“Yes, they do. They insisted on their husbands knowing before any vows were spoken so that they would have the opportunity to call off the marriage.”
A smile pulled at her lips. “I assume none of them did.”
“It did not even cross their minds to do so.”
“Is Mercutio still a pugilist and is Petrucio an actor? And is Benedick still with the Thames River Police?”
Orlando blinked at her. “I cannot believe you remember their professions.”
“I have forgotten very little from our nightly discussions.”
“Mercutio has recently mentioned that he grows tired of being a pugilist. Even though he always wins, he would like not to wake every morning with sore muscles and bruises.” Orlando laughed. “He is more interested in a position as a guard, such as the giants you have at your front door.”
“I will advise Her Grace in case she is in need of another footman.”
“Petrucio is saving so that he can leave acting and become a Hair-Dresser for Ladies and Gentlemen, Perfumer and Ornamental Hair Manufacturer. Apparently, he has had these plans for a year but my brothers and I were recently told.”
“Do you have anything against him having such a profession?” Blythe asked as she wondered why it would be kept from a brother.
“No. He just assumed that we would not be interested.” Orlando shook his head. “Benedick is still with the Thames River Police and I do not anticipate that he will ever change his profession.”
“Even though Rosalind had wed, you feared that your other sisters would not. I am glad that those concerns are gone.”
“Yes, well much came to light last year. There were things that we had not known about our mother,” he said quietly and shook his head. “But now is not the time to talk about what we learned.”
She supposed that he was correct.
“How long did you remain in Brussels?” She needed to know how long he had been back in England when she truly wanted to know why he hadn’t called on her since he was interested in speaking to her now.
“Months,” he answered and then went on to explain how long it had taken to treat the injured and why many could not return to England right away, and illnesses that followed.
She listened and understood the struggles he had faced because she had been there too. Just not as involved as a surgeon, she knew how living in an army camp could be.
“What of your family?” he asked.
“A brother and two sisters wed last year,” she answered. “That leaves two brothers who are of marriageable age but remain bachelors. Cecil who is the Barrister and Nevil who…He has taken over the tavern in the town near father’s estate.”
Orlando frowned. “The tavern?”
“Yes, well, much information is shared in the tavern, sailing, the moon, if the navy has been about…” Amongst the many secrets they had shared, she had confessed to her family being smugglers. “The former owner passed and Nevil purchased it and he enjoys the independence of an income that does not come from an allowance. My two younger brothers have no interest in settling down and my youngest sister will not make her appearance in London until next year, when she is eight and ten.”
“Do you see them often?” he asked.
Blythe blew out a sigh. “I had not seen anyone but Seth until last autumn when I finally went home to face them and but could not bring myself to tell father or anyone what John did. He was dead so what did it really matter?”
“I missed you Blythe,” Orlando said as he placed a hand over hers. “I knew that I had, but not just how much until now.”
Her heart fluttered, but missing could mean anything and not necessarily a deeper emotion.
“I missed you as well,” she admitted. “It was because of you that the last month on the Continent was not so difficult.”
“That was because you were free of your husband.”
“I will admit, though it is wrong of me to do so, I was glad to be away from John, but I was equally glad to have gained you as a protector.” Not that she had served his needs in any way as most women do for their protector. “I enjoyed our nights and conversations. I liked not being alone.” This was something she had never admitted to him but no longer feared doing so. Maybe it was because of the distance in time.
“I also liked not being alone.” He stared into her eyes.
Her pulse increased.
