Matthew and Amanda walked Mrs. Marston back to her house just a block or so away, saw her safely in, and started home again. "Do you think Captain Daniel will be smart enough to realize that he's letting a wonderful chance at happiness slip through his fingers, Matthew?"

"I hope so, my love, but as I don't know the man, I really can't say. I must say, though, that if I had to live in a house with a shrew named Edmonia Bubb, I'd be very eager to escape, especially since your mother is the very antithesis of manipulative and controlling."

"Yes, she is. Oh, Matthew, when I heard that name, I almost burst out laughing!"

"I know. You bit your lip instead, which was a very cruel thing to do to your poor mouth. I vowed then and there to kiss it and make it better."

"Oh, yes, it needs that, but not here."

"No, we'll wait until we're back inside; I'm not one for making a public spectacle of our affection for each other, and besides, it's too damn cold to be standing out here smooching."

She giggled. "That is true. We'll just have to stand in the hallway smooching instead."

"In that case, my love, shall we pick up the pace a bit?"

They were almost running when they reached the house; Matthew used her key to unlock the door and she sped inside. He closed and locked the door, turned around, and took her into his arms. "Poor sweet mouth, so badly abused," he whispered, before he applied his special soothing treatment to it. Proper healing required several treatments, and when they could finally talk again, she giggled.

He raised an eyebrow. She giggled again.

"Out with it, Woman! What's so all-fired amusing?"

"Your mustache tickles."

"My mustache tickles? Well, then, I guess there won't be any more kisses, because I'm very proud of my mustache and I won't give it up."

"I didn't say to stop, Matthew. I just said it tickles."

"Are you sure you can stand the tickles?"

"I'm sure."

"Maybe I should test your devotion further by growing a beard."

"Maybe you should."

He tucked her under his chin and said, "Oh, Amanda, you are such a delight, but it's been a long day, and it's back to work tomorrow. I'll be up and out early, so I may not see you until tomorrow evening."

"And you're moving out on Tuesday."

"Amanda, even with your mother here to play propriety, it's better this way. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes. Sleeping just down the hall from each other is comforting in some ways, but in others, it's … I understand."

"It's only been a little over a month since we met, and even though I'm falling head over heels in love with you, there are still a great many bridges to cross."

"Yes. Will you send Molly up to help me with my gown?"

"Of course. Sweet dreams, sweet Amanda."

He kissed her lightly and turned her toward the stairs before heading for the kitchen to speak to Molly.

The next morning, Amanda came out of her room and saw that Matthew's door was open and Molly was making up the bed and tidying the room.

"Morning, Miss Amanda," she said. "Himself was up at the crack o'dawn, came down to get Tom and told him they were heading for the War Department. How did you sleep?"

"Oh, very well," Amanda said. "Is Mother up yet?"

"I just now brought up her tea and toast, ma'am, and since I was up here, I decided to go ahead and do the major's room."

"Of course. Is the water still hot?"

"Oh, yes, ma'am, there's plenty for tea."

"Good."

Amanda made herself a cup of tea and took it to Dotty's room, where her mother was drinking tea and eating toast. They chatted while Amanda drank her tea and helped Dotty finish her plate of buttered toast; when it was all gone, Amanda said, "Well, I'd best go and get dressed. Matthew's been gone for hours, Molly said, but he'll probably come by after he's been to Mrs. Marston's. Do you want to go to the Sanitary Commission office today?"

"Yes, I think so. Can we get a ride back into Washington with Matthew?"

"Oh, I'm sure of it."

Both ladies were dressed and ready by ten o'clock, and it was only a few minutes after that hour when they heard a knock on the front door.

"Matthew must have gone to Mrs. Marston's early; he can't have finished talking to her this quickly otherwise," Amanda commented. "No, I'll go, Mother."

"And I'll stay here, out of sight of the front hallway so you can say good morning properly," Dotty said.

"Oh, Mother!"

