Donna Fletcher
Page 31
“Me?” Bessie squeaked softly and in disbelief.
“Yes you,” Billie confirmed. “Just a few feet ahead is a passageway that veers to the right. As soon as you come upon it, duck in there and keep walking.”
“But I’ll have no light to guide me,” Bessie said.
“It’s a curvy passageway. Use your hands to guide you and just keeping following it. You’ll come to a division. Bear to the right and follow that straight until you come to a door. Take that door up the stone steps. There’s a latch at the top that will open the passageway and bring you out into the manor’s kitchen. Seek John’s help immediately.”
Bessie voiced her fears. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Nonsense, of course you can,” Marlee encouraged.
“She’s right,” Billie agreed. “You can do this, you must. You are our only hope.”
“Enough arguing, old woman, get over here,” Derry shouted angrily.
Billie gave Bessie’s arm a reassuring squeeze and hurried back to Claudia, taking the lantern from her.
“Let’s go,” Billie said and started walking.
The three women followed Derry’s voice. Bessie did as Billie had directed and slowly made her way, silently praying, along the dark passageway. The women came out in the part of the cave where Oran and Billie had often met.
Derry and a short, barrel-shaped man stood with pistols pointed at them.
Derry craned his neck to look past them. “Where’s the rest of the women?”
Billie spoke up. “There are no more.”
Derry stared with wide, enraged eyes at Claudia. “You expect this sorry lot to help in the wrecking?”
Claudia responded with authority. “There will be no wrecking.”
Derry glared at her. “I warned you not to mess with me.”
“And I warned you that I no longer wanted any part of these wreckings. The ship sailed yesterday. You will not have your wrecking tonight or ever. I will no longer tolerate this arrangement. Our business association is at an end.”
“How dare you disobey me!” Derry yelled, brandishing his gun with angry waves of his hand. “Did you really think I would simply let you walk away?”
“What other choice do you have?” Claudia asked bravely.
“I’ll kill you.”
Billie shivered at the cold, uncaring tone of his reply.
“All of us?” Marlee asked.
The two men laughed and the short one answered. “Can’t have witnesses now, can we?”
“Move,” Derry ordered, waving his gun for them to precede him.
Billie took Claudia and Marlee’s hands and squeezed them as they proceeded to the mouth of the cave. “He’ll come, don’t fear.”
“Shut up,” Derry warned with a shout.
The rain had abated, leaving in its wake a light mist and a swirling fog. Several lanterns had been placed along the rocky shore in preparation of the wreck and the angry sea could be heard slapping the sharp outcropping of rocks not far offshore.
Billie felt the tremble of Marlee and Claudia’s hands in hers. She released them and stepped forward toward Derry, hoping to buy them time. “Do you really expect to get away with this?”
“I certainly do.”
“My husband will—”
Derry laughed along with the other man. “Your husband is a fool and when I finish off the three of you, I will see to his disposal as well. Then the manor will finally be empty and I will make certain that the village women help me.”
“They won’t help you,” Marlee insisted.
Derry wore a pleased smile. “Then they’ll each meet with an unfortunate accident.”
“You can’t,” Claudia said with a gasp.
“Who will stop me? No one has been able to so far. I rid myself of Oran Radborne, the sea took care of Maximillian Radborne for me after several of my own attempts failed and she,” Derry said, pointing with his gun at Billie, “and her husband will soon be dead as will you and this other woman. I may even do away with the housekeeper and that pompous pain Pembrooke. Then the manor will be completely empty and all will be mine.”
“What about the ghost?” Billie asked, the damp night settling around them and reaching in through their garments to set a chill to them.
“Wh-what ghost?” the short man asked.
“There ain’t no such thing as ghosts,” Derry said. “She’s just trying to frighten you.”
“But I saw the ghost of Radborne Manor.” Billie shivered, drawing her cloak more tightly around her. “Maximillian Radborne walks the manor night after night.”
“You’ve seen him?” the man asked, his voice trembling.
Billie nodded and looked around her with anxious eyes. “He comes and goes as he pleases, appearing anywhere on Radborne property that he wishes.”
The man followed her anxious look, squinting into the fog that swirled like a heavy cloak around them. “H-h-he could appear here?”
Billie fueled the man’s fear. “He’s materialized right in front of me. He starts out much like this fog and then, before you know it, he’s taken full form and he stands large and powerful and completely invincible.”
Marlee and Claudia’s wide-eyed stare was fixed on Billie and their attention on her every word.
“B-but a ghost can’t hurt a living creature, right?” the man asked, his limbs trembling.
“Shut up, you stupid fool,” Derry yelled. “Can’t you see that she’s making all this up?”
Billie ignored Derry and concentrated on answering the man. “He’s done terrible things to my husband.”
“He has?” Marlee asked incredulously.
