Stand and Deliver Your Love (23 page)

Chapter
Twenty-Three

Sarah sat i
n the sun on the soft grass. Her hand idly smoothed her yellow silk skirt across her lap as she watched Shadow frolic with Bacchus in the lush green pasture. The breeze plucked the fragrant white blossoms from the cherry tree within the confines of the pasture, sending them floating down around the two horses. Hugging her legs she rested her chin on her knees and sighed. It was a week since she arrived at Byron’s country estate and she had yet to come up with a way to provide for Dickie and the others. She considered asking Byron for the monthly allowance he had mentioned providing her, but was unwilling to bring it up due to their strained relationship. He had barely spoken to her since they arrived and kept confined to his study in the evenings until long after she was asleep.

The rattle of a
carriage coming up the drive drew her attention away from the horses. She studied the coach-and-four bearing the Cobbett family crest as it rolled to a stop in front of the steps leading to the main house. The footman hopped down from the back and hurried around to open the door for the occupant inside.

Shading
her eyes she peered closer as a small figure emerged from the interior. Recognition dawned on her and she scrambled to her feet and running to the carriage, tears of happiness streaming down her face. “Dickie!”

The boy turned with a smile and ran into her outstretched arms. “Mistress Sarah!”

Sarah hugged him close for a moment before she stepped back. “It is Lady Cobbett now, Dickie. What are you doing here? I am so happy to see you.”

Dickie stood up tall and gave her a large smile. “His lordship sent the carriage for me. He said you needed me.”

“Did he?” Sarah laughed. “Well he was right. I have missed you terribly.”

The boy looked embarrassed, but pleased.

“Ah, you have arrived safe and sound Master Dickie. No highwaymen befell you en route, I see.”

Sarah turned around at the sound of Byron’s voice. He was striding down the steps toward them, a teasing grin on his face. “Did you bring the documents from the king?”

The boy nodded and handed him a rolled up parchment. Byron broke the wax seal and unrolled the document. After scanning the contents for a moment, he let it roll back up before he passed it to Sarah.

Puzzled she took it and unrolled it. Her heart skipped a beat when she read the letter of ownership for a large warehouse in the country close to the outskirts of London. It seemed the building and a significant amount of land surrounding it had been purchased by Byron Cobbett and given to the ‘Wellington Children’s Society’
, which she had never heard of. A note was included showing a large amount of money being donated by the king himself to the society. Sarah looked at Byron for an explanation.

He smiled at her, but his eyes remained guarded. “Does it please you?”

She reread the documents. “I am not sure I understand.”

“I traded my townhouse for the old warehouse. I had it put in your name and the king generously donated the money to renovate it into a suitable orphanage capable of housing up to sixty children. The work should be completed by the end of the summer. As well, the Ladies
’ Society has raised enough money to pay Bert, Ann and six others of their choosing to help with running of the place. I also ordered a number of my livestock to be moved there into the barn after it has been repaired. Hopefully, the place will be able to raise and supply most of the food they might need in order to be self-sufficient,” Byron explained.

Sarah stared at him in disbelief as his generosity began to sink in. “You did all this for the children?”

Byron shrugged. “I thought it would make you happy. I thought then you would want to stay with me, because I….” his voice trailed off. He looked at her for a moment his expression sad and remorseful. “I wanted to make you happy.” With a nod to Dickie, he climbed aboard the carriage. “I have some business to take care of,” he said, tapping the roof of the carriage to signal the driver to proceed.

Sarah watched as the carriage turned and headed back down the drive.
He did all this for me because he knew it would make me happy and…?
Her heart gave a little lurch.
He did it because he loves me!

She took Dickie’s hand. “Come along. I will find the housekeeper and she will make sure you get a plate of the cook’s fresh baked cookies and a glass of milk.”

She hurried him up the steps into the house. When she had Dickie settled in the housekeeper’s care, Sarah ordered her horse saddled then hurried upstairs to change into a pair of breeches, riding boots and a shirt. Throwing her black cloak over her shoulders she ran to her mare.

