Suzanne smiled sympathetically, tears filling her eyes.
“She told me…and I have seen the bruises. It’s been her burden since her father’s death, but since she was in mourning for her stepmother, and then for her father, she has not been able to mix with society and find aid for herself.”
“You mean someone to marry her,” Matthew said, stating the obvious.
"Yes," Suzanne replied, getting to her feet and coming to kneel before Charles. "That's why she was so happy when she met you, Charles. For the first time in her life, she thought she might have found a possible savior. And, she was falling in love with you.”
Charles stared at Suzanne, feeling her warm hand take his ice cold one. He felt a shaking in his limbs, a mixture of horror and disgrace running through him as he realized how easily he had been taken in by Lord Crewe. She had loved him. Shame filled him as he realized how he had let her down.
“He hit her last night,” Suzanne continued, a single tear making its way down her cheek. “The side of her face is a little bruised this morning. I wanted to let you know, so her appearance does not shock you.”
Charles closed his eyes, lowering his head to his hands. He felt sick. He remembered the red marks on Martha’s neck the first time he had called on her, and something akin to rage filled him.
“I must go after Lord Crewe and defend Martha,” he growled, getting to his feet, knocking Suzanne to the floor.
“No, Charles, you can’t,” Matthew shouted, reaching out a hand and grabbing the back of his coat.
“Why ever not?” Charles roared, his face red. “After what he’s done to her, the man deserves the grave!”
“No one disagrees with that,” Suzanne said. “But think of the consequences, Charles. I know you are angry, but think carefully for a moment.”
His chest heaving, Charles ran a hand through his hair, knowing deep down that she spoke sense. Ending up hanged himself would not solve anything.
“What can I do?” he asked, wringing his hands and desperation on his face. “I have to save her.”
Suzanne smiled then, a gentle and happy smile that lit her features.
“Charles,” she said, soothingly. “There is one thing you can do that will protect Martha for the rest of her life.”
There was a long pause as Charles stared at her, realizing what she meant.
"Do you think she will have me?" he whispered.
“Why not ask her?” Suzanne replied. “She is staying with us here.”
“She’s here?” Charles cried, running to the door and throwing it open. “I must find her!”
He took to the stairs two at a time, calling her name.
“Will he be all right?” Suzanne asked, turning to Matthew.
Matthew grinned. “I think he will be more than all right,” he said, reaching out a hand and pulling her close to him. “You did very well, my dear.”
Chapter 11
Martha stared at herself in the mirror, barely recognizing herself. She pushed back her unbound hair, staring at the bruise that marred the side of her face. Gerald had hit her hard. Her face was pale, her eyes dull. Even though she knew that thanks to Suzanne and her family's help she would be able to hide from Gerald for now, her heart was sore. It ached. It ached for Charles, and there was no balm for that kind of pain.
“Martha? Martha?”
Starting with surprise, Martha got to her feet, hastening to the door.
“Charles?”
“Oh, Martha!”
Catching her up in his arms, Charles buried his face in her neck, weeping unashamed tears as he held her close.
“I am utterly ashamed of myself! Please, please, I beg your forgiveness!”
Hardly able to breathe, Martha clung to him, never wanting to let him go. “Charles?” she whispered, barely able to believe he was here.
“Martha,” he said again, pulling back to look into her face. “Dear Martha, can you ever forgive me?”
She cried at his words, tears of happiness and relief flowing down her cheeks. She cradled his face with her hands.
“Of course I do,” she whispered, pressing her lips to his cheek.
Charles breathed her in, moving his lips closer to her own. His kiss was strong and fierce, speaking to her of possession and love. She melted into him, wanting to be a part of him, to have him with her always. He was her soulmate, and with him beside her, she felt whole.
"I am never letting you out my sight again," he sighed, breaking the kiss. "Martha, I have been a fool. I should never have believed a word of what your stepbrother said. I should have trusted what I knew about you."
Martha shook her head.
“He is a despicable man, Charles, and I do not blame you for falling into his trap. I am just thankful to know that soon I will be free of him. Suzanne’s family has agreed to let me stay here for now and hide me if need be.”
"No, my darling. You will always be free of him. There is no need to hide," Charles cried, pulling her against him once more. "I love you so very dearly, Martha, and I swear never to let you go again." Dropping to one knee, he held her hands in his. "Martha, will you have me? Even after all my failings, all my doubts—will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Martha smiled as fresh tears tracked down her cheeks.
“Yes,” she whispered, immediately being pulled into his arms once more. “I will, Charles. I love you with all my heart.”
“Today?” Charles whispered against her neck.
“Today,” she replied, safe and secure in his embrace.
Epilogue
“Well, that certainly was a thrilling day,” Matthew said, leaning back in his chair. “I am quite done in.”
Matthew grinned at Charles, who sat with one arm wrapped around Martha as she rested her head on his shoulder. They were the picture of happiness.
