Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
By the time they got home later that evening, Arabella was almost at her limit. She had felt her body weaken during the ride, and the only reason she had not succumbed to sleep was that she wanted to savor the moment for what it was.
She sat with Caspian in the driver’s seat of the carriage; her father was still locked away inside.
She had her head rested on his shoulder, and he had one arm around her as if he meant to never let her go.
She found safety and protection in his arms as he gently guided them home.
She had never felt more at peace, and she did not want to miss a single second of it.
Alas, when they climbed from the carriage and wandered inside, Arabella’s desire to climb into bed and put this day behind her was quickly denied. The manor was full of people, and they converged on her and Caspian the moment they stepped through the doors.
“Good God!” Lord George Cavendish cried as he strode toward them. “Caspian, you look as if you have just been dragged by your feet behind a horse!”
Caspian had one arm around Arabella, and he held her close. “You ought to see the horse.”
“What happened?” It was the Dowager next, and she pushed through the staff with urgency. “Lord Cavendish told us as much as he could—”
“Which was not a lot, truth be told,” Lord Cavendish cut in. “It is hard to get all the details when the storyteller rushes from the house as if it is on fire. Caspian, what happened?”
“Arabella! Caspian!” Timothy came next, and he ducked between their legs before launching himself at the two of them.
Arabella dropped to her knees and pulled Timothy into a hug.
“Was somebody worried about me?” she chuckled as she held him.
“I thought… I thought…” He sniffed back tears.
“Caspian told me how brave you were,” she said as she pulled back. “I might have been able to use your help. Next time,” she added with a wink.
His face grew determined. “I will.”
Caspian ruffled his hair. “I see you managed to coax Timothy out of his hiding spot.”
“It took some doing,” the Dowager sighed. “He was buried in like a tick.”
Timothy beamed. “Caspian told me to hide.”
“You did very well,” Caspian laughed.
“What happened, Caspian?” Lord Cavendish demanded. “Lord Witherington kidnapped Arabella? I saw the papers he wanted you to sign. Where is he?” He looked past them as if expecting Lord Cavendish to walk through the doors. “In chains, I hope.”
“We let him go.” Arabella stood up, but she kept a hand on Timothy’s head.
“You did what?”
“It is a long story,” Caspian answered for her.
“And one I will gladly tell you all. But tomorrow…” He looked from his cousin to the Dowager to the staff, who all milled about the foyer.
“For now, I want to apologize to you all for what you went through tonight, as well as thank you each for your bravery. Such a thing ought not to have happened, but you all handled yourself with aplomb.”
“We are just glad you are not hurt, Your Grace,” Mrs. Robertson said.
“As I am glad that you are not too,” Caspian said. “And George, where is Mr. Tibbs? And the rest?”
“We went for the local constable as soon as you left,” Lord Cavendish said. “They are right now on their way to the local jail. Tomorrow, you will need to see to their arrest. I will join you.”
“A task I relish. Speaking of which…” Caspian looked back towards the front door. “George, before you return home, I ask that you take the carriage parked outside and lead it into town. There is a passenger bound inside who needs attending to.”
“A passenger?” Lord Cavendish asked. “Who…” He trailed off when Caspian looked at him. “Ah, I see. Yes, I believe the local jail will have room for one more.”
“I am sure it will.”
“I suppose that means a drink is out of the question,” Lord Cavendish said. “Even if we are owed a story.”
Arabella winced. While she knew that a time would come when she might need to relive the events of the night, now was not the time. She was still desperately tired, worn through like an old cloak, and all she wanted was to be alone so that she might sleep.
And while she was about to say as much, it was Timothy who spoke up.
“She said no,” Timothy said loudly as he stood beside Arabella. “And my father asked that you all leave.” He firmed his face and nodded once.
Shock rippled across the room.
Part of it was due to Timothy’s command. Another part was because he called Caspian his father. Caspian clearly heard it, and the surprise on his face was obvious. But that surprise soon changed to a smile, and rarely had Arabella seen him look so touched.
