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Cordelia has been appeased and is on her way home as Althia and Nicholas set off for town.
Nicholas practically skipped down to the barn, humming a happy tune as he led the horses out and attached them to the carriage. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so blissful. Just a few weeks ago, he would have laughed in the face of anyone who would have suggested that he would be here with the woman he adored. He wanted to shout to the tops of the cliffs that he was in love with Lady Althia Shevington and the fates should not attempt to interfere. Certainly the fates weren't as cruel as that--bringing him here to Althia's doorstep just to whisk him away again? He refused to even contemplate it as he carefully climbed on top of the carriage and drove around to the front of the house.
Althia couldn't help but notice the expression of joy on Nicholas' face as he pulled up to where she stood. He practically jumped down in order to help her aboard in the seat next to his. Then he made his way around to the other side, climbed aboard, and took hold of the reigns. With a slight command, he encouraged the horses and off they rode toward town.
"I would never have expected that a navy Captain would be such an equestrian," Althia remarked shortly after they began.
"Most are not, I suppose," Nicholas explained, "But I had the luxury of spending many summers on my grandparents' farm before they died. My grandfather taught me to ride as soon as I was able. It is one of things I miss when I am out on the sea."
"Does your family still live in Gloucester?"
"Yes. My father is a port manager for a pottery manufacturer. He and my mother still live there and my sister and her husband are just a few houses down from them. My youngest brother still lives at home and works for my father along with my sister's husband."
"And what of your eldest brother? The one that enticed you to the life of a seaman?"
Nicholas smiled, but his eyes waxed sad. "Thomas was killed nearly ten years ago somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea."
"My deepest apologies, Captain Metcalf," Althia offered.
"Thank you, but that was a long time ago. He and I were very similar and I continually found myself competing with him in one way or another. I have no doubt that he would have liked you very much." He smiled and winked at her and Althia could not keep from looking back out to the countryside and feeling slightly embarrassed.
"I was fortunate enough to serve with him on my first few voyages," Nicholas continued. "Thomas always kept me in line but he was protective of me as well. I admired him a great deal and, in fact, it was Thomas who started my interest in ship building and history."
"He must have been a great man then," Althia commented, remembering the picture in the library of her grandfather.
"Indeed he was," Nicholas said wistfully and then directed his attention to the road and horses.
Althia looked at Nicholas for a moment as he deftly handled the horses and came to the realization that not all men of the sea were as she had experienced. There were still men of her grandfather's mold to be found. The realization surprised and pleased Althia. It seemed almost unfair for her to find such a man only to know that he was attached to someone else.
Nicholas caught her staring at him out of the corner of his eye, so he turned to her and smiled. She appeared slightly embarrassed at being caught. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, so he started telling her a funny story about himself and Thomas when they were children.
Although Althia hated going into town, she wished the trip were longer so that Nicholas could continue to tell stories about his family and his adventures. Althia couldn't help but be reminded of the days she spent with her father in much the same way.
As they got closer to town, Althia instructed Nicholas on where to go. The town bustled with people and animals and Althia cringed at the thought of spending an afternoon here. Sailors and merchants alike walked up and down the crowded streets and the mixture of manure, spices, and smoke filled the air. Cries from babies and street peddlers floated from between the buildings. They soon reached one of the local coffee shops and Althia finished her instructions.
"This"--Althia counted out a number of coins--"should be enough for the supplies and anything extra that you might need. I shall wait for you here." She waited as he stopped the horses, climbed down, and helped her out of the carriage. "Will you need anything else?" she asked.
"I do not foresee it, Lady Shevington. I will return shortly." He bowed as she curtsied and she watched him easily climb up the carriage and take the reigns. He turned back to her and smiled as he made his way back down the street. Althia entered the small coffee shop and the ringing of the bell above the door alerted that someone new had arrived. She sat at one of the rear tables near the window and placed her order with the waiter. She prayed silently that she would not see anyone she knew and that Nicholas would not be detained long. Chatter and clinking hovered in the air as the smells of various coffees and teas wafted back and forth between the counter and the shop. Althia mostly gazed uninterested out the window and jerked her attention to the door every time the bell rang in hopes that it would be Nicholas.
At least one of her prayers went unanswered when Althia heard the bells jingle and looked up to see Margaret and another young woman enter the coffee shop. They were talking animatedly and giggling about something as they chose a table on the other side of the room. Althia did her best to try and hide behind her hand and the teacup. She turned her head to the window and thought that her rouse was working until Margaret stood to look at some of the items for display near where Althia sat. Althia looked down at the table hoping that her bonnet covered her face well enough to be hid from Margaret, but such was not the case.
"Well, what a surprise! Lady Shevington," Margaret greeted as she recognized Althia. Margaret seemed genuinely surprised to see Althia in town.
"Why Margaret," Althia finally raised her head to recognize Margaret's presence, "How lovely to see you."
"I did not think that the elusive Lady Shevington ever left the confines of Hindrake." She stated and motioned to the other woman who quickly made her way over to the pair.
"Perhaps you thought I might turn into a werewolf or some other creature?" Temper, temper, Althia reminded herself.
Margaret laughed. "No, no, not at all. I just did not think you were accustomed to having so many people near you at once."
"No, I should say, it does not suit my countenance as well as it does yours, Margaret." The other, younger woman soon reached Althia's table.
"Oh, I do hope you will forgive me. Elizabeth Fowler, this is Lady Shevington. Lady Shevington, this is Leonard's sister Elizabeth."
"So you're Lady Shevington?" The younger woman's eyes grew wide at the recognition.
"How nice to meet you, Elizabeth," Althia forced, ignoring Elizabeth's remarks.
"But she doesn't look at all like you described," Elizabeth remarked to Margaret. Althia noticed a slightly pained look on Margaret's face and Althia smiled.
"I have never been very accurate in my descriptions of things all my life. Why, you should have heard me try to describe one of Leonard's portraits to my mother. You would have thought I was describing a wild gorilla or worse!" The younger women laughed.
"Indeed," Althia said coolly as the bell rang and Nicholas entered the shop looking for Althia.
"My, my, but what an exquisite man," Margaret mused as Nicholas scanned the other side of the room for Althia. "I would most enjoy an intrigue with him."
"Indeed!" Elizabeth agreed. "He is most handsome." Just then, Nicholas turned and saw Althia with the two women. His eyes widened upon spotting her and he made his way toward the women. The two girls began to giggle and prune themselves as Althia sat there calmly and smiled to herself. This was going to be fun.
"Lady Shevington," Nicholas acknowledged as he reached her table, "I trust you have had a pleasant afternoon?"
"Yes indeed, Captain, I have. May I introduce you to Lady Margaret Chanceler and her finance's sister Elizabeth Fowler?"
"I am Captain Metcalf of the Royal Navy and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Nicholas announced as he bowed to the younger women who curtsied in return. "However, I am afraid that the skies look discouraging and so we must not tarry. Lady Shevington?" He held out his hand to her and helped Althia out of her seat. He placed his arm in support of hers as he escorted her out the door. "Ladies, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Margaret, Elizabeth," Althia nodded to them as she exited. Nicholas helped her into the carriage and she looked at the coffee shop window as Margaret and Elizabeth stood there motionless with eyes and mouths open in surprise. Nicholas climbed into the carriage and coaxed the horses to start away as Althia waved to the women still staring from the window.
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