"My dear, if there is a social problem with you and I being together here in Washington, what kind of scandal would you create in Culpeper if I were to visit? I suspect my name is rather well known in certain circles."
"Well, I am not sure who of the remaining citizens in Culpeper might know of you, but I simply do not care. Please know that our home is open to you anytime you choose to visit."
Lizzie looked a little wistful. "Perhaps sometime in the future. For now, I think the two of you need time to settle into your relationship. And I need some time to accept that what I will see is something I cannot have."
"Lizzie, after my first husband died, I was sure the war would be the end of me. I had accepted the fact I would either be alone for the rest of my life or possibly dead. Not many men are interested in marrying a woman who has been married once and by all accounts of local gossip, was a horrible wife. Then Charlie came into my life, giving me hope again. You should not give up. Your time will come."
"I hope so. Sometimes I think I should take my earnings and go somewhere far from here, live a life as a quiet widow who does charitable works through the local church and supports a community lending library."
Just then, Charlie stuck his head through the door. His hair was tousled by the wind, his cheeks and nose reddened with the cold. "Is it safe to come in yet?"
Rebecca and Lizzie looked at each other and burst out laughing. Charlie, wise man that he was, retreated back downstairs to have a hot coffee and brandy in the Willard’s smoking lounge.
--*--
Em had vacillated between being demanding and cranky, and being sullen and cranky since Charlie and Rebecca’s departure. Mostly, she had been cranky. This afternoon, Elizabeth was sitting with her in the rear parlor playing with her blocks, trying to quiet her before Tess came to put her down for her nap.
The little girl threw one of her blocks causing it to bounce and just miss the fireplace.
"Em, did you see where your block almost went?"
"Em mad!" The little girl turned her back on the doctor and then proceeded to fall to the floor in a crying fit.
Elizabeth regarded the wailing child with a rather jaundiced look. "So, do you think if you do that enough, I will magically get them back here before Monday night?"
Em, uncaring about the doctor's attempt at humor, just kept crying. "Why Papa leave!"
"Because Papa and Mamma Becca needed to go to Washington for a week." Elizabeth refused to talk down to the child. She knew that Em was smart, and that she knew exactly what she was saying.
"Why?"
"Because they did."
Em sat up and sniffed. "Papa come home?"
"Papa will be home on Monday night."
Em wiped her eyes, then blew a bubble from her rather runny nose. "Miss Papa."
Elizabeth pulled an already soggy handkerchief from her pocket. "Here. Blow. Papa will be home on Monday night."
Richard wandered into the room just in time to see Elizabeth wiping Em's face. "Did I miss the two o'clock tantrum?"
"Yes, lucky for you. You can have the supper one." Elizabeth looked up at him. "And once more, we can see just how far around her finger she has managed to wrap Unca Wichad."
"Ooo, are we in a mood today, my dear? Does playing the surrogate mother not appeal to you?"
"Actually, the mothering part suits me nicely, thank you. It is the fact that neither of us can fill General Redmond’s boots that I find stressful."
"Yes she is quite attached to him. Can you imagine what Rebecca will have to deal with when we leave for the spring campaign?" Richard sat down on the floor and opened his arms and Em crawled right into them.
"Unca Wichad. Em miss Papa! Make Papa come home."
"Emily, your Aunt Elizabeth and I do not have the power to make Papa come home. He and Mama Becca will be back in five days. Now would you like to help Uncle Richard keep track of the days until they come home?"
"Em help?"
"Absolutely." Richard rooted around in his pocket until he pulled out five pennies. "There is a penny here for everyday that Papa will be gone. Now if you are good and do not cry for Papa anymore, every night before bed, Uncle Richard will give you a penny."
"Pennies pretty."
Elizabeth chuckled while she watched Richard, basically bribing the child.
"Yes they are very pretty and they can be all yours if you are good until Papa comes home."
Elizabeth intervened. "Emily, do you know how many pennies Uncle Richard has there?"
She looked at his hand and then to Elizabeth before shaking her head.
"How many fingers do you have on your hand, little one?"
She looked to her hand. Her brows came together and she guessed. "Fouw."
"Shall we count them?"
"Yes, pwease."
Elizabeth held up her index finger. "One"
"One." She grinned and held up another. "Twu."
"That is right." Elizabeth’s next finger went up and she waited to see if the little girl could respond.
"Twee."
"Very good, Em. I will have to tell your Papa and Mama Becca what a smart little girl you are." The next finger went up.
"Fouw." She looked to Richard for his approval, which he gave with a nod.
Elizabeth held up her thumb. "How many is this, Em?"
"One."
"And how many total fingers do I have?"
Em considered the question and then shrugged.
Elizabeth counted off her fingers. "One, two, three, four, five."
"Fwive?" She looked to the coins in Richard’s hand. "Fwive?"
"Very good, Em. Mama Becca and Papa will be back in five days."
"Em have penny?" she gave her best smile to her Uncle Richard.
"Em can have her penny at bedtime, if she is a good girl."
Just then Tess walked in and took Em up for her nap.
"So apart from Em acting like a two year old, how is your day going?"
"Interesting. Constance is slowly failing, so that is a worry, and Em has been atrociously demanding, but other than that, I have had some time to think. And I think I want to talk to you a little, sir, if you are willing?"
"Of course. I am yours to command," he said with a grin as he lifted himself off the floor and onto the settee with her.
"Ah. Is that true, Richard?" Suddenly, the normally acerbic Elizabeth was rather vulnerable.
"It is, my lovely lady. Very true."
"What you said Saturday? Did you mean it?"
"I meant every badly stuttered word." He smiled shyly. "I do believe seeing Charlie and Rebecca together has finally made me realize what it is I have been missing; you."
Elizabeth stared at her feet. They had been friends for a long time. She had come to rely on Richard’s quiet strength, his humor, and his unfailing presence. Was she in love with him? She was not sure. Could she imagine her life without him? No. "So after the war is over, are you asking for permission to court me officially?"
"Well, I think it is about time we made it official. We have been keeping company for sometime now."
Elizabeth, even though still a little confused, recognized that Richard was busy being Richard. Once again, his ability to evade serious emotions was impressive. "Ah, I understand. You are asking me to consider whether I am willing to have you ask me to think about whether I should marry you or not." She could not help it; she was overwhelmed by giggles.
"Ah, no, my dear doctor. I am not being politic, nor am I waffling. I am specifically asking you. I would be delighted if you would accept my proposal of marriage, although I must admit I am a little concerned that the concept causes you to laugh."
Elizabeth caught her breath. The giggles abruptly stopped and she looked him in the eye. "Are you serious, Richard? Do you really want to be married to me, even though I am a doctor? You do not want to make me give up my career?"
"Yes, I want to be married to you, and no, I would not ask you to give up your career. Elizabeth, you are doing important work. I would not dare ask you to relinquish it for fear that the Good Lord would strike me down for trying to clip the wings of an angel on Earth."