Smuggler's Glory (34 page)

Simon
stood in the stable yard at Thistledown and stared in amazement at
the transformation it was undergoing. Workmen and materials were
everywhere, to the point that he struggled to find a place to
accommodate Billie. Eagerness urged him on and he strode across the
yard in search of the one person he was most desperate to
see.

His
entrance in the kitchens drew a startled squeal from one of the
scullery maids, who was promptly scolded by a matronly woman Simon
had never seen before.

“
I’m Mrs Partridge,” the woman said, rubbing her floury hands
on her apron as she approached. She peered carefully at him and
studied him from head to toe. “Can I help you?”

“
Sort of,” Simon replied obliquely, not minding the cook’s
suspicious look. It was pleasing to know that Francesca had people
looking out for her.

Bertie
entered the kitchen, a wide smile on his delighted face. “It’s so
good to see you,” he said, holding his hand out to Simon, who
knocked it to one side and drew the old man into a hug. After some
gentle back-slapping and a few whispered comments, Simon nodded at
the old man, wondering just how patient he would have to be. “I can
show you where to find her,” Bertie offered, beckoning him to
follow. Leading him out of the front door, he pointed to a narrow
trail that led over a hill to the right of the house. “Follow that,
and you’ll find her. She shouldn’t be too far away.”

Sure
enough, Simon crested the brow of the hill and saw her. Standing a
few feet away, she had her eyes closed and was facing toward the
rolling moorland of Bodmin. Her cloak billowed out, teased by the
gentle winds. With her head tipped toward the sun and her hair
buffeted by the wind, she looked like a Pagan goddess worshipping
the sun. He watched her for as long as his impatience would allow,
before he just had to hold her again.

Bertie
had assured him that she hadn’t been angry that he had left so
suddenly. If he was honest he had taken the cowardly approach to
leaving her, and crept away while she was still asleep. It wasn’t
that he had been afraid of her tears if she became weepy and
pleading, he just wasn’t sure he would have had the strength to
keep walking away from her if she asked him to stay. He had needed
to meet with Hugo and discuss his options once the paperwork they
had retrieved had been studied, before he could offer her
anything.

He now
had clear direction in his life and, for the first time ever, he
was filled with a jubilant enthusiasm that put a spring in his step
and gave him a zest for life that he was still struggling to adjust
to. Now all he had to do was persuade Francesca to give him another
chance.

“
It’s beautiful, isn’t it,” he murmured, inches from her
ear.

Francesca’s eyes popped wide and she spun around, stunned to
find him so close. She hadn’t heard him, or realised anyone else
was about. Her mouth opened, but no words would come. A wild surge
of joy was tempered by cautious optimism as she studied him. He
appeared to be fully recovered, with no sign of bruising or
discomfort, and stood before her looking so devastatingly handsome
that her heart leapt.

“
There’s a lot going on at Thistledown,” he said, growing
slightly concerned by her lack of response. He had wondered if she
would throw herself into his arms, or just hit him for everything
he had put her through. The wary silence was unnerving.

Francesca merely nodded. With so many words tumbling through
her mind, she battled with the wild hope that he was here to stay,
only for a tiny voice deep inside her to cast doubt on that being a
possibility. Filled with confusion, Francesca broke free from his
gaze and turned toward the moor, wrapping her arms protectively
around her in a desperate attempt to protect herself from more
pain.

“
How long are you here for this time?” she asked, wondering why
he had bothered to return at all. She couldn’t bear the thought of
him just dropping by to see how she and Bertie were getting on. If
that was what he had come to find her for, then she might just send
him off with a flea in his ear.

“
For as long as you want me,” Simon replied gently. She had
been through so much that he was surprised she was talking to him
at all. Still, Francesca wasn’t a spiteful woman. Her gentle nature
wouldn’t allow her to be mean to him. He just had to be patient and
wait for her to come round.

Francesca threw him a glance. “What about the Star Elite;
your colleagues? Don’t you have work to do with them?”

“
Yes, I do,” Simon replied honestly, and wished he could see
more of her face to gauge her reaction. “But not in the way you
might expect.”

“
Oh?”

“
I will still have to go on missions with the men, but
certainly do nothing deep undercover that requires me being away
from home too long. The jobs I will be called in on will be no more
dangerous than dealing with incidents like the one in Thistledown’s
cellar. It’s nothing compared to what I have been doing,” Simon
sighed. “I’m here to stay, Francesca,” He wondered how long she
would hold out before he was allowed to hold her. “I’ll be here for
as long as you want me. I will have to go away occasionally, but
with you as my wife and Thistledown as my home, I will have
everything to come home for.” He moved to stand beside her,
shoulder to shoulder, and took her hand gently in his. “I know I
have hurt you and brought you more tears than you deserve, but I
had to close the door to the past so I can have a future. I hope
you can find it within your heart to consider sharing your future
with me.”

She made
no protest when he drew her around to face him and cupped her face
in his hands.

“
I love you,” he whispered, capturing her lips in a gentle
caress.

“
I love you too,” she replied, her heart filling with wary
hope.

“
Marry me?” His eyes held all of the pleading words could not
express, and he waited with bated breath for her answer.

“
Of course I’ll marry you,” she whispered softly, gazing up at
him with her glorious golden eyes that were full of love and
joy.

Simon
couldn’t contain the smile that lit his face. “You’ll spend your
life with me, help turn Thistledown into a home and fill it full of
our children? Help me turn the tin mine into a thriving business,
and grow old with me?”

“
The tin mine?” she gasped, staring up at him in
wonder.

“
Hugo found the owner and I made him a generous offer he
couldn’t refuse. It’s ours,” Simon replied gently. “Hugo’s
father-in-law owns several mines and has agreed to come and help us
get it up and running again.”

“
Sounds like we are going to be very busy,” Francesca replied
softly thinking about her own news.

“
There is nothing we can’t achieve – together.” Simon released
his hold on her and took several steps away toward the path that
would take them home. Holding his hand out to her, his loving eyes
met and held hers. “Ready?”

“
Ready,” she replied, and walked beside him on the path that
would take them on an entirely new journey toward joy and
happiness.

The
End.

Coming Soon

The Star Elite – Book 1

Capturing Sir Dunnicliffe – released July 2013

The Star Elite – Book 3

His Lady Spy – released 14
^th
December 2013

Other Titles by Rebecca King

The Cavendish Mysteries

If You Were Mine – released December 2012

Cinders and Ashes – released February 2013

Chasing Eliza – released March 2013

The Gallows Bride – released May 2013