Chapter Eighteen
It had been two days since the roof collapsed on Duncan’s head, and as he sat by the fire, he once again blamed the outcome on the devil’s own luck.
His injuries from both roof incidents could have been far worse, even fatal.
He had read about people suffocating after being buried in snow.
Thank Providence that Augusta reached him in time.
He might have had only a few minutes left.
Quite sobering. With his good arm, he reached behind and felt the lump on the back of his head.
It was not as large or as sore as before.
He stretched out his legs before the fire.
It was still early, and Augusta and Lady were still asleep.
His devoted wife deserved the rest. She had spent the past two days tending to his needs, from giving him a sponge bath to washing his hair and preparing his meals.
And seeing to Dawn. He closed his eyes. As horrible as he felt, he could not hide his arousal when she bathed him.
Even just recalling the sensation of having her hands all over his body left his insides in knots.
He had never anticipated anything more than the consummation of their marriage.
Could such intense feelings grow between them in such a short period of time?
Why not, indeed? When it came to love, anything was possible.
Love? That made him sit up straighter. Falling in love with one’s wife was not the done thing in society. But when did he ever give a hang what society thought? And the prospect of being a father to her son? He could not wait. An instant family, along with Laura. He would never be lonely again.
“Duncan! Duncan!”
The loud, piercing cries brought him to his feet. Augusta emerged from the tent, Lady at her heels. She spun around, looking frightened.
He ran to her and gently clasped her arm. “I’m here. What is it?”
Augusta stared up at him, her eyes glazed. “Oh, it was a nightmare. Only a nightmare.” She threw her arms around his waist and let out an agonized sob.
Duncan smoothed her hair with his free arm. “Tell me.”
Augusta exhaled. “I dreamt you went to use the privy in the middle of the night and had a dizzy spell and fell to the ground. I didn’t find you until the next morning, and you were dead!”
“My love, I am well. Feeling better with each passing hour,” he soothed. “How could I not with your devoted care?” He softly kissed her forehead.
Augusta met his gaze. “I was afraid I had lost you. I could not bear it.”
“I am here at your side, forever, and always.”
“I am relieved to hear it. And I am by yours.” They embraced for several moments, then Augusta stepped back. “We should eat. The food is starting to spoil. I suggest we finish the sliced meats today.”
“Yes. But first, I have a promise to keep.”
“Promise?”
“To kiss you every morning. Passionately.” With his free arm, he cupped her cheek and captured her lips. Their tongues clashed, and a soft moan escaped Augusta’s lips as he deepened the kiss.
“Oh my,” she murmured. “You kiss me, and I hear bells.”
Duncan chuckled as he laid kisses along her neck. “Bells, is it?” Duncan stopped because he heard bells as well. “Sleigh bells! Patrick!”
He headed toward the door, but Augusta grabbed his free arm. “Wait! You’re bare-chested. Here, put the quilt around your shoulders.” She looked up at him, a question in her eyes. “What if it isn’t Mr. McGloin?”
“The pistol.” Duncan pointed to the trunk, and Augusta fetched it. “Stay near the cellar, and try to keep Lady quiet, if possible.”
Duncan ventured outside and heard men’s voices. He kept the pistol hidden under the quilt and was ready to use it.
Just then, Patrick and two men rounded the corner, trudging through the knee-high snowdrifts. Patrick smiled when he locked gazes with Duncan. “Your Grace. Still alive.”
Duncan grinned. “As you see.”
“This is Jacob Grimsley and Robert Ellery. Their employer, Mr. Kenneth Tobey, owns the large farm operation outside of Stoneheath. They were kind enough to take in a weary traveler the night of the storm.”
“Gentlemen, you are all a sight for sore eyes.”
“Are the Hansens inside?” Patrick asked.
“They lit out the first night while we slept,” Duncan replied. “We haven’t seen them since. Come in and warm yourselves by the fire, such as it is.” As they stepped inside, Lady started barking. “Enough, Lady. These are friends.” The puppy immediately quieted.
After introductions, Augusta made tea and handed the steaming mugs to the men as they sat around the fire.
“How are the roads?” Duncan asked.
