The Artist's Healer - Regina Scott Page 0,43

aside as soon as he entered the flat that evening while Jack waited at the door.

“Abigail is fetching dinner from the Mermaid,” Mrs. Archer told Linus, eyes bright in a face that was beginning to wrinkle with cares. “And Ethan is gathering his things. I just want you to know you have my blessing.”

She was so fervent, but she could not mean what he thought. “Blessing?” Linus asked.

She smiled. “To propose to Abigail, of course. I already think of Ethan as my grandson, so it will be easy.”

Easy, she said, as if adding another person, another family, to his life was anything less than complicated. If his own conflicted feelings weren’t enough to give him pause, he had to consider Ethan. His son had been through so much in the last year. Was he any more ready for Linus to marry again?

“You seem to be getting on well with Mrs. Archer,” Linus ventured as they walked home, Jack lumbering a respectful distance behind. Linus hadn’t wanted to frighten his son by mentioning the kidnapping; he’d only told the boy that the village wanted to ensure their safety at the odd hours he worked. So the boy didn’t question their hulking shadow now.

“She’s very nice,” Ethan agreed, gaze on the pebbles at his feet.

“And what of Miss Archer?” Linus asked, shoulders tensing.

“She’s nice too,” Ethan allowed, shifting the books he carried. “She’s a little like Mother.”

Now his throat and back felt tight as well. He forced his voice to come out neutrally. “Oh? In what way?”

“She’ll talk to me, play games with me, but she doesn’t get tired of me like Mother did.”

An ache spread through him. If only he could assure Ethan his mother had never tired of him, but he couldn’t. Cat had hated motherhood, seeing it as one more chain to bind her. He couldn’t even assure Ethan she had loved him. If she had truly loved her son, or Linus, she would never have taken such risks.

“Miss Archer is a singular lady,” he said instead. “I’m glad you’ve had the chance to become better acquainted.”

“Me too,” Ethan said. “I heard Mrs. Archer tell Mr. Carroll she hopes you’ll get married. That might be nice.”

Linus stumbled on the path and righted himself in time to climb the steps to the cottage door. “You wouldn’t mind if I brought home a wife, a new mother for you?”

Ethan looked up into his eyes at last, face drawn. Was Linus mad to see hope as well? “So long as she doesn’t leave us like Mother did.”

Linus lay a hand on his shoulder, so small, so fragile. “None of us knows when we’ll be called to Heaven, Ethan, but most people don’t actively seek to leave now.”

“I know,” Ethan said. “I was worried at first you’d go after her, because that’s what you always did. Mother would dash off, and you would go find her and bring her home. But you stayed with me this time.”

Tears were burning his eyes. Linus went down on one knee and wrapped his arms about his son. “I will always stay with you, Ethan. You are my son. I love you. So long as there is breath in my body, I will be here with you.”

Ethan lay his head on Linus’s shoulder, and he felt the sigh go out of him. “When they hear Mother is dead, everyone says I must miss her. Is it bad that I don’t miss her so much?”

“No.” Linus pulled away to look his son in the face. The downturned eyes, the tight cheeks, tugged at his heart. “You didn’t know your mother well. She wasn’t as much a part of your life as some mothers. Missing her or not is entirely up to you and quite natural.”

He nodded as if drawing comfort from the words. “Good. I’d miss you more, though. You mustn’t let those Frenchies capture you again.”

Linus’s brows shot up. “Where did you get the idea I was about to be captured by the French?”

He glanced back at Hornswag, who grimaced, and Linus could only wonder how much he’d overheard.

“Mrs. Archer was talking with Mr. Hornswag the other day,” Ethan admitted. “And Charlie Lawrence in my class with the vicar mentioned it as well. Mr. Wingate, the vicar, said we should pray for your safety.”

Linus rose. “With such men as Mr. Hornswag at my back, I am perfectly safe. And so are you.”

Now, if he just knew what to do about Abigail.

~~~

Linus Bennett did not attempt to kiss