Charlotte smiled for her sister. “Do not overdo it. And do not try to run before you can walk. But I am happy that you have found somewhere. However did you afford it?”
“Doctor McGill insisted on returning a fair portion of what he was paid,” Luke shrugged. “He means to publish a paper on Amelia’s recovery. Says the recognition will be worth more to him than any fee.”
“Do you not wish to return home?” Charlotte asked quietly.
Amelia and Luke exchanged a wordless look, smiling secretly. Charlotte felt a pang of utter desolation, remembering when she briefly thought that she had found such happiness.
But he is gone now. I only hope and pray he succeeds. I could bear anything but his resentment.
“I thought you might want to introduce Luke to London society,” Charlotte said lightly, schooling her features into a smile.
Amelia shook her head. “I find that my time walking in your shoes has shown me how much more preferable a quiet life in the country is. I shall learn how to manage estates and farms. It will be quite the adventure, I think.”
Charlotte smiled again. It took considerable effort, but she wanted to show Amelia that she was genuinely happy for her. She could not be anything else. Her sister was slowly recovering from the illness that had deprived both of them of their mother. She was married to a man she loved and who loved her.
Charlotte was glad—truly, deeply glad.
But her own life now stretched before her like an empty road.
Time will heal. Once, I did not believe I would ever recover from Mama’s passing. But I did. Seth's leaving will be a memory, too, in time.
“That is excellent. I look forward to being given a tour as soon as it is ready,” Charlotte added brightly.
“Oh, I was hoping you might live with us, Cherry,” Amelia frowned, taking her sister’s arm and looking into her face with concern.
Charlotte patted her sister’s hand. “I will visit. A lot. But, no, my place is back at Hamilton House, I think. That is where I belong.”
“But not for a long time,” Amelia insisted, “over the years, I have been quite remiss at seeing you outside of our little game. London does demand so much of one. I let the ton take up all of my time. I had no space in my head for anything else. But now…” she wrinkled her forehead, “now, I am free of it, and I want it to be like it was when we were girls!”
Luke was smiling fondly, besotted with his wife’s infectious enthusiasm. Charlotte kissed her sister’s forehead.
“Scotland and Yorkshire are not so very far apart as all that. Of course, we shall see each other lots. Now we had all better getindoors or that rain will give us a soaking. I have never known a place to be so wet in the middle of summer!”
When the rain had passed and Amelia was resting, Charlotte led her horse down the hill along Kirk Street. It ran straight between rows of weavers’ cottages to the castle. Bridge Street crossed the swift-flowing Powmillon Burn that ran through the middle of Strathaven and provided geese, ducks, and otters with a playground. On the other side of the burn, adjacent to the green, was the town's blacksmith.
The only way to combat despair is to be active. That is how I coped when I lost my mother and when I was separated from Amelia. I set myself tasks and focused on achieving them. This is no different. I will eventually need a good horse to return to Hamilton House.
She had noticed that when taking her horse around the hospital grounds for exercise, the mare seemed to be favoring one leg slightly. Charlotte was well-versed enough about horses to check for the most common problems and had found the missing nail in her shoe quickly. So, she decided to go to the village smith and have it repaired.
That is my simple task for today. A horseshoe nail. Then I will think of one for tomorrow. And the day after, and the day after...
She arrived at the smithy. The sound of a hammer against the anvil and the deep-throated whoosh of bellows sounded from inside. Charlotte tied her horse to a post and knocked on the tall gate that separated the yard from the street.
“See who’s at the gate, Set!” came a deep Scots voice. “If it’s hard graft, I’m busy for the week. If it’s somethin’ light, ye can take it on yersel’!”
Charlotte heard footsteps approaching the gate and had just enough time to step back. Her heart leaped into her throat at the name she had just heard. The gate opened, and Seth stood there.
CHAPTER 33
Seth filled the frame, sun-warmed and shirtless, a light sheen of sweat catching on the muscles of his chest and arms. His once-golden hair was darkened with heat, and a smudge of soot grazed his jaw. He looked as if he’d been carved from the forge itself; honed, focused,utterly real.
His eyes widened the briefest fraction at the sight of her. Then he leaned lazily against the gate, lips curving into a half-smile.
“Well,” he drawled, eyes sweeping over her, “you heard the man, is it hard graft or somethin’ light then, lass?”
Charlotte stared, utterly undone. “How can you—what—whyare you here?” she managed, breath catching.
He shrugged, maddeningly casual. “Earning a living.”
