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In the end, he’d taken only one of her letters with hi to leave the other safely in his trunk This see to the people at the hospital, he had not had any papers or property when he’d been found at Kip’s Bay Heaven only knehere Cecilia’s letter was now At the botto for a fire Edward hoped it had been found by an enterprising bird, torn apart to cushion a nest

Cecilia would probably like that, he thought

He did too It alht he’d kept it safe, always in his coat pocket It was strange that--

Edward froze This was theof what he’d done or said, just that he’d carried a letter from his wife in his coat pocket

Or had she even been his wife then? When was the date of their e? He’d asked her about it the day before, but they’d veered off the topic, and then--honestly, it was his own fault--he’d deot any answers, he had only himself to blame

This letter, however--the one in his hands--was the one that was most dear to him It was the first ti terribly personal; it was as if she’d instinctively known that what he needed e with the htful by her wry perspective

Edward peeked over his shoulder to , then he carefully unfolded the letter

Dear Captain Rokesby,

Your description of the wildflowers in the colonies hasits fierce battle inter here in Derbyshire No, I lie The battle is not fierce Winter has crushed spring like a bug We do not even have the pleasure of a fresh, powdery snow Whatever precipitation we have gleaned has long since melted into a dirty, unpleasant slush, and I fear I have ruined two shoes this season Not two pair, ht of ether a pair fro fashion, not to mention far too poor of balance The heel of her than that of , fall down the stairs, and perhaps crash aAsk Tho room ’Twas a sad cascade of maladies that followed

Do keep yourself safe and Thomas as well, and I will beseech of him to do the same I shall think of you often and keep you in my prayers

Your friend,

Cecilia Harcourt

Edward stared at the elegant script for several seconds after he’d read all the words, his forefinger lightly tracing the swirls of her name Your friend, she’d written Indeed, that hat she had been, even before he’d known her

His friend

And now his wife

Behind hi up He hastily refolded the letter, tucking it back into the pile from his family

"Edward?" he heard her say Her voice was still thick and sleepy, as if at any ht slide into an unexpected yawn

"Good ?"

His hand tapped against his thigh "Just a letter from home"

"Oh" She was quiet for a moment, then softly said, "You must miss your fale ain, faced with the beautiful girl across the rooe to speak to It was ridiculous, utterly rown htened him into silence for over a decade But he felt as if he’d been caught red-handed

If she found out that he’d stolen her letters

He was ?" she asked

"No, no, of course not" He shoved the entire pile of letters back into his trunk "Justyou knowthinking of ho the bedclothes primly around her

"I haven’t seen the toe slaer to hide the evidence of his lovesick foolishness that he had not been paying attention to where he was going

"Are you all right?" she asked, sounding frankly surprised by his reaction

Edward swore again, then i since he’d been in the presence of a lady His ize," she said "There is nothing so awful as a stubbed toe I only wish I could say the same when I stub mine"

"Billie does," he said

"Who?"