Haunting Secrets (30 page)
Authors: Marie Higgins
Tags: #Victorian, #Historical Romance, #Romance, #Paranormal, #Teen & Young Adult, #Ghosts, #Witches & Wizards, #Werewolves & Shifters, #Literature & Fiction, #Historical
“Victoria, I do feel different. I feel like a great burden has been lifted from my shoulders.” He laughed joyfully and spun her around. “Oh, this is an amazing day, indeed, my love!”
Justin captured her mouth again in an electrifying kiss that left her knees weak. But a knock on the door had the wonderful kiss ending too soon.
She adjusted her wrinkled gown, hoping that nobody noticed she’d slept in it, and went to the door. When she opened it, Francine stood on the other side, twisting her hands against her middle, wearing that worried expression Victoria knew so well. “What’s wrong, Francine?”
“It’s Master Jonathan. Something is wrong with him. He’s in his room, and not doing well at all.”
Justin released a curse and hurried past Victoria and Francine, taking long strides toward Jonathan’s bedchambers. Victoria and her maid hurried after him. She hoped nothing terrible was wrong with Jonathan, and could only pray his curse had been lifted as well.
Two maids stood outside his room, frowning. When they saw Justin, their eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t say anything to them, but continued into Jonathan’s room. Roderick sat on the edge of the bed, holding Jonathan’s hand. A physician stood nearby as he folded up his stethoscope and placed it in his black medical bag.
“What’s wrong with him?” Justin asked, bluntly.
Roderick jumped with surprise. His red-rimmed, glassy eyes nearly bulged out of his head when he looked at Justin. “What are
you
doing here?” He scrunched his forehead. “And why do you look…different?”
“Because I am no longer cursed,” Justin snapped and moved past him closer to Jonathan. Justin met the doctor’s stare. “What’s wrong with my brother?”
“He’s had a terrible fever. He’s been mumbling incoherently all morning long. He’s not conscious.”
Justin sat on the edge of the bed where Roderick had been, and tenderly stroked the strands of hair lying across his brother’s forehead. Victoria knelt beside Justin as she caressed Jonathan’s arm. His chest rose and fell quickly with his erratic breaths. Every other second, his body jerked violently.
Justin looked up at the doctor again. “Is he dying?”
“I don’t know. His heartbeat sounds good, but his fever is high. I fear, I don’t know what’s causing it.”
Justin leaned closer to his brother. “Jonathan, it is I, Justin. Please open your eyes and speak to me.”
Fitfully, Jonathan tossed his head on the pillow and mumbled again.
“Jonathan, talk to me, please. I am here for you. I’ll never leave you again.”
Within seconds, Justin’s brother began breathing slower, and soon his shakes disappeared. Victoria held her breath, praying whatever his ailment was would soon be gone.
Slowly, Jonathan’s eyes fluttered open. Behind Justin, Roderick gasped, but she didn’t look at him. She continued to watch the youngest brother.
“That’s it, Jonathan,” Justin encouraged. “Keep waking up.”
“J—Justin?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Jonathan’s eyes darted around the room from Victoria, to Roderick, to the doctor, then back to Justin. “Where am I?”
“In your bed,” Justin answered.
Confusion creased Jonathan’s brow. “Why am I not at Eton?”
Victoria covered her mouth quickly before she said anything. Had he lost his memory?
“Jonathan,” Justin said, “you graduated a year ago.”
“No, I didn’t.” Jonathan met Victoria’s stare. “Who are you?”
Feeling a loss for words, she looked from him to Justin. Her heart hammered in her chest, worried about Jonathan’s state of mind.
“She is my fiancé,” Justin replied.
Jonathan smiled. “See what I miss when I’m away?” He took hold of Justin’s hand and squeezed. “Congratulations. I’m happy for you.”
Justin passed her a glance and gave her a wink. She sighed and smiled.
The doctor came closer. “If you all will leave, I am going to examine him once more.”
Justin nodded, took Victoria’s hand and they walked out. Roderick followed. Once the door was closed, Roddy grumbled.
“What is going on around here? Why can’t he remember this past year?”
“Because he’s been under a spell, you imbecile,” Justin supplied, glaring at his brother. “Your
wife
hexed him. Now that she and her witchy family are dead, the spells we were all under have left.”
Roderick raked his fingers through his hair. “I was under a spell, too?”
“Yes, I believe you were. Although, I believe stupidity was not part of it.” Justin groaned and shook his head. “From this day forth, all rights to the manor and the estate will be turned over to me. If you do not like the way I run things, you are more than welcome to leave. Posthaste, in fact. I do not want you causing problems for Jonathan. He will probably never remember this past year, and I for one, want to keep it that way.”
Roderick nodded, his shoulders slumping before he turned and walked away.
“And as for you,” Justin said, pulling Victoria into his arms. “I will find a preacher to marry us today, I promise. I want to forget this ordeal we’ve been through, and get to know each other as normal people for once.”
Smiling, she stroked the side of his face where his scars had been. “I always thought of you as normal, my wonderful man. That will never change. Our love will only grow stronger from this day forward.”
“Yes, it will.”
“And from now on,” she kissed Justin’s lips briefly, “there won’t be any haunting secrets between us, especially after dark.”
Justin tilted his head. “Speaking about haunting secrets…I do have one, but the only reason I have not told you is because there was no time.”
“What is that?” she asked warily.
“I found the treasure map.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, they were on the back of the paintings. Although your father said there was no treasure, the drawings on the paintings say differently. In fact, if you’d like, we could travel to the island in the next month and find our treasure.”
She shook her head. “You are the only treasure I need, my love.”
Justin pulled her in for a heated kiss. A kiss that curled her toes and made her breathless.
She smiled and closed her eyes.
Look Father, you got your wish. I’m finally happy and in love!
The End
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Author’s Bio
Since Marie Higgins was a little girl playing Barbies with her sister, Stacey, she has loved the adventure of making up romantic stories. Marie was only eighteen years old when she wrote her first skit, which won an award for Funniest Skit. A little later in life, after she’d married and had children, Marie wrote Church roadshows that were judged as Funniest and Best Written. From there, she branched out to write full-length novels based on her dreams. (Yes, she says, her dreams really are that silly)
Marie has been married for twenty-nine years to a wonderful man. Together, they have three loving daughters and several beautiful grandchildren. Marie works full time for the state of Utah, where she has lived her entire life. Marie plans to keep writing, because the characters in her head won’t shut up. But her husband smiles and pretends this is normal.
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