Once mounted, Sarah turned Shadow onto the road to London and gave the horse her head. The mare stretched out into a ground-covering gallop. She leaned low over the horse’s neck, closing her eyes, loving the feeling of the powerful animal between her legs and the wind blowing
through her hair. When she got a glimpse of the coach ahead she slowed the horse to a trot and turned onto the deer trail running parallel to the road. She rode through the bush until she drew even with the coach, then plunged through and leaped out in front of the carriage. The driver pulled back on the reins, causing the four horses pulling it to throw up their heads and come to a sliding stop. Sarah spun her mare around and rode to the side of the coach motioning for the coachman to stay where he was.

The door to the coach slammed open and Byron poked his head out. “What t
he devil is going on….” he trailed off when he spied Sarah.

She grinned. “I demand you stand and deliver!”

Byron stared at her, his brows scrunched in bewilderment. “What?”

“Stand and deliver,
” Sarah repeated.

He climbed down from the coach. “I have nothing of value to give you,” he said with a slow smile.

“Why, I beg to differ, my lord. You have only one thing of immense value I will accept.”

Byron tipped his head. “If I hand over this thing of value will you cease wearing those infernal breeches?”

She couldn't help but grin. “I could be persuaded to refrain from wearing them, I suppose.”

Byron came to stand beside her. He looked up at her, his eyes shining. “Then pray tell lady highwayman, what it is you seek and I shall endeavor to render it post haste.”

Sarah smiled down at him. “Stand and deliver your love, so I might steal it like a thief in the night.”

The love shining in his eyes said more than his lips ever could. “I speak the truth, my lady, when I tell you it has already been delivered and is forever in you
r possession to do with as you please.”

Sarah slid from the saddle and stood before the man she loved. He pulled her into his arms and captured her lips with his. She melted into his chest with a sigh as his tongue brushed hers, content to bask in his caress.

With a groan he pulled back, gazing down into her eyes. “I love you, my highwaywoman.”

“I know,” she whispered, “and I love you.”

Byron released her and leaped up into the saddle then reached down and hoisted her up behind. “Take the carriage back to the house, Martin,” he said to the smiling coachman.

After the carriage departed, Byron turned the horse onto the deer path leading to the little cottage where Sarah had cared for him. They rode in comfortable silence, Sarah
with her head nestled against Byron’s shoulder. When they entered the clearing, Byron reined in the mare and handed Sarah down. He dismounted and tied the mare inside the lean-to. When he came back out Sarah looked up at the sky where soft gray clouds were just beginning to form.

“I think it is going to rain.”

Byron picked her up in his arms. “Let it. There are no longer any storms in my nightmares, only in my dreams of you,” He kicked open the door to the cottage and carried her inside. “Remind me to send a thank you note to the owner of this cottage.”

Sarah laughed. “Whatever for?”

“You will see….”

The End

More Books We Love titles by Killarney Sheffield

Click the links to purchase directly from Amazon

The Cracksman’s Kiss

About the Author

Killarney is an award winning romance author from the rustic Canadian prairies. She lives on a cattle ranch with her five kids. When she is not penning historical romantic adventures she fills her time with her Thoroughbred stallion 'Stamp de Gold', whom she affectionately calls 'Love Monkey', and her herd of AQHA mares.

Http://www.killarneysheffieldromanceauthor.com/

Http://[email protected]

Note from the Publisher

Thank you for purchasing and reading this Books We Love eBook. We hope you have enjoyed your reading experience. Books We Love and the author would very much appreciate you returning to the online retailer where you purchased this book and leaving a review for the author.
Best Regards and Happy Reading, Jamie and Jude

http://bookswelove.net

Top quality books loved by readers,

Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Suspense

Vampires, Werewolves, Cops, Lovers.

Young Adult, Historical, Paranormal

For a spicier read visit

http://spicewelove.com