“Not the best,” Patrick replied. “We left a few hours before dawn because Jacob and Robert are familiar with the road. We brought two sleighs that are pulling two wagons, along with a coffin for Briggs. We are lucky Mr. Tobey has a special conveyance for transporting horses. We will use that for Dawn. As soon as we drink this tea, I’ll escort the men to the wreckage. ”
“Besides collecting poor Mr. Briggs, what will you do about the carriage?” Augusta asked.
“I discussed it with Mr. Tobey, who suggested we burn the rest. I told him there was nothing salvageable,” Patrick replied soberly.
“The site has already been picked over by thieves,” Duncan said. He gave a brief account of the two men who ransacked the coach.
“Taking a dead man’s coat,” Mr. Grimsley said, shaking his head. “Ain’t right.”
“I am glad to hear you avoided a confrontation with these thieves,” Patrick said.
“There is quite a lot that occurred,” Duncan said wryly.
“We saw the caved-in roof,” Patrick replied.
“The rest of it looks as if it will give way any moment. All the better if we depart as soon as possible. Once we are finished at the wreckage site, we’ll leave.
With luck, we will reach the Tobey farm late this afternoon.
And get this. We received word that five miles outside of Stoneheath, the snow isn’t nearly as deep.
We happened upon the worst of the storm that afternoon.
Mr. Tobey is arranging to hire a small carriage in Stoneheath as we speak. ”
“I am indebted to Mr. Tobey and his employees,” Duncan said.
Patrick and the men stood. “We had best get on with it. Pack up what you have. I assume the puppy is coming?”
“She is part of the family, now,” Augusta answered.
“We have a rope we can use to tie about her neck. We don’t want to take the chance of her jumping from a moving sleigh,” Patrick said.
“What about the chickens?” Augusta asked.
Patrick stared at Augusta quizzingly. “Chickens, Your Grace?”
“The Hansens left behind four chickens. Their eggs helped keep us fed,” Augusta replied.
“Beggin’ your pardon, Your Grace,” Mr. Ellery said, shyly. “We have a large box on the wagon with a cage-like top. That will hold them. Catchin’ them won’t be easy.”
Duncan chuckled. “There is some dried corn in the barn to keep them fed, but if you are worried about them, we will bring them with us. If Mr. Tobey doesn’t want them, we can take them to Bamford Park.
As far as I am concerned, the chickens are mine because I paid Hansen enough to buy this entire property. ”
“Yes, bring them with us,” Augusta said.
After the men departed, Duncan embraced Augusta. “We are going home, at last.”
She kissed his cheek. “Our home. You know, I just realized something. When Mr. McGloin and Mr. Ellery called me ‘Your Grace,’ I suddenly remembered that I am a duchess!”
Duncan nuzzled her neck. “My duchess, forever and always.”
When the men returned in the early afternoon, Duncan and Augusta were more than ready to depart.
“I thought you would take longer,” Duncan called out.
“We saw drag marks in the snow,” Patrick said. “The trunks along with other items, were taken. There wasn’t much to burn. Briggs is in the coffin on the wagon, preserved by the cold weather, and should stay that way until we return to Bamford Park for a proper burial.”
Duncan closed his eyes. “What a tragedy.”
“Agreed. Not an end I would wish for anyone. Grimsley and Ellery are in the barn trying to gather the chickens.” Patrick handed Duncan a long rope.
“For your puppy. You, me, the duchess, and Lady will be in one sleigh pulling Dawn; Tobey’s men will handle the other with the coffin and your belongings.
We had better depart. We will stay the night at the Tobey farm, and early tomorrow morning, Tobey’s men will take us to Stoneheath to collect the carriage and driver.
I assumed you wished to be back at Bamford Park as soon as possible. ”
“You have the right of it. One night soon, we must fill each other in on our storm travails.”
Patrick chuckled. “I believe you have far more to divulge than I do.” Patrick sobered. “It could have been far worse, Duncan. I’m glad we made it through. We all could have wound up like Briggs.”
“Yes. A sobering thought. Come, time to finish this particular journey.”
And get on with their lives.