Cardovan came back with Petkin. Walking without his cane, looking amazingly fit. There was an air about him, a resolve that gave him the authority he had lost after the misfortune at Ostend.
„Major, come in. I did not expect you so quickly.“
Cardovan led him into the library, a room David would have as soon avoided. It reminded him too forcefully of Grace. If he was honest with himself, everything about the place reminded him of Grace, from the bright front door to the whimsical unicorn on the weather vane four floors above them. He should have suggested they meet elsewhere.
He was so lost in thought that he missed the first of Car-dovan’s words. But he could not help but be brought to the moment when Cardovan finished with „… that I might buy your commission.“
He must have looked as shocked as he felt, for Cardovan’s confidence faded. „It’s the real reason I was so pleased by the colonel’s visit. He came to see if I was ready to rejoin the regiment. He was actually the one who suggested I consider your commission. Can you believe that?“
Of course he could. But Cardovan gave him no time to comment.
„Even though I missed the whole of the Waterloo campaign, he still wants me with the 28th. He was afraid I was aiming for another regiment. He said that I am the captain he most wants to move up. He says he wants someone who is equal to the challenge of replacing you – not that I think I can.“ Cardovan reddened a little. „There are two captains senior to me; one is selling out and the other Wendle does not want as a major.“
Cardovan paused, and Lindsay grabbed the chance to speak. „That is by all means wonderful, George.“
„Then you are sure that you will not regret it?“
Cardovan looked as though it was the height of folly to give up a commission.
„Yes, I’m sure, George. I have responsibilities here now, and ten years in uniform is as much as I wish to test fate.“
„I’m not finished. It’s because I missed Waterloo.“ He stopped a moment and considered before he spoke. „Do you think Boney will give us another chance?“
„Pray God, not.“
Cardovan nodded and shrugged away his disappointment. One thing they both knew is that there would always be wars.
„I hesitated because I know my mother wants me here with her. But, Lindsay, I cannot live my life because some woman wants me to be safe, even if it is my mother. I hate it here. I want the army life. That’s all there is to it.“
„I understand completely. But have you told her yet?“
„No.“ He was smart enough to look slightly worried at the prospect. „I wanted to be sure this was not some fantastic dream.“
„The colonel wants you. You hardly need my blessing.“
„But I want it, sir. You have been my model for as long as we have served together. Even as an ensign I knew you were the best the 28th had to name.“
It appeared as if Cardovan was ready to list his virtues, and Lindsay raised his hand. „Enough, George. The commission is yours and I thank you for the consideration.“
As Cardovan chattered on about the new uniform he was to order from Westin and who was the best boot maker, Lindsay realized that this was the George Cardovan he had known in the Peninsula. The man who had spent the last two years in London was a pale imitation. Surely even his mother could see that he was meant for the military life.
They had not been together twenty minutes when he heard voices in the hall.
„I will not be a minute, Aunt. Come into the library while I send Petkin for George.“
Suddenly Mrs. Cardovan and Grace were in the room. Grace stopped short when she saw him, George’s mother’s expression was guarded, but she greeted him with her usual good humor.
Lindsay could see that the impetuous George Cardovan was fully restored. He took his mother’s arm. „Come with me, Mama. I must speak with you immediately.“
„That would be rude, George. You have a guest.“
„Now, Mother.“
Lindsay smiled, Cardovan already sounded as though he was in command, and if he could make his mother obey him then the men of the 28th would be child’s play.
„Grace and the major are quite capable of finding something to talk about.“
With a glance over her shoulder, Mrs. Cardovan allowed herself to be led from the room.
Grace remained near the door, staring at him, still as a statue. Lindsay walked toward her, and his movement seemed to awaken her. She did not approach him but went to the mantel.
„I believe you left this here.“
She handed him Poppy’s coin and he took it, their hands barely touching.
„Ah, thank you, Grace. I would be lost without Poppy’s magic coin.“
„It is magic, then? Did it save your life? When I saw the dent in it I wondered.“
How could his whole world have changed in less than twelve hours? When he’d walked out of her bedroom he thought he would never see her again. Cardovan’s news had changed that. But Grace still looked as miserable as he had been. No wonder Poppy had asked him if he was ill or if someone had died.
„Grace, the first day I saw you, I followed you down Bond Street. You were laughing with Kitty, and that laugh was like a siren’s song. It always has been. It always will be. I wanted you from that moment. Just before Fetters performed his version of an introduction, I was thinking that once I sold my commission I would discover an entree into society and find you.“
Lindsay walked over to her and took her hands. They were cold, and he raised each to his lips and would not let them go.
„I’ve sold my commission, Grace. To your cousin, of all people.“
„You’ve sold it? To George? Why did he wait so long? Did he not know how important it was to you? To us?“
He could have answered each of those questions. He kissed her instead, and felt all the tension melt from her.
„I thought I would never see you again, David.“
„I’m so sorry, Grace.“
She pressed a kiss to his mouth to silence him. „Your sense of honor is one of the most admirable things about you. Never think you must apologize for it.“ She leaned back in his arms. „I should be furious with you, with George, for torturing me this way, but I love you too much to be anything but grateful that you are here again.“ Her kiss proved it, the love pouring from her as it had last night, filling him, making him more completely a person than he had ever been before.
Grace pulled him down onto the settee and sat as close to him as possible without actually being in his lap, though she did seem to be considering that. She nodded at the coin on the table. „Is this really magic?“
„Yes, I think it must be.“ For his wish had been granted and had brought him to this moment. „Magic, verging on a miracle.“
„I wished on it.“ She leaned toward him and whispered, „I wished that you could love me.“
„Oh darling, you did not waste a wish on that, did you? For you have had my heart from the first, and my love not long after. That night you were so angry with me. That first time you did your best to command me to do your bidding? How could I not love someone who was trying so hard?“
„That was the moment you knew you loved me? When you were so angry?“
„And you do not think that love and anger can exist together?“
„Well, yes, they can, since I have felt the same. But will it not make for an unsettled life?“
„It may well, but who could wish for more?“
She shook her head at his optimism but did not argue. There was no need for words. Their kisses ended in laughter, and Grace brushed away what she called her happy tears.
„You know, David, if we had met at some ball or picnic, I would not have let you close to me. You are used to command, and I wanted to be the one in charge. It would have taken no more than one dance for me to see that and to send you on your way.“
„You think that what happened between us was meant to be, was the only way for you to come to know me and me to know you?“
„Yes, and I worry even now that we do not know each other as we really are.“ She was resting her head on his shoulder as she spoke, and he was sure that her worry was not so deep as to be an obstacle, especially since he had thought this through and had an answer.