“Eliza, you remember William.”
With a quick look to her husband then back to William, the question in her expression dispelled in place of a smile.
“Why of course, William, how good it is to see you. I—” Her gaze fell upon Anna. “Have you both journeyed here through the night? You poor dear!” She reached a caring arm around Anna’s shoulder and led her toward the kitchen. “You’ll want to soak your feet. I can attest to that from experience.” Eliza turned and spoke to Thomas as he shut the door. “There’s bread and cider on the table. Be sure he gets some.”
“Of course.” Thomas pointed toward the table and chair. “Refresh yourself. I’m going to fetch Nathaniel. That wound on your arm looks like it needs care.” He flung his cloak over his shoulder and snatched his hat off the wall. “Then you will tell us everything.”
William satiated his need for nourishment, and not a quarter hour later Thomas burst back through the door. “Nathaniel will be here promptly.” A grin flooded his face as he hung up his hat and coat. “Kitty as well. She refused to be left behind.”
William frowned. “Kitty is at Nathaniel’s home?”
Thomas angled his head. “I should have guessed that would be obvious.”
The realization clapped William on the back, and his mouth dropped open. “They are married.”
“You are surprised?”
“Nay…” He chuckled lightly. “Not at all. I am pleased.”
Grinning, Thomas nodded then looked in the direction of the kitchen. “I suppose Eliza is still seeing to your companion’s needs?”
“Aye.”
Thomas went to the fire and added another log before lighting two more lamps. “I would hear more of what you know about her, but first to the matters most pressing.” His timbre deepened. “I am pleased you came to us. We have always hoped you would trust—”
The door creaked and Nathaniel Smith pushed it open, his doctor’s bag in hand, but ’twas Kitty who entered first, her large eyes wide and full of worry.
“Are you all right?” She rushed forward and reached for William’s wounded arm just as Nathaniel came behind her. “This was all my doing.” Her pinched voice and the drop of her features pulled at William’s heart.
“Nay, ’tis the army which is to blame for all of this. For all that we have suffered.”
Her gaze still did not leave his. “I am so pleased you came to us.”
The sight of her lifted the weighted pieces of his soul, making the loss of Julia and Jane easier to bear. He glanced at Nathaniel. “I understand congratulations are in order.”
Nathaniel’s smile expanded, brightening his entire frame. “Did you think I would have waited another moment?”
“You’d have been a fool.”
“I’ll say amen to that.” Thomas lifted an amber-filled glass and took a drink.
Kitty gently patted William’s arm. “I shall see to the woman in the kitchen.”
The three of them watched her go before they fully relaxed, the meat of their conversation waiting to be spoken.
Nathaniel rested his bag on the table beside the largest upholstered chair and motioned for William to sit. “You couldn’t bear to be so long parted from us, I see.”
“I was only curious to know whether you would make good on your debt.”
With an answering laugh, Nathaniel pulled another chair beside William. He reached in his bag and retrieved a pair of shears, a vile of salve and a roll of bandages. “Let me have a look.”
When both men were seated, Nathaniel’s face grew solemn and with Thomas standing close behind, he upended the cup of curiosity. “Thomas tells me you are no longer Henry Donaldson. Rather, you’re calling yourself William Fredericks.”
“’Tis true.” Though the name offered an element of safety, a shield to hide behind, and though he could make himself think such a name were his identity, his soul would always answer to Henry.
Thomas answered before William had a chance. “He’s defected.”
Nathaniel’s eyes shot open then narrowed as his brow dipped in a deep V. An unvoiced inquest circled in his face, just as it had in Thomas’s.