Chapter Thirty-Two
Violet looked up as the bell rang out announcing another customer. Gideon! A wide grin spread across her face as she threw down the satchel of herbs, ran around the counter, and threw herself into his arms.
A chuckle came from Owen who came from the back of the room. “I can see Violet will be safe now that you’ve returned,” he said, happily. “I’ll just go to the back and… er… see about what supplies we might need from our storage room. But mind you, I’ll be back shortly.”
As Owen left them to have a short moment of privacy, Violet held Gideon tightly.
“You’re back,” she murmured into his neck before he gently pulled her even closer so she could receive his kiss.
She was lost for several stolen moments and reveled in the fact that her judgment of this man had not been misplaced.
From the affectionate kiss she was now receiving, he had missed her as much as she had missed him.
“Now, that is a welcome any man would be happy to accept,” Gideon said, grinning, as he studied her closely at arm’s length. “You appear none the worse for wear, Angel. Has everything been quiet?”
“Quiet? When I had no more than a little over a week to plan for an impromptu wedding?” she answered, swatting his arm playfully. “And what took you so long? You did say you’d return in a week.”
“Scolding me already and we’re not even yet wed.” He tsk tsked her with another roguish smirk. “Is this what I have to look forward to in our upcoming state of wedded bliss?”
She gave a light laugh. “If you were looking for some shy society wife who will only do your bidding, then you best look for another bride, Captain Tyler, because you won’t find any of those traits with me.”
She gave a gasp when he pulled her into his arms and soundly kissed her again.
She melted into him and gave in to feeling him this close.
Her arm wound around his neck while her other hand rested on his firm, muscular chest. She couldn’t wait to become his wife so they could spend every moment together.
“I want no other woman but you as my bride, Angel.” He began nuzzling her neck and she sighed in pleasure as her knees became weak.
“I’m certainly glad to hear that you still want me, Sir Knight,” she murmured quietly, enjoying the moment of being held in his arms.
“Never doubt it, Violet. Now… tell me the wedding plans were only waiting for the groom to arrive,” he murmured huskily as he placed tiny kisses up her neck, to her cheek and then once again her lips.
It was hard to concentrate on his question when he was doing everything in his power to distract her.
“Yes, everything is as ready as could be on such short notice, but, again, you are late,” she reminded him, placing her hand on his cheek.
She caressed the prickly stubble that had grown throughout the day with her thumb.
“Were there problems getting the license from the bishop?”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “I was delayed trying to purchase a new house. One just happened to be put up for sale within a day of my arrival in London. Asher and Patience agreed to help close the deal while I returned here to you.”
“They won’t come for the wedding?” she said, sad that her cousin wouldn’t be in attendance. She frowned.
He kissed her brow. “No need to be so upset, my dear. They both promised to be here in a few days. I thought you’d agree to the short delay since I knew it would be important to have Patience here to witness our nuptials.”
“And your brother, of course,” she added as her frown became a smile. What were a few more days of waiting when she would have the rest of her life with this man at her side?
“I hope that you don’t mind that I also invited a few other friends to the wedding,” he said quietly. “I thought it might be prudent my mother was there along with a few close friends.”
“Yes… of course.” She hadn’t thought of his mother the dowager countess and she could only worry that the woman wouldn’t accept her, an apothecary and business owner, as Gideon’s wife.
She raised worried eyes toward him and it was as if he had read her thoughts. He took her chin between his fingers.
“My mother and friends will adore you as much as I do, Violet. There is no need to worry,” he said calmly and whether that was to reassure her or just himself she couldn’t say.
“If you say so,” she replied, and thoughts of who she thought she had seen flashed through her mind. “Gideon, I must tell you that I think I saw Dawkes here at the apothecary.”
“What?” he asked in alarm. “Why didn’t you tell me that the moment I walked through the door?”
“I was a bit preoccupied receiving your kiss, that’s why,” she scolded with another playful swat. “Besides, Owen thinks I imagined him but I know what I saw. Dawkes is hardly someone I could forget given how forceful he was at the Lyon’s Den and his threats to you.”
“I think I saw him as well outside of the Boar’s Head in Bray but I couldn’t swear my life on it,” he replied as he filled her in on what he saw.
“Mr. Myer will send word if he learns of anything more but I’m even more suspicious of Dawkes than before.
There’s no reason for him to tarry here in Bracknell or Bray unless he’s here to cause mischief. ”
She caressed the fabric of his coat. “We could leave for London as soon as the wedding is over. If it was him, and I’m certain it was as clearly as I’m standing here with you now, he’d have a harder time trying to accomplish whatever evil mischief he’s up to there.”
Gideon caressed her cheek. “This is true but it would also be harder for us to catch him in a big city. No. I think our best course of action is to stay in Bracknell and lay a trap for him.”
“I just don’t want to put our family or friends in danger,” she replied. She worried not only for herself but for anyone involved in this whole fiasco.
“Asher and I talked about this at length and we might have a plan to catch Dawkes or whoever is behind the accidents that have been happening to you,” he said before taking her hand and ushering her to the back of the room.
“It does, however, put you in the midst of the very danger that we’ve been trying to avoid and obviously that is of great concern to me. ”
She all but fell into the chair while he pushed the vacant one next to her. “If it will settle this matter and catch whoever is doing this, then I’ll help in any way I can,” she declared firmly.
“I’m beside myself with worry that I’m putting you in danger when this is exactly what I’ve been hoping to avoid,” he grumbled while a frown formed on his brow. He rubbed at his temples and some instinct told her he was getting one of his headaches.
She stood and went behind her counter to open one of the drawers and pull out a small canister of a special cream she had made just for him.
Going back over to Gideon, she opened the lid and applied some of the ointment to her fingers.
She closed the lid, set it on a small table then stood before her handsome knight to rub the cream into his temples.
She knew the concoction was working its magic when she heard a soft moan come from deep within his throat.
She gave a slight smile before she finally answered him.
“If you haven’t already come to the conclusion, Gideon, I’m not some wallflower with no spine.
I’m up to whatever task you and your brother came up with.
I know you’ll protect me and if we can catch the culprit, then let’s move forward with your plan.
” She wiped her hands on the apron at her waist before resuming her seat.
“Are you sure?” he asked reaching for her hand and kissing the inside of her wrist.
“I’m sure. Now tell me what you have come up with to catch our nasty villain.”
As Gideon began telling Violet of what he and his brother had discussed in London, she trembled at the thought of what her part in all this would entail.
But instead of allowing fear to overrule the situation, she lifted her chin, determined she would not fail in performing what would be asked of her.
Gideon would keep her safe. Now they just needed to put everything into motion.