“Plain gold bands,” Callie said, giving Gordon a mischievous glance. She was looking particularly ravishing this morning with her apricot hair set off by a simple but beautifully fitted dark blue morning gown. “Inside the man’s ring that I’ll give my husband, I’d like you to engrave ‘My Lionheart.’ ”
Gordon grinned. “In that case, inside the ring for my lady, please engrave ‘My Catkin.’ ”
Mr. Tate blinked but recovered quickly. “Please write out the spelling that you wish. Very forward thinking of you to exchange rings. I do believe that it may be a coming fashion.” He smiled. “Naturally it’s a trend I approve of. Let me show you a few versions of a plain gold band, and then I’ll get your sizes. I can have the rings ready tomorrow, if you like.”
“That would be excellent.” Gordon was about to put a deposit on the rings when he noticed a tray of earrings on the counter. One pair was golden topazes dangling on delicate gold wires. He lifted one out and admired how the sunlight sparkled through the faceted gems. He glanced at Callie. “Do you like these? I haven’t given you a proper engagement present.”
“You don’t have to give me anything. It’s enough that you said yes when I proposed to you.” Nonetheless, she picked up the other earring and held it by her ear as she looked into a small mirror on the counter. “But these are lovely.”
For three years she’d been supporting a household of five people with never any money to spare. He had a sudden powerful urge to spoil her. “The gold matches your eyes. How much are the earrings, Mr. Tate?”
The negotiation was quick and satisfying for both parties. Callie slipped the gold wires in her ears, then rose on tiptoes to kiss Gordon’s cheek. “No one has ever taken such good care of me,” she whispered. “And sometimes even the most independent of women wants to be taken care of.”
Feeling ridiculously pleased, he kissed back more thoroughly while Mr. Tate tactfully ignored them and wrote up an invoice.
Then, laughing, he and Callie left arm in arm. He hadn’t laughed so much since their doomed elopement. Callie had always been able to make him laugh and feel good about life, and now that she was no longer tight with worry over war, her responsibilities to her foster family, or fear of being found by Henry Newell, she was her bright, happy self again—Callie, but enriched by fifteen more years of maturity and worldly wisdom.
Yes, he had his best friend back, and the prospect of sharing a bed with her for as long as they both should live was insanely appealing. But for now, he avoided being alone with her in any stair wells since they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. She deserved a proper bed, and that was only a few days away.
The vicar of St. Paul’s had agreed readily to a swift wedding. Harbow had lived many years in Maryland, but he was English born and still capable of being impressed by the fact that Gordon was the son of a marquess. He was also male enough to understand why a man would want to get Callie into his bed as soon as possible.
With church and wedding rings secured, the whole loft family went hunting for premises for the Adamses’ new home and businesses. Even Trey joined in, since the bullet wound in his left leg was healing so well he barely needed a cane.
On the afternoon of the second day, they found the perfect place. A spacious building on Charles Street, in the center of the city, it was only a few blocks from the waterfront. The current owner was a barrel maker, so the large backyard already had a woodworking shed and storage space.
Sarah loved the long kitchen and immediately decided where to place the large oven she would need for her cook shop. The building was in sound condition and the living quarters above were roomy and comfortable. The present owner had decided he wanted to move out of the city, so he was willing to take a bargain price in return for a quick transaction. Henry’s money would cover the purchase price handily.
After, Gordon bought everyone a celebration dinner at the grandest of the city’s taverns. Before they began to eat, he offered a toast. “To future happiness and satisfaction for us all, and no more wars!”
Everyone laughed and drank to that. As he looked around the circle of faces, he realized how much he would miss the Adamses. In a mere fortnight, they’d become like family. No, rather better than his own family. The six of them had been bonded by the shared experiences of war, and it was a bond they would never forget.
He raised his glass for a second toast. “We will all meet again, I promise you!”
“I will happily drink to that!” Josh said as they raised their glasses once more.
No one drank to excess, but they were all merry as they left the tavern and made their way back to the warehouse, two blocks away. It was already dark, but the streets were full of muddy, happy militiamen who had been released from their positions on Hampstead Hill and were now celebrating.
The mood was bright and Gordon and Callie brought up the rear of their small group, holding hands. When they reached the warehouse, a figure was pulling at the door rope and looking up hopefully. Molly recognized him first. “Peter!”
She bolted toward him in a most unladylike fashion, and he caught her in his arms with a kiss. “Molly!”
Ending the kiss but keeping his arm around Molly, Peter turned and greeted the others. “I’m glad to see you all. I wanted to assure Molly of my safety, and I have some news for you, Mrs. Newell.”
“Come upstairs and tell me there, Peter,” she said as Josh unlocked the door, which now had a new and much more secure lock. “We’ve just come from dinner, but if you’d like something to eat, there is always fine food in Sarah’s kitchen!”
“That would be splendid, ma’am.” His gaze went to Molly again. The lad was seriously smitten, and so was the lass.
Josh lit a lantern in the short passage at the bottom of the stairs and guided them up. The door at the top had also been rebuilt more sturdily and with a new lock.
Inside, as lamps were lit, Peter said, “Mrs. Newell, I thought you’d want to know that your lawyer, Mr. Key, and the other Americans with him were just released by the British and arrived here in Baltimore this evening.”
He paused to gratefully accept a tankard of ale from Sarah. “He and Mr. Skinner were able to obtain the release of the elderly doctor whose captivity sent them to the fleet to begin with, and they also have a list of all prisoners held by the British, which is a great relief to the families.”
“Wonderful!” Callie exclaimed. “For the prisoners, and for me. I have several legal issues that need to be addressed and we were thinking of calling on your uncle, but talking to Mr. Key will be even better. Do you know where he’s staying? It’s too late to call on him this evening, but perhaps first thing in the morning.”
“They’re at the Indian Queen Hotel, not far from here. That big building on the corner of Baltimore and Hanover streets.”
Peter’s eyes lit up when he saw Molly approaching with a tray of hot food. “Thank you, Molly! It’s wonderful to return to civilization after days in muddy ditches. Our big news is the lack of news because after a day of playing cat and mouse opposite our lines, the British troops withdrew in the middle of the night without offering battle. We wondered if they might attack elsewhere, but they boarded the naval ships and they’re now well and truly gone. Is there any news here?”
