Rescued By the Spy

by Laura A. Barnes

  Charles acknowledged her words spoke of an unspoken truth. There were signs to Maxwell’s betrayal, his own kidnapping last year to be precise. In the end he had come clean and made his rescue possible. In the last few months, he did not want to admit this to himself let alone anybody else, his suspicions grew on which side his partner was fighting for.

  “On the night of Blackstone’s death, where were you disappearing to?” Charles changed the subject on her.

  Raina sighed and pushed herself up and away from him. As she edged further away, she guessed they had finished discussing Maxwell, and he wanted to move on to her. She walked away to a path she spied earlier. The trail led her into a wooded area. The trees wrapped around the path, with their roots coming out of the ground. She pressed her hands against the rough bark as she used them to guide herself along the path.

  She heard him follow her. He did not try to help her along the path but waited patiently while she picked her way along the trail. After a while, she saw sunshine beating an opening to the path she took. Walking towards it, she wandered into an open field filled with bluebells. Their purple petals swayed in the open breeze. Raina stopped and breathed in their earthly scent. It was a vision to behold. It looked to stretch for miles, with nothing but wildflowers. She turned around in a circle with her arms spread wide, closing her eyes she let the peace and tranquility soak into her soul.

  Charles watched as the peaceful setting wrapped itself around Raina. As she twirled around in circles, he saw the magic of the place seep into her being. When she took off at a run, he did not chase after her. He waited for her. Charles would wait for her forever. He saw his questions scared her, made her open and vulnerable to him. Something she was not used to being. So, he could wait until she was ready.

  Raina ran across the open field. She knew there was no escape. It was obvious they were deep in the countryside. She was not running away from him. When she had stepped out of the wooden path and walked into the open air, she noticed a weight had been lifted from her soul. The pressure of her mission was slipping out of her grasp. Everything that was important before, seemed meaningless now. By no means the loss of her family was meaningless, but the vengeance for them was. After she avenged them, what then? It would not bring them back to her.

  She sank to the damp ground, her skirts billowing around her legs. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, running in rivulets to drop upon the bluebells. Wiping the moisture off her cheeks, she had not realized she had been crying. She gasped as the pain of loss hit her. Her eyes filled and ran over with an outpouring of fresh tears as she cried at the loss she had suffered. The pain appeared so open and raw as if it had only happened recently. They had been dead for years, but she never grieved for them. Raina had only been out for revenge.

  Where had revenge gotten her but wanted for a murder, she did not commit. It finally dawned on her that very revenge could get her hanged for treason. For a long time, she did not care, if it could reunite her with her family again. But now everything has changed. She wanted to live. She wanted to enjoy the open breeze on her skin, she wanted to walk in her bare feet across fields of wildflowers. Raina wished to feel the touch and kiss of a man. She wanted his love.

  When the last of her tears settled on the gentle curve of the bluebells, Raina stared as the sunlight kissed them away. She looked around and noticed Charles had not followed her. He trusted her not to leave. If he trusted her, maybe in time he could love her too.

  Raina slid her slippers off her feet and rose to make her way back to Charles. Her feet sunk into the softness of the flowers. Petals slid between her toes, tickling the soles of her feet. She smiled at the simplicity of life.

  Charles had laid back on the grass, his arms behind his head. His eyes were closed, but he knew she stood over him. Keeping his eyes closed, he waited for her to speak. He knew she would return to him. He wanted to run after her and help her with her pain, but recognized she needed the time to herself. You couldn’t heal those around you, you could only show them you are near for them when they need you. Everybody must grieve in their own way.

  Laying on the grass next to him, she let the sunlight wrap itself around her warming her from the outside in.

  “My mother used to do that. Run through the flowers in her bare feet. She would tell me the fairies tickled her feet as she ran. I brought Ivy here when she was young and told her stories of our mother.”

  “Your mother sounds like she was very carefree.”

  “She was wild as the wind; my father always says.”

  “How so?”

  “She always acted first, then would think second. She was a passionate lady who wanted to enjoy life. London always stifled her. They had to spend time there when Parliament was in session, Father was very involved in politics. But whenever there was a break, he would whisk us here to getaway. When we visited the cottage, they could be themselves. It was here where she caught her illness.”

  Raina reached between them and laced their fingers together. Squeezing gently, she urged him to continue his story of his mother.

  “It was raining gently; the sun was shining, but it was still raining. Mother in her impulsiveness of life ran out in the rain, dancing through the garden. Father urged her to come inside, but Mother only laughed and encouraged him to join her. I remember him gathering her cloak and wrapping her inside it. They shared a kiss, which was nothing new for us to see. They were always affectionate together in front of us. I smiled at their silliness, the kiss turned different, when Mrs. Hobbs shuffled me away with promises of sugar cookies in the kitchen.”

  Charles reflected to himself on what the kiss had changed into. It was from one of love to a passion, he now felt towards Raina. The loss his father experienced the past few years, Charles finally now understood. He felt the same feelings towards Raina his father felt towards his mother. He grasps how the loss of his mother had affected his father with a deep sadness he could never comprehend until now.

