Ben reached for Eve’s hand as the Eton College Chapel appeared in the distance. The wooden fan-vaulting on the chapel’s roof jutted into the gray sky, reminding him of spearheads. He hadn’t visited the school since his father mercifully allowed him to return home after Charlotte’s accident and hired a tutor to complete Ben’s education. The chapel was a forbidding sight.
Eve raised her gaze to his, her rich eyes assessing. “The House of Hanover: George III, George II, George I,” she intoned and smiled reassuringly.
He released her hand to wrap an arm around her shoulders. She laid her head against his chest. “Thank you, but I am all right.”
He’d had spells the last three days as he anticipated returning to the place of Charlotte’s accident, but together he and Eve had made it through with few troubles. During the first episode of his heart beginning to run away from him, he had launched into a recital of the British monarchies in reverse order, as he’d learned to do in India. Afterward, he had been mortified, but Eve’s compassion and curiosity drew him out. He had explained his method of distraction and how it worked to control his symptoms. She declared him brilliant, and the next time, she joined in the recitation. Now he was finding he had a much more effective and attractive distraction—his wife.
It had been a week since Eve’s brother assisted Ben in brokering a deal with Lord Wellham to purchase the property in Eton, and as promised, he had given a lot of thought to calling on Robert Tanney and Charlotte’s mother. The nervous tumble in his stomach was a manifestation of his doubts, but it was too late to change his mind. The Tanneys were expecting them.
As the travel coach lumbered away from Eton College on High Street toward the Tanneys’ bakery, Eve lifted her head to peer out the window. “The village is charming. From Sebastian’s letters, I always imagined something quite different.”
“Did you never visit the village when you attended the Fourth of June?” The whole of London society absconded to Eton for the biggest day of celebration on the school’s calendar. How was it Eve had never seen the village?
“I am afraid we never made it for Sebastian’s Fourth of Junes. Papa was in a bad way before my brother left for boarding school.”
Every time Ben learned something new about Eve and her brother’s upbringing, the more he realized how lonely her childhood had been. This was what she meant about not marrying a man like her father. Eve wanted to escape a life of loneliness, and Ben would spend every moment of their life together making certain she never had that worry again.
He trailed the tip of his finger down the gentle slope of her pert nose. “I love you, Evie.”
She beamed at him. “What brought on such a sudden declaration of the heart?”
“You. I am grateful you are with me today.”
“I would not be anywhere else.”
The coach slowed as they reached a section of the village most familiar to him. They had arrived at Tanney’s Bake Shoppe. Tingling began in his fingers as he studied the bow window displaying tiers of sweets and breads. A yeasty scent permeated the air as he stepped onto the walkway and offered a hand to Eve.
He ran a quick eye over his investment, more comfortable focusing on the building than his coming encounter with Charlotte’s family. The shop door required a coat of paint and the glass in one of the upper windowpanes needed replacement, but the roof appeared to be in good condition. Wellham hadn’t allowed the building to fall into disrepair, much to Ben’s pleasure.
“Shall we?” Eve asked, waiting for his approval before approaching the bakery.
He gave a brief nod. They had traveled many hours that day. It was best to get on with the task. A small bell attached to the door tinkled as Ben pushed it open. An older woman bending down behind a glass counter slowly straightened with a smile for her customers. Her hair had streaks of gray and her face bore more wrinkles, but Ben recognized her immediately. Charlotte had always resembled her mother in appearance, and suddenly it seemed as if he was receiving a glimpse of what his young love would have looked like had she been allowed to grow old.
Charlotte’s mother surprised him when her eyes lit with recognition and her smile broadened. “Benjamin Hillary, what a sight for sore eyes.” She rounded the counter and came forward to take his hands in hers. “Robert said you would be visiting, but we didn’t know when you would arrive.” Her welcoming gaze swung toward Eve and she paused, awaiting an introduction.
