23. Chapter 23 #2
“You heard him,” came the voice of a man I didn’t recognize. “I want all these men in handcuffs.” There was more shuffling of feet, perhaps policemen? But how? Where had they come from?
“We’ll bring them before the magistrate directly, Your Grace,” said the constable.
“Thank you.”
A moment later, Ames appeared around the boulder I hid behind, fear and uncertainty in his handsome face.
“Ames!” I breathed his name on a prayer of thanksgiving.
He fell to the ground beside me and pulled me into his arms. “Lily! Are you hurt?”
I could not lie as tears came to my eyes. “I was tossed about the carriage unmercifully and I will be sore, but nothing that won’t heal.”
He pulled back just enough to inspect me. The eastern sky silhouetted Ames. I’d never seen anything dearer than his handsome, worried face.
“Davis told me—he said that you’re going to have a baby. Alice told him.”
I bit my bottom lip as I watched for his reaction. “Yes.”
For the first time since I’d known him, the mask that Ames so often wore to protect himself was completely gone, and I could see his raw and vulnerable emotions plainly.
“I have never known fear like I did the last two hours. When I realized you were gone—” He choked on the words.
“And that you might be carrying our child. That I might lose both of you. So many things went through my mind and nothing—nothing else mattered.” He paused and swallowed.
I laid my hand on his face, over his scar. “I’m safe, Ames.”
He pulled me close again, and I knew the words we needed to speak would have to wait for later, when we were alone.
“How did you know where to find me?” I asked.
Ames pulled back again. “You left the cave door open and the sound it makes when the wind pushes through woke me from a terrible dream. I found the note Brant left, and that’s when I realized you must have gone after them.
I also found a candlestick on the road just beyond the cave and fresh tracks in the mud.
I woke my brothers to come with me, and we left the castle as soon as we were able. ”
“I’m sorry,” I said through my tears. “Brant and Molly were going to elope, regardless, and I could not let Molly get married without a proper witness. Please forgive—”
“Shh,” he said, “you need not ask for forgiveness. Lily—” His voice broke again.
“When we found Roy on the side of the road and he told us he’d been accosted and you were abducted, everything else became pointless without you.
I thank God that we found you and that there were constables patrolling this area for smugglers.
They found the carriage before we did.” He tightened his embrace again and my cheek pressed against his chest. His heart was beating so hard, I could feel it against my skin.
“I want to get you home, my love,” he said.
“I want you safely back at Pickering Castle. Both you and the baby.”
I nodded, unable to speak through my tears.
The rain continued to fall outside Pickering Castle, but I was safe inside my bedchamber, a fire crackling in the hearth, as I lay in the comfortable bed.
Ames had sent Collins for Dr. Aiken even before I was taken off the beach, and the good doctor had met us at the castle moments after our arrival.
Dr. Aiken smiled as he started to replace items in his black bag. “Your suspicions were correct, Your Grace. You are going to have a baby.”
Joy filled my heart as tears came to my eyes. “When?”
He chuckled. “Well, these things take time. But I expect you’ll be meeting your little one in the spring, around the beginning of April.”
A baby in the spring.
My excitement was momentarily dampened as I asked, “Do you think the baby suffered from today’s events?” I was sore from the jostling of the carriage and exhausted from a lack of sleep, but my stomach had settled, for which I was grateful.
He smiled, and the kindness in his eyes brought great relief. “I’ve seen mothers endure far worse without cause for concern. No doubt you’ll be sore for several days, and some of those bruises will take time to heal, but you’re strong and healthy. I don’t see why you should worry about the child.”
“Thank you, Dr. Aiken.”
“You’re quite welcome, Your Grace. I will take myself out. I know there is a pacing duke just beyond those doors who is anxious to see you.”
Warmth filled my heart at his words. Ames had not left my side since he’d found me on the beach and had only stepped out of my room at the doctor’s insistence and my reassurance.
The doctor bowed and then opened the door to let himself out.
Ames quickly appeared and asked, “Is there cause for concern, Dr. Aiken? Was Her Grace injured? How is—the baby?”
“Her Grace suffered a few bruises, but nothing that won’t heal properly in time. Both she and the child appear safe.”
He sagged with relief and then said, “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
As Dr. Aiken left, Ames stepped into my room and closed the door, then he walked across the room and sat on the side of the bed, taking one of my hands into both of his. He was so cautious—so gentle.
