So True a Love (Daughters of His Kingdom 2)

Thomas frowned and brushed a hand over his jaw. “But who could the traitor possibly be? They’ve all taken turns at the watch—blast it, Nathaniel!” He stopped and stared, lowering his voice while his eyes turned from blue to black. “It could be several of them for all we know. This tangle of devilry extends farther into the ranks of our beloved town than either of us care to admit.”

Nathaniel’s teeth ached from the clenching he forced on his jaw. He sent a side-ways glance to Thomas. “You know what must be done.”

Thomas didn’t move. “How? When?”

“Not right away.” Nathaniel continued to whisper though he had plastered a look of complete indifference over his features as he continued up the road, should anyone be watching from afar. “If we keep the barrels as they are, then slowly empty them, replacing the—”

Thomas silenced him with a look so striking Nathaniel felt like a reprimanded child.

“This is not the place to discuss such things.” With a coarse exhale, Thomas put on his tricorn. “I’ll come to your home this evening. We can arrange what needs to be done then.”

“Nay.” Nathaniel cleared his throat. “I will come to your home.”

“Mine?” Thomas stopped and his expression lightened. He chuckled. “I might wonder why you are so eager to spend time in my humble dwelling?”

The assertion stopped Nathaniel with a jerk and he glared. “Whatever foolish ideas you have swirling in your head you may dispense of them immediately.”

“’Tis too bad that Kitty has kept to her room during your past few visits. I wonder if she will accompany us this evening?” A mocking smile widened Thomas’s face. “I have seen the way you look at her.”

Nathaniel started walking again. “At Kitty?” Gripping the bag harder to ease the tension away from his tone, he chuckled. “Of course I look at her, but not in the way you imply.” He moved his bag to the other hand as they passed Shawme Pond and walked up into town, hoping Thomas would let the comment lie. “While we’re speaking of Kitty, there’s something you should know.”

“So you do fancy her.” Thomas’s voice echoed with self-satisfaction.

Nathaniel ignored his friend’s banter, and continued as if the irritating comment hadn’t been uttered. “I spoke with her just before Joseph came to fetch me.”

“She was in town?”

“Aye.” He recalled the flush in her cheeks and the few times she flung worried glances to the small trail in the woods before they walked through town. “I saw her just past the other side of town opposite the shoemaker’s.”

“She may have been enjoying a stroll.” Thomas tipped his hat at a passing rider.

Nathaniel shook his head, squelching the rising irritation. Did the man not see what was so plain? “’Twas more than that, we saw—” He shut his mouth and kept it closed until they reached the sanctuary of Thomas’s print shop. He followed Thomas in and closed the door.

Thomas spoke as he took off his hat and placed it on a peg on the wall. “You saw who?”

r /> The memory turned Nathaniel’s stomach. He leaned against the table and pushed out a rough breath. “Cyprian happened upon us on the road. He claimed Kitty was delivering goods to the needy under his direction.”

Thomas spun where he stood near the large press. His brow pushed down and he scoffed. “Nay, I don’t believe it.”

“Neither do I.” Nathaniel massaged his forehead and scrunched his eyes shut. The sight of Kitty’s tear-laden eyes had so pained him, and wrestled with his need to remain reserved, he had almost lost control and nearly reached out to stroke her cheek. “She looked terrified of him.”

“’Tis a natural reaction I suppose.” Thomas crossed his arms, a scowl darkening his face. “Kitty tries to appear brave—and she is, but her heart is tender.”

“So you believe his claim to be false.”

Thomas rubbed the cleft in his chin and looked at the ceiling. “She would not make deliveries for him, but for his wife perhaps. Some time ago I overheard Eliza and some of the women in town discussing Camilla’s needs. She used to make regular deliveries to the poor before her illness forced her to be bedridden. It might be that the women organized a group to carry on her service.” Thomas shrugged and turned his back to the press. “I wouldn’t worry over-much, but ‘tis good to be aware. The concerns at the magazine are far too vital to allow ourselves to be concerned with anything of lesser import.”

Lesser import?

Nathaniel ground a retort between his teeth and pushed off the table. Did no one remember Kitty’s attack? Did they not remember she had never spoken of the events that had left her so battered? He opened his mouth to respond, but snapped it shut again and swung open the door so he could escape the suffocating frustration.

He stepped out and spoke over his shoulder. “Until tonight then.”

“Aye, tonight.”

Nathaniel left the press with its heady smells of ink and inhaled the scent of warm dirt roads as he stepped into the sun. Horses clomped past, harnessed to over-laden carts and children darted across the street. He started down the road. Perhaps Thomas was right. Nathaniel tended to over-think. Perhaps he’d made something out of nothing and Kitty had only been— He grumbled under his breath and for the hundredth time reprimanded himself for not softening his frustrations the night Kitty had received that letter from Higley. A breeze brushed past, soothing the heat that ignited at the thought. Higley. Had the letter been from anyone else, or if the man had been simply a merchantman or a farmer, Nathaniel’s ire might have remained dormant. Might have. Knowing the man had not only proposed, but was the nephew of General Gage made it all the more revolting. Once again the indignation pulsed rough and raw when blessedly the wind cooled his neck. No matter his reasons for speaking such to Kitty, he should not have accused her. It would take concerted effort to make amends and help her feel his sincere affection.

He stopped as if the word were a boulder in the road. Affection? What was he thinking? A woman such as Kitty Campbell would bring more complications to his life than he dared to imagine. There were plenty of patriot-minded women in town whose company he enjoyed and who would—if he were ever to be so inclined—be a fine match for him.