The Reluctant Duchess (24 page)

Newport grabbed the hem of her gown. She kicked out at him but missed. He used her gown to drag her toward him. Sara tried to kick the knife out of his hand, but her legs were just not long enough.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry
.

He raised the knife and she whispered, “Forgive me.” She closed her eyes, knowing she had forsaken the only good thing in her life because she'd been too scared to take a chance.

And now it was over, and she would never have another chance.

Ross and Montgomery rode hell-for-leather through the rookery, scattering chickens and dogs. Mothers pulled their children out of the way with surprised cries. The sun had gone down long ago and the moon was out, but the belching chimneys made everything appear gray and black. Weak light shone from open doorways and windows. Their horses' hooves splashed through foul-smelling puddles.

Ross stopped at Mrs. Kettles's, jumped off his horse, and ran inside. Mrs. Kettles was nowhere to be seen. Children huddled in the corners, looking frightened. Older girls held some of them, staring up at Ross as if he were the devil himself. He supposed that was what he looked like.

Sara wasn't there. He tore through each room, poked through piles of rags, but she wasn't there.

He ran outside. Montgomery was standing in the middle of the narrow road, his head tilted. He held up his hand for Ross to remain quiet.

Ross listened until he heard what Montgomery had heard. A scream. “Sara,” he whispered.

Both he and Montgomery pulled their pistols and stood back to back. The scream came again, reverberating off the walls and tall buildings. There was no way to tell where it originated.

“Steady,” Montgomery said, as if sensing that Ross was about to bolt. Running in circles wouldn't serve any of them.

Ross checked his impulse, his body taut, straining. There were many reasons a woman would scream in the rookery, none of them good, but it didn't mean that was Sara screaming.

Yet in his heart he knew it was she.

Another scream rent the night, this time closer. A figure darted out from between two buildings, stumbling and crying. Ross rushed forward to catch her in his arms. Without looking at her face, he knew it was Sara because he knew her body so well.

She was sobbing and bleeding, causing his heart to pound. He pushed her behind him and faced the alleyway that she had come from.

She was repeating
“Forgive me”
over and over. Ross could hear her muttering behind him, her words slurred as she slumped against his back.

Montgomery was beside him. They waited. It seemed the entire rookery waited. It was quiet. Even the children were silent.

Ross heard the pounding of feet first. Behind him, Sara stiffened and sobbed quietly. Ross tightened his hold on his pistol and took aim.

Newport came running around the same corner Sara had, a knife in his hand. When he saw the two of them blocking his escape, he slid to a halt, his eyes flashing surprise.

Ross cocked his pistol.

“Don't shoot,” Montgomery murmured.

“The bastard deserves to die.”

“Wait.”

“Your Grace,” Newport said, as if they were at a damn social event.

“He killed her,” Sara whispered against his back. “He killed Meredith.”

“Go to hell, Newport,” Ross said tightly. He was finally facing Meredith's murderer. How many nights had he dreamed of this? Newport grinned. “Don't be angry, Rossmoyne. You know you didn't deserve her, just as you don't deserve Lady Sara.”

Ross growled, but before he could pull the trigger, a shot rang out and a hole appeared in Newport's chest. He staggered back, a shocked look on his face. Sara screamed and clung tightly to Ross.

Newport made a gurgling sound. Blood dribbled from his lips and he pitched forward, revealing a gaping hole in his back where the bullet had gone clean through his heart.

Montgomery's pistol smoked.

Sara screamed.

“Sara!” Arms came around her shoulders, cradling her, gently rocking her, but she couldn't stop the tears or her body from trembling so violently that it made her arm shriek in agony.

“Sara, wake up.”

She struggled to open her eyes. She was in her bed at Rossmoyne House. Ross was lying beside her, holding her close, the front of his shirt soaked with her tears.

Just a dream. That was all it had been. Newport had not killed her. She slumped against Ross with a ragged sigh.

“Are you in pain?” he asked. “Do you need something for it?”

“No.”

“There's nothing wrong with admitting you're in pain.” His voice rumbled through her, and it was the most wonderful, comforting thing she had ever heard.

“How am I here?” Her words were slurred, and she suspected that she'd already been given something for the pain. She had no recollection of arriving here.

“Montgomery got us both back here, but I have to admit that my memory of it is hazy.”

“Is he dead?” she asked quietly, referring to Newport.

Ross hesitated. “Yes.”

“Good.” Yet her fear didn't go away. It would be a long, long time before the fear was gone. She didn't want to close her eyes, even with Ross holding her. Even knowing that Ross would do everything in his power to protect her, she knew that if she closed her eyes,
he
would be there, wielding that knife.