“What did the accountant say?” asked Suzanne.
“It turns out that my parcel of land is actually worth a lot more than Gerald led me to believe. In fact, the income from my land is funding his whole existence. He squandered the inheritance from his own father, and now the inheritance that my father left him is almost gone. That explains why he was so eager to get his hands on my land. Now that I am married, Charles and I will receive the income from the property. He will be left quite destitute.”
“Well, his actions do make more sense with that knowledge,” said Suzanne. “Although, nothing he did was excusable. I still find him to be a wretched man.”
“I must thank you, Suzanne, for your hospitality and for your help,” Charles said seriously. “Without you, this might have turned out quite differently.”
“Indeed,” Martha agreed, in a soft voice. “Thank you, Suzanne.”
Suzanne smiled, accepting their thanks. “It is nothing you would not have done for me, Martha, I am quite sure. Besides, to see your happiness makes it all worthwhile.”
An angry voice interrupted their conversation, as the door was suddenly flung open, and Gerald stormed in. All four of them rose to their feet.
“You!” He pointed at Martha, rage emanating from him. “Did you really think you could hide from me? Didn’t you think this would be the first place I’d look? Get outside and get in the carriage immediately.”
Martha didn’t move, her hands clinging to Charles’s arm.
“Lord Crewe,” Charles said, his voice low and dangerous. “May I suggest you remove yourself from this place at once.”
“Don’t you speak to me like that, you insolent fool! I am taking my stepsister home, back where she belongs. Don’t you dare try and stop me.”
He took a step towards Martha, who let out a frightened cry, hiding behind Charles.
“Take one more step,” Charles warned, standing in front of Martha.
“Get out of my way!” Gerald screamed, lunging for his stepsister.
Charles, without a moment’s pause, dealt Gerald a staggering blow, advancing toward him as he struggled to his feet.
&nbs
p; “You listen to me, Lord Crewe,” he said, quietly. “Martha is now my wife, and her home is with me. You are never to come near her again. She is a married woman and safely out of your clutches. I should call you out for what you did to her, but my love for her is the only reason why I won’t.”
Shock crossed Gerald’s face, followed by anger that twisted his features.
“How—”
“Special license,” Charles growled. “The bishop had no qualms in granting my request immediately, once he heard the truth. I have to say, I think your days of good standing in society are at an end.” Charles paused for a moment, reigning in his temper, then continued, “Martha’s land will never be yours. Now get out, and do not ever come near us again.”
Charles stood tall and strong, waiting for Gerald to make his choice. Gerald, showing the spineless man that he really was, turned on his heel and made his way out of the door without a backward glance.
Suzanne let out a long breath, collapsing back into her chair.
“Phew!” Matthew said, pouring himself another glass of port. “Well done, Charles, didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Oh, Charles,” Martha cried, reaching for him.
“Be still, be still, my love,” Charles crooned, rocking her gently. “It is truly over now. Gerald will never be able to hurt you again.”
Martha nodded, feeling a freedom that she had not experienced since before her father died. “Thank you, Charles.”
Smiling, Charles tipped up her chin and dropped a tender kiss on her lips, ignoring Suzanne and Matthew’s presence.
“I love you, Martha, and I swear I will always protect you.”
“I love you too, Charles,” she whispered, bringing her lips to his once more.
*****
THE END
A Lady’s Decision
Text Copyright © 2016 by Caroline Johnson
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.
First printing, 2016
Publisher
Love Light Faith, LLC
400 NW 7th Avenue, Unit 825
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302
www.LoveLightFaith.com
A Lady’s Decision
By: Caroline Johnson
A Lady’s Decision
Chapter 1 – The Decision
“Mr. Barnes, you cannot be serious.”
It was well after midnight, and the moon was bright in the sky, glinting off of the pond of water beneath Lady Harriette’s window. She was grateful that her room was on the far side of the manor, so she would not be discovered speaking with one of the farmhands so long after dark, not to mention unaccompanied.
The young man standing in the gardens below grinned up at her and removed his well-worn hat. He bowed deeply to her.
“I most certainly am, my dear lady! When have you ever known me to be a man of indecision or foolishness?”
She leaned against her palm, gazing down at him. She smiled and sighed dreamily. “Never,” she replied in a low, affectionate tone. “But this is all so sudden,” she replied, a little more firmly. “You cannot expect me to make a decision so hastily!”
He put his hands on his hips casually, looking to his left and his right before replacing his hat upon his head.
“And why not? It is what you want, is it not?”
She clutched at her dressing gown and leaned just a little further out the window, her heart slamming against her ribcage. “Oh, Mr. Barnes, more than anything! You know that!”
“Then why the hesitation?” he asked, holding his arms out in question.
She withdrew ever so slightly as she considered his words. She still clung to the front of her gown, as if her heart might escape if she relaxed her grip. She gazed around her room, her comfortable bed, and her full wardrobe. Her favorite book was perched upon her bedside table. The candle that her mother had given her the Christmas before last rested beside it, burning lazily in its holder.
