“I’m…” Truth to tell, he didn’t know what he was for a few moments. This revelation had shaken him to his core. “Yes, I’m alive. But this is very difficult to accept.”
Dal’s features softened. “Open your heart, Mr. Finn. Don’t think with the logic of a mathematician, believe with the music of your soul.”
With that profound observation, Dal led him into the small parlour, where Hecate sat behind a cup of tea, and the scent of bacon filled his nostrils.
Before he could speak, his stomach growled again. Loudly.
“Mr. Finn requests your permission to join you for breakfast, Miss Hecate,” said Dal. “I would suggest you agree, since his body is requesting something more tangible than Mrs. Trimmer’s excellent broth.”
Hecate chuckled, a sound that made Finn smile as well. “Of course. Come and join me, Mr. Finn. I am pleased you have found your appetite.”
He moved to the table and sat, groaning a little as his muscles still needed work to recover their full abilities. “I am grateful. I may have found my appetite and that of two other people as well.”
“In that case, Dal…I suggest eggs, bacon and some of Mrs. Trimmer’s wonderful buns.” She gestured at the table. “We also have her blackberry jam, which I highly recommend. There’s honey too, clover honey. Excellent for one’s health.”
Since Finn’s mouth watered at the mere mention of all these divine dishes, he merely nodded at everything and when Dal placed a brimming platter in front of him, he damned near kissed the man in gratitude.
“I will be off, Miss Hecate. It is presently dry, so I must make haste before the rain decides to return.” Dal gave her a slight bow.
“Very well. Please take care?”
“Of course.” And he was gone.
Leaving an alert Finn to devour the first solid food he’d enjoyed in what seemed like eons, and sitting across the table from the woman who had saved his life. By gettinginside his head.
*~~*~~*
Hecate watched Finn as he began to slowly work his way through the food loaded on his plate. As she’d suspected, within a very short time, he slowed, chewing his food with relish but toying with what was left, rather than devouring it.
“Take your time,” she said. “You have not eaten proper food for far too long, thus your body will need to become accustomed to it.”
He sighed. “I was hungry enough to eat all this and more, but I find I cannot finish a scant half of it.” He looked up. “I am sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She shook her head. “Every piece of food youcaneat will go toward restoring your energy. You were in a bad state when we found you, Mr. Finn. It was touch and go for a few days until you passed the crisis.”
He touched his lips with his napkin, an automatic gesture that told her of his upbringing. His breeding. This man was obviously from a reasonably well-to-do family.
“I have questions, Miss Ridlington.”
“And I will do my best to answer them, Mr. Finn.” She folded her own napkin and set it by her teacup, wondering what was to come. “But first, would you please call me Hecate? Or if that seems too personal, then Miss Hecate? When I hear Miss Ridlington, I see my sisters, not myself.”
A brief smile crossed his face and he nodded in agreement. “Very well, Miss Hecate.” He took a breath. “You saved me from the brink of death, I understand.”
She watched his face, remaining silent until he asked the question he wanted answered.
“You found me unconscious, suffering from typhus and an extremely high fever, along with other physically detrimental things. How did you save me, Miss Hecate? How did you bring me back from death’s door?”
There it was. Now all she had to do was explain that she had no idea at all.
She rose. “Let’s go into my study. The fire is going, it’s warm and the chairs are comfortable. To my knowledge there are no intruders to disturb our conversation.”
He nodded and pushed himself away from the table, holding on to the back of the chair while he got his balance. “I hate being such a weakling.” He smiled apologetically. “What you must think of me.”
She sighed and led the way, walking slowly beside him, using her cane. “I am also restricted by the limitations of my body, Mr. Finn. It is frustrating, but we must remember that we are, in fact, walking.” She glanced up at him, finding his bright blue eyes fixed on her face. “Sadly, there are too many of our brave soldiers who cannot say the same.”
She led him to her study, and closed the door behind them. The room was snug, even though the curtains had been drawn back to reveal grey skies. Today the clouds had lifted enough so that the ocean could just be made out, and Finn’s gaze turned to the sight as he settled himself in a chair by the fireplace. “A lovely room, Miss Hecate. Now I can fully appreciate it.”
“Thank you. I think so as well.” She sat opposite Finn, settled her skirts and folded her hands in her lap. “Now. There are things we must discuss, you and I.”
