Page 82 of The Forbidden Love of an Officer
‘Are they wearing livery or a soldier’s uniform?’
‘No, ma’am.’
She frowned. ‘Is there a carriage outside?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
She carried John over to the bedchamber window and looked out.
There was a shiny black carriage outside the house. A coachman sat on the box, and a groom held the heads of two handsome grey horses, while a footman waited by the carriage door. They were all dressed in nondescript black. The carriage belonged to someone of standing, though, she could tell by the quality of the horses.
Why would they ask to see her?
‘Horsees.’ John pointed down into the street with his wooden toy.
She looked at him. ‘Yes, darling, horses.’
‘Ma’am, what shall I say?’
Ellen looked back at the footman waiting outside the open door. ‘Nothing. I will come down. Where is the visitor?’
‘In the drawing room.’
‘Leave me to talk to him. You may go downstairs.’
He walked ahead of her on the stairs to the ground floor, then continued on to the basement level, to the kitchens and servants’ spaces. They called her ma’am still, but the servants thought of her as a servant now, she knew that, and behaviour like walking ahead of her expressed it.
‘Here we are to meet our mysterious guest, John,’ she said brightly as she turned the drawing room’s doorknob and pressed a kiss on his temple. Whoever this was, they could not bring any bad news.
As she opened the door, John’s gaze was transfixed on the wooden horse he trotted along her arm, as he tried and failed to make a clip-clop sound.
She took a breath, her heart pounding the beat of the marching drum as her fingers gripped John’s leg over-tightly, causing him to squeal.
‘Papa…’
He turned from the window and faced her.
As soon as she had seen the straight posture and black hair, she knew it was him.
His intent silver gaze studied her for a moment then fell to John. He stared at John as John stared at his toy.
Her emotions were a muddle of joy, fear and intense embarrassment. She could not remember who she was the last time she had faced him. Had it only been two years? ‘You came…’
‘Let me take the child.’ He reached out.
Relief embraced her sore heart. She had asked him to come three times and he had not… Now here he was – come for them, to take them home to safety. Tears brimmed in her eyes. She blinked them away. He would not tolerate such feminine emotions.
‘Oh, Papa, I am so glad.’ She let him lift John from her arms.
‘I do not expect your gratitude. I am taking him home…’
It was only then that Ellen realised there was someone else in the room – a woman. She came forward and took John from Ellen’s father.
Ellen’s brow creased in confusion. ‘I should pack.’
‘There is no need,’ her father said. ‘I have brought all he will need with me.’
He… Not you… Not me.‘I don’t understand, Papa. Have you come for us?’
