The colonel sucked in a breath, and slapped his hand over the dice like a child trying to cover stolen biscuits.
But Winnie met her gaze evenly. “Evening, Miss Sophie. Don’t worry, Colonel. Sophie is kind and won’t go reporting us to the mistress—will you, my dear?”
“No, but you’ve got something else to hide from the mistress now. I was coming to find you. Gulliver is a female. She’s had kittens!”
Winnie’s mouth fell ajar.
The colonel whistled. “Don’t let Janet find out.”
“I thought he was getting fat!” Winnie exclaimed. “So that’s why he—I mean, she—was hiding. Where are they?”
“Kate is fetching a basket to carry them up to your room.”
Winnie rose to go, but Sophie held up a hand. “Wait! First things first. What exactly is going on here? Kate thinks someone is extorting money from her grandfather.”
“Does she? Ha! That’s a laugh,” Winnie replied. “The other way around more like.”
“You have the memory of a flea, woman,” the colonel protested. “You’re the one who took all the sweets and buttons and now are working away at my farthings.”
“Farthings?” Sophie asked in concern.
He gestured toward the jar of coins. “Yes. Highfliers we are too. You see, my dear,” the colonel said, “Miss Whitney and I sit together of an evening to pass the time, and play a little hazard. We’re both of us a couple of lonely old souls, and it eases the ache.” He grinned at the nurse. “Your visits are the bright spot of my day, Winnie. I don’t think my dear Margaret would mind my saying that, now she’s gone, but Janet would not approve.”
Winnie shook her head and looked at Sophie. “No indeed. And if she knew I was spending time with her father, I’d be out on my ear in a heartbeat, loyal Stephen or no.”
“But I ask you, what’s an innocent game between friends?” the colonel said as though to a jury. “We only play for trifles. But I promised Janet that I wouldn’t gamble anymore. Lost a bit in London, you see, in my younger days. And I wouldn’t want her to think I’m slipping back.”
“We return all the farthings into the same jar and use them again the next time,” Winnie added helpfully. “Surely there’s no harm in that.”
“You didn’t return the sweets,” the colonel pointed out.
“Stephen gave those to me, and I won those back fair and square.” Winnie returned her gaze to Sophie and gestured across the room. “Now, let’s go meet the newest additions to my little menagerie.”
Sophie grinned in relief and held the door for her. “You should have heard how it sounded. All this clandestine talk about stealing you blind, and having your revenge, and the vicar taking your pony.”
“Oh, that last part about the vicar is true.” Winnie winked. “But you didn’t hear it from me.”
Stephen was never more stunned than to look up and see Carlton Keith leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, ankles crossed at a jaunty angle, smug look on his face.
“Hello, Captain.”
“Do my eyes deceive me or have I died and gone to blazes?” Stephen jested. “For I should never believe you an angel.”
Keith grinned, then glanced around the shabby ward. “I would definitely not call this place heaven.” He made a face. “That’s why I’m here. To do everything in my power to get you home as soon as may be.”
Relief flared and instantly faded. Except for Wesley, his family would be eager to see him. But Sophie? He wasn’t so sure.
“I am in no condition to travel, Keith. Nor will I be for some time. And when I am, I shall return to the regiment.”
His former lieutenant studied his face. Surprise followed by understanding shone in his eyes. “Time to decide all that later, Captain. For now, I’ve brought you a few letters from home.”
He pulled three from his pocket and handed them over. Stephen recognized his mother’s handwriting, the colonel’s, and Sophie’s.
“Well,” Keith straightened. “I’ll leave you to read in private. Think I’ll go and see who I have to bribe to get something to eat.”
When he had left, Stephen opened Sophie’s letter first, steeling himself as he read it.
Dear Captain Overtree,