Billie nodded slowly. “John is afraid to occupy the master bedchamber because of Maximillian.” She had all she could do to stop from laughing since she spoke the truth, though embellished it some.
“But John’s a pious man,” Marlee said. “The ghost shouldn’t want to hurt him.”
“Y-yeah,” the man agreed with a nervous stutter. “The vicar is a God-fearin’ man. Why would a ghost want to do him harm?”
“Maximillian does as he wishes. He is lord of this manor and he’ll have no one stand in his way,” Billie said and crossed herself hastily, casting a hurried glance around her.
The short man jerked his head about, searching the area himself. “I think we should get out of here.”
A distant clap of thunder sounded and caused everyone to jump in alarm.
“After we get rid of them,” Derry insisted and raised his pistol.
“I think we should leave now,” the man said, lowering his pistol to his side and taking several steps back.
“No, we kill them first.”
“What if the ghost—”
“There is no ghost,” Derry said with a sharp shout. “Ghosts don’t exist. Maximillian Radborne is dead and buried in the sea. His body is out there—” Derry pointed toward the sound of the crashing waves against the rocks “—in a watery grave never to return, never to walk this land again. He’s dead. Dead! Dead!”
All eyes opened so wide that they looked like full moons and they stared past Derry in shocked silence.
Derry turned himself, suddenly fearful at what drew their stunned attention. He staggered back as he stared in horror at the towering black shape that walked with powerful strides out of the fog.
The figure was tall, powerfully built, garbed in black and headed right for them. The fog even rolled aside out of his path as if fearful of this mighty demon. Thunder rumbled and lightning struck as the figure fully emerged.
Marlee fainted.
The short man ran into the sea.
And Claudia screamed, “Maximillian!”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Derry raised his pistol, Billie screamed and Claudia threw herself in front of Maximillian.
The gunshot echoed in the late night air as Claudia fell into Maximillian’s arms and he held her as they slipped down to the ground together.
Billie ra
n, falling to her knees beside them.
“See to her,” Max ordered as he caught sight of Derry scurrying off into the fog. He gently shifted Claudia to rest in Billie’s arms.
Billie removed her own cloak to throw over a shivering Claudia.
“Max, be careful,” she shouted into the darkness and followed it with, “I love you.” She was fearful for her husband, but more fearful for the woman who lay in her arms dying.
“I never meant . . .” Claudia swallowed against the pain.
“Don’t try to talk, rest. We’ll get the physician.” Billie spoke with tear-filled eyes, attempting desperately to hold them back.
“No, I haven’t much time . . .”
A gunshot ricocheted in the distance and Billie shut her eyes and silently prayed for her husband’s safety.
“Maximillian is no ghost?” Claudia asked with difficulty.
Billie briefly explained the circumstances of Max’s supposed death and his pretense as the vicar.
Claudia coughed and groaned from the pain. “He always was so intelligent. You—” She paused for a much-needed breath “—perfect for him.”
Billie heard the rush of footsteps in the sand behind her and prayed that . . .
“Is she all right?” Maximillian asked, anxiously dropping down beside them.
Billie silently thanked God for answering her prayers and assumed that Derry would no longer be disturbing them.
“No,” Claudia answered. “I’m dying.”
“Nonsense,” Max argued.
Claudia reached with a cry of pain for his hand. “I must beg your forgiveness.”
“There is nothing to forgive,” Max said softly.
Billie cautioned Marlee to be silent with a finger to her own mouth as Marlee, having recovered from her faint, approached them slowly. She kept her distance and listened, her eyes also brimming with tears.
Claudia spoke between pauses and pain. “I never meant for Oran to die. It was my fault. I was a fool. I should have listened to him. We should have married.”
Max stared at Claudia. “You loved my father?”
“Very much.”
“Why didn’t you marry him?”
“Because I was a fool . . .” Her breathing grew more difficult.
Max looked lovingly at Billie and then back to Claudia. “Love is the only thing that matters.”
Claudia squeezed his hand tightly. “She has taught you well. Never stop loving her.”
“My heart would never allow me to,” Max assured her.
Claudia looked up at Billie. “If only I had possessed your courage, I wou . . .”
Her words trailed off, her eyes closed and she whispered, “Oran.”
Tears ran from Billie’s eyes and Marlee stood beside her, her hand braced on Billie’s shoulder and her own tears falling freely.
Max continued to hold Claudia’s hand after she breathed her last breath. “I never knew. It explains so much.”
“Your father and Claudia loved each other since they were young. He wanted so badly for them to marry, but Claudia insisted his duty to his family came first and after your mother died she feared if she married your father it would hurt your chance of a successful marriage.”
Max took Claudia’s hand and crossed them over each other on her chest. He lifted her head off Billie’s lap and Marlee helped her to stand. He then covered Claudia with Billie’s cloak.
