Mr. Bastion?” she said coming up to him, heart in her throat.

He turned and grinned, then bowed. “Mrs. Wardrip.” His manner of greeting told her nothing was wrong. She almost floated with relief.

“Why do I know that name?”

“Do you? He’s Reginald’s mentor. Or perhaps a colleague. I hadn’t an alias planned, and it was the first name that popped out on my tongue. How would you know—”

“It’s a long story. Come inside, will you? I’m so pleased to see you, I’m about to hug you and Charlotte is still watching.”

“I would say that is the nicest welcome I’ve ever had, but Jasper hugged me so hard when I got back to London I think he dislodged something.”

Vanessa laughed from pure happiness. She opened the door and ushered him inside. Three days ride, yet he smelled of soap. Soap and horse. She did hug him. Hard. But she pulled away startled.