“You heard the little man,” Caspian said. “I do thank you, George, for what you did, but we need rest. Tomorrow, I will come to you, I promise.”
“I suppose there is no point in making demands,” the Dowager said. She caught Arabella’s eyes and winked. “And if the lady of the house wants us gone, so be it. Come now.” She clapped her hands. “Let us leave.”
“Thank you,” Arabella said with relief.
“I shall visit you on the morrow.” The Dowager hugged her tightly. “And I am just so glad that you are safe.”
It took a few moments for everyone to leave. Hugs were given. Words of condolences were shared. Baron Witherington was taken to the local jail, where he would answer for everything he had done. And finally, they trickled from the manor as the staff made their way back to their postings.
“Mrs. Robertson…” Caspian called after the head maid. “Might you see Timothy to bed?”
“No!” Timothy said. “I do not want to leave you.”
Arabella dropped to her knees again so that she could better look at him. “And I love you for that. But I need my rest, Timothy. Tomorrow, I promise, you and I will spend all day together.”
“We will?” He beamed.
“So long as you do not mind losing at cards.”
He laughed and hugged her again. Then he hugged Caspian. And then Mrs. Robertson led him away.
It was as soon as they were left alone that Arabella finally felt the weariness take over her. It was as if all her energy was suddenly drained from her body, and she nearly collapsed on the spot.
“Arabella!” Caspian saw her sway, and his arms were around her immediately. “What happened? What is wrong?”
She put an arm around his neck and leaned into him. “Oh, nothing…” A yawn escaped her mouth. “I am just suddenly very tired.”
He exhaled. “That is all? I thought… I was not sure!”
Arabella laughed and then wrapped her other arm around his neck. “As much as I hate asking for help, Caspian, might you do me a small favor?” She battered her eyelashes tiredly at him. “If you do not mind.”
He pretended to sigh as if vexed, even as he scooped her into his arms. “Only because I love you.”
“A good thing you do,” she said as she snuggled into his arms, rather enjoying the feeling of being carried. “Otherwise, I would have spent the night on the floor.”
With her arms around Caspian’s neck and with her body held in his arms, Arabella was carried up the stairs and toward her bedroom.
As she was, she felt her eyelids drop, and she very nearly gave in to the tiredness.
She just felt so comfortable, so safe… Nothing to worry about but her need for sleep.
By the time they reached her room, she was almost out entirely. Dim images of Caspian carrying her across the room found their way into her conscience, and when she felt him lay her on the bed, her body relaxed completely and molded into the mattress.
“One moment…” Caspian heaved her into the middle of the bed, pulled the blankets over her, and arranged the pillows so that she was comfortable.
“My hero,” she said tiredly as she wiggled into the bedding.
He chuckled. “Sleep well, Arabella. Nobody deserves it more than you.”
She very nearly closed her eyes completely then.
Only, as she heard Caspian’s footsteps walking across the room, she felt a sudden pang in her chest. It was a feeling similar to something being taken from her; emptiness, a hole that needed filling.
What it was, she realized, was the need to keep Caspian in her sight.
“Caspian…” She spoke softly, her eyes half-closed. “Can I ask one more favor of you?”
“Only one,” he said with a soft chuckle.
“Do not leave me,” she said. “Not tonight. Please, I do not wish to be alone.”
If she had the strength to do so, she would have opened her eyes to see what look he wore on his face. But because she did not, she had to imagine it instead. She liked to imagine a smile, warmth filling his eyes, and nothing less than complete and utter love shared as he looked upon his wife.
“For you, Arabella? Anything.”
She smiled as she listened to him crossing the room. Her eyes were closed completely, but the smile grew as she felt him climb into bed. And it was as he snuggled in beside her, his arms wrapped around her body like a cocoon, that sleep finally found Arabella.
It was a dreamless sleep. It was also the best that she ever had. Wrapped in the arms of the man she loved, feeling perfectly safe and guarded, and knowing that when she opened her eyes the following morning, her life would never be the same again.