The dress that lay spread out on her chair was the dress she was to wear to her coming out ball; it was a beautiful pale green, given to her by her grandmother. She was to wear it in a few weeks’ time when they traveled to London for the great ball.
A moment passed where fear gripped her. Perhaps later she would look back and realize that it was sense, in fact, that caused her to wonder if the decision she knew she was about to make was indeed, the wrong one.
But the handsome face of Mr. Barnes burned too brightly in her mind for her to think logically, and her heart was far too weak to resist his attention.
She returned her gaze to him, and straightened up.
“Mr. Barnes, I must know. Is this…” she hated even to say the words. What would happen if she heard what she wanted to hear? How would she feel if she did not?
“Yes?” he asked.
“Is this what you want as well?” she spit out, surprised at hearing her own voice.
She heard him chuckle in a low voice before looking back up at her.
“Do you think I would be here, asking you this question, if it isn’t what I wanted?”
She clutched at the window sill, gazing down at the man whom she had loved for many years now.
Is this what it feels like when your dreams come true? she wondered. Is this what love truly feels like?
Her mind started racing. How quickly could she pack her things?
“Mr. Barnes?” she asked.
“Yes, my dear lady?” he replied.
She beamed at him, the tears in her eyes reflecting the moonlight.
“I will run away with you. Tonight.”
Chapter 2 – The Harvest
“Lady Harriette, please, do not go that far!” Miss Bonnie said, clutching at the back of the girl’s dress. “I do not mind that you wish to take a walk outside, but we need to let the men over there work. It’s for your Father, you know.”
Lady Harriette furrowed her brow and crossed her arms over her chest. Even at ten, she still acted like a child occasionally in front of her governess. This morning she wore a pale pink dress and her dark tresses were pulled up in a tight bun behind her head. Her green eyes gazed at the ground beneath her moodily.
“Oh, don’t be quite so stern, little one,” Miss Bonnie said, pinching her cheek affectionately. “Otherwise you might grow up to look like that.”
“No, I will not!” Lady Harriette replied. “I just want to see what they are doing over there.”
“Preparing for harvest,” came another voice.
“Lord Henry!” Lady Harriette cried, clapping her hands together. “How wonderful to see you!”
“You just saw him yesterday,” Miss Bonnie replied, laughing softly.
“He is my very dearest friend, and it makes me happy to see him!” Lady Harriette answered, laughing as well.
The young man, no older than eleven, stood in front of her, with a face that resembled a boy’s, but was quickly transforming into a young man’s. His once chubby cheeks were now slim, and his jaw was prominent. His blue eyes that were once so childish and full of spirit were now cool and calm, but his wide, goofy smile was ever the same, and she loved it.
“Well, I am well aware they are preparing for harvest,” Lady Harriette replied as Lord Henry fell into step beside them as they continued their walk. “But I wonder why there are quite so many of them here today. Yesterday was much quieter than it is today.”
Lord Henry, with his hands behind his back, gazed over her head. “I believe that your Father has just decided to start building that vineyard, correct?”
“A vineyard?” Lady Harriette replied. “How very
odd.”
Miss Bonnie smiled. “Dear, it is all your Father has spoken about for weeks, isn’t it?”
“Perhaps, but it has been of little interest to me,” she replied.
Just then, in front of them, a young boy crossed their path. He was the same age as Lord Henry, but he had sandy blonde hair, the color of the straw on his hat, and bright green eyes that reminded her of new grass in the springtime.
“Oh, Mr. Barnes,” Lady Harriette said, feeling her cheeks flush with color. “I didn’t know you would be here at the estate today.”
“I’m here to help with the building of the vineyard,” he replied, grinning widely.
“Miss Bonnie!”
The group turned to see Mr. Walters, the butler, coming down the lawn to meet them.
“Miss Bonnie, Lady Harriette’s mother wishes to see you. Something about the magnolia project?”
“Oh, of course,” she said. “Now, Lord Henry, you keep an eye on her until I return. I wouldn’t recommend going any further than this path.” She gave him a furtive nod. “You know how her father feels.”
Lord Henry smiled gently and inclined his head. “Of course, Miss Bonnie. You know I will watch her closely.”
Lady Harriette looked concerned. “What does mother need?” she asked.
Miss Bonnie waved her hand dismissively as she turned to walk up the lawn. “Never you mind, dear girl. All is well. I will be back in a little while.” And with that, she turned and followed Mr. Walters back up toward the manor.
Mr. Barnes was still looking at the two of them.
Lord Henry turned and looked at the other boy standing across from them, and crossed his arms across his chest. “Charles, what are you doing here today?”
Mr. Barnes puffed his chest out. “What does it matter to you?”
Christmas Wishes: The Love of a Marquess Page 26