He slipped off his coat and threw it over his wife’s shoulders, pulling her to him and resting his forehead to hers. He spoke softly. “I had once thought like Claudia of duty and family and never gave a thought to love. I realize now how much I would have missed. I love you, m’lady. You are my life, my heart, my soul.”
He kissed her gently.
“Good Lord,” Marlee cried, startling them both.
Billie and Max turned not at all surprised to see Oran emerging from the fog. He raised his hand in a good-bye wave and they returned his farewell.
He then called softly, “Claudia.”
All three were startled when Claudia’s spirit rose from her body and walked to take his outstretched hand and together they disappeared into the fog.
Lights approached them with Bessie’s voice in the lead.
Marlee looked at them both. “Take the cave to the manor. I’ll relate all that happened here tonight.”
“All?” Max inquired.
Marlee smiled widely. “Your father and Claudia deserve a beautiful tale told about them and I will do that tale justice.”
“Thank you,” he said, slipping his arm around Billie’s waist to guide her toward the entrance of the cave.
Billie halted and asked another favor. “You will explain about Max not being a ghost?”
“With pleasure and delight,” she assured them and waved them away.
o0o
Billie toweled herself dry, the hot bath having chased away the chills and restored her strength. She had watched her husband for the last half hour. He stood at the window, staring into the night’s darkness, clad in his silk robe and freshly bathed.
She had thought he would seek her out while in the tub and had been surprised when he had not moved from his position at the window. She shared his hurt, his pain over losing his father, but she also knew that Oran would not want his son to suffer so.
Billie dropped the towel to the floor and she approached him completely naked. She startled him, slipping around in front of him and surprised him all the more when she unknotted the ties to his robe, spread it open and braced herself against him, her arms wrapping around his waist and her head resting on his chest.
“I love you,” she whispered.
His arms circled her. “And I you.”
She looked up at him. “I wish to name our first son Oran.”
“Are you . . .”
She shook her head. “Not yet, but if we work at it I’m sure we could produce a child by spring.”
He smiled. “And if it is a daughter?”
“We’ll name her Claudia and immediately set to work on producing a son.”
His hand drifted to her backside and he tenderly caressed her firm derriere. “And what if we again have a daughter?”
“We will just have to keep at it until we get our son Oran.”
He pulled her flat against him and she felt the strength of his desire press into her. “I would like that.”
She teased his lips with hers. “The name or the attempts at producing a son?”
Max scooped her up into his arms. “Both.”
They fell on the bed together and Max wasted no time in ridding himself of his robe. Their urgency to mate, to unite as one, to strengthen the bond of their love brought them together fast and furiously.
Max buried himself inside her swiftly and she cried out her need for him. Together they moved, together they cried out, together they climaxed and together they loved.
And once sated they relaxed against each other, and with sly smiles rained kisses on each other and again made love, only this time slow and teasingly. And so the night continued until, finally exhausted, Max and Billie lay wrapped in each other’s arms.
A late night wind blew through the open window and the tired couple ignored the stirring until a ripple of soft laughter drifted in, followed by familiar voices.
“Good-bye, my son and daughter Love well,” Oran whispered.
“And forever,” Claudia added even more softly.
Billie and Max sprang up in the bed and looked around the room.
They smiled, hugged each other and proceeded to do exactly as Oran and Claudia suggested.
Love well and love forever.
-o0o-
Titles by Donna Fletcher
Single Titles
San Francisco Surrender
Untamed Fire
Rebellious Bride
The Buccaneer
Tame My Wild Touch
Playing Cupid
Whispers on the Wind
Series Books
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br /> The Wedding Spell (Wyrrd witch series)
Magical Moments
Magical Memories
Remember the Magic
The Irish Devil
Irish Hope
Isle of Lies
Love Me Forever
Dark Warrior
Legendary Warrior
The Daring Twin
The Bewitching Twin
Taken By Storm
Highlander’s Bride
Return of the Rogue (Sinclare brothers’ series)
Under the Highlander’s Spell
The Angel & The Highlander
Highlander’s Forbidden Bride
Bound To A Warrior (Warrior King series)
Loved By A Warrior
Short Stories
based on characters in Donna’s books
One Night of Love & the Hobgoblin – The Irish Devil
Halloween Magic – The Wedding Spell
Christmas Love – Return of the Rogue
o0o
About the Author
Donna Fletcher is a USA Today bestselling romance author. Her books are sold worldwide. She started her career selling short stories and winning reader contests. She soon expanded her writing to her love of romance novels and sold her first book SAN FRANCISCO SURRENDER the year she became president of New Jersey Romance Writers.
Drop by Donna’s website www.donnafletcher.comwhere you can learn more about her, read her blog and enter contests.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two