She handed them to Mark and slumped onto the sofa beside Ben, who immediately swept an arm around her and drew her protectively against his side. In spite of the presence of the police officers, Ben kissed her temple and hugged her for several long moments while Mark read the declaration the killer’s victims had made.
“Well, we will need to verify the signatures are real, but I think that this document alone is enough to make sure that he won’t escape prison.”
“Can I see?” Ben asked and took the papers off Mark to read them briefly.
“I found them once you had left for your house. I couldn’t settle and started to rifle through the papers on uncle’s desk as we discussed.”
Sensing that they were waiting for her version of events, Beatrice quickly recounted what had happened to her, and only stumbled when it came to having to describe Browning’s attempt to strangle her.
Ben took over at that point and described what had happened to him, culminating in his arrival moments before Mark.
Somewhere in the middle of it all, Beatrice was aware of the arrival of the doctor, who first saw to Maud before ordering her off to bed to rest. He then examined first Beatrice, then Ben, in the front parlour before declaring that their cuts and bruises would fade, but they too needed to do nothing more than rest of the next couple of days. Given the depth of the bruising on Beatrice’s neck, he made arrangements to see her in his surgery in a few days’ time but, other than that, declared them well enough to go about their daily lives.
Once the doctor had taken his leave, Beatrice wondered how on earth they could go about their normal lives now. So many bad things had happened that she wasn’t sure what to make of it all. She knew that at some point over the coming weeks she would have to think over everything in more detail so that she could put it all behind her but, right at that moment she wanted nothing more than to savour the time she had with Ben.
Satisfied that he had all of the information he needed right now, Mark nodded to Isaac, who secured the house before both men took their leave. Ben left her long enough to slide the bolts home on the front door, before he returned to the sitting room.
“Come on,” he ordered and held his hand out to her.
Beatrice knew that she would follow him wherever he went, and didn’t hesitate to do as he wished. She clung on to him as he led her across the hallway and up the stairs to her bedroom.
Once there, he carefully drew the covers back and tugged his shirt over his head at the same time that he kicked his boots off.
She watched him for a moment before she began to undo the long row of buttons on her shirt. By the time the last of her clothing fell to the floor, Ben was ready to sweep her off her feet. He carefully placed her onto the bed with all the loving tenderness that was in his heart. In one swift motion he climbed in beside her and drew the covers over them both before he gathered her into his arms.
“There is just one thing I want to say,” he announced softly when they settled into each other’s arms.
“I love you, Ben,” she whispered.
“Thank God for that,” he declared fervently. “I love you too. I thought I knew what it was to love; what it felt like to care about somebody, but I know now that I never really appreciated the emotion for what it is. It is what makes me stronger. It is what makes me whole. You make me whole. You make my life complete, and give me something to wake up for each morning. I suddenly find myself looking forward to each new day that I have you by my side, and I want that to continue for the rest of my days. I cannot live without you, darling. You are my everything. I adore you.”
“I love you so much,” Beatrice croaked. With each minute that passed it grew increasingly difficult to talk but she was determined to tell him what she wanted to say while she had the opportunity. “There is one thing I have learned from all of this mess with the plant and it is that we can never really take anything for granted. Time is precious. Life passes by so quickly, and matters can turn against you and ruin any change of happiness so suddenly, that it is foolish to take anything for granted. My world crumbled when Browning told me that Murray was waiting for you at your house, and you were his next victim.” She made no attempt to stop the tears from welling over and trickling down her cheeks.
Her words were choked but, now that she had started, nothing was going to stop her from saying what she needed to say. “My world came to an end. I didn’t even want to fight him. That is how important you have become to me in such a short space of time. I have sat opposite you in church every Sunday for months, and have gazed at you with a heart full of such hope that one day you might notice me. I didn’t think that having someone like you in my life was possible for a person like me, but you are here. You are real. What we have is so very real, so very right, that I want more of it. I need you in my life. Not because you have helped me, and supported me through one of the most horrible ordeals of my entire life, but because I adore everything about you.”
For a moment, Ben couldn’t speak. His throat closed and could do nothing more than draw her head toward him for a very thorough kiss.
“You are my reason or being Beatrice, and I love you with all of my heart.” He tipped her head up gently and eyed the horrible bruises on her throat darkly for a moment before he dipped his head and placed a very gentle kiss over the worst of the bruising.
“I don’t care what anybody thinks. I am not waiting for a normal period of courtship. While we will step out together, and will of course have a period of courtship, I am not going to be a patient man. I want you to marry me. Will you, Beatrice? Will you marry me?”
“I would love to,” she whispered fervently.
“There is a God, and he was listening when I asked him to smile down on me and find a way to reach you,” he murmured softly.
“Although I don’t like that plant, I am glad that it arrived,” she whispered after several long moments of loving silence.
Ben leaned back to look at her and frowned in consternation. “Really?”
Beatrice smiled beautifully at him. “Of course,” she replied gently. “Because you came with it.”
The End.
COMING SOON …..
SHATTERED DREAMS
By
Rebecca King
Released 14th April 2015
Cover by Melody Simmons of ebookindiecovers.com
When Tilly arrives in Tooting Malden, she is looking forward to taking up her new job as a housekeeper to one of the county’s most influential businessmen, and wastes no time hurrying over to the home of Mr Harrington Tingay’s house to begin her duties.
Unfortunately, her dreams are shattered when it becomes evident that the letter she received offering her the position appears to be a forgery, and there is no job waiting for her. Alone, destitute, and with no chance of being able to return home, Tilly is forced to go to the poor house.
Harry simply can't forget the impoverished waif who turns up on his doorstep one evening. Not only is she younger than the average housekeeper, but there is something about her quiet elegance and innocent beauty that stirs his soul. Unfortunately, she disappears before he can get to the bottom of the lies and deceit that have turned her world upside down and he is forced to enlist the help of his friends within the Star Elite to try to find her again.
When Fate does bring them together again, her dire situation forces him to offer her the help he should have given her the first time round. However, before he can find a way to turn their arrangement into a more permanent one, the truth about her job offer is revealed and she is taken away from him for a second time; this time though with far more dangerous consequences.
OTHER BOOKS BY REBECCA KING
Further details on all of Rebecca’s books can be found on her website:
Rebeccaking-author.co.uk
TIPTON HOLLOW SERIES
Harriett (Tipton Hollow Book 1)
Beatrice (Tipton Hollow Book 2)
Tuppence (Tipton Hollow Book 3) (Coming soon)
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Constance (Tipton Hollow Book 4) (Coming soon)
STAR ELITE SERIES
Capturing Sir Dunniciffe (Book 1)
Smuggler’s Glory (Book 2)
His Lady Spy (Book 3)
Lord Melvedere’s Ghost (Book 4)
The Lady Is Innocent (Book 5)
My Lord Deceived (Book 6)
Captive Surrender (Book 7)
Ghost of Christmas Past (Book 8)
THE CAVENDISH MYSTERIES
If You Were Mine (Book 1)
Cinders and Ashes (Book 2)
Chasing Eliza (Book 3)
The Gallows Bride (Book 4)
Lord Cavendish Returns (Book 5)
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Archie and the Battleflat Adventures: The Harriman Mystery
Beatrice Page 22