We looked at each other for a moment, neither of us knowing quite where to begin.
“I’m sorry, Ames,” I finally said.
“No, Lily, I’m sorry.” He let out a breath and brought my hand up to his lips.
“I’ve been a fool and it took far too many people and events to make me see the truth.
” He laid one of his hands on the side of my face and ran his thumb over my cheek.
“For a long time, I’ve only cared about the dukedom and Pickering Castle.
I did not make a single decision without those two things in mind.
If it did not benefit either, then I would not consider it, even if that meant that the people I loved would suffer.
I did not want them to, of course, but I thought that if I must sacrifice for the family, then they should, too. ”
I gave a slight nod to let him know I understood. I had initially married Ames as a sacrifice for my sisters, but against all odds, both mine and Ames’s sacrifices had produced a beautiful love story.
“When I thought that you and the baby had been harmed—or worse—” He paused as emotion welled up in his voice.
“I realized that this family has suffered and sacrificed far too much for this castle and title. And for what? Money and status? Social acceptance? What did they matter to my ancestors who lost their loved ones? No amount of money, or perceived respect from society, could bring back the dukes and the duchess who lost their lives.” His thumb stilled on my cheek.
“None of it would matter to me if I didn’t have you to share it with, Lily.
And for the first time, I realized why Brant was willing to give everything up for Molly.
He is far braver and wiser than I am, and I owe him my respect.
I pray he and Molly have a long, happy life together.
Far removed from the constraints of the aristocracy. ”
“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you with the secrets I was keeping. With a child on the way, it’s more important than ever that you and I are a team.” I sat up and wrapped my arms around my husband, tears in my eyes.
He embraced me in a breathtaking hug.
“I don’t want to saddle our child with the responsibility of this place,” he continued after a moment, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes.
“It is a blessing, but it is also a burden. I want to discuss Mrs. Talmadge’s ideas and see if we can’t give the next Duke of Severton more freedom and choices.
I love this castle, but I know I would love a newer home, built to our specifications, even more.
We can turn this place into a tourist destination, as she suggested, and see what kind of income it might generate. What do you think?”
I grinned and nodded. “I would love that, Ames. Truly. I want to invest in Pickering Castle, but I also want to ensure that we’re wise with our finances and that we’re planning for a future for our children.”
He put his hands on either side of my face. “I want to create a life with you that we both want. One of our own making. More than anything, I want you to be happy, Lily. I’ve disappointed you far too much.”
“And I’ve disappointed you, which was the last thing I wanted to do. All of this—the house party, inviting my friends, fixing up the castle—I did it because I didn’t want you to regret marrying me.”
He leaned his forehead against mine. “I could not regret marrying you. My only regret is that I did not realize soon enough how much I had taken for granted. I love you, Lily, with all my heart, and I am so thankful God brought us together. If I had been left to my own devices, I would have made a blundering mistake.” He smiled.
“I almost did. But He was faithful to lead me to you.”
“And He was faithful to lead me to you, too.” I met his smile. “I love you, Ames.”
“I love you, Lily. And I love our child. I promise to protect and cherish both of you for the rest of my life.”
Exhaustion overcame me and I had to stifle a yawn. Ames slowly got off the bed and helped rearrange the pillows and blankets around me.
“I have a house party to tend to,” I protested as my eyelids started to droop.
“You may join us for supper, if you are feeling up to it,” he said, moving a tendril of hair off my face. “But you need to rest. Our guests are still in bed after a long night, and I do not believe they will begrudge their hostess if she stays in bed a little longer than the rest of them.”
“What will we tell them about Brant and Molly?” I asked, trying desperately to stay awake.
“There will be time enough to decide that later.”
“But we should have a plan.”
He chuckled. “We will tell them the truth. Brant and Molly were married by the vicar in Scarborough and you were there as a witness. Brant has renounced his title, and according to the remainder, it will now go to Collins—if he wants it. Beyond that, it’s no one’s business.”
I smiled. “I wish it were that easy.”
He kissed my temple. “Go to sleep, Lily. The scandal will come, whether we’re prepared or not, and we will deal with it together. It will blow over eventually, but the most important thing is that we are a unified front.”
I opened my eyes for a moment to look at his dear face. “We are a unified front, aren’t we?”
This time, he kissed my lips. “We are indeed, Lily Welby.”
That was the last thing I remembered until I woke up, famished, several hours later.