This is a three-part bit of fluff for anyone who, like me, is in denial of Mr. Carter's death and wishes for a romance between him and Miss Galindo. Birthday gift for brenna-louise. Happy birthday!

All he could smell was blood – blood and death. He was sure that he was about to die. He gave his consent for Dr. Harrison to perform the operation, but he had no hope that he would survive the day. He was waiting for his fate to overtake him when Miss Galindo returned with the items he had requested. He dictated his will to her and watched her as she wrote. She was concentrating on her work, but her brow was furrowed and he was afraid he could detect that her eyes shone with a few unshed tears. She was made of stern stuff, however, and when she had finished, she smiled and dismissed his fears, although he could see that she feared the same, in spite of her words. When she took his hand to help him sign his name, she leaned close to him, and he noticed her scent, for the first time since he had known her. It was something light and pleasant, and it gave him a moment's respite from the other smells. The blood and death were still there, but they were moderated by her presence, her closeness. Once she had finished the document and witnessed his signature, she retreated to the next room, sparing him one backward glance before she joined Lady Ludlow. He wished they would not stay. The operation would be painful and he was sure to cry out in pain, the sound of which he would have spared those two worthy ladies if he could. And then news of his death, of which he felt certain, would reach them before anyone else knew of it. Mr. Carter finally closed his eyes and tried to clear his mind of those thoughts. Indeed, he tried not to think of anything at all, and soon enough he was in the surgery with something between his teeth and Mary Smith at his head trying to calm him. The pain was excruciating, worse than anything he could have possibly imagined. The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness was Miss Smith speaking some comforting words that he could not comprehend.

#####

Months later, Mr. Carter made his way to his office. He could not move as quickly as he used to, still learning to manage with a cane and prosthetic leg, but he felt fully alive for the first time since the day of the explosion. He was returning to his office at Hanbury and even though he anticipated a mountain of paperwork, he looked forward to the day. He was thankful to be alive. He would work and he would be himself again.

He wondered if she would be in his office when he arrived. She had visited almost every day during his convalescence, in spite of the fact that he refused to allow any ladies into his sick room. The women of Cranford still visited his home, leaving tasty treats and their kind regards, but none were admitted to his room. His housekeeper was kept quite busy. Miss Galindo did not bring treats; instead she brought books. Most of them were from her personal collection, meant as a loan rather than a gift, but he was very grateful. She occasionally included a note, wishing him continued good health and improvement. The notes and books helped him pass that period of forced inaction a little more comfortably. And perhaps more importantly, they carried her scent. It was almost as though she were with him, except that she was silent. If she were really there, perhaps seated in the chair by his bed, she would have spoken. There were a few times, near the end of the time when he was confined, that he almost admitted her to his room, for the pleasure of hearing her voice; he was fully dressed, after all. But he decided against it, not wanting her to see him in his weakened state.

Mr. Carter reached his office, opened the door, and scanned the room. A gentleman must stand when a lady does, but Miss Galindo stood when he entered the room. She wore a brilliant smile and tears stood in her eyes. He could not help returning her smile, though he was sure his tentative grin was nothing near equal to hers; she was beautiful.

"Miss Galindo." He nodded.

"Welcome back, Mr. Carter," she greeted him softly. She seemed undecided as to whether she should approach him or stay behind her desk, but after a silence in which they just stood smiling at each other, she moved in his direction and held out her hand to him.

Mr. Carter shook her hand and held it a little longer than he thought he ought before releasing it. "Thank you, Miss Galindo. I am glad to be back."

"I am sure you are," she replied. "And I am also glad you have returned." She paused for a moment before murmuring, almost too softly for him to hear, "I have missed you."

He wasn't sure how to respond to her last comment, so he changed the subject. "Thank you for the books you lent me. I will bring the rest back to the office tomorrow."

"There is no hurry, Mr. Carter."

He had no answer and they stood as they were. The silence at first was comfortable, but after a while it became awkward. Miss Galindo cast about for something to say.

"I have tried to take care of some of your work while you were away from the office," she told him, returning to stand behind her desk. "I hope you will find my work satisfactory, but if you find anything amiss, please do let me know."

"May I see what you have been working on?" Mr. Carter asked.

"Of course," she replied, sitting down and beckoning him to come to her.

Mr. Carter stood just behind her, a little to one side, while Miss Galindo flipped through the well-organized papers on her desk. He noticed her intoxicating scent once more. It was not very strong, but this time it was not mingled with the smells of Dr. Harrison's surgery or just barely lingering among the pages of the books she left for him. Mr. Carter was glad Dr. Harrison had proved him wrong the day of the explosion. At first, he had been almost angry, thinking that living as a cripple would be worse than dying. However, if he had died that day, he would not be standing here, only inches away from her. And he was not entirely crippled - with a limp for the rest of his days but otherwise able to live a fairly normal life.

