CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The following morning, Arabella looked so well-rested he allowed her a bath and then helped her dress in her warm new black watch tartan gown. He took her over to Michael's house and they had a pleasant hour's visit.
Michael thought Arabella a bit more quiet than usual, but he did not suspect her memory was missing. She listened and absorbed details on the different people they spoke of, and commented when they had left, "He was very nice. He's suffered a lot."
"He has."
"We should stay with him for a few days some time in the near future, when you are not so anxious about my health. He would do well to go to the Baths with us again."
Blake stared. "You remember that?"
She nodded and began to describe not only the Baths but the Pump Room as well. Her memory was most definitely returning. Could she bear it when it did? Could he?
The following day they went to see Sarah Davenport and visited with her and the baby.
"You were very brave," Arabella said as she admired the baby. "It was almost ten hours, yet you hardly even let a peep out of you."
"If only Little John were as pacific as his mother," Alexander joked good-naturedly, and got a kiss from his wife.
Blake put his arm around his wife, and Arabella snuggled into him.
"What word from the Continent?"
"As we guessed. The French people adore Napoleon. There will be war as soon as he has the forces he wants and the weather improves. Sarah and I will be going to London now. It's been five weeks since Sarah had the baby and she's looking and feeling very well."
"But you were never in the Army, were you?" Arabella asked.
"No, but an army needs so many provisions and other items. That is where I excel," he said smoothly, "at finding things people need. It's what merchants do, after all."
He and his wife exchanged a warm smile.
Blake and Arabella stared at them. They were acting most oddly, but it wasn't really any of their business.
Besides, they had enough things to worry about themselves with her memory only coming back in fits and starts, and her having to try to cope with living an ordinary life when she felt she had so many gaps in her head.
"Glad to see you both looking so well," Sarah said with a smile. "Anyway, head on over to see Jonathan and Thomas, and we shall no doubt see you in London."
"Hopefully not on our way to the Continent," Blake said fervently.
"Amen to that," Sarah agreed.
They visited Jonathan at the Vicarage next. He was preparing to go into the service again as an Army chaplain. His wife was resigned to the fact that unless he could get special permission, she was going to have to remain behind.
"Pamela thinks she might be expecting, you see. I'd be really grateful if you would examine her, Blake. I mean, it's early days yet, but just give her a list of things to do and not do, and I want her to stay with Charlotte."
"And I'd like Arabella to stay with them both."
Arabella cast her husband a long look, but only when they had left the Deverils' home did she challenge him. "I don't want to be left at home. I need to be with you."
"You have no idea what the conditions will be like--"
"Do you honestly think I'm going to be safer here alone than with you?" she said with an impatient look.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his dark hair. "I don't know!" he admitted after a time.
"If that's the case, we stay together. All right?"
He leaned over and kissed her, and she smiled. "I remember this carriage for sure."
"I'm glad."
They snuggled together for a time, until she asked softly, "Do you think we can share a bed again soon? I miss having you by my side."
He sat up straight. "I miss you too. But I'm not so sure I can trust myself."
"I trust you. That should be enough."
"I only wish it were. I have so many terrible fears."
Arabella took his face in her hands and kissed him. "We can't let our fears ruin what we have. I love you."
"How can you be sure? You don't remember…"
"I don't need to remember the past to see what a wonderful man you are now."
"Soon, I promise."
‘Please, make it very soon," she said, tenderly cupping his cheek.
"I need to be sure, my darling, that you being with me isn't going to cause any more misery for you than it already has."
She shook her head. "Misery is not a word I would ever use to describe my life with you, Blake."
"Please God it stays that way," he sighed, and held her close.