“Sleep, Sara. Everything will be all right.” Ross looked down at the top of Sara's head. He didn't think that he would ever rid himself of the ball of terror lodged in his throat. Never would he get rid of the image of Sara stumbling out of that alley.

Sara fought sleep, but eventually, her breathing evened out and he closed his eyes, pressing his cheek against her head.

“What does my mother think of me being here?” she asked, startling him. So she hadn't been asleep at all. But she kept her head firmly nestled against his shoulder.

The doctor had set her dislocated shoulder. Luckily, she'd passed out. Ross couldn't have listened to her screams if she'd been awake.

“She hasn't said a word about it,” he said.

“And she saw you in bed with me?”

“No, but I think she suspects.”

“She won't be happy.”

“I couldn't care less.”

“Me as well.”

Ross chuckled. He wasn't enamored of Lady Grandview but kept in mind that she was Sara's mother. However, Lady Grandview had said nothing at all when Sara was brought to Rossmoyne House.

“Forgive me,” Sara whispered.

“Whatever for?”

She lifted her head and resisted him when he urged her to lie back. He was being selfish. He didn't want her to leave his side, not for a moment. But she used her good arm to scoot up in bed and face him. The doctor had put her other arm in a sling that she would have to wear for several weeks.

“For not listening to you that night we…” Her face turned several shades of red and she looked away.

“Ah. That. There's nothing to forgive.”

“When Newport…” She looked up at the ceiling and blinked the tears away. “When I thought he was going to kill me, I knew I'd made a horrible mistake.”

“By going riding with him?”

“For not accepting your marriage proposal. I was a coward. I was scared of what my duties as a duchess would entail, and I let that overshadow my love for you.”

He stilled, and he could have sworn his heart missed a beat or two. “You love me?”

Her eyes were red-rimmed, with dark circles under them. Her hair was a mess, and yet she'd never looked more beautiful to him than she did at that moment.

“Of course I love you.”

“But you don't want to be a duchess?”

“I didn't think I did, but if that's what it takes to be your wife, then I will be a duchess.”

“Unfortunately, you can't have one without the other.”

She grimaced and he grinned.

“What if I promise that we will limit our public appearances?” he asked.

“What about India?” she asked.

He hadn't thought about India in a few days. “I still have to make my report to the queen, but I won't ask to go back.”

He couldn't miss the flare of hope in her expression. “You would do that for me?”

“Ah, Sara.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss. “I would do anything for you. Don't you know that?”

“I'm beginning to believe it.”

“I'm willing to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

“I love you,” she whispered with tears in her eyes.

Ross had every intention of hying himself off to Hadley Springs to discuss wedding arrangements with Sara's father. It went against his grain to ask for her hand in marriage, because in his mind there wasn't any other option.

She was his.

She was living in his house.

She'd agreed to marry him.

To him, the deal was finished.

But he knew how much her father meant to her, and proprieties must be met.

The morning Ross was set to leave for Hadley Springs, Lord Grandview walked through the front door of Rossmoyne House, much to Ross's surprise. However, he was more than relieved, because he hadn't wanted to leave Sara alone for a moment, let alone an entire day.

“Lord Grandview,” Ross said as he strode into the drawing room, which was thankfully empty of callers. His mother had let it be known that, due to recent events, the Rossmoynes were not accepting callers.

Sara's abduction and the subsequent death of a peer of the realm, coupled with the news that Ross was involved in yet another death, had caused quite a stir. Journalists were camped out in front of Rossmoyne House. Elizabeth had wanted to sneak everyone out in the middle of the night and take them to one of their country estates, but Ross and Sara had agreed to stay. Sara was still recovering from her shoulder injury, and they both feared that extended traveling would hamper her recovery and be excessively uncomfortable for her. So they stayed sequestered inside his house, and neither minded.

“Your Grace.” Lord Grandview bowed.

Listening to Sara, Ross had surmised that Grandview's health and mental well-being had declined after Meredith's death, but standing before him was a hearty and hale person. His complexion was darkened by the sun. His hair was white, and there were lines and wrinkles about his face, but his eyes were alert and he appeared strong.

“I owe you my gratitude for saving Sara's life, but I fear my gratitude is not enough to repay what you have done for my daughter.”

“You don't owe me anything,” Ross said sincerely. “I love Sara and would have done anything to save her.”

Grandview looked at Ross with a shrewdness that put him off guard; he definitely needed to reassess his approach. Grandview wasn't nearly as feeble-minded as Ross had been led to believe.

“I hear you want to wed her,” Grandview said, coming straight to the point.

“I do.”

“And does she love you?”

“She says she does.”

