“I am doing all I can. Feeling better, Julia?” Abigail met Julia’s gaze and prayed her friend could read her demand for a positive answer.
“It passes. You always know what to do.”
“Thank you. Now stay here and rest until Robert comes for you. You may have some water and a few bites of this sandwich if you wish.” She stood up and stroked Julia’s hair from her face. “Just rest. It is what you need. I will see you later.”
Mrs. Beaton crossed her arms. “You have a gentleman waiting to see you, Abigail.”
“I do? Is it Boyd?”
“No. It is Lieutenant MacEnroy.”
“Matthew is here?”
“Lieutenant MacEnroy is waiting downstairs to speak with you.”
“I will be fine, Abbie,” said Julia. “Go see what he wants.”
Abigail took a moment to fix her hair then brush down her skirts before following Mrs. Beaton out of the room. She was surprised at the tumultuous mixture of anticipation and nervousness she felt. The man might have a simple question he needed answered.
Going down the hall and then the stairs with Mrs. Beaton made the knot in Abigail’s stomach grow even tighter. Did the woman always move so slowly? Abigail lectured herself about patience, then tried to convince herself that she did not care if Matthew had come just to ask a question or because he actually wanted see her.
When they reached the parlor Abigail tensed as she saw Matthew stand up. She noticed he looked nervous and, for some strange reason, that made her feel calm. As she left Mrs. Beaton’s side, Abigail smiled at him.
“Hello, Abbie,” he said quietly.
“Good to see you, Lieutenant. Would you like some coffee? Maybe a little cake?”
“Both would be most welcome.” He glanced toward Mrs. Beaton who appeared to be standing guard at the door. “If it would be no trouble.”
“None at all.” Abigail looked at Mrs. Beaton. “I can do it, Mrs. Beaton. There is no need for you to linger. I am sure you must have a great deal you would rather do. Perhaps visit the children?” She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing when the woman briefly looked horrified, then nodded and left.
Smiling faintly, Abigail looked back at Matthew. He was watching her warily, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “Why did she look as if ye were about to hand her a dead rat when ye spoke of her going to see the children?”
“To her it is apparently much the same. I fear Mrs. Beaton does not like children. She considers them disruptive and destructive. They are kept in a room upstairs. I will be right back with the coffee and cake.”
Matthew watched her leave. She had a strong, brisk way of walking with no hint of coquettishness. Then he looked at the doorway where Mrs. Beaton had stood. He had had no idea that the children were being kept regulated to a room upstairs. They had been put here because the major had believed the women would care for them. Being treated like unwanted guests could not be good for them. They had all lost their families and homes, were frightened and alone. It had never occurred to him or the other men that the women would not care for them. That had probably been foolish of them, and someone should have come around now and then to check on them. Matthew made a promise that he would keep a much closer watch now.
He settled back into the chair and thought about all he and James had discovered yesterday. There was an attack being planned. The only thing they could not be sure of was where and when it would happen. Plans were being made to further secure the town and the people in it. He realized he would need a better place for the women than this house with all its windows and doors, and began to think on an answer to that problem. He was just deciding the jailhouse would serve well when he heard the clink of china, looked up, and saw Abigail returning with a tray.
Abigail held the heavy tray as steady as she could. Mrs. Beaton’s coffeepot was heavy and she suspected it was made of actual silver. When Matthew walked toward her she just smiled as he took the tray from her. She subtly rubbed her arms when he turned to walk over to the small settee. Seeing that he obviously thought they would sit together, she took a deep breath and went over to sit at one end of the settee.
She tried not to flinch when he sat close to her. A soldier would see a flinch as a sign of fear, and that was certainly not what she felt. There was a tickle of nerves and it was curiously mixed with anticipation. She wished she had had more dealings with men for she suspected there was a good explanation for what she felt.
She poured them each some coffee and served pieces of the cake. She idly noticed that Mrs. Beaton had left the door wide open with the doors to the main sitting room also wide open. She could see straight through to the other women. Maude even sent her a jaunty wave. Privacy was apparently not allowed. Watching Matthew from the corner of her eyes, she hid a smile behind the drinking of her coffee as he ate his cake. It was clear that even the officers did not get such treats often. He was eating that bit of cake as if he had been starved for days.
Matthew put his empty plate down and drank some coffee before looking at Abigail. “Is living here working well for ye?”
“I suppose. It is not perfect, that is certain, but most of the ladies are nice and the children are dears.”
“Let me guess. Mrs. Beaton is not one of those ‘most of the ladies.’”
Abigail sighed. “No. She still thinks and acts as if she is the lady of the manor. It appears I upset the proper order of things much too often.”
“When we finish our coffee we could go for a walk and you can tell me how disruptive ye are.”
She nodded even as she laughed. Once they were done, she put everything back on the tray and took it back to the kitchen. By the time she returned, Matthew was standing in the hall holding her coat.
“Is it cold enough for this?” she asked even as she slid it on and buttoned it up.
“There is still a bite in the air when it gets late in the day.”
“Ah, of course. I missed much of winter hiding in this house huddled before a fireplace.”
“Lucky you. Most of the misery should be over soon.”
“I hope so.” She hooked her arm through his and they headed out the door.
“Most of the snow is gone. That has been hard on the soldiers, seeing as so much of our time is spent lying on the ground shooting at the other side. But I can feel the change of season.”
“Aye, so can I. Glad we are not stationed in Maine or some state like that.” He smiled when she laughed. “Here we see the warming faster.”