Rule's Bride (30 page)

 

Rule gently kissed his beautiful wife. His brother had helped him understand what love truly was, but until the moment he had seen Simon Pratt with a knife against Violet's throat, he hadn't known the extent of that love.

If there was any way he could have traded places, been the person beneath the blade, he would have done it. With a flash of clarity, he'd understood that when you loved someone, you would die for them without a moment's hesitation.

He kissed the top of Violet's head and told her again
how much he loved her. Violet cried and clung to him as if she would never let him go, and he had never felt so good, so happy. The world had never felt so right until that moment. Everything made sense in a way it hadn't before. Love was the answer. Love made the difference. It had taken him half a lifetime to see.

And the love of a very special woman.

Rule looked up as Hatfield called to him from the terrace. “The police are here, my lord. I sent for them when I saw what was happening in the garden.” Hat's pale lips curved. “Seems they caught a thief just down the block, my lord, uses the name Simon Pratt.”

Violet looked at Rule and gave him a watery smile. She wiped tears from her pretty green eyes. “What would we do without Hat?”

Hatfield beamed.

All Rule could think was what would he do without Violet? Bending his head, he very softly kissed her.

“I love you, Violet Dewar.”

“I love you, Rule,” she said, and he thought now that he understood how important those word were, he could never hear her say them enough.

One month later

B
right golden sunlight slipped through the overhanging trees at the edge of the water. The surface of the Thames glittered as if a mantle of diamonds floated on top. Clustered in groups along the river, the elite of Society were gathered, excited by the prospect of the upcoming race between Royal Dewar, Sheridan Knowles, Dillon St. Michaels, Benjamin Wyndam and Quentin Garrett.

Only Jonathan Savage was missing from the line of competitors, off on some mysterious business he had yet to divulge.

Today the Oarsmen were racing their sleek little one-man sculls in a fierce competition. The winner would receive a trophy in the First Annual Blue Haven Charity Benefit Race. The afternoon's activities and a lavish picnic had been sponsored by Rule and Violet Dewar, and the admittance fees and a percentage of the betting proceeds would be going to Annabelle Greer's charity, the Blue Haven Orphanage.

Standing next to a circle of children she was coming to know and love, Violet gazed at them fondly. Danny Tuttle played catch with little red-haired Billy Robin, who laughed as he caught the ball. A group of his young friends, former sweeps who had been rescued from Simon Pratt, swung mallets as they learned to play croquet.

Since their arrival, the orphanage had expanded, taking more homeless children off the streets and rescuing more young sweeps, pressing hard to stop the abuse of children in the trade.

“Well, you certainly got a good turnout.”

Violet turned at the sound of Caroline's voice, saw her approaching in a gown of pale pink muslin and a pretty straw bonnet trimmed with pink silk flowers she had purchased at the Lily Pad, the millinery shop the duchess owned.

Violet smiled. “It's a very good cause. Annabelle is hoping to open another facility as soon as possible. She needs to raise as much money as she can.”

“You know Luke and I will be happy to help.”

“I know you will.” Luke and Caroline were still deeply in love and Violet didn't expect that to change. Both of them had come to realize the rarity of the special bond they shared. Just as Violet and Rule had learned how fortunate they were to have found each other as they had.

Since the day Simon Pratt had threatened Violet's life, Rule had told her he loved her a thousand times. Since that day, their love had deepened, changed and expanded. Rule had said that Violet had taught him the value of a woman. In marrying her, he had said, God had taught him an invaluable lesson about the worth of the female gender.

Violet had come to understand the fierceness of his loyalty and the depth of love he was capable of giving, something Rule himself hadn't known.

“Come on, they're getting ready to start!” Caroline caught Violet's hand and began tugging her toward the edge of the river where the boats were lined up. Rule stood at the starting line, a pistol in his hand.

He winked at Violet and grinned, digging those lovely dimples into his cheeks. He turned back to the racers. “Are you ready?”

The men in the boats shouted a resounding
yes!

