A Hope Remembered (10 page)

Nora bade the rest of them good-bye. The coolness of the evening washed over her as she and Jack exited the cottage. What secrets were Bess and her family keeping from her? And why? She cut a glance at Jack, but he didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable. If anything, the smiles he kept throwing in her direction unnerved her.

They walked in silence up the road toward the cottage. At her lane, Nora stopped and faced him. “I can make it from here.” She stuck out her hand for him to shake. “I enjoyed the walk and the chance to see my sheep.”

Jack grasped her hand and held fast. “Me, too.”

“Can I come collect my sheep from your inbye field tomorrow?”

“I can take care of them for you, Nora.” He twisted her hand in his grip and ran a thumb over her skin. “You don’t have to worry your pretty head over the sheep.”

Nora inwardly cringed—both at his words and his touch. She needed to convince him to relinquish her sheep to her care, but how? The direct approach hadn’t worked. Perhaps she ought to try feminine wiles, though she wasn’t entirely sure what to do in that department. She’d never been very good at playing coy or being flirtatious.

“Please, Jack,” she tried, squeezing his hand and giving him an earnest look. “I want to fit in here, but I need my sheep to do that.”

He studied their hands, then finally lifted his gaze to her face. “Oh, all right. I’ll bring ’em by tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” she said with a genuine smile.

He eyed her lips, making Nora gulp. Did he expect a kiss in return for bringing her sheep back? Rather than step closer, though, Jack released her and tipped the edge of his cap in a farewell gesture.

Nora waved good night and climbed the hill toward the cottage. The sky overhead remained gray and cloudy. She hugged her arms to her chest against the cold, though inside she felt a measure of contentment. Despite the disturbing incident at supper, the evening had gone well and tomorrow she would have a few of her sheep to tend to. She could think of only one thing that would’ve made the day even better—seeing Perseus again.

And perhaps his owner, too.

Colin plodded up the hill to the Lewis cottage, while Perseus scouted through the tufts of grass along the stone fences ahead of him. It had been a whole week since he’d been here last, not that he hadn’t made attempts to see Nora sooner. Each time he had set out to walk this way, though, guilt ate at him until he turned around. How could he face Nora knowing he had to persuade her to leave? Of course, he’d also been patching things up with Lady Sophia, which meant enduring hours of inane conversation. His head still ached.

The earl’s daughter had dropped copious hints about riding in his aeroplane, but her father had insisted she wait for a drier day to fly. Thankfully for Colin, that day hadn’t come until after their guests had at last departed Elmthwaite Hall. Flying was his sanctuary, and he no longer liked the idea of sharing such peace and freedom with just anyone.

Had Nora wondered about his absence? When he’d found himself thinking about her too often during his time with Lady Sophia, Colin had told himself keeping his distance was a tactical move. In war, one needed to keep the enemy on its toes.

He frowned at the thought of him and Nora at war, but perhaps the line of thinking would serve him better. Then he wouldn’t be so enchanted by her red hair or soulful eyes or clever wit.

If he expected to find things the same after his week-long sabbatical, Colin was sorely disappointed. The cracked window had been repaired and the whitewashed walls of the cottage gleamed brighter. Nora must have painted them with a fresh coat. Gone were the wild plants and grass beside the door, too. The structure looked neat, tidy, and permanent. He hated the idea of seeing it torn to the ground to make way for his father’s hotel.

Please, Colin…I need you.

The words echoed in his mind, bolstering his determination to fulfill his father’s wishes and his promise to Christian. Colin knocked on the front door. When Nora failed to appear, he and Perseus headed to the back of the cottage. Several ewes and their lambs now grazed in the previously empty field beside the barn.

A loud noise, like the scraping of metal against wood, came from inside the house. What was Nora up to? Colin rapped his knuckle against the partially opened back door.

“Come in, Jack.”

Jack?
Something akin to jealousy cut through Colin at Nora’s assumption. Jack had obviously been here enough, during Colin’s absence, that Nora expected him to be the only one to arrive at the back door.

Time to change that.

Colin eased the door open and stepped inside. There was no sign of Nora at the sink or the table, though the smell of something cooking in the oven attested to her presence. A movement in the corner of the room caught his attention. Nora was kneeling beside the washing machine.

