Chapter 10

Colonel Thornton listened to Matthew's thoughts on Macklin as a possible suspect and agreed to pursue inquiries regarding the major, then accompanied Amanda and Matthew to the depot and saw them onto their train. Matthew had his arm in a sling, as Dr. Notson had suggested; when they entered their second-class carriage, several junior officers, many of them much more seriously wounded and some even missing a hand or an arm, stood up.

"As you were, men; this is just a scratch, and I'm only on convalescent leave because I have a very cautious surgeon," Matthew said. "I'll be back on duty by the end of the week."

He and Amanda found a seat at the back of the carriage and settled in, with Amanda nearest the window. By sitting on the aisle, he could stretch his long legs out, but he could also hold her left hand with his right. "Next stop, Baltimore," he said. "Are you warm enough?"

"Oh, yes, this cape is very warm, and the gown is merino. I'm fine, Matthew."

"While we're in Philadelphia I need to have a new uniform tailored, and I'll need to invest in a greatcoat. I haven't had one since last winter when the first one I bought was ruined."

"And how did that happen?"

"I was on a scout in Fairfax County just a few days before Christmas, supporting Ord's Brigade, when I got a little too close to a scouting party from Jeb Stuart's cavalry. I rode like hell, like to killed the horse, but those secesh sharpshooters poked several holes in the capes and sides of my greatcoat."

"Any holes in you?"

"No, just the coat, but it was only good for use as a horse blanket after that. I looked like I'd been attacked by a whole swarm of giant moths."

Amanda knew she really shouldn't giggle, since he'd come much too close to being seriously wounded or killed, but mental imagery of his coat being eaten by giant moths was too much for her, and she laughed. He grinned at her.

"Made you laugh," he said proudly.

"Yes, you did, you absurd man. Jim was so good at making me laugh. I guess that was one reason why I never really liked Daniel Macklin – he has no sense of humor. Matthew, do you really think he might have tried to kill you – kill us?"

"I don't know, sweetheart, but stranger things have happened."

"I suppose so."

About the time they left Aberdeen, Maryland, she got sleepy. He could tell she was struggling to stay awake, so he said, "Why not take your bonnet off and put your head on my shoulder?"

"Oh, I…. yes, that sounds lovely."

Five minutes later she was sound asleep. Matthew dozed off and on, waking fully when the conductor came through to tell him they would soon be arriving in Philadelphia.

As soon as he moved away, Matthew said, " Amanda, time to wake up. We're almost to Philadelphia."

"Oh, my stars, already? What time is it?"

"Almost ten o'clock, but Colonel Thornton assured me that there will be a carriage waiting at the station to take us to his home."

"When did I fall asleep?"

" We were still in Maryland. You missed all of Delaware and part of Pennsylvania, not that you missed much since it was dark most of the time."

"Did you sleep?"

"I dozed off and on, but I'm not the one that was awake most of last night. Time to put you bonnet back on and turn into the very proper Mrs. Bishop."

"Oh, must I?"

He laughed. "The conductor thinks we're married. You were asleep on my shoulder for several hours, after all."

"Shocking, isn't it?" she teased.

"No, just wonderful."

The Thorntons' coachman was waiting to drive them to the house. He explained that "Miss Araminta" retired promptly at nine each night, winter or summer, but that his daughter Sarah, who was one of the maids, would see them settled in their rooms.

Half an hour later, Matthew left Amanda at her door and went to his own room, unable to do more than wish her a formal good night because Sarah was with her; she would need the maid's help to unhook the back of her gown and do all the things that a lady needed help with. He'd refused help with his own preparations for bed, so once his door was closed he eased his wounded arm carefully out of his blouse and then his shirt, and undershirt, noted that although the arm was sore it didn't seem to be bleeding, and went to the washstand to wash his face and clean his teeth. He heard Sarah say goodnight to Amanda and go down the stairs; less than a minute later, there was a tap on his door.

"Matthew, are you decent? I'd like to look at that arm."

He'd packed the dressing gown she'd loaned him the night before, and the sleeves were full enough that she could push them up to look at the wound. "Just a minute," he said. He found the dressing gown, tied it on over his long underdrawers, and opened the door.

She was wearing the same warm woolen wrapper she'd worn earlier in the day, but this time, her hair was completely down and unbraided, tied back only with a ribbon. He stood for a moment, stunned, as desire and longing overwhelmed him; only when she said, "Matthew, are you well?" did he regain his composure.

"I am well, thank you. I've looked at the arm and it looks good, but I think you should unwrap it and see for yourself."

"I would feel better if I did so; it's only been a little over twenty-four hours since you were wounded, after all."

He sat down in the room's only chair, pulled up his sleeve with his right hand, and tried not to think about how close she – and her hair – were to his face. She unwrapped the bandage, checked the wound, and said, " It's still raw, of course, but there's no sign of corruption. That's good. I'm going to wrap it back up again and tomorrow we'll change the bandage."

"That will be good," he managed to say.

When she was finished, she said, "You can put your sleeve down now."

"Oh, yes, of course. Sorry, I wasn't attending," he said by way of excuse, knowing that it was a lie. He'd been paying attention, certainly, but not in the way she meant.

"It's been a very long and tiring day, I know. Good night again."

"Good night." He wanted desperately to kiss her, really kiss her, but he knew this was neither the time nor the place, so he didn't even kiss her on the cheeks as he often did. She looked a bit puzzled, but said nothing, and a few seconds later she was gone. He heard her door close and knew she'd be in bed soon and that he should do the same, but instead he went to the window, opened it wide, and breathed in lungsful of chilly night air. After a few minutes of that, he went to bed, sure he wouldn't sleep at all. He was asleep within ten minutes.