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The next days of Daniel’s enforced stay saw a welter of conversations with such people as Rebecca, the minister, Mrs. Stapleton, and the solicitor, with whom he variously explained the situation, sought assurance over reputation, and procured recommendations about which builders could be trusted to attend to Mannering’s deep-seated issues. Such conversations were swiftly followed by letters to the appropriate concerned parties, one of which included a missive to Lieutenant Musgrave, explaining the necessary delay to the expected return to London. In much of this, Miss Stapleton proved invaluable, concerned as she was with his health and doling out frequent encouragement not to overexert himself.
“Which must seem strange to you,” she said, on one of these occasions, “when it is apparent that one does not achieve heroic status without exerting oneself.”
“Truly, I wish people would not hold that against me.”
“Hold your courage against you? Never.” She smiled.
He’d found himself thinking about that smile on more than one occasion.
She was a good nurse. Quick to notice when he was in pain, quick to offer diversion by way of interesting conversation, which veered from amusing anecdotes of the locals to those which hinted at some of the struggles Clara had faced these past years.
He did not get the sense Miss Stapleton blamed him for staying away. Indeed, her conversations about her father and grandfather showed she quite understood the need for men to serve their country, which necessitated their time away from family. Her graciousness didn’t help his renewed regrets, although it did spark fresh determination to help provide for Becky as best he could.
His niece did not seem overly disappointed by the situation. On the contrary, while not precisely pleased about his predicament, she made no effort to hide her pleasure at being able to stay in the district a little longer. “Oh, Uncle, I am indeed sorry that you are in pain—are you in great pain?”
“I find the distraction of conversation with people such as yourself helps keep my mind on other things.”
“Would you like some other visitors? I know Mr. Siddons isn’t as bright as one might like—Theo says he likely was born without a sense of humor, which must be why he and the general get on so well.”
Daniel smiled.
“Oh! I didn’t mean to sound so disparaging, because it is indeed kind of the general to let you stay here too.”
“I don’t know if Miss Stapleton gave him much choice.”
“She is quite marvelous, isn’t she?” Becky enthused. “I don’t think I know anyone quite like her. She’s always so kind and positive and can turn the worst situation around with just a smile or a jest.”
“A true paragon.”
After a beat, Becky asked, “Don’t you like her? I thought that the two of you got on.”
“Indeed I do,” he hurried to assure. “But I find I have no desire to injure her reputation by staying here.”
“I don’t think she gives a snap about things like that.”
“She may not, but I suspect there are others who may.”
“You mean her mother? Mrs. Stapleton is such a dear. It’s a shame she is not well enough to venture out very often.”
“The weather does not make that easy either,” he said with a smile. “But no, she was not whom I was thinking of.” Mrs. Stapleton had assured him it was their Christian duty to care for him, so he had no misgivings there.
“You mean the likes of Lady Bellingham,” Becky guessed. “She is hardly a concern, although I’ve always thought she wished for her son to marry Theo.”
His stomach tensed.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that. You can’t have been too surprised. Not that they would suit, well, not to my way of thinking anyway. Theo is much too lively and clever for the likes of him.”
He silently agreed. But conscious of a certain assessing look in his niece’s eye, he hastened to turn the subject. “Have you no suitors, Becky?”
“Me? How could I? I am not quite seventeen.”
“Age does not determine whether one has suitors.”
“It does here,” she said bluntly. “Mama was always encouraging Theo to travel, because there were no young men of her age in the vicinity. But Theo has always said she could never leave her mother to cope with the general alone. He is rather frightening.” She shuddered.
“How so?”
“I suppose you have not seen it yet, as he has been behaving rather well. But he’s known as General Contrary. He can seem quite pleasant one moment, then quite horrid the next. I have heard him shout and hurl abuse at anyone who dares come near.”