Grandview grinned. “Sara doesn't say anything she doesn't mean. This is a strange situation, considering you were betrothed to Meredith.”

“I understand.” Ross would not say more on that subject. He and Sara had come to terms with his past relationship. He now knew that he'd not really loved Meredith. He'd loved the idea of her. He'd loved parts of her. But he'd never loved her like he loved Sara.

“People will talk,” Grandview said.

“They're talking now. They've talked before, and soon they will find someone else to talk about.”

Grandview chuckled. “Agreed. Society is fickle and can have a short or long memory, depending on the circumstances. I think in your instance their memory will be short.”

Ross inclined his head in agreement. “I was preparing to leave for Hadley Springs so I could speak to you about our marriage.” He hesitated, then decided to speak his mind. “Sara indicated that you were not in the best of health.”

Grandview looked around before indicating a chair. “May I?”

“Of course. Forgive me for making you stand.”

Grandview settled himself into the chair while Ross sat across from him. “I've never been in better health, and I'm not feeble-minded, no matter what Sara seems to think.”

Ross was taken aback by Grandview's straightforward manner, although he appreciated and admired it.

“Our lives fell apart after Meredith's death,” Grandview said. “There's no disputing that. But I've never liked society or London much. I prefer the country. Carolina prefers a more active life. After Meredith's death, there didn't seem to be a reason to pretend anymore. I understand that Sara was put in the middle of that, and it's my one regret. I enjoy my life as it is. Carolina enjoys hers.” Grandview eyed Ross. “Sara is like me. She's not much for balls and such.”

Ross knew where this was heading and silently cursed. Would he never be free of that reputation? Had two years of good conduct and service to the queen not been enough? “I can assure you that part of my life is behind me.”

“So I've been told. You were in India, correct?”

“I was.”

“Terrible things going on there. Bloody uprisings.”

Lord Grandview had not just been studying the stars, as Sara believed. He'd also been keeping up on politics.

“We were making strides, but it wasn't enough, I'm afraid.”

“You take your duties seriously,” Lord Grandview said.

“I do.”

After a brief pause when Ross wished he knew what the older man was thinking, Grandview said, “My brother, Sara's father, and your father were good friends.”

“They were?” Ross had never known this. Ross had been away at school when his father died, and had been abruptly called back. His father had been a good father, although not easily approachable. He'd made sure Ross received an education and training in his responsibilities as the future duke, but Ross knew little about his father's social life.

“They were very good friends,” Grandview said. “Unfortunately, I didn't know your father well. I wasn't in the same set as my brother, and neither did I want to be. In all honesty, I didn't want the marquessate and was happy to leave all of that to Sara's father. But things don't always work out as we want them to.” Grandview went silent for a moment. He shifted in his chair. He seemed to be a man who valued his introspection.

“Things don't always work out as we want them to,” he repeated. “But I'm finding they work out the way they are supposed to. Your father would be very proud of you, Rossmoyne.”

Ross considered himself a jaded man who had run the Rossmoyne dukedom for more years than he should have at his age. He hadn't had a father in a long time, but Grandview's words choked him up. “Thank you,” he managed to say. “That means a lot to me.”

Grandview nodded once. “Both Sara's father and your father would be pleased by this union. Not just for the merging of two great families but because you and Sara make each other happy.”

Ross had to blink the wetness from his eyes. He could not care two rots about the merging of the families, but he did care that he was making Sara happy.

“However.” Grandview stood, nearly springing to his feet. No frail body was this man. “Before I give my consent, I will speak to Sara first.”

“Father!” Sara rushed into her father's arms, wincing when he crushed her injured arm but not really caring because her father was here. She pulled away and looked him over. “I can't believe you came all the way to London.”

Her father held her at arm's length and looked her up and down with a critical eye. “You needed me. Of course I came. Besides, you're in a load of trouble for not telling me about the letters in the first place.” He glared at her and she looked away.

“I didn't want to worry you.”

He huffed out a breath. “Do you think receiving the news that my daughter was abducted by a killer didn't worry me?”

Her shoulders slumped, and her throat worked to keep from crying. “Forgive me,” she whispered.

“Ah, sweeting, there's nothing to forgive.” He pulled her in for another hug, and she stood for a long moment in the safety of her father's arms. Though she'd been so young when her real father had passed away, she had vague recollections of sitting on her new father's lap, the only time she didn't feel empty. He'd sit for hours every night, just holding her, until her new life became the only life she remembered.

“I'm just glad you're safe,” he whispered in a choked voice.

He pulled away and led her into the closest sitting room. It was one of several that were rarely used, but now the drapes were open and the sun was streaming through.

He sat beside her and took her good hand in his. “How is your shoulder?”

“Sore. But it will heal.”