“Are you hiding?” he teased.

At his voice, she scurried to her feet. A kerchief covered her head, though tufts of red hair had escaped its confinement. Flecks of dust rested on her cheeks and shoulders.

“Colin.” She jerked the cloth from her hair and used it to wipe her face. “I…um…wasn’t expecting you.”

But you were expecting Jack?
He swallowed the retort. “I tried the front door.”

Her gaze flicked to his, then away. “Sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

Was she pleased or disappointed to see him again? He couldn’t tell and that annoyed him all the more. “What are you doing there?” He motioned to the washing machine, which now stood two feet from the wall.

“I can’t get the crank to turn more than a few inches. Not very convenient when you have a week’s worth of laundry to do.”

A slight burnt odor filled Colin’s nose. “What are you cooking?”

Nora gave a soft gasp. “The cottage pie. I completely forgot about it.” She hurried past him to the stove and opened the door with a dish towel. “I think this beast of an oven has something against me,” she muttered as she removed the pie, with its blackened edges, and set it on the counter. “I suppose the washing machine does, too.”

“Why don’t I take a look at the washing machine?” he volunteered. It was the perfect excuse to stay as well as a way to help ease her distress.

Her eyebrows rose and her eyes flashed with blatant skepticism. “This from the man who’d never carried groceries before last week?”

“I didn’t just fly an aeroplane in the war, Nora.” He removed his tie, jacket, and vest. After setting them on one of the chairs, he unbuttoned his shirt cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. “I learned a thing or two about how machines work as well.”

“Be my guest.” She waved in the direction of the washing machine.

Colin tried the hand crank. Sure enough, it would hardly turn. He bent over the machine and examined each of the gears. “I think rust is your problem. See?” Nora came to stand beside him. “If we clean some of it away and oil the gears, it should turn without difficulty.”

She tipped her chin up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “By
we
, I’m guessing you mean me.”

He threw her a mocking glare to hide the grin that wanted to break through. “Would you mind getting
me
a rag and soap?”

“Of course,” she chirped a little too brightly. She returned with the needed items and Colin set about removing the rust from the gears. “I’ll see if there’s a can of oil in the barn.”

Nora disappeared out the back door. A moment later Colin overheard her exclaim at finding Perseus in the yard. A shadow of Colin’s earlier jealousy returned. He shook his head in annoyance at himself. Now he was envious of his dog. How could he get Nora to be as thrilled at seeing him as she was Jack Tuttle or Perseus?

He was still trying to figure out a solution when she returned with a can of oil and began washing dishes. Quiet filled the room, except for the gurgle of water and the rattle of plates, but the atmosphere wasn’t uncomfortable or strained. Colin actually found it peaceful.

Once he’d removed most of the rust, he generously oiled the gears. He didn’t want the machine giving Nora any more trouble. When the gears shone like new, Colin reached for the hand crank a second time and gave it a twist. This time it turned easily.

“Your washing awaits, fair lady.” He grinned in victory as Nora came over and watched him turn the crank once, twice.

“You did it,” she said with a laugh. The sweet sound wove its way straight to his heart, as did the genuine smile and dimple she offered him.

A feeling of satisfaction pumped through Colin’s veins, making him feel almost light-headed and yet powerful at the same time. It felt good to be working with his hands, doing something useful. He pushed the washing machine back into place and started to roll down his sleeves.

“Oh no. Your shirt.”

He looked down. Several oil spots marred the perfectly pressed garment. Gibson would not be happy.

“I know how to get those out.” Nora extended her hand to him.

Colin looked from her hand to her face. “You want me to take the shirt off…now?”

An attractive blush rose into her cheeks but she nodded anyway. “We don’t want the stain setting in.”

With a shrug, Colin undid the buttons and pulled off the shirt. He’d never stood bare-chested in front of a woman before, but any twinge of discomfort was fleeting. Especially after being a soldier and having a valet help him dress most of his life.

Nora took the shirt from him, without meeting his eye, and retreated to the cupboard, where she pulled a tin from one of the shelves. She placed his shirt on the counter next to her pie and sprinkled something over the material, all the while acting as if he weren’t there.

