Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) by Jane Charles Page B

are taking blankets and
scarves to them tonight.”
    “Why a soldier’s home?”
    “It was for my brother.” Juliet answered.
“When he came home to visit once he was outraged by the way men
were treated after serving their country. He vowed that when he
returned again he would do something about it.” She pursed her lips
and blinked a few times. It was a moment before she spoke again.
Ramsey gently put an arm around her shoulders in comfort. “He
didn’t come back and I established the home in honor of my
brother.”
    “That is very generous of you, Lady Juliet.
I am sure your brother would be well pleased.”
    She offered him a grateful smile and turned
away.
    “We were just about to have the wagons
loaded and head over.” Ramsey announced. .“You are more than
welcome to join us.”
    “Yes, please come,” Lady Juliet added.
    He turned to Sabrina. She wanted him to go,
but not if it would be out of politeness only. “I would be happy to
join you.”
    A moment later the servants entered to carry
the crates out to the wagon. Marius bent to pick one up but placed
it back on the floor so that he could get a better grip. “I didn’t
expect blankets to weigh so much.”
    Sabrina and Juliet giggled. He frowned at
them.
    “My husband pretends that I don’t know, and
I pretend that I don’t know, that he fills the bottom of each crate
with whiskey or brandy.”

    *

    The house itself wasn’t overly large, but
was staffed with a number of servants who helped bring in the
crates for distribution. All the former soldiers were gathered in
the parlor playing cards or reading as they did every night of the
year. Their faces brightened when Lady Chester entered. The home
had been founded a year before Juliet and Ramsey had married, and
they all still referred to her in the manner they had when she was
unattached.
    Ramsey made the rounds, greeting each man on
a first name basis. Along with his greeting, he introduced Marius
and Sabrina. Following this, Sabrina helped Juliet unpack and
distribute the items to each of the gentlemen. Though they thanked
them for each thing, Marius suspected they appreciated the liquor
the most.
    When they broke into small groups and Juliet
visited with each of the men, Sabrina was summoned by an older man
who had been sitting in the corner. Marius accompanied her to the
man’s side, not willing to relinquish her to any man regardless of
age or infirmity.
    As Sabrina took a seat next to him, he
studied her with faded blue eyes. “You are Lady Sabrina Chester,
correct?” The man asked as if he wasn’t sure he had heard
correctly.
    “Yes,” Sabrina answered with a smile.
    “By chance, was your father Jonas
Chester?”
    Sabrina’s face brightened. “Yes, it was. Did
you know him?”
    The older man smiled at her in the same
manner of a beloved uncle. “We spent some time together. He talked
of you often and showed your miniature to everyone.”
    Sabrina blushed. “When did you last see my
father? How did he look?”
    The smile faded from the old soldier’s face.
“I was with him the night before…” The man trailed off, unable
to complete his sentence.
    Sabrina’s smile faded as well “Sir, how did
my father die? Nobody has ever told me.”
    Discomfort passed over the man’s face.
Reaching over, he patted Sabrina’s hand. “It is Christmas Eve and
not a time for this type of discussion. Perhaps later, after the
New Year.”
    Sabrina opened her mouth as if to say
something but closed it after a thoughtful moment. Marius suspected
she wanted to insist on an answer, and he wished he could spare her
this. How could she not know how her father died?
    The man squeezed her hand one more time
before adding, “Remember that your father was a good and brave man
and how much he loved you.”
    Tears were in her eyes. “He was a wonderful
man, and I was blessed to have had him as my father.”
    Marius had been concerned the conversation
would dampen Sabrina’s spirit, but it hadn’t.