“On your marks.” He cocked the pistol. “Get ready. Go!” The roar of the starting gun signaled the beginning of the race and the racers dug in, bending over their oars, rowing hard, using their powerful arms and legs to give them momentum in the sliding seat, each man determined to win.

Standing next to Violet, Caroline smiled as Luke walked up beside her.

“I bet on Royal.” Luke slid an arm around his wife's tiny, corsetted waist. “Think he'll win, love?”

“Of course the duke will win,” Caroline said passionately. “He's a Dewar, is he not? And he is family.”

Luke laughed and so did Violet. The Dewar men were all fine athletes, though Rule's sport was boxing. She looked up just then and spotted her husband walking toward her, tall, dark and impossibly handsome. He bent and brushed a light kiss on her lips, sending a feathery little thrill up her spine.

“Well, they are off. We won't know the winner for a while.”

“It really doesn't matter who wins,” Violet said as he settled a hand possessively at her waist. “The money they are raising is what is important.”

Rule smiled down at her. “Once the sale closes on Griffin, we should be able to make another hefty contribution.”

They had found another buyer for the company, an
Englishman named Buckland with a sterling reputation who had agreed to their stringent terms. The agreement stated that should a conflict arise in America, there would be no sale of weapons to those who fought against the abolition of slavery.

Since wars were going on all over the world and there were plenty of other places to sell the excellent rifles and pistols Griffin produced, the buyer had agreed.

Thinking of guns brought to mind the shooting at the dock and she shivered.

Rule looked down at her. “You can't be cold on a day as warm as this. Are you feeling unwell, my love?”

She looked up at him. “I was just thinking of Montgomery.”

“He deserved exactly what he got.” Justice had been swift and harsh. Losing a leg hadn't kept him from hanging.

Rule ran a finger along her cheek. “I suppose I should see to your shooting lessons.” His perfect mouth curved. “Perhaps your aim would improve.”

Violet laughed. “I would prefer a different sort of lesson, my lord. And I am available anytime you wish.”

His blue eyes glinted with heat. He surveyed the gathering that included Reese and Elizabeth and their two children, as well as Lily, little Katie and Alex. Travis and Annabelle were there, standing next to Caroline's grandmother Adelaide Lockhart and Rule's aunt Agatha, who had proudly wagered a very large sum on her nephew.

“I don't suppose we could leave early,” Rule said, looking hopeful.

Violet bit back a smile. “Not today.”

Rule sighed.

The breeze stirred a loose tendril of Violet's hair beneath her wide-brimmed bonnet and he wrapped the copper
strand around the tip of his finger. “Speaking of the Americans, I gather your friend Jeffrey has left England by now.”

“He was cleared of any charges. I'm sure he headed home on the first available ship.”

“Oddly enough, I wish him well.”

Violet's eyes shifted to Rule's as she remembered how Jeffrey had come to warn her of Montgomery's attempt to escape. “So do I.”

Rule set his hands on her waist and drew her a little closer. “I wish him good fortune, but I am glad I am the man you married, not him.”

Violet reached up and cupped his cheek. “My father was right, you know.”

“Your father?”

“Father told me that when the time was right, you would make a very good husband.” She looped her arms around his neck and tilted her head back to look at him. “I think he believed we would make each other happy.”

“Griff was always right about everything.” Rule pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “And you have made me the happiest man on earth.”

Violet thought of the father she adored and the wonderful husband he had chosen for her, looked up at the heavens and smiled.

I hope you enjoyed Rule and Violet's story, the last in the Bride's Trilogy. The series began with Royal and Lily's adventure in
Royal's Bride.
The second book featured Reese and Elizabeth in
Reese's Bride
. All three were great fun to write.

Up next for me is a new contemporary romantic suspense trilogy centered on the handsome Raines brothers. It starts with
Against the Wind,
which begins in Wyoming and tells Jackson's tale, followed by Gabriel's and Devlin's stories,
Against the Fire
and
Against the Law.
I hope you'll watch for them.

In the future, I hope to bring you more from Royal's friends, the Oarsmen. Until that time, happy reading and all best wishes.

 

Kat