Fenella J. Miller (10 page)

On impulse, he turned and kissed Elizabeth on her blue lips. She was too cold, almost corpse-like. If she were to die, his life would be over. He was unceremoniously bustled from the room and had no option but to return downstairs and wait for news.

A white hot rage overwhelmed him. That evil woman would pay for this. Whatever the outcome, she would not go unpunished for her cruelty. If his darling girl…if Elizabeth should…he could not even think of such a thing. His eyes filled.

“Come along, sir. I have stoked up the fire in a private parlour. There will be hot toddy and meat pasties along in a minute.”

“Thank you, landlord. I am most grateful for your timely assistance.”

He was nursing a mug of something hot and sweet when Bloomfield threw open the door. “My boy, what a thing to happen! How is Miss Baverstock? Will she do?”

James shrugged helplessly. “I’ve no idea. I’m praying for a happy outcome but bracing myself for the worst. She was so cold, so lifeless. I cannot believe she can come back from that.”

The landlord poked his head around the door. “The doctor is upstairs with Miss Baverstock. My good lady says to tell you things are looking brighter than they were before.”

Bloomfield poured himself a mug of toddy. “By the by, one of the grooms found a bag. It has gone upstairs. No doubt it has her essentials in it.”

Elizabeth was woken by the sound of church bells ringing. Where was she? Were these the bells of heaven welcoming her in?

“My darling, you have come back to me. This has been the longest day of my life. I thought I had lost you; I shall never let you out of my sight again. Hartford will not dare to refuse permission for us to wed — not after this.”

“Are those the bells to welcome in our Lord’s birth day? Is it Christmas day already?”

“It is, sweetheart, and the happiest day of my life.”

She still didn’t know how she came to be in this strange room, or how he was here beside her and with no sign of any sort of chaperone. “My love, I can recall nothing after I dropped my bag. Tell me what happened.”

When he had finished his explanation, she settled back on the pillows with a sigh. “I prayed for deliverance and you were sent to save me. That was a horrible experience but we shall be the stronger for it.” She smiled at him. “Good gracious! You look like a vagabond, as if it were you that has been sleeping under a hedge, not I.”

He grinned ruefully and rubbed a finger over his dark stubble. “Now you are awake, I shall leave you for a while and repair my dishevelment. Duncan arrived with my trappings. In fact, the King’s Head is full to bursting with those that left Hartford Hall on hearing what had happened.”

“Is Sarah here, and Lord Bloomfield?”

He leaned over and dropped a feather-like kiss on her lips. “Indeed, everyone is here, including half the staff who walked out
en masse
yesterday.”

“But where shall they all sleep? Surely this inn is already full of other guests?”

“No, darling, it’s Christmas Day. Everyone has gone home to be with their families. We have the place to ourselves. Mrs. Blake had the foresight to bring a diligence filled with enough food to feed all of us like kings. She has also brought your belongings and your abigail has sorted them out for you.”

James looked as though he hadn’t slept for days. His face was haggard, his eyes bloodshot and his complexion pale. “James, I insist you go at once to your bed. I shall get up in the morning and we can go to
matins
together. Despite all that has happened, I believe this will be the happiest Christmas I’ve ever experienced because you will be at my side.”

No sooner had the door closed behind him, than she scrambled out of bed in desperate need of the chamber pot. When she was comfortable once more, she pushed her feet into her slippers and pulled on her dressing gown. She was wide awake and could not possibly sleep anymore. Good grief! Had she been asleep so long?

What could she do to while away the hours until she could ring for her breakfast? The green leather folder that had been her grandfather’s was on a side table. She would write a letter to the family who had been going to employ her. She hated to displease them but she had no choice. She frowned. Lord Bloomfield had offered to take responsibility for her upkeep but it could not be right that a stranger should be obliged to pay for her. Then she remembered what James had said; she would be given permission to marry after all. A warm glow enveloped her at the thought of becoming her beloved’s true wife in a matter of weeks. Maybe this time next year, she would be holding their first baby in her arms.

Her stomach rumbled loudly. There was fresh lemonade in a jug by her bedside but no one had thought to leave her anything to eat. She could hardly go down and look for something herself, and she would not dream of waking any of the staff in the middle of the night. They worked quite hard enough without being obliged to get up and bring her food when they should be asleep.

She found paper, ink and quills in a roll-top bureau and sat down to write. For the second time this letter was interrupted by an arrival at her door.

“Good heavens! James, I thought you had gone to your bed. And you have brought me food. I do believe this is becoming a habit of yours.”

He carried the tray over to the table and put it down, laughing at her astonishment. “
You
said I was to go to bed;
I
said I was going to shave and change. I knew you must be ravenous, and to tell the truth I have had no appetite today. I have brought chocolate, coffee and a selection of what Mrs. Blake thought you might like.”

“Is Mrs. Blake up as well?”

His arms encircled her and he gathered her close. “No one was able to sleep until you were out of danger and now everyone is now enjoying a midnight feast. When we have done I promise I shall go to my chamber and get some rest.”

She snuggled into his embrace; here she was safe, warm and protected. She would never be mistreated again. Between them, they demolished the contents of the tray and he carefully stacked the remnants and dirty utensils and placed them outside the door for collection.

“This is a handsome object, my love. Where did you come by it?” He was holding the leather folder.

“I discovered it in my grandfather’s old bureau. This piece of furniture had been in his bedchamber but Lady Hartford, on her arrival, banished it to the attic along with the rest of his belongings.”

Idly he flicked it open. His eyes widened and he drew a folded sheet of parchment from the inside. He held it out so she could read the inscription.

The last will and testament of Lord Edward Hartford, Earl of Stoke.

The missing will, it had been found at last.

“James, dare we open it? Is it lawful for us to read this document or should we wait for the lawyers to come?”

He brought it to her and placed it in her hands. “You read it, my love. I’m sure it will put matters right. I cannot believe your grandfather would have left you unprovided for.”

Her fingers were trembling. She found it difficult to break the seal and smooth the thick, creamy paper out. He fetched a candlestick and by this added light, she perused the contents.

Speechless, she handed the document to him. She watched his expression as he read, but unlike her, he was not stunned. With a triumphant shout, he swept her up into his arms and swung her about like a child.

“This is true justice. I had thought the estate and money must be entailed; it never occurred to me your grandfather had only to part with the title. You are a very rich woman — everything is yours. The Hartfords get nothing but the earldom. They must vacate the Hall immediately and return from whence they came.”

“Put me down, James. I need time to take this in. We can all return — my staff do not have to leave after all. However, I shall not throw the Hartfords out on Christmas Day. They may remain there until the 27th of December. That should give them time enough to pack and make arrangements.”

“After what they did to you, I should not have blamed you if you had treated them to a taste of their own medicine. Tomorrow, I shall ride up there with this document and set things in motion.” He smiled his toe-curling smile before continuing softly. “This changes everything;
you are now a great heiress, will be the most sought after young lady in the country. Do you still wish to marry someone so far beneath you?”

She pouted provocatively and peeked at him through lowered lashes. “I don’t know, Sir James. Perhaps I shall jilt you and hang out for a duke.”

“Over my dead body. As I have told you once before, my darling, you are an unprincipled baggage.”

His arms enveloped her and she relaxed against him with a happy sigh. There had been a fairy tale ending after all.