Free Emma Barry by Brave in Heart

coiffure to anchor her against him. Sometime later, he said against her mouth, “How were things with Mother?”
    “We’ll do,” she whispered.
    She could feel his grin. “Glad to hear it. How much longer do you want to remain at McDonough House?”
    “A few more nights at least.”
    He laughed and she could feel it in every part of her body.
    “Whatever my wife requires.”
    “Theo, I have one request.”
    “Only one?”
    “You must promise me you will try to come home from this war. For me. For … S — your mother.”
    He cupped her face and looked into her eyes. “My darling girl, I will return to you. I could not have achieved you finally only to lose you again. Whatever it takes, whatever the cost, I will return to you.”
    “You cannot promise that — only that you will
try
.”
    He sighed. “I will move the foundation of the earth before I fail to return to you. Now forget about the neighbors and kiss me.”

Chapter VII
    “Sydney Carton has every advantage, Ward, so why would he be content to disappear into Charles Darnay’s life?” Josiah cackled.
    One week after his wedding, Theo was basking in the light spread by the warm family scene. Josiah had come for dinner and now they were all gathered in the parlor debating the merits of Mr. Dickens’ latest,
A Tale of Two Cities
, and enjoying coffee.
    “Unhappiness!” Theo answered, attempting to explain Carton to the assembly, who seemed determined to misunderstand the character. “You’re of a naturally jovial disposition, Josiah, so I know it is a mystery to you, but to those of us who are more — ”
    “Melancholic?” Mother offered. She’d spent much of the past week needling Margaret and him about their relationship. There were veiled references to their failed engagement and his subsequent depression. Questions about the future no one could answer. Scorn and derision for Margaret’s skills as a housekeeper. Luckily his wife was adept at turning the other cheek.
    “Complex,” he offered as a substitute adjective. “To people like me, it makes sense. Carton may appear to have all the ingredients for contentment, but that doesn’t mean he feels it.”
    Theo turned to his wife, who was pouring and smiling to herself. “I’m certain you understand, Margaret.”
    “I most certainly do not,” she replied, picking up a sugar cube with a pair of tongs and dropping it into his cup. “Sydney Carton is intelligent, honorable, wealthy, attractive. If he was unhappy with his life, why can he not change it?”
    Amusement shimmered over her features. Obviously a lot was at stake beyond the power of Mr. Dickens’ characters. Everyone seemed to think he was a stand-in for Carton. Beyond their mutual training in the law, he didn’t see it.
    “You’re all impossible,” Theo said good-naturedly, slamming his hands down on the arms of his chair. “Carton sacrifices himself for Lucie’s happiness. Twice. Is that not admirable? Should we not celebrate that?”
    Mother was digging in her workbasket for her embroidery, and Josiah was too busy laughing at him to respond.
    “It’s the
why
of the story, Theo. Should we not question it?” Margaret said as she handed him his cup.
    “Self-sacrifice is a widely celebrated virtue,” he insisted. The assembly was openly amused by him now. “It’s as if you aren’t listening to me at all.”
    “No, it’s as if you aren’t listening to
us
,” Josiah responded in such a tone as to suggest
as usual
.
    Margaret nodded and turned again to Theo. “Why doesn’t Carton propose to Lucie? Why doesn’t he court her? He
moons
over her, wandering around her house at night. Doesn’t Lucie deserve to make a choice?”
    Theo set his cup on a side table and took Margaret’s hand. He felt better when he was touching her. “He doesn’t feel worthy of her,” he said. “Besides, there is the little matter of Charles Darnay.”
    “Maybe Darnay’s bland perfection is boring to Lucie. What is it that Carton