“Please allow me to present my wife. Mrs. Tanney, this is Eve Hillary.”
Charlotte’s mother greeted her with a welcoming squeeze of her hands. “What a pleasure it is to meet you, Mrs. Hillary. How kind of you both to call.”
“It is our pleasure, Mrs. Tanney,” Eve said. “Ben has spoken highly of Charlotte on many occasions, and it is an honor to make the acquaintance of her family.”
Mrs. Tanney’s blue eyes radiated with warmth. “Thank you, madam. To know my Charlotte is remembered fondly provides me with much comfort.”
Whereas Ben might have felt ashamed for parading his wife in front of Charlotte’s mother, instead he felt a proud straightening of his spine. Eve was gracious and genuine in her speech, and he loved her more than ever for caring about Mrs. Tanney’s feelings.
“Let me close up shop, then we will retire above stairs. Robert will join us as soon as he returns from the mill.” Charlotte’s mother moved to the window to place the closed sign, then locked the door. “Follow me, please.”
The Tanneys’ living quarters were above the bakery, and the smell of cinnamon and ginger hung on the stuffy air. The scent reminded him of Charlotte and made him smile.
“Please, have a seat at the table.” Mrs. Tanney bustled to a window in the kitchen and threw up the sash, then snagged a plate of sweets on her way to the table. “Ginger biscuits can never repay your kindness, sir, but they are still warm. Would you care to have one?”
“Thank you.” Ben allowed Eve to choose one first before helping himself. The biscuit melted in his mouth, the bite of ginger sharp and yet pleasant. “Mr. Tanney owes me nothing. All rents owed were cleared when I purchased the property. However, I am tempted to accept future rent payments in biscuits.”
“You would hear no complaints from me,” Eve said, then took another nibble from her biscuit.
As soon as the agreement with Wellham was signed and the deed was transferred to Ben, he’d sent his man of business to Eton to notify the tenants of the change in ownership. Two other businesses occupied the building besides the bakery, and Mr. Yearwood, the hatter next door, had fallen behind on his rent by a quarter as well. The Earl of Wellham had raised rents at the beginning of the year in an attempt to clear his own debts and, in doing so, created a hardship on the tradesmen. While in Eton, Mr. Davis had been under orders to research the average cost of rent on High Street. All slates were wiped clean and now the tenants’ payments were on a par with their neighbors’.
The door to the living quarters flew open and banged against the wall, causing the women to startle. Robert Tanney stood in the threshold with two uneven red splotches covering his face. “Pardon me. The breeze caught the door.”
Mrs. Tanney smiled at her son and waved him to the table. “Come. Allow me to make introductions.” Charlotte’s mother played the perfect hostess while Robert Tanney stood with his hat in his hands and rocked from foot to foot. “Sit down, Robert,” his mother scolded.
He hung his hat on a peg by the door and hurried to do his mother’s bidding, choosing the seat across from Ben. He sat with his eyes downcast, which was far from the scornful man Ben had expected to meet today. Robert Tanney was nothing like his father. “Mother and I are honored to receive you and Mrs. Hillary, and we are deeply humbled by your generosity.”
When Tanney glanced up, Ben saw determination burning in his eyes.
“I swear I will repay everything owed, sir. The bakery’s business has improved since the start of the half at the college, and if I add a little more to my payment each month, I should be able to clear our debt in a year.”
Ben leaned back in the chair with a slight frown. “You owe no debts, Mr. Tanney. As long as you make your rent next quarter, you are in the clear. In truth, I am not here to discuss the bakery.” A lump rose in his throat, but he forced his words around it. “I wish to speak about Charlotte. I never had a chance to apologize for what happened that day or make amends to your family.”
Tanney and his mother wore matching looks of bewilderment. “Make amends? Whatever for?” Tanney asked. “My sister’s death was an accident.”
Eve eased closer to Ben’s side, lending him strength.
