“I will, but let’s get back to the house first.It is a long story and I want to change into something dry.”
He nodded.Elizabeth leaned her head back against the squabs and was quiet the rest of the way to Bloomsbury.When they arrived, Matthew paid the coachman and sent him off.He could walk home from here.He followed Elizabeth into the dark house.She moved easily through to the front room and lit a taper, then crossed to light another pair on the mantle.
“I will just go upstairs and change.Please make yourself at home.”She crossed to open a window, and a damp breeze raced through the room.When she turned back to him, she frowned.“You are just as wet as me.I can bring you down a towel.”
“I’ll be fine.”He pulled off his jacket.“I will dry.”
“I will be just a few minutes.”She swept out of the room.
Matthew hung his sodden jacket on the back of a wooden ladder-back chair.His shirt was only slightly damp, but his cravat was a limp wet rag, so he removed it as well.He set his hat on the seat of the chair.Moving across to pick up one of the tapers, he wandered around the room.At one end was a large desk covered in papers, inkpots, and pens.He smiled at the mess.Nice to know thatMiss I can handle everythingwasn’t perfect.He spotted a candelabra and lit the candles, bringing it back over to the low table in the center of the seating area.
The extra light afforded him a better look around.He spotted a small army of tin soldiers on the floor in front of the cold hearth.Squatting down, he reached for one; the little soldier was battle-worn, its paint scratched and the hat dented.A squeak of door hinges had him twisting around.Was she back already?But the door didn’t open fully.When he held up his taper, he could see the outline of a small head poking through the slightly ajar door.
“Is someone there?”Matthew stood.
The door opened further, and a small boy came across the threshold.“Hullo.”
“Hello,” he replied.“Are you Robert?”
“Yes.”The boy let go of the door handle.“Who are you?”
“Matthew Reeves.Shouldn’t you be abed, Robert?”
“I heard my mum come home and voices downstairs.I just wanted to see who was here.”
“I see.Well, your mum will be right back, so you might want to scurry on back to bed.”
“I won’t be in trouble.I want to make sure she is all right.”Robert’s small shoulders straightened.“It’s my job as the man of the house.”
“I promise you I won’t cause her any harm.Your mother and I are friends.”Matthew shoved his hands in pockets and tried to look non-threatening.The boy had gumption for only six years old.Or was he seven?He nodded to the army on the hearth.“Is this your regiment?”
“Yes, sir.”Robert came closer.Still eyeing him warily.
Matthew crouched down again.“Who are they fighting?”
Apparently, that was the right question because Robert hurried over.“They are fighting the Ottomans.We are helping the Greeks to win independence.The British army is the best army in the whole world.We have been sending big ships to Greece to help as well.But I don’t have any Navy boats.Just army regiments.But look at all the cannons I have.”He pointed to a neat line of artillery lined up behind the soldiers.“If you want, you can be the cavalry.I like to be the cannons.”
They worked together to fight the imaginary Ottoman empire.Matthew had no idea what he was doing, but Robert gave orders, and he sent his cavalrymen where the boy instructed.It turned out that he didn’t need to worry about playing the right way; the battle was pure chaos.Matthew flung one of the cavalrymen backward with a loud “Ahhhhh” of agony, and Robert hooted with laughter.He swept his hand through one of the regiments, scattering soldiers and yelling “Ahhhhh” as well.
“Robert Edward Harper, what are you doing out of bed?”
Both he and Robert swiveled their heads to where Elizabeth stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips.Robert scrambled up first.“Sorry, mama.”
Matthew rose to his feet.“We were just fighting the Turks.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips together.“I am aware.It is always the Turks.”She raised her eyebrows and gave her son a stern look.“Robert, why are you out of bed?It’s very late.”
“I wanted to see who was down here.”He walked over to his mother and grasped her hand in his small one.“I just wanted to make sure you were safe, mama.”
The kid had charm, and his wide-eyed look of concern seemed to melt Elizabeth’s annoyance.Her expression softened.“Off to bed with you.”She bent to kiss the top of his head.
“’Night, Mr.Reeves.”Robert gave a little wave and scampered off.
Elizabeth went to the doorway and listened for a moment and then stepped back, shutting the door.“Sorry about that.He is far too curious for his own good.”
“Curiosity is a sign of intelligence.He is very well-versed in current events of the British empire.”
“Yes, that’s from his Uncle Alex.The current Duke of Hartwick.”She still stood by the door.She had changed into a light blue dress and taken her hair down.The damp locks had been brushed out and fell past her shoulders in long, loose waves.
