Mrs Cather stood in the doorway, twisting her apron in her hand. “Do you know yet if I should shut up the house after you leave? How long will you be staying in London this time?”
Nigel had asked himself that same question the entire night before, his own desires conflicting with the new reality before him following his conversation with Margaret. When he’d received word that Major Moorhouse was travelling to London and wished him to accompany him on the journey, he’d jumped at the opportunity to get out of the county for a time. His father had come to see him off, and at this question from Mrs Cather had protested brightly.
“Oh, he won’t be gone long, will you lad?” He smiled, bobbing about the room gathering the last valises. “You’ll have to come back to see your dear old father. We will leave the flat open for now, but if you wish it shut up in a few months, I shall arrange it then. Who’s to know what the future brings?”
Nigel looked at his father for a long moment. He wanted to tell him everything that had passed with Margaret, but the words seemed lodged on his tongue, as inaccessible as the future he had abandoned when he told her they could not be together.
His father frowned, perhaps perceiving his reluctance and wanting to know the reason behind it. “You will be back, won’t you?”
Nigel forced a smile. “Of course I will be back,” he said. “This is my home.”
“Have you been to the Somerville estate to inform them of your plans to travel?” his father asked. The question was innocent enough, but Nigel heard the enquiry in his father’s tone and knew the older man really wanted to know about Margaret.
He didn’t answer, only shouldered his bag and bid his father farewell one last time. As he was walking out the door, however, his father stopped him and slipped a letter into his coat. “I was to deliver this to you today,” he said quietly.
Nigel frowned, but did not investigate the letter further. He nodded to his father and walked out to where Andrew was waiting in the carriage. When they were underway, he asked to where they might be heading and for how long they would be there.
“I wondered when you would wish to know our plans,” Andrew grinned. “Our visit to the city has everything to do with you, my dear sir. I wrote to the movers and shakers in London and recommended you for a knighthood after your bravery in battle. I believe that you will be awarded a higher commission in addition, although the knighthood is not certain, and you may believe me that you will be rivalling me for the title of major before the season is out.”
Nigel was shocked into momentary silence. When he found his voice again he asked, “Why did you not tell me of this sooner?”
“I thought you might be lying dead on the beach following a duel,” Andrew said drily. He raised his eyebrows at Nigel. “I jest, but in reality, I knew that you would not be easily convinced to appear for anything in your honour, especially when it meant leaving the side of a certain young lady you admire.”
Nigel looked out of the window. “There is nothing tying me to Cornwall in that way,” he said quietly.
Andrew frowned. “Has there been some trouble, Nigel? I could have sworn, in our last conversation, that you were besotted with the lass and would never think of turning your affections elsewhere. I must add that she seemed equally taken when she came to me pleading for an end to the duel.”
“Things are not so easy as they seem,” Nigel said quietly. “What is good for the heart is not always the best for life and happiness.”
Andrew crossed his arms but said nothing to argue with him. “We have a long ride ahead of us. Whatever passed between you and Lady Margaret, I suggest you put it from your mind and choose instead to think of your future.”
Halfway to London, Nigel remembered the letter his father had tucked into his jacket. He pulled it out, expecting to see Guy Bateson’s familiar shaky scrawl. But the letter was not from his father at all – it was from Margaret. He would have known her elegant handwriting anywhere, even though the missive was titled with only the words Captain Bateson. He looked up at Andrew and, seeing that his travelling companion