My husband bought me a brand new laptop for Christmas, so yay me! I am working only with WordPad for the moment, so please excuse any misspellings and punctuations. I am usually pretty good with it all myself, but I am still relearning many things. Programs make us lazy. Enjoy!

Kate searched the house for the Colonel. She felt that she must express her graditude for whatever miracle he had preformed. It had been so long since she had had a letter from her sister Lydia, and what a letter it was. Lydia was remorseful for the way she had been behaving and expressed her desire to get to know each other again. The thought warmed her heart. Living with Lydia had never really been easy, and their reationship had never been as it should, but Kate hoped that they could build something new.

She finally found him in the library, bent over a desk examining his own letters. As she entered the room, she made sure to make a little noise to announce herself. "Miss Westfield, I would think you would not be finished with your correspondence. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"I do not feel that I have the words to convey my thanks for whatever it is that you have done to cause my sister, Lydia, to write me. It has been so long and I had begun to lose hope that we could have any kind of relationship. Yet, one visit from you and she feels it is time that she grow up. She desires to be my sister truly. Thank you, Colonel."

Richard gav a slight bow. "It was nothing, and I am glad to have been able to help you in this matter. I could tell you have been deeply grieved over it. She is young, and from I have heard about your upbringing, she responded out of what she knew. She has been given the oppertunity to grow. Be sure not to hold the past against her."

"I shall not. I she was little more than a child, and very used to having her way. I know that it was a very difficult adjustment for her. I am glad that she will not live in bitterness. I believe I lived a bit in fear that she would. I can say, for the firdt time in two years, that I am looking forward to our reunion next month."

"Your family is too. They are excited to be attending a London Ball, though your Father seemed to be cursing my existance. He is truly not fond of such gatherings, is he?"

"No. Papa would much rather stay in his book room. Mama always had the hardest time getting him to attend assemblies and private parties. I was shocked to learn that he was coming to Town for Christmas, and staying for three weeks as well. He is set in his ways. I am sorry, I appear to have interrupted your own correspondence."

"No fear. It is only from my commanding officer."

"Not orders, I hope."

Kate looked a bit fearful. Richard couldn't deny that he liked the fact that she cared, even if he wasn't completely such how much. He decided to share his plans with her. "No, I have been given no orders. Quite the opposite in fact." Richard looked around a little before continuing. "I am about to tell you something I have not confirmed with any of my relatives yet. I am going to retire this year. My family knows that I have wanted to for some time. Since I have very few monetary responsibilities, I have been able to save my wages since I entered service. Darcy has been looking for investments for me years, and I have settled on some. I have always wanted to be my own man, to make my own way. I now have the oppurtunity, and I am taking it."

"But why? Why now?"

"I joined out of necessity. I had no desire to serve as a minister. I had no desire for the law. At the time, I had no idea how to make a living in investments. There are very few options for one such as I. Military life promised danger and excitement, things that young men yearn for. Now, I am older. This lifestyle has lost its appeal. I am ready to settle down, get married, have children. I want to be able to watch them grow. I want to be available to my family. This is not the life I want for my wife."

Kate had knots in her stomach. They had settled into the chairs by the fire. Richard was watching her face. "You sound as though you have someone in mind."

"There is someone I have in mind, though I know that now is not the time. There is much I want to accomplish on my own first, to prove my worth and that I am not after her for her fortune." Richard was paying closer attention to her.

"Do I know the lady?" Kate wasn't sure how to feel. Who was he talking about? Could she be the lady? Is it another?

The look Richard gave her was not one she was overly used to seeing on his face. It was smug with a bit of longing mixed in. "Yes, you know her well." He stood and walked over to the cart with the port Mrs. Westfield kept available for him. "She is young, and is only going to have her first Season this next year. She has plans that I will not interfer with, as of yet. As you now know, I, too, have things I wish to accomplish. We both need a little more time."

Kate felt a bit bold. "Should you not, perhaps, ask her opinion on the matter?"

Richard chuckled. "I should, but I am sure she will agree. As I said, she is young. She should be able to experience those things that other ladies of her station do. She is smart and knows what she wants. She has been taught well how to behave, the dos and donts of our society. Also, we should be given to chance to get to know each other in different settings. As of now, we have only had the privalge of her home, surrounded by those she is intamte with. I am interested to see how she will be in a more public settings, with many mutual friends, and around my family. I have reciently had the privlage of meeting hers, and I am sure that she will enjoy the accounts her sisters have undoubtedly shared in their letters."

Kate no longer doubted that she was the lady in question. She had, of course, kicked around the idea of linking her life with his, and she had an inkling that he felt the same from Georgiana and her aunt. It was a bit overwhelming. All was silent as she thought to herself for a few moments. "You are right. I think she will agree with you whole heartedly. And where shall you be, Colonel, while she experiences the world?"

"I will always be nearby. Kate, I think it is time for you to finish your letters. We will continue this another time."

Kate looked up at him. He had never called her by her Christian name before. His look was a bit intenese and she knew she must leave now. "Yes, good day, Colonel."

Richard watched her as she took her leave. "Well, I am not sure that could have gone better," he said to himself.

So, I really didn't intend for something like this to happen until Christmas, but it wouldn't let go. Richard has declared himself without declaring himself. There will be much fun this Christmas and in the upcoming Season. Next, we are skipping ahead to their arrival in London. It is my hope to be more regular now, as I intended in the first place. With December and the holiday season done, I shall have a lot more time on my hands.