  “The next day, my mother became ill. The storms had become so heavy in the area, they washed out the bridges. Father was not able to obtain a doctor for her. Mrs. Hobbs and my father did everything they could for her, but they could not save her. My father has been consumed in his grief for years. I know now how losing somebody can make you do crazy things, but in the end, they are still gone. You need to remember the times you spent with them and treasure those moments close to your heart.”

  Raina turned her body toward Charles, laying on her side. Her head cradled in the crook of her arm.

  “Where are we?” Raina asked.

  “Near Dover.”

  “Aren’t you afraid I will flee?”

  Charles turned facing her. With his free hand he lifted the strand of hair which came loose from her braid and slid it behind her ear.

  “No.”

  “How can you be so certain?”

  “Because you are tired of running.”

  “It is all I am capable of doing.”

  “Then take this time and rest.”

  “When are we leaving?”

  “When I can see it is safe to leave.”

  “After we leave, where will we go?”

  “It depends.”

  “On what?”

  “The outcome.”

  “The outcome from what?”

  “The circumstances.”

  “What circumstances?” Raina asked in frustration, he was talking in riddles.

  Charles laughed. He rolled back over and watched the clouds float across the sky. Raina growled at his silence. Rolling over herself, she threw her hand over her eyes, blocking out the sunshine. When she sensed a shadow hanging over her, she opened her eyes to see the rolling puffs of clouds blocking the sun.

  “We would lie like this sometimes and imagine the clouds to be different items. He had an overactive imagination, they were always monsters of some sort,” Raina whispered.

  “Were you close?”

  “Oh yes, there was a huge age gap, but
when Mama had him he was a joy. She had tried for years, to give Papa a son. I guess that is why Papa trained me, he had given up hope of ever having a boy. When she finally did, he was spoiled by all of us.”

  “He made up stories of monsters and dragons and regale us at dinner with his tall tales. We all doted on him. When his and Mama’s carriage crashed, it devastated Papa. That is when he wanted out, he suspected their death was no accident. He thought it was Napoleon who had them killed.”

  “Why would Napoleon have them killed? I thought your father was a high ranking general in his army.”

  “Mama was sick after having Matisse. Papa wanted to retire, but they would not let him. Once you join you cannot leave. Something went horribly wrong with a deal involving Shears. Papa feared for their safety, so he sent Mama and Mattie away to a safe house, but along the way the carriage crashed, killing them instantly.”

  “Why were you not with them?”

  “I was away at school in England.”

  “Why did you attend school in England and not in France near your family?”

  “Papa wanted me to work on my speech, he wanted me to have an English dialect when I spoke.”

  “So that is how you are able to move around in disguise so easily. I have spent the last few months looking for a French woman because that is how you spoke when you took care of me.”

  “When I am not in disguise, my French becomes more pronounced if I choose it to be. At the time, I was conflicted in my role as a kidnapper and caretaker with you. I thought speaking in French would confuse you and aid me when I needed to leave.”

  “How was your father able to keep you safe?”

  “Your friend Thornhill.”

  “I am confused, how do a French general and an English spy know each other.”

  “I told you my father wanted out. He knew of Thornhill and went to him, promising war secrets for new identities for me and him. He arranged to have me escorted from my school to his ship where my father awaited. Once I was on the ship, we sailed to a safe location. Only it wasn’t. We were ambushed. My father instructed me to stay below when the ship was attacked, after I heard the fighting had stopped, I came on deck. My father was lying in a pool of blood. I reacted to the only thing I realized; my father was dead and the only individuals who knew of our existence on the ship were Thornhill and his men. So, I grabbed my knife and stabbed Thornhill. I thought at the time, if it was not for him, my father could be alive today.

  “He was not at fault Raina.”

  “But he was in a way Charles.”

  “How so?”

  “The man who escorted me from school to Thornhill’s ship, is the same one who introduced me to Shears. The same man who helped me to kidnap you last year.”

  “Maxwell?” Charles asked.

  “The one and same. That is why I told you he cannot be trusted. Knowing what I know now, he is the one responsible for the death of my father. He has been selling our secrets to Shears.”

  Charles lay in silence to her declarations. None of it made sense to the character of his friend. Thorn warned him of Maxwell’s involvement with Shears, but Charles had chalked it up to Maxwell working undercover to bring Shears down. Now increasingly more evidence is pointing to Maxwell’s deception. What did Shears have that Maxwell wants?

  Charles rose to his feet, he held out his hands to Raina. Sliding her hands in his, he pulled her to her feet. Lacing his fingers with hers, he walked them back to the cottage. He never spoke to her, but let their silence guide him in his decision to investigate Maxwell’s connection with Shears deeper. Maybe there were more reasons to his deception than Charles wanted to believe. In the meantime, they would spend some isolated time at the cottage. Hopefully, Thornhill would find out what Charles needs to know before he moves forward on his destruction of Shears. He only hopes that in his plans for destruction he did not lose a friend or the woman he was falling in love with.

