“I’ll light the fire.” She kneeled down and arranged the logs from a basket beside the fireplace. She was so glad to be facing away from Katie. Katie was clearly annoyed with her. If she was annoyed at her not visiting for a week, then what was she going to think when Alexis admitted to nearly turning her?

After chatting for about ten minutes, Amelia and Byron started to leave. Byron said, “If you need anything, just call me, but I’m sure Alexis will look after you.”

Alexis could hear Katie sigh under her breath. But she ignored it and walked the Principe and her wife to the door. When the door shut, and they were alone for the first time, Alexis felt nerves fill her.

How on earth did she think she could ever do this? The last person she had looked after when she was ill was her mother, and then they had a housekeeper to help.

But despite her nerves and worry, she was determined to take care of Katie. It was her duty to try to make things right as best she could.

Alexis gulped and said, “I’ll just finish making the fire, and then I’ll get you a cup of tea. Okay?”

Katie hugged her blanket from the car and nodded. This was awkward.

* * *

Katie watched Alexis making the fire with ease, as if she’d done it a thousand times. She couldn’t believe she was here with Alexis like this. This kind of behaviour, looking after someone, was not usual for Alexis, although since her attack she thought Alexis had softened, visiting her every night. But then she disappeared. What was going on with her?

“You seem to know what you’re doing,” Katie said.

Alexis looked around. “What, you mean the fire?”

“Yeah.”

“Remember, we didn’t have heating when I was a young woman. I’ve lit fires like this for years,” Alexis said.

“I can’t imagine you living in the past,” Katie said.

Alexis got up and turned to Katie. “What do you mean?”

“Every time I try to picture you back then, it just doesn’t work. I mean the type of strong, tough, butch soldier, in a time of petticoats and corsets. It was such a restrictive time.”

“I got away with breeches most of the time when I lived at home with Mama, but if anyone came to stay, or Father came for dinner, then I had to suffer the whole corset and big dress affair.”

Katie was surprised that Alexis mentioned her family again. Alexis was so closed off and guarded Katie almost thought she didn’t have a family.

Wait, Father came to dinner? That was a strange thing to say.

* * *

Byron could feel Amelia’s tension as she lay with her head on Byron’s shoulder.

“What are you thinking?” Byron stroked Amelia’s long brown hair.

“I’m thinking about too much.” Amelia sighed.