Page 56 of Earl of Excess
Matthew smiled, listening to Grandmère continue to give directions to Smoot. She warned him against drinking with his snake bites, explaining alcohol could make it easier to succumb to the poison. It was good his half-brother heard it, he thought. Otherwise, Matthew was certain Smoot’s cure of choice would have been a bottle of whiskey.
Sinclair settled in and helped prepare for dinner. It delighted Matthew to see how easily the man had become friends with the family.
By supper time, Grandmère’s medicines had worked their magic on the dog. It was easy to see Dandie had returned to her old self.
Smiling, Matthew gently tapped his glass, gaining everyone’s attention before walking to his betrothed and putting his arm around her.
He turned to Grandmère. “I hope you will forgive my lack of manners. However, I can withhold my good news no longer.” He looked at Bethany, whose green eyes sparkled in his direction. “Bethany Phillips has made me the happiest of men and agreed to become my wife. Over these weeks and month, now, I have found myself quite taken with her and cannot imagine returning to England without her by my side.” He looked at Aunt Theo and Grandmère. “I realize your homes are here, but I would very much love for you to consider coming to live with us. Failing that, I assure you we will visit as often as possible.” He looked at the stunned group, momentarily afraid he had overstepped considerably.
Abruptly, Grandmère stood and raised her glass. “To my future grandson.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I had never imagined my Bethany leaving us—however, we had never imagined her meeting her husband under these conditions. My sister and I welcome you to our family.” She reached over and hugged her granddaughter. “I had my suspicions that things were developing, so my heart had conditioned itself, Bethany. He is a good man. Your mother would be so proud of you both.” She looked back at Matthew, sitting next to Sinclair. “As for travel to England, Theo and I had even discussed that. We did not know whether this would materialize.” She winked at Matthew. “Give us time. We would like to join you, but it may not be immediately.”
“Congratulations, Romney. Your family will love her. I am sure,” Sinclair added, holding up his glass and joining the toast. “I have never had Creole crab and am quite looking forward to it.”
“I cannot believe you have shared our country for so long and have missed a crab boil. We will rectify that immediately,” Grandmère reproached playfully.
It was after dinner when Sinclair finally approached him. “Can we talk, Romney?”
“Yes. I had expected something was amiss,” Matthew said, absorbing the strained look on Sinclair’s face.
The two men went to the parlor. “I have some important news from home and hate to tell you this on the heels of your wonderful news. Yet, I fear it cannot wait,” Sinclair began.
“Is everyone well?” Matthew asked.
“I hope so. A missive was waiting for me. Your parents are beside themselves with grief, thinking you dead. I felt it was very important to let them know I had found you and that you are safe.”
Father had been proud of his military accomplishments, taking comfort in his officer status, and thinking that he would return from this war. He would have a surprise when they returned—a wife. “Thank you, Sinclair. That should ease their minds. It pains me they thought me dead, although if not for Bethany, I would surely have been.”
“Your father will love her. He will be proud that you have found someone like Bethany,” Sinclair replied.
Matthew hugged the man and allowed the tears that had accumulated to fall. “I appreciate everything you have done, Sinclair. Thank you for finding me.”
“My help is not over with. I am going to find you a way home. I hope you don’t mind, but I sent word that you would make your way home and speculated it could be from one of the northern ports. I will escort you there.”
“No, I do not mind, at all. I want to return home soon. Will you return with us?” Matthew asked, studying the man.
Sinclair shook his head.
Matthew recalled the woman that Sinclair had mentioned before he left. The one that had taken care of him when he fell ill and realized he may stay because of her. He understood.
“Do you think we can find a way home from New Orleans?” he asked, mulling over thoughts.
“That’s very possible,” Sinclair returned. “I can check.”
They returned to the dining room, and he pulled Bethany aside and told her about the message Sinclair had sent. “I understand, Matthew,” she said. “My family would be consumed with grief if they thought me dead.” She raised her eyes to his face. “I suppose you want to leave soon.”
“It will thrill your parents to get you back,” Aunt Theo said. “As much as we hate to see our Bethany leave us, you have provided wonderful options.” She smiled, bemusedly. “Angelica and I are thinking about your offer. I know how to get you home. And it may be quicker and easier than making your way to Massachusetts.”
They all looked in her direction. “Johnny’s father, Dom Roeux, may be able help. We will have to wait for his return, but he usually returns at the end of the week. He is the quiet type that always lends a hand to help his neighbors. We are like family here. Let me speak with him. Recently, he went to work for his good friend in the city. His friend is Jean Lafitte.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Late Summer
They would soonbe married, and the thought both excited and relieved him. Since they had announced their engagement, they tried to make the most of every day they were still here, and discussion only briefly touched on their leaving. Finding passage home had been no simple affair, as the war between their two countries had only ended a few months past. Dom Roeux confirmed that the transatlantic voyages back and forth to England had been slow in resuming. However, ships were docking from other countries and he felt sure they would find passage for them soon.
Matthew focused his attention on Bethany’s family. He worked on whatever Grandmère and Aunt Theo said needed fixing in the house, as well as in the house where Bethany had taken care of him following the battle. He enjoyed doing it, as it kept his mind focused, even though he had never done handy work before. However, he caught on quickly and even designed Grandmère and Aunt Theo a round, turning shelf. It was a proud moment when he showed them how it worked. It allowed them to spin the contents around and select the spice or whatnot they needed. Their elation had been balm to his heart.
Bethany had spent these last several weeks helping her aunt and grandmother with their gardens, and with anything else she could think of. She and Grandmère turned the soil, pulled weeds, and seeded and tended the crops. Herb gardening had been her domain, and until now, Matthew had not realized how much her family counted on her. However, they were opening a new chapter to her life and could not wait.