  Chapter Fifteen

  CHARLES WANDERED THROUGH THE cottage looking for Raina. He made his way to the kitchen where she could usually be found helping Mrs. Hobbs. When he didn’t find her there, he went outside to the gardens. Her presence was found here too. While the garden showed signs of neglect over the years, it came to life the past couple of weeks. She had pulled weeds and trimmed back the disarray of entangled vines. She even managed to convince him to help her. A couple of afternoons last week, they spent a few hours taming the garden, into the peaceful oasis his mother always meant it to be. As he walked along the paths, he thought of his mother and her joy of working in these very gardens. He smiled at the gift Raina gave him. To be able to remember his mother in such a happy memory.

  When he didn’t locate her there, he wandered to the stables. He did not find her there either. Mr. Hobbs informed him he saw her wandering towards the cliffs with a book. Thinking of a surprise for her, he made his way back to the cottage. He talked Mrs. Hobbs into making them a basket for a picnic. She thought it was a wonderful idea, to surprise his wife with lunch. She filled the basket as she praised him on being such a romantic husband. Charles felt guilty for the lie, but not enough to risk Raina’s life with the truth.

  As he gathered a blanket and the picnic basket, Charles set out to find his lovely bride. He found her sitting under a large oak tree at the edge of the woods. A book lay open in her lap, her finger running along the edge of the pages. She wasn’t reading the book, but lost in thought, staring out at the open field.

  She had on a simple day dress in which Mrs. Hobbs had helped her hem. It was one of Ivy’s old dresses. Her hair was pulled back in a simple braid, with a few pieces loose and blowing in the breeze. Charles stared as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the tree. Her body was relaxed as it enjoyed the fresh open air. Charles could not recall ever seeing her at such peace. His decision to stay at the cottage was proving to be the best idea he ever had.

  Lost in watching her, he shifted and stepped on a tree branch. It snapped and broke the stillness of the moment. Raina glanced up swiftly at the disturbance to see him in the distance. He smiled sheepishly and started towards her.

  Raina smiled back shyly at him. She pulled the stray bits of her hair behind her ear. She rose to her feet and waited for him to join her near the tree.

  “I come bearing gifts,” he explained.

  “What sort of gifts?”

  “Lunch. I hope I am not disturbing you. I thought we could sit by the cliffs and watch the boats as we eat.”

  “No, I would love the company,” she said as she reached for the blanket.

  They walked closer to the cliffs for their luncheon. Raina spread out the blanket, lowering herself, she adjusted her skirts around her legs. Charles knelt next to her, sitting the picnic basket between them.

  “I enlisted Mrs. Hobbs to pack us a lunch. She thought it very romantic of me to surprise my wife,” Charles teased.

  Raina blushed as she unpacked the basket. She knew he was only teasing, but it was an awkward position they were in with their lies. Mrs. Hobbs apparently thought their marriage needed these romantic gestures considering they were sleeping in separate bedrooms. Even though the kind housekeeper never asked, she noted the questions in her eyes. The first day they were at the cottage, their love making was obvious to the declaration of their marriage. In the days following the servant had to wonder at their lack of intimacy. She wasn't the only one who wondered. Raina, herself was in constant woolgathering over the situation. Charles started off all hot, then turned cold. He was by no means indifferent to her, but he pulled back. There was still the soft brush of his hand against hers from time to time or his gazes towards her when he assumed she was not looking. Which she always was. She could not get enough of him. Her eyes followed him whenever he was near. When he wasn’t she searched for him, wanting any sign from him that he wanted her too.

  But she was only disappointed. She was so lonely for him even though he was close. She wanted to share their connection again, but ev
ery night it was the same. They retired to the parlor after dinner where he would engage her in a game of chess or read a book to her. Then he escorted her to her room with a polite kiss to her hand, wishing her sweet dreams. She would then crawl between the covers and think of him holding her in his arms. Whereupon she drifted off to her sweet dreams. Sweet dreams of him exploring her body with his touch and kisses. She would awaken each morning, restless with a need she could not explain. She would search for him for any attention he would give her. But today was different when she awoke. Raina was disappointed with herself for becoming vulnerable to him. While she ached for his attention, she knew she was becoming too dependent on Charles. When she decides to leave, it would hurt too much to part from him. Which is why she was spending the afternoon by herself. After she picked a book from the library shelf, she made her way to the open fields to daydream the day away. Her time here was ending. She wanted a day of no fears, only happy memories to last her through her final mission.

  Charles watched as the blush stole over her cheeks. He wanted to place soft kisses along the curve of her neck where the blush disappeared too. Charles was frustrated from playing the gentleman to her all week. He thought he sensed her frustration too when she would seek him out every day. When she did not come looking for him today, Charles worried he had pushed her away. He thought he owed her space from rushing their relationship the first day they arrived. Hoping with space she would welcome his advances. Playing the gentlemen had gotten him nowhere, but empty nights in his bed chamber. The chaste kiss he gave her every night drove him to cool dips in the pond before he spent restless nights in his bed wanting her with a desperate need. He hoped this picnic would play into his plans of seduction. Their time here was ending. He needed to convince her of his desire and his plans for their future.

  “That was kindhearted of her. I am afraid I have been in her way this week.”