Page 33 of Earl of Excess
For now, she was content to be safe. Who could have imagined the near catastrophe they had encountered today? She had planned everything down to the bread and cheese, never expecting a gator would see Dandie as its food. And she never expected being saved by Matthew. She shuttered her eyes and remembered the feel of his muscular arms holding her up. She couldn’t relish the feel at the moment. However, the trauma had emblazoned the sensations on her brain, and she would re-live them often, she was certain.
Her poor dog! Dandie had been as quiet as a church mouse for the rest of the trip, which was a marvel considering Dandie never restrained herself from barking. The stress of Matthew’s blindness had relaxed a little when she realized he could still do things. Clasping her hands, she repeated the silent prayer for his sight that had become part of her daily ritual. She hoped with all her heart he would regain his vision. She could no longer deny her feelings for him, recognizing the pang in her heart every time she thought of his leaving.
She knew he would leave one day. She had done what she could to make things easier for his departure, despite the ache it gave her heart. Matthew’s clothes were safely hidden with his saber and gun from any prying eyes.
They needed to make their way to the house. Her stomach was empty and there was much more to discuss with her aunt and her grandmother. After the day they had already had, she and Matthew both needed to rest.
She thought about what he had tried to say earlier and tried not to read too much into his words. She understood it had been awkward for him and could not help chuckling to herself. At least she was not the only one who was uncertain of what was happening between them.He has feelings.He said so. Bethany was sure she was falling for him and would have to contend with a broken heart when she sent him on his way. For now, while she hoped only good things for him, she hoped she could gain some sense of when he would leave—how much time they still had together.
“Bethany, your aunt and I have rearranged things a little,” her grandmother said, coming from the kitchen area and wiping her hands on her apron. “I will bunk in your aunt’s rooms on this side of the house, and you can take my bedroom. The lieutenant will take the guest room at the end of the hall. We have plenty of blankets, so he should be comfortable should the nights get chilly.”
Bethany looked around and noticed Matthew had stepped out the backdoor for a few minutes. “Grandmère, he has been having night terrors. I just want to warn you in case you hear him yelling.”
The door opened, and Matthew walked into the room using his walking stick.
“I was just telling Bethany that my sister and I will sleep in the rooms on the left side. We are placing the three of you in the rooms to the right.”
“I am happy to sleep where you put me. I took Bethany’s bed for weeks. She and Dandie slept on the bedroll. I appreciate the hospitality.”
Her grandmother arched a brow and looked in her direction.
“It was a suitable arrangement for him, and I was not sure when you would return home, Grandmère.” Bethany explained yet another action. How could she say that she had wanted to be closer to him?What if he had taken a turn for the worst?“By the way, Grandmère, I brought a bag full of herbs that I picked from the garden. I thought you might need more.”
“Thank you, sweeting. That was very thoughtful,” the older woman said, hugging Bethany. “I had noticed the bag and wondered what it contained,” she said with a wink.
“I expected that you might have run out of a few items, and I wasn’t sure you could find them on this side of the canal,” Bethany said.
“I confess, I am not as comfortable stepping around the marshes with the snakes and other critters. I’m getting older and don’t want to find myself the victim of another moccasin bite.”
Her aunt agreed. “There are many snakes. I imagine you may be unused to it, Colonel. But it’d serve you well to stay on well-traveled paths, away from the edges. Snakes like the shade. Not all are poisonous, but the moccasins are mean’uns, and they can kill a body.”
“Surely, most are hibernating, Aunt Theodosia,” Bethany inserted.
“Yes and no,” her aunt returned. “This winter has inconsistent temperatures, and they sometimes take an early peek. People are snake-bitten plenty in the winter months.”
“I am not used to having many snakes to contend with, back in England,” Matthew added, a wrinkle on his brow.
“I believe that based on your experience getting here, you have seen the worst the bayou offers. Just stay vigilant,” Grandmère laughed.
“I should say so!” he agreed, in only a half-jesting tone.
Bethany thought she saw the tall man shudder and giggled softly. “I have stayed safe most of my life—that is until Dandie attracted a hungry alligator’s attention. I do not recall her barking. She may have growled.” Now that she thought about it, she could recall nothing her pet did to attract the alligator. Perhaps it was after her. The thought chilled her to the bone, although she knew alligator attacks on people were rare.
“Let’s change the topic,” she begged, suddenly clasping at her arms unconsciously.
“I agree. The thought of diving back into that frigid water was a wake-up call. I was safer on the battlefield.”
All four of them laughed. Bethany was glad to see Matthew accepted by her aunt and grandmother.
“Matthew, was there any injury to the eye or your head?” her aunt inquired softly, bringing a change to the conversation.
“I would not be the one to ask for certainty, but I recall that there were bits of shrapnel being fired from cannons everywhere. I could have had a glancing blow. I recall being shot, but the bullet went into my chest.” He looked in Bethany’s direction. “I would not be here today, I am convinced, had Bethany not found me. I had grown too weak to summon the men to help.”
“Dandie heard you, though,” Bethany interjected. “She frantically tried to reach you. I held onto her collar and begged her to stay still while they were still there. As soon as they left, she shot across the field to the pile of men. You were under several men they had stacked there.” She closed her eyes and could see the chilling sight of smoke clearing and leaving fallen bodies and bloodied limbs in its wake.
“My child, it shakes me to the core to know you were there. I thank the Lord above that you and Dandie came to no harm,” Grandmère said in a trembling voice. “I did not know when I left, things would worsen so quickly.”
“I had sent word that I needed her. I had felt poorly and could not help myself enough to get past it,” Aunt Theodosia said. “It horrified me to find out all you have been through in my sister’s absence.”
