Page 38 of The Ones Left Behind
“This sounds promising,” Hornsby answered, jumping down to help Matthias.
“Let me try by myself,” he said quickly, before Hornsby went to the trouble of tying up the horses.
The batman stood back, understanding Matthias’ need to be independent. It was a large part of healing.
“Are you going to tell me what scheme you are brewing in your canister?” Hornsby asked, watching as Matthias managed to climb into the vehicle by himself, no matter how ungracefully.
“I am considering how to convince Miss Kitty that she wants to be my wife,” he said, trying to catch his breath as he fell on to the squabs.
Hornsby flashed his gap-toothed grin. “Oh, you have an hour or two to come up with something!”
“If you happen to have any suggestions…” Matthias left the thought dangling. He had never wanted to marry anyone but Kitty. He enjoyed flirtations with some of the ladies who followed the drum, but none of them had so much as tempted him.
“I have never wooed a lady, but it seems to me that most females like to be romanced and what not.” Hornsby waved his hand in the air. “Flowers, poems, dancing and the like.”
“I shall not be dancing in the near future,” Matthias grumbled.
“Maybe not, but you did ask.” Hornsby closed the door, leaving Matthias to his thoughts. He found fault with himself every mile of the journey back to the manor house. He tried his hardest to recollect what Kitty had liked as a girl. She had been close to his mother, then after she passed away, Kitty had followed Peter and himself like a lost puppy.
He frowned. He could not actually recall anything in particular Kitty was partial to other than puddings.
Did she like to read? Did she have a favourite flower? “I should know these things.” He was doomed to failure. There was no one he could ask. Perhaps Mrs. Harlow would know, but how long would it take for a letter to reach her and then she respond?
As each mile passed, he grew more nervous. His palms were sweaty and he had tugged his neckcloth loose by the time they pulled into the drive.
Part of him was desperate for a glimpse of Kitty, but part of him needed more time to come up with a plan—a battle strategy. Two hours had not been nearly long enough. However, fate decreed she was standing on the steps when the carriage pulled to a stop. Even when he had first seen her, she had still been beautiful, but now, after enough rest and good food, she was once more in full bloom. Despite that horrid grey housekeeper’s gown, she was the most beautiful woman in the world to him.
Hornsby held open the door and Matthias gave him a look intended to convey he did not want help. He could succeed. It was necessary for him to learn.
Kitty had been moving forward but when she saw him, stopped and watched.
He wished he had practised climbing out of the carriage. It seemed much harder than climbing in. He still could not manage any weight on his injured leg, but he put his good leg down and then was able to lean forward on his crutches to bear the rest of his weight. He gained the ground in a rather ungainly fashion, but fortunately without falling.
He looked up and cast a shy smile at Kitty, feeling rather proud of himself.
To his chagrin she missed it entirely, for she rushed forward, looking distressed. “The whole village thinks we are betrothed!”
* * *
Kitty did not knowwhat she had been hoping for, but Matthias’s smile faded.
“I rather hoped you would notice my progress!”
“I have been waiting a week to tell you this and that is all you have to say?”
“And I have been working hard to learn to use crutches. I thought you would be pleased.”
“Of course, I am. It may not matter to you, but I have been terribly distraught, not knowing what to do and not wanting to make matters worse. Come inside for some coffee and I will admire your prowess with the crutches.”
She heard him make a little growl, but she turned around and watched as he managed to walk into the house. It was a vast improvement from the last occasion she had seen him. His colour was better and his speech was quite sober.
Following him into the drawing room, she asked Hayes for the coffee as they passed through the entrance hall. Matthias stood next to a chair and she realized he was waiting for her to sit down first. She quickly perched on a stiff-backed armchair and waved for him to do the same. The relief on his face was palpable, so she knew he must still be in pain.
“That was your reason for leaving, then, to learn how to use your crutches? Where did you go?”
“I felt relations between us were becoming strained and I needed time for reflection, as well as not to make a fool of myself before others. After you brought the second crutch to me, I attempted to use them and promptly fell on my backside.”
Kitty was not quite sure what he was trying to tell her. “You have returned, so I presume that means you are satisfied with your progress?” she remarked, finishing on a note of enquiry.