“I won't ask you what happened. I got a good accounting of it from Montgomery, and I won't put you through that again.”

“I'm just glad it's over. I'm glad we know who killed Meredith, and I'm glad he's dead.” She lifted her chin, refusing to feel bad for being glad that a person was dead.

Her father squeezed her hand. “As am I.” He cleared his throat. “Rossmoyne says he wants to marry you.”

She couldn't help her smile. There were times when she still couldn't believe how happy she was. Despite everything that had happened in the last few days and even the last few weeks, she was deliriously happy and refused to feel guilty about it. Meredith would have understood, and Sara liked to believe that Meredith would have been happy for her.

“I love him, Father.”

He looked deep into her eyes. “I worry about you.”

“There's no reason to worry. Truly, there's not. He's not the same person he was when he was betrothed to Meredith, and he loves me, too. He makes me happy.”

He seemed to think about that for a bit. “That's exactly what I wanted to hear. You have my blessing. I will tell Rossmoyne the same.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. Lately, she cried more than she had in a long while. Every time she had a nightmare, Ross was there for her. He woke her in the middle of the night from the memories she couldn't control. He walked with her through his gardens and listened to her talk out her fears. He'd even cried with her a few times, although he swore her to secrecy about that.

“Thank you, Father.”

“How's your mother been?” he asked.

Sara drew in a deep breath. “Quiet.”

Ever since Ross had dressed her mother down for sacking James, Carolina had been very quiet. Ross had found James and rehired him himself. Jenny had found her way back to Carolina after losing Sara and Newport that fateful day. The poor woman had been beside herself with guilt but Ross had finally persuaded her that Sara's abduction had not been her fault. Ross had settled a good sum of money on Jenny and allowed her to retire. She was now residing in the country with her daughter.

“I really don't like this,” Sara said.

“Just a few more minutes, I promise.” Ross kissed her on the lips. She jumped when their lips touched, then smiled.

“I've decided I don't like surprises.”

“I can tell.”

She turned her head toward his voice, biting back her laugh at the sardonic tone. “I'm being ungrateful,” she said.

“No, you're not.”

“I am.” She adjusted the blindfold covering her eyes.

Ross took her hands and held them in his. “You're fidgeting.”

“I can't see.”

“I know. I'm the one who put the blindfold on you.”

She sighed and leaned in to his strength, trusting him to get her safely to wherever they were going. Earlier in the day he'd said he had a surprise for her, but she'd never imagined something as elaborate as a blindfold and everyone riding in two carriages for a long drive.

Since then Ross had been tightlipped about the surprise, and that frustrated her. She hadn't realized just how much she didn't like surprises until now.

Her father, her mother, and Elizabeth were in the carriage behind them. James rode on top of Ross and Sara's carriage. James had been rehired by Ross after the incident with Newport. Sara managed to suppress her shiver at the thought of Newport. If Ross knew she was thinking about that, he would be concerned, and she'd caused him enough grief.

It had been three months, and the nightmares were slowly dwindling, although sometimes memories of Newport and that night overtook her. Ross was so patient and kind.

The wedding was set for two days from now, and she couldn't wait. All of her reservations disappeared in the face of her overwhelming love for Ross. They would make it work. They would survive. They'd already proved they were survivors.

The carriage slowed to a stop and Sara sat up. “Where are we?”

“Relax, love. We are where we're supposed to be.”

She turned her head toward the sound of his voice. “I like that,” she said softly. “We are where we're supposed to be.”

He kissed her, a quick peck on the lips. “If we're together, we are where we're supposed to be.”

She heard the carriage door open. The carriage dipped as Ross got out, then he took her hands to guide her down the steps. She felt the cool air on her cheeks and the warm sun on the top of her head.

“We're in the country,” she said. “I don't hear the normal city noises, and it smells different. Cleaner.”

“You're remarkably astute.”

She could hear her mother and father and the duchess behind them. Her parents seemed to be getting along well, which was a relief, although she had her doubts that they would get back together. But that was their choice, and she'd learned over the past few days that their choices were not her problem anymore. She had her own life to live.

“Are you ready?” Ross asked, unable to quell the excitement in his voice.

“I'm more than ready,” she said. Her heart was thudding. She couldn't even begin to imagine what Ross had in store for her.

He moved behind her. She could tell by the sound of his boots. His fingers worked the knot on her blindfold, and there was bright light. Sara blinked a few times before her eyes adjusted.

She was facing a house. A rather large house. A mansion that stretched and stretched to her right and left. It was made of white stone with a set of stone steps that fanned out from the massive front door. The windows gleamed in the sunlight, and a profusion of potted flowers marched down the sides of the steps.