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She looked surprised, then thoughtful. “How long has he loved Mrs. Halpert? I cannot believe I failed to notice. I spent so many evenings with the both of them together.”
“I’m not sure. He did not confide in me, I merely made the connection. I had an inkling about Andrew’s feelings, and when I went to visit Mrs. Halpert one day and noticed the chessboard, I asked if she’d like to play a game. She told me the game she and Andrew had played was interrupted, and she’d like to save it. There was something about her expression when she said it that clued me in. She had feelings for him. That was when I realized it was reciprocated, though I do not know if either of them is aware of the other’s feelings.”
“Because they are both too humble?”
“Mrs. Halpert certainly is. She has been rather concerned with how she will repay the both of you for your help. I am certain she wouldn’t dream of admitting to any feelings when she already feels so beholden.”
“And Andrew never would either,” Amelia said, frowning. “Not while she is under his care and still in mourning for her husband.”
“Which, to his credit, is only fair. He could not do otherwise.”
Amelia sunk into him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her temple against his broad shoulder.
He closed his arms around her and rested his chin lightly against the top of her head, sighing. Andrew deserved this same happiness. “Perhaps we ought to nudge them a little.”
“I’ve been thinking that very same thing.”
The door opened behind them, and Amelia pulled away. Charles let her go, albeit reluctantly, and found a woman dismounting the steps, her frazzled, gray hair at odds with her slim, lithe motions.
“Mrs. Fowler,” Amelia said, stepping forward to speak to the woman. “Forgive me for leaving you so long.”
“You’re quite all right, dear. I need to be getting home though, and this nice young man is going to assist me.”
A footman stepped behind her, carrying a satchel that likely belonged to this woman. He dipped his head to Amelia and Charles. “I was going to take the gig.”
“Very good, Matthew,” Amelia said with the dignity and confidence of a woman who ran her household well. She approached the woman at the base of the steps, and Charles followed her. “I cannot thank you enough. Should you ever find yourself in need of anything, please do not hesitate to call on me.”
Mrs. Fowler had an uncomfortably piercing gaze. She looked between Amelia and Charles, and when her eyes rested on him, he was fairly certain she looked into his soul. Reaching forward and clasping Amelia’s forearm, she gave a knowing smile. “I will, dear. Goodnight.”
Matthew led the way to the carriage house, and Mrs. Fowler followed him, leaving Charles and Amelia in the pooled light from the open front door.
“Would you like to meet little Georgina?” she asked. Something about her demeanor was relaxed, as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and it made him glad.
Charles followed Amelia up the steps and into the house. “Is that what Mrs. Halpert named her baby?”
“Yes.”
“For George,” Charles said, his chest tightening. The entrance of little Georgina into Mrs. Halpert’s life could not have been easy for her, not when it would make her feel so keenly the absence of George. “Do you think she would prefer to be left alone?”
“We cannot know until we ask.”
They made it into the house and up the stairs, and Amelia motioned for him to wait while she opened the door and peeked inside. A muffled sound came from the room. “Mr. Fremont would like to greet the babe.”
More muffled sounds came, and Amelia opened the door wider, stepping away to indicate to Charles to precede her. He stepped inside and was overcome by the picture of Mrs. Halpert, resting in bed, a satisfied smile on her face and a quiet bundle in her arms.
Crossing closer to the bed, Charles took note of the curly dark hair and miniature nose and grinned at her. “She’s beautiful.”
“I think so, too,” Mrs. Halpert said, casting a loving smile at her sleeping baby. “She has George’s scowl and his stubborn chin.”
Charles laughed quietly. He could certainly see the resemblance.
Andrew sat in the chair opposite him and watched Mrs. Halpert in adoration.
“She is so small,” Charles said.
Andrew nodded as though he’d been thinking the same thing. “She arrived earlier than planned, so it is natural that she is so small. But we will watch her carefully, and I do not believe we have anything to worry over. She is strong and healthy.”
Mrs. Halpert’s cheeks pinked. “I would have mentioned the pains earlier, but I did not think they could possibly mean the birth was impending. I did not think she could come early.”