Dotty just giggled. The change in her over the past few weeks was remarkable, and Amanda wondered, not for the first time, if Daniel Macklin had been poisoning Dotty's food while he was living in the house. "It sounds like something out of a third-rate detective story, but one does wonder," she thought. "Well, we'll never know, and thank goodness he'll never try to harm any of us again."

She opened the door, prepared to tease Matthew about being early, and came face to face with a older man who definitely was not Matthew. He had a full beard, now almost completely white, and as he swept off his hat, he said, "I beg your pardon for calling unannounced, ma'am, but might you be my cousin Amanda? I'm Daniel West."

"Oh, my stars! Captain West, we … come in, come in!"

Amanda stepped back, put out both hands to clasp one of his, and smiled brilliantly. "Oh, Mother will be so happy! Now, wait just a moment and I'll announce you."

He smiled. "I leave myself in your very capable hands, dear cousin."

"Amanda? Is it Matthew?"

"No, Mother, it's someone else."

"Someone else? Amanda, what …. "Dotty came through from the parlor, saw Daniel, and gave a soft cry of joy before she hurried across the hallway, where he caught her up in his arms and held her tight.

"Oh, Daniel, I missed you so much," she said tearfully, "but I …"

"Say no more, Dotty; I understand. My daughter has manipulated me for the last time. I had to come and find you and tell you that."

"Oh, I'm so glad. Did you just come in on the train?"

"No, I arrived very late last night – well, very early this morning, to be precise – and took a room at Brown's Hotel to rest and wait for a decent hour to call."

"Well, thank goodness you went to Brown's instead of the National – that place is a hotbed of secessionist sentiment," Dotty said firmly. "I'm sure you've had breakfast, but we always have coffee on the stove. Amanda, would you ask Molly to fix a coffee tray?"

"Of course, Mother."

Amanda went to the kitchen, fixed a coffee tray for the captain, whom she suspected took his brew strong and black, and took it into the parlor. She'd just set it down when there was another knock on the door.

"That will be Matthew," she said. "I'll tell him we aren't going to the Sanitary Commission this morning, Mother."

"Bring him in, though."

"Of course."

When Amanda opened the door, Matthew took off his hat and said, "Good morning, my love. How are you this morning?"

"I'm very well, Matthew, and Mother is even better – Daniel West arrived just a few minutes ago. We aren't going to the Sanitary Commission, but come in and meet him."

"Of course." Matthew stepped inside, dropped a quick kiss on her lips, and said, "All the way from Boston, hmm?"

"All the way from Boston to tell her that he's not going to let his daughter run his life."

"Bye-bye Bubb."

"Bye-bye Bubb is right," she said, and giggled. "Oh, Matthew, you are the most ridiculous man!"

Matthew and Daniel took an instant liking to each other, so that Matthew offered Daniel a room in Mrs. Marston's house, pointing out that it would be more convenient and comfortable than staying in a hotel.
"Oh, but I thought you could stay here, Daniel, since Matthew is moving out," Dotty said.
"No, my dear, it's best if I accept Matthew's offer," he said. "I'll be very close by, yet you ladies will have the house to yourselves. I accept, Matthew, and thank you."

"I have a cab waiting, sir, if you'd like to ride back into Washington with me," Matthew said. "The driver can drop me at the War department, take you to Brown's to reclaim your luggage, and bring you back here, if you like. The servants I've hired, Curtis and Lucy, will be at the house by noon."

"Oh, you must come and have dinner with us, Daniel," Dotty said. "Drop your bags at the house by all means, but come here for your dinner."

"I will, thank you, Dotty. I'm ready to go when you are, Matthew."

The two men kissed their ladies goodbye and left, already talking like old friends. After they'd gone, Amanda said, "Well, Mother, I don't think you have to worry about being bored any time soon, not with Daniel in town."

"Oh, Amanda, isn't he wonderful?"

"I like him very much. I'm glad he realized what a treasure you are and stood up to his daughter."

"I just hope he doesn't give in to her tantrums."

"I don't think he will, Mother; by dropping everything and coming down less than two days after you left, he crossed his own personal Rubicon."

"Oh, I hope you're right."