"I kept these accounts as best I could," Miss Galindo told him, pointing out her work in one of the ledgers. "I kept track of problems from the tenants as well. I did make an attempt to visit a few of them, but it did not go well."

"You went to visit tenants?" Mr. Carter asked incredulously. "Miss Galindo, you really should not have done so. Such dirty work is not fit for a lady."

"So Lady Ludlow's tenants told me," she answered in clipped tones. "They have no respect for a woman's intelligence. Every one of them refused to have any dealings with me, even though they knew this would mean waiting months for you to return and resolve their problems."

"I do not think anyone could doubt your intelligence, unless he were a simpleton himself."

Miss Galindo blushed slightly at his compliment, but refused to look up at him. "You did not always think so, Mr. Carter, and you are not a simpleton," she challenged.

Mr. Carter felt his irritation rise, but he resisted the temptation to engage in an argument with her. "I was a fool to doubt your abilities as a clerk, but you may be sure I never doubted your intelligence, even before Lady Ludlow gifted me with your services."

"Thank you," Miss Galindo replied quietly.

"Why will you not look at me?"

"My neck would become sore looking up at you, Mr. Carter," she answered briskly.

"Very well." Mr. Carter found a chair that he could lift with one hand, placed it next to her, and sat down. "I will sit, then."

Miss Galindo turned to him, her expression unreadable. "Is there something you need from me, sir?" she asked. Mr. Carter could sense some irritation in her voice.

"Nothing at the moment," he told her. "I am sure I will be glad if I may retain your services as my clerk, however."

She nodded. "You may."

"I will look over what you have done in the ledgers to reacquaint myself with what has been happening at Hanbury since I have been gone, but I am sure your work is impeccable."

Miss Galindo nodded her acknowledgment of his remark. Facing him as he sat right beside her, however, she could not prevent a small smile from replacing the wary expression she had been wearing, and she spoke spontaneously. "You cannot know how pleased I am that you are back at Hanbury, how grateful I am that your life was spared."

"Not as grateful as I, Miss Galindo," he replied gravely.

"Perhaps not," she conceded softly. "But very nearly so."

Then they were both silent, gazing, unmoving, into each other's eyes. Miss Galindo thought that she could very happily stay in this moment forever. She barely breathed, for fear that the spell might be broken. Mr. Carter felt an impulse to kiss her, but he knew that would not be right, so he simply remained still. If anyone should speak now, it must be him, but he found himself at a loss for words, at least for words that would not be improper or even offensive to Miss Galindo. After a while he spoke the most innocuous words he could call to mind.

"I missed Hanbury dreadfully while I was recuperating." Mr. Carter wondered if she would understand his meaning.

"And Hanbury missed you as well," Miss Galindo told him, smiling a little wider. "Nothing was the same without you."

"I think I know Hanbury well, but I do hope that in time I will acquaint myself even better with it, though it may take time." They were speaking in code now, and Mr. Carter hoped that they would not misunderstand one another.

"Mr. Carter, you may find that it will take much less time than you anticipate," she assured him breathlessly.

"I am glad to hear it." He broke away from her gaze and looked at her hand, resting on her skirts. After several moments of hesitation, he took it in his and looked back up at her.

"And I am glad to know that you understand me," Miss Galindo remarked, squeezing his hand lightly. "You may set whatever pace you wish, Mr. Carter."

In his heart he wanted to have the banns read the following Sunday, but she deserved a real courtship. He would not draw it out too long, but his wooing her just might be enjoyable to both of them. "Then perhaps you will allow me to drive you home this afternoon."

"Of course," she agreed. "If you have time or inclination, I invite you to stay for some tea when we arrive at my home."

"Thank you, Miss Galindo. I will certainly have both time and inclination to take tea with you. I accept your invitation."

"Excellent." She gave him such a smile that once more he almost kissed her, but he refrained. Soon, he thought. But not yet.

"Now let me take that ledger from you so that I may read through everything I have missed."

"Of course, Mr. Carter," Miss Galindo responded cheerfully, closing the ledger and handing it to him.

He squeezed her hand gently before letting it go and making his way to his own desk. When he reopened the ledger, a faint whisper of her scent floated up from the pages. Mr. Carter knew that it would either keep him working efficiently and lightheartedly throughout the morning or it would drive him to distraction, but he did not worry himself over it. He was happy and soon he was going to be even happier.

To be continued…