Ben cleared his throat and started to explain. “I was with her before the accident. She was troubled, and we had words. If I hadn’t upset her, she would not have run away or been too distraught to notice the coach coming around the bend.”
Charlotte’s mother pursed her lips. “Mr. Hillary, I do hope you haven’t been carrying this burden all this time. We do not hold you responsible.”
“Mother is right. The coach was traveling too fast around the bend, and for such a narrow lane. It is no wonder poor Charlotte was struck. May she rest in peace.”
Ben didn’t know what to say. The coachman hadn’t driven the team of four with recklessness, as Charlotte’s brother suggested. Perhaps her mother and brother were altering their memories of the past simply to placate him. He now held their lease, and therefore held some sway over them.
Eve spoke up on his behalf. “Please forgive my interruption, but I understood that Mr. Tanney senior blamed my husband for Charlotte’s death.”
“It is easier to point the finger elsewhere than face the truth,” Robert Tanney said, then addressed Ben. “The moment Father noticed a spark of interest between you and Charlotte, he began asking around about you. He reasoned because your grandfather was a tradesman, you would be more amenable to marrying a baker’s daughter. You seemed to be the answer to his financial troubles, so he encouraged a flirtation. He was rather insistent about it.”
Mrs. Tanney shot her son a chiding stare and swept an imploring hand toward Ben. “Please do not think Charlotte played you false, Mr. Hillary. She cared a great deal for you, but she was also vulnerable to suggestion. She was still a girl and infatuated with a handsome young man. I was not surprised she preferred to listen to her father’s false hopes than reason, but anyone with any sense knew your gentleman father would not allow a match with a tradesman’s daughter with no dowry.”
Ben reached out to pat her hand in reassurance. “I never doubted Charlotte’s sincerity, and while I appreciate your generosity, I do not deserve to be regarded as blameless. Charlotte was upset with me. I should have taken better care with her feelings.”
Mrs. Tanney planted her palms against the table and slowly pushed to her feet with a soft grunt. “The kettle is likely ready.” She moved to the hearth, turning her back to them.
“You were not responsible for her state of distress,” Robert Tanney said. “She was already high on the ropes when she sought you out.”
“May I ask what was troubling her?” Eve spoke softly, as if concerned she might be overstepping her bounds, but Ben appreciated her involvement and slipped his arm to the back of her chair in a show of inclusion.
Charlotte’s mother returned with a tray bearing a simple white teapot and chipped teacups. “My husband had a difficult time accepting that a match between you and Charlotte was not made in the stars. When he heard news of your return to school, he sent Charlotte straightaway to find you.”
“But not before he fed her worries and filled her head with nonsense,” Robert Tanney spat, ignoring his mother’s chiding glance. “She left on a mission to bring you up to scratch. Father warned that he would not accept no for an answer and neither should she. It was her duty to catch a wealthy husband. I hold him responsible for her death, Mr. Hillary. My father killed her.”
Tanney’s dark glower and venom left Ben taken aback. Eve sat stiffly at his side, and he gently touched her shoulder for reassurance. Tanney’s fury was not directed at either of them, but it was palpable and uncomfortable all the same.
Mrs. Tanney poured a cup of tea and slid the saucer and cup to Eve. “Would you like another biscuit, madam?”
“No, thank you,” she murmured and sipped her tea, studying Tanney over the rim.
Charlotte’s mother tried to pass Ben a cup as well, but he declined. Changing the topic to Eton’s cricket matches—something slightly less volatile, although Tanney had strong opinions on this as well—allowed Eve to finish her tea in relative comfort.
“We should find the inn,” Ben said after the requisite time had passed to leave without appearing rude. “Our trunks have already been delivered, and I imagine my wife is ready to rest after our journey.”
Eve took his cue and thanked their host and hostess for their hospitality. Charlotte’s mother and brother responded graciously and insisted on seeing them safely back to the walkway outside the bakery.
