He laughed exuberantly. “I’m finally beginning to wear you down!”
“I believe you are,” she said with a smile in her voice. “But also, everything has changed since you swept back into my life three weeks ago.”
“My world is different, too.” He’d moved from constant restless seeking to peace. He’d literally traveled around the world to find his way home. Now he just needed to persuade his wary warrior woman to share her life with his.
He kissed the top of her head, then pulled the blankets over them. The rain was slowing, but the temperature had dropped so that the night air was cool. “I’d like to hold you like this forever.”
“I’ll settle for tonight since we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.” She wriggled delightfully as she found the most comfortable position against him. She fit so well into his embrace. “May dawn be slow in coming!”
His bone deep fatigue had dissolved, leaving relaxed contentment. When had he ever been happier? Never.
He drifted off to sleep with a smile on his lips.
* * *
The night shattered when the British began to bombard Fort McHenry at dawn. The most powerful navy in the world was knocking on Baltimore’s door.
Chapter 27
Josh guided the physician and his assistant into the warehouse office, all three of them dripping with rain. A dignified man of middle years, the physician had responded immediately to the power of the Carroll name at the end of Peter’s note. After waiting for the sound of a particularly noisy series of bombs to diminish, Josh announced, “Dr. Williams and his assistant, Miss Callista.”
Callie moved around the counter to greet the doctor. “Thank you for coming so promptly, Dr. Williams. The . . . the body is on the worktable back here.” She led the doctor back to where the long, tarpaulin-wrapped shape rested on the table where Molly had worked on her rag rugs.
When they were all gathered around the table, Callie gestured to Richard and Molly and introduced them with the names they’d decided were most appropriate. So many different names! Richard shouldn’t be a lord, and there didn’t need to be any mention that Molly and Trey were illegitimate. Best if she and the young people were all Newells. “This is Mr. Audley and Miss Mary Newell. I assume Josh explained that the deceased is my stepson, Henry Newell, who just arrived from Jamaica in search of his family and became a victim of this dreadful violence?”
Williams nodded as he removed his streaming cloak and handed it to Josh without even glancing at him. Josh played the role of unnoticeable slave very well. “Yes, I gather the unfortunate gentleman was shot. What were the circumstances?”
“Peter Carroll had brought us news that Molly’s brother, a militia sharpshooter, had been wounded during the fighting at North Point,” Richard explained. He’d claimed the honor of telling the necessary lies because he would be best at it. “Josh and I took our cart out to retrieve Trey under Peter’s guidance. We were bringing him home when we discovered Mr. Newell, who was mortally wounded on the road back to the city. Trey was unconscious, but Josh recognized Mr. Newell immediately. His horse had disappeared. Likely stolen by the British.”
Williams made a note in a small notebook. He didn’t seem to find anything suspicious in the account. “Do you know why he rode out into a battlefield?”
“Mr. Newell was still breathing and semiconscious. He said he was seeking his younger brother, whom he knew to be a fine marksman and with the courage to volunteer for the most dangerous position.” Richard’s voice lowered. “He was aware enough to understand that Trey was beside him and not critically wounded. We brought Mr. Newell back to the city in the hope we could get him to a surgeon in time.”
“Alas, it was too late.” Callie dabbed at her eyes with a fine muslin handkerchief. “He had already passed by the time he arrived here. To think that he came all this way because of his young brother and sister!”
“Admirable but foolish,” Williams said gravely as he made another note. “I gather you’re a friend of the family, Mr. Audley?”
“Mrs. Newell and I are betrothed,” Richard said blandly, ignoring startled glances from Callie, Molly, and Josh. “We plan to wed when things have settled down.”
“I was completely undone by Henry’s death,” Callie said, doing her best to sound helpless. “Mr. Audley has been invaluable in helping us through this trying time. He was the one who explained the importance of a certificate of death. Henry was a man of property, and with neither wife nor child of his own, his brother and sister are his heirs. The situation is complicated by the fact that he is from Jamaica, so all must be done properly here.”
“I understand entirely.” The doctor tucked his notebook away inside his coat. “I’m honored that Mr. Carroll suggested me to serve you in such an important matter.”
An unusually violent set of concussions at the fort briefly shook the warehouse. Everyone flinched, but after hours of the bombardment, there were no stronger reactions.
Richard continued, “Henry Newell would have been my stepson. Though I never had the opportunity to truly know him before his tragic demise, I must do my best for him now.” He solemnly pulled the tarpaulin down to reveal Henry’s face. Even in death, lines of anger and brutality showed in his face.
“There is no question of the identity of the deceased?” Dr. Williams asked, which sounded like an official question required before he issued a death certificate.
“Yes, it is certainly my stepson. Here are the papers he carried.” Callie produced the documents that Richard had taken from Henry’s pockets. There had also been a substantial amount of money. They’d confiscated most of it on behalf of Molly and Trey.
“There was also this signet ring.” She showed the gold ring with an elaborate initialNengraved on the flat top. “It belonged to my husband and went to Henry on his father’s death. Now it must go to Matthew’s younger son.” Though she wasn’t sure that Trey would want any part of something Henry had worn.
Williams nodded. “Can anyone else identify the body?”
Molly stepped forward. “Yes, it is certainly my older brother, Henry. If only he hadn’t come to America!” She began to cry, her sobs echoing through the warehouse office. Callie put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
“Trey, the younger brother, can also swear to his identity,” Richard said. “He can’t manage the stairs because of his leg wound, but he saw Henry yesterday and was conscious enough to testify. I can take you up to him if you like.”
