It didn’t alter the fact that he was an English lord who must return to Britain, and she ...a devoted daughter, who could never leave her homeland and her family so far behind.
They still held one another, neither willing to step back, neither willing to break the spell of frozen time.Then, Anna, making an attempt to do her duty, called from the kitchen doorway.
“Fräulein?Are you coming to bed?”
Jonathan’s arms fell to his sides, and Lise stepped back reluctantly.Snatching the lantern from its hook, he took hold of her hand, and they walked silently back to the farmhouse.
Chapter Eighteen
Jonathan thought a man never appeared gladder to see the gate to his own drive than Henrik von Ostenfeld.They’d ridden slowly and arrived midday.The lieutenant had borne the journey with stoic fortitude, but his face was gray with pain by the time he dismounted in front of the stable.
Jacob appeared, popping out of the open door like a rabbit from his hole, his face one of surprise to see the four of them together.
“Have my parents returned?”Lise asked as Jonathan helped her down, relishing the quick contact when his fingers gripped her waist.They shared the briefest of glances, then he had to let her go.
“Yes, Fräulein,” Jacob said.
She needn’t have bothered asking.Frau von Ostenfeld came flying out of the house a second later.And Jonathan knew he was looking at the face of a mama bear.Maternal concern, laced with anger toward her daughter for reckless behavior, turned to horror when she saw Henrik’s bloodstained clothing.
“My God!What happened?”
“I’ve been shot, Mama,” Henrik said, attempting a reassuring smile that came out more as a grimace.“But I’m well enough.The bullet went clean through.”
“Shot!”Her voice rose to a near-shriek, and she grabbed for her husband’s arm as Herr von Ostenfeld had come out directly behind his wife.“Who shot you?When?Where?”
“Let’s get him inside first,” Henrik’s father said.“Our boy is walking, so there’s nothing to worry about.”Still the man’s face was grim while he assisted his son’s measured progress into the house.
Jonathan couldn’t help but notice that neither parent so much as greeted Lise, who appeared stricken by their disregard.Nodding to her, sending her an encouraging smile that she didn’t return, they followed her parents into the house with Anna coming behind.
In the entrance hall, nobody minded when the maid and the footman engaged in a long and close embrace.
“You are relieved of your duties for the day, Anna,” Frau von Ostenfeld said.“Go bathe and rest.”
Within minutes, under her command, the household was in organized chaos.Henrik had made it slowly to his bedroom with his father at his side, supporting him, and Hans had been sent to fetch the family’s doctor.Lise had gone to her room in silence, to bathe and change her dress.
Frau von Ostenfeld had given Jonathan the barest welcome before assigning him a guest room.He’d expected to be sent on his way immediately.When she turned away in the middle of his words of gratitude, he understood how hard this was on her.
The housekeeper escorted him to a guest room, and he was glad he didn’t have to bear witness to any family discussion that would surely take place.A tub was brought in and soon filled, and he had to tame his thoughts away from the image in his mind of Lise, somewhere close, also stripping bare and letting water glide over her skin.
While he washed, he thought of the parents’ demeanor, cooler to him than the bathwater after he’d sat in it for ten minutes.It was understandable.If he hadn’t come into their lives, their son wouldn’t be wounded and their daughter disgraced.
Knowing how much Lise loved her family, Jonathan prayed they didn’t really think her to be ruined or even tarnished.After all, she wasn’t a porcelain vase or a silver candlestick.She was a brave and amazing woman who had handled herself with grace given the circumstances.
A knock at the door revealed Hans with his hands full of Henrik’s clothes.The poor man would find his wardrobe half empty!Jonathan made a mental promise to send him some of England’s finest lawn shirts, wool pants, and a broadcloth coat when he returned home.
Once dressed, he wondered what he should do apart from leave this family in peace.Alas, he didn’t even own a horse any longer.Nor have any money.Nor could he simply go without saying goodbye.
Without being invited, he went downstairs to wait.For what, he wasn’t entirely sure.It was a strange and foreign feeling to be hobbled by uncertainty, realizing he hadn’t exactly done everything in bread-and-butter fashion.In a word, Jonathan might be blamed as wrongfooted.It wasn’t the usual atmosphere of assuredness and general adulation to which he was accustomed.
Eventually, Lise entered the drawing room where he waited.Her face was tear-stained, making his gut ache.Her mother came in behind her as though she would never let her daughter out of her sight again.
“How is Henrik?”Jonathan asked, trying to keep his gaze respectfully upon the lady of the house, rather than staring at Lise.
“Lord Bowen,” Frau von Ostenfeld began.“Today, I have been shocked and furious, also relieved and grateful, but not in equal measures.”Then she pursed her lips before ringing the bell.
They waited in silence until she’d asked for coffee service with cake.Only then did she take a seat on the sofa, patting the space beside her for Lise.Not assuming anything, Jonathan remained standing.
“Please, sit,” Frau von Ostenfeld invited with all the enthusiasm of someone asking a tiger to sleep in their bed.“You’ve had a few long days.I hope the bath helped.And we shall provide you with a good meal next.”