At the front door, Mrs. Tanney stopped Ben with a light touch to his elbow. “Mr. Hillary, if I may be so bold… You have never required our forgiveness, but I suspect you need to forgive yourself. Our Charlotte was just a girl and you were only a boy. Perhaps you could show that young boy a bit of compassion. It does not seem right to make him pay such a steep price for wanting to honor his father’s wishes.”
Ben’s eyes widened. He had never considered that he had been punishing a mere boy all this time. Inclining his head in thanks, he ushered Eve from the bakery and headed in the direction of their lodgings.
That evening he shared a quiet meal with his wife before they retired to bed early. As they cuddled under the covers, he reflected on the afternoon and Mrs. Tanney’s suggestion that he forgive his younger self.
“I think I should return to the place where Charlotte died. It may sound morbid, but…” He didn’t know how to finish his thought.
Eve placed a tender kiss on his cheek. “I think it sounds like the right thing to do, my love.”
* * *
The next morning Eve held her husband’s hand as they strolled along a narrow country lane. Green meadows, sprinkled with yellow and white wildflowers, rose gently over hills and sloped down the other sides. Azure skies with nary a cloud were perfect for a day of frolicking and laughter, but she and Ben moved in somber silence.
His fingers tightened around hers as they neared a bend in the dusty lane. They must be approaching the site of the accident. Eve closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for Ben. She supported his need to revisit the location, but couldn’t help fretting over how it might affect him.
He slowed his step until eventually he stopped before rounding the curve. She stood still, holding her breath. Releasing her hand, he hugged her to his side, and when she looked up to determine if he wanted to turn back, he smiled ruefully. “Many wives wouldn’t humor their husbands like this.”
“If that is true, they are a sorry lot. Furthermore, I am not humoring you. I am standing by your side, and there is no place else I would rather be.”
Tiny crinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes when he smiled. “That was my poor attempt at saying thank you for being at my side.” Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss on her lips, lingering and sharing one slow and steady breath. When he straightened, his blue eyes reflected strength and determination. “I am ready.”
Eve’s stomach churned as she accepted his arm. When Ben suffered, so did she. Yet she wouldn’t shy away from being his lifeline if he needed one. As they walked around the curve, her breath left her in a relieved whoosh. She didn’t know what she had expected to see, but there was nothing but more meadow and a row of wizened oaks standing haphazardly along one side of the lane.
Ben silently surveyed the area, while she couldn’t shift her gaze from him. She watched for any hints of distress with such vigilance, her own hands began to tremble. Her husband looked toward the field, then back at the road several times before nodding. “It looks nothing like my nightmares anymore.”
“Oh?” Her whisper was nearly lost on the breeze.
“It is beautiful and peaceful. The trees are large enough to cast shade, and I can hear the birds.”
She wondered what he heard in his nightmares, but she refrained from asking. All that mattered was he didn’t hear it now.
“Charlotte loved wildflowers,” he said.
“Should we gather some to place on her grave?”
“No, I do not believe she is there.” Ben guided them toward a massive tree before looking up at the green canopy. “All around, I see Charlotte’s spirit. In the sway of the branches. The butterflies flitting about the field. Even the scent of sunbaked earth reminds me of her.” His mouth curved up gently as he turned to Eve. “This is a better way to remember her, to honor her life.”
“Oh, Ben.” Tears clouded Eve’s vision. Perhaps her husband could find peace at last. She retrieved a handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed at her eyes.
“I am grateful you encouraged me to return,” he said. “You were right about my need to say good-bye, but now it is time to look toward our future.” He gathered her to his chest and rubbed his hands slowly up and down her back as she rested her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Evie, and I am enthusiastic about loving you for the rest of our lives.”
“Likewise, Mr. Hillary.” Eve slid her arms around his neck and flashed a playful smile. “Likewise.” And then she pulled him toward her for a kiss that demonstrated just how enthusiastically she intended to love him forever.