“No!” She shrugged her hand away. “I can’t! He looks so … so…” Cecily’s eyes were round with horror.
Raging anger exploded through Serena’s veins. Gripping Cecily’s shoulders, she shook her. “This is what a hero of the nation looks like! Remember what you said! It isn’t glorious and it isn’t noble! He no longer looks like your glittering dream hero, does he? He looks like a man who has fought bravely for his country. Which do you truly love, Cecily, your dream of him or the man he truly is?”
Cecily shook with her sobs while tears ran unceasingly down her cheeks. “The man, Serena, the man!” she cried, tearing out of Serena’s grip to race after him.
“I shall see to him until you arrive, Serena,” Buckle said calmly from the door before following Cecily.
Alone with Longford, Serena turned to look at him. The dark hair was tumbled over the chiseled forehead. Mud clung to his usually impeccable clothing and caked his Hessians.
“Longford, what of Matt?” Finally she asked the question that drove her through each hour of this interminable wait.
“He is well. We parted near Genappe. He ordered me not to let Kendall die. I promised him we wouldn’t.”
“I shall keep your promise,” she declared hoarsely, unshed tears choking her throat. “What is happening?”
“They held the French at Quatre Bras. But tomorrow will be the great confrontation.” He shrugged. “And that outcome only God knows.”
Climbing back on his horse, Longford stared down at her. “I must get back. Will you be all right here? There is panic in the city.”
Lifting her chin, she stared back at him. “Don’t concern yourself about us.”
He laughed with that genuine note which was so rare. “I told Matt, between you, Cecily, and Buckle, the devil should beware.”
“The next time you see Matt, tell him—”
“No!” he bit out. “You shall tell him yourself, I promise,” he declared grimly, wheeling his horse and galloping away, leaving her staring after him.
Yes, she must tell him herself. If only she was given another chance!
Fear settled firmly into the fabric of her being. Fear that she’d never have the chance to say the words which burned in her heart.
She loved him. Forever.
The Love Match
Throughout the long evening, Serena paced in the hallway outside Kendall’s room. Cecily sat in a straight-backed chair against the wall, not daring to move or make a sound until the surgeon came out with a report. Occasionally into the silence fell a low moan, and Cecily’s knuckles whitened. But since Serena asked the all-important question, Cecily’s resolve had never faltered.
As the door finally opened, both women held their breath.
The doctor rolled down his shirt-sleeves and stared at them with red, tired eyes. “I’ve removed two bullets, one from the chest, and another from his arm. For a while I debated taking the arm, but his lordship assured me he’d have my head if I tried.”
“I must see him!” Cecily sobbed.
“He’s asleep now, miss, and probably will remain that way for some time.”
Cecily could wait no longer and flew past the doctor to see Kendall for herself.
“That man has lost much blood.” Beckoning Serena aside, he lowered his voice. “I don’t know what will be the outcome of his lordship’s wounds. Have you someone who can nurse him? There is no one I can send. The city is in chaos.”
“We can do it, if you just give us directions.” She was determined to keep Kendall safe. Somehow, although her mind knew it couldn’t be so, she had equated saving Kendall with keeping Matt safe on the battlefield.
“Expect a fever.” The doctor walked down the hall, giving her explicit instructions and a promise to return early the next morning. But tonight they must carry on alone.
Carry on. Yes, she must carry on as Matt would expect her to do. Matt, where are you! her spirit cried. Could he feel all the love and strength she was sending his way? At least he knew she was hare, she had come to be with him. Did he understand what that meant? Could he ever forgive her harsh words of parting?
She could only wait and hope for the chance to tell him what was in her heart.
Buckle with her calm good sense allowed the girls to sit quietly in Kendall’s room as he slept. They rolled lint bandages before the fire, scarcely daring to whisper. At dawn Cecily fell into a fretful slumber, slumped in a chair pulled next to Kendall’s bed. On the other side Buckle kept her vigil, the doctor’s instructions she and Serena had discussed committed to memory.
Pushing the drawn draperies aside just enough to see, Serena watched the sun rise. Matt would already be up and about on this day—a day of destiny, and only God knew the outcome.