Clearly she was embarrassed to have him standing shirtless in her kitchen. Colin didn’t wish to make her uncomfortable. Perhaps he ought to put his vest or jacket on while he waited.

He froze in indecision until another thought entered his head. Could it be that Nora wasn’t so much nervous as she was attracted to him and fighting it? A smile lifted Colin’s mouth as he crossed the room to stand next to her, intent on finding out.

“What are you putting on the stain?”

Nora jumped at the sound of Colin’s voice near her ear. She’d been so focused on not looking at him that she hadn’t heard him come up beside her.

“It’s corn starch. I believe you call it corn flour here. It should help lift out the oil.” She scrutinized the shirt in an effort to avoid looking at Colin. Even then, she couldn’t help noticing out of the corner of her eye the firm muscles of his shoulders and chest. She mentally berated herself for offering to help with his shirt. Especially since he hadn’t bothered to come by once in the past week.

The reminder of his absence, especially after his promise to be friends, imbued Nora with renewed practicality. She would not be charmed, even by his nice-looking physique.

“Tell whoever does your wash,” she said, jabbing the shirt at his bare chest, “to rub soap into the spot as well.”

Colin curled his fingers around his shirt, capturing her hand. Something thrilling, and a little frightening, raced through Nora at his touch and the way his dark eyes deepened in color as he peered down at her. She made a poor attempt at reclaiming her hand, but he held on.

“Thank you for fixing it.”

She licked her suddenly dry lips. “It’s the least I could do…”

“Nora.” Her name sounded like both a caress and a cry. Colin glanced away and swallowed, all traces of arrogance or teasing gone. “There’s something I—”

A knock at the back door interrupted his words. Before Nora could step away from Colin, Jack entered the cottage and removed his cap. “I came to see…” His words faded into silence as he took in the sight of the two of them standing close.

Certain her face matched the color of her hair, Nora yanked her hand from Colin’s grip and stepped backward. “Jack. How are you?”

Jack looked from her to Colin and back, his brow furrowed. “I came by to see if there was anything you needed before I headed to the fell.” He frowned at Colin. “Didn’t mean to interrupt anything.”

“Everything’s right as rain here.” Colin smiled at Jack, though the merriment didn’t reach his eyes. “I fixed Nora’s washing machine, and she, in turn, fixed my shirt.” He pushed his arms through the sleeves and began doing up the buttons. Jack stood rooted to his spot.

The air in the kitchen crackled with unspoken tension. Nora moved between the two men. “I appreciate you checking on me, Jack. I’ll see you for supper at your place tomorrow night?”

Jack dipped his head, his cap strangled between his hands. “Suppose I’m off then.” He cut Colin another scowl.

“Farewell, Tuttle.” Colin unrolled his sleeves. “Nora’s in good hands.”

With a glare at both of them, Jack smashed his cap on his head and stalked from the room. He proceeded to slam the door behind him, but it hit the door frame and bounced open instead.

Nora pushed out a sigh. “You didn’t have to be rude. Jack’s been very helpful to me this past week.”
Maybe a bit too much.
But she didn’t voice that thought. Colin needed no further ammunition against Jack.

“I’m sure he has,” Colin muttered, his expression as dark as his eyes.

Nora pinned him with a piercing look.

“You’re right.” He finished buttoning his cuffs and slipped on his vest. “That was ungentlemanly of me.”

She ignored his reference to her joke at their first meeting as she put away the corn starch and closed the cupboard. It was easier to keep her heart firmly locked if she held on to her disapproval of Colin’s behavior. Plus it would also stop her from wondering what he’d been about to say before Jack’s arrival.

“How may I redeem myself?” he asked as he pulled on his jacket. The amusement tugging at his mouth contradicted his contrite tone.

Nora folded her arms, contemplating a suitable penance. “I think your punishment needs to be twofold.”

“Very well.” He nodded. “What is your sentence?”

“First, you must join me for choir rehearsal at the church tomorrow morning.”

The mirth drained from his face. “Nora.” His voice held a note of warning. “That is entirely—”