Jem wasn't prepared to like the Wentworths as much as he did. Not that he expected to dislike them, of course. They had been much too kind to Faith for Jem to think ill of them. However, he had expected that he and Faith spent with them would be out of obligation, that it would be a nuisance of sorts because it would take away from the time he could spend alone with Faith. As it turned out, spending time with Ludlow and Victoria Wentworth was like spending time with family.

Jem didn't really get a chance to know the elderly couple until his second evening in London, and he quickly realized that the timing must have been intentional. Victoria and Luddie, who were young lovers at heart, had purposely chosen to hold the special dinner in Jem's honor on his second evening in London because they that the younger couple would want to spend the first evening and first full day of Jem's leave together.

"It sounds as if you two saw half of London today," remarked Luddie as they were finishing dessert on that second evening, "and I'm glad of it. It's high time that Faith had some fun. The hospital won't fall apart just because its best V.A.D. is gone for a few days," he added, looking at Faith.

"Thank you, Luddie," Faith said demurely.

"Indeed," said Victoria in agreement before turning to Jem. "I've never seen Faith so happy. We have you to thank for that."

"I can't possibly make her as happy as she makes me," Jem replied as he smiled across the table at his fiancee, causing her to blush.

"Oh, and such the perfect response," exclaimed Victoria as she clasped her right hand over her heart. "How wonderful to be so young and in love!"

"If you'll recall, being old and in love isn't such a bad thing, old darling," Luddie said teasingly.

"I wouldn't know," said Victoria, pretending to be offended, "as I've never been old."

"Perhaps not in spirit," Luddie said, knowing that he'd better choose his words carefully. "But neither of us is getting any younger, Victoria."

"Speak for yourself, Luddie," retorted Victoria.

"Isn't that just like a woman?" Luddie asked Jem, as Jem bit his lip to keep from laughing. The question reminded him of a slightly different one that Miss Cornelia asked constantly. "Vain and slightly delusional when it comes to her age. The next thing you know, she'll be telling us how much you remind her of her first husband."

"I wasn't going to mention that, but the truth is that Jem reminds me very much of my Patrick," said Victoria.

"I knew it," Luddie said, laughing slightly. "Every young, nice-looking, red-headed chap reminds Victoria of her first husband."

"Why, sir, I do believe you're jealous," Victoria said flirtatiously.

"See, what did I tell you, Jem? Vain and delusional…" Luddie said teasingly before he was seized by a fit of coughing.

"Oh, dear," said Victoria as she got up from her chair and went to her husband's side. "I think we'd better go upstairs and get some of that medication into you."

"Let me help you, Victoria," said Jem.

"No, thank you, Jem. You stay here with Faith. Jeremy will help me," she said, referring to the butler who had just appeared in the doorway. "Good night, children. I'm sure we'll see you again before your leave is over, Jem."

"Of course," Jem said, feeling a bit awkward. He wished that he could do something to help. Mr. Wentworth was still coughing nonstop.

"Emphysema," Faith said quietly to Jem after the elder couple had left the room.

Jem nodded. "I figured it had to be a lung disease of some sort. Does he have these attacks often?"

"More often than he used to, from what Victoria tells me. She worries about him a great deal."

"I've never seen a couple their age flirt with each other like that," Jem remarked. "How long have they been married?"

"They celebrated their eleventh wedding anniversary last month," Faith said. "I hope we'll be like that when we're they're age."

"We will be if I have anything to say about it," Jem told her with a mischievous glint in his eye that caused Faith to blush.

"Why are we talking about the Wentworths?" Faith asked. "Let's go into the parlor, sit in front of the fireplace, and talk about us, Mr. Blythe."

"I can't think of anything I'd like better, Miss Meredith."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next morning, Jem returned to the Wentworth house, barely nine hours after bidding Faith good night. However, those nine hours seemed more like nine days to him. During the two glorious days they had spent together, Jem had been able to think of nothing but Faith. Though they were thousands of miles from the Glen, he was at home when he was with Faith. It didn't matter what they did - taking a walk in the park, touring one of the city's famous museums, visiting the Tower of London, or sitting in front of the fireplace on a chilly autumn evening, all was right with the world when they were together. Jem only wished that he could spend every moment of his leave with Faith.

"Good morning, Jem," Victoria greeted him when she answered his knock. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm very well, thank you. How is Luddie this morning?"

"He's feeling better than he did when you saw him last, but he's still in bed. Such a stubborn man, that husband of mine. He tried to get up at the crack of dawn, but I told him that he's not going anywhere until the doctor sees him later this morning. I have no intention of burying a fourth husband, you know."

Jem had no idea how to respond to her last statement. "I'm glad he's feeling better. I didn't get a chance to thank you last night for dinner. It was wonderful, and I can't thank you and Luddie enough for your kindness."

"It was our pleasure," Victoria said as they sat down in the parlor. "Luddie and I are very fond of Faith. She's like the daughter that neither of us ever had. Luddie and his first wife, Lillian, had four sons. And my second husband, Andrew, and I raised his three nephews after their parents were killed in an accident. While I couldn't love those boys any more than if I'd given birth to them, I would have liked to have had a daughter, too.

"But, my goodness, you aren't here to listen to the ramblings of an old woman. Faith will be down shortly. I'm afraid it's my fault that she's running late. Well, mine and Luddie's. You see, I asked Faith to read to Luddie for a while this morning. She often does that when he's on bed rest, and he enjoys it so. She has a marvelous bedside manner. You don't mind keeping an old lady company while you wait for Faith, do you?"

"Show me an old lady, and I'll be delighted to keep her company," Jem said.

"Such the perfect response," exclaimed Victoria, again clasping her right hand over her heart. "You do remind me of my Patrick. But don't tell Luddie that I said that."

"It will be our secret," Jem said solemnly. "I believe that Faith mentioned in one of her letters that Patrick was a doctor."

"Yes, Dr. Patrick Ryan. He was a tall, handsome, red-headed doctor. Very much like you," she said, with a far away look in her eyes.

"Faith told me that he served in the Union army during the American Civil War, and that you served as a Red Cross nurse. Is that how the two of you met?"

"Oh, no. We met before the war. Two young people from different worlds, both fighting for the abolitionist cause. My parents didn't consider Patrick an appropriate suitor. But, my goodness, I must be boring you to tears. You don't want to hear this Jem."

"I do. Honestly, I do. That is, if you don't mind telling me," Jem said sincerely. Normally hearing the reminisciences of an old woman wouldn't interest him that much, but the reminiscences of Victoria Wentwoth were an exception. He felt certain that she was full of interesting stories. And even if she weren't, the least he could do was listen to the memories of the woman who was being so kind to Faith.

Victoria smiled, clearly pleased at the opportunity to relive her youth by telling the story of her first love. "I don't mind at all," she said, as she sat back in her chair and got comfortable.