Suddenly, Cecilia jumped to her feet and grabbed Archie from behind. A length of fabric hung from one of her wrists. Nicholas watched as Cecilia wrapped her arms around Archie’s neck. He stumbled momentarily, and then fell backwards landing on top of Cecilia on the earthen floor.
“Cecilia!” Nicholas yelled, “Are you all right, Cecilia?”
“Get out of my house!” Archie screamed. “She is no concern of yours, you arrogant, interfering, fool!”
“She is my fiancé; her safety is my only concern!” Nicholas yelled. “It is my job to protect her from a madman such as you.”
“No, it isn’t right!” Archie screamed, rolling off of Cecilia, who sat up with a groan. “I have loved her for years! I have been there with her, working alongside her. I had a plan, until you arrived with your ridiculous fancy clothes and carriages. I will not allow you to take her from me!”
“I did not take her from you,” Nicholas said, disgusted by the man lying on the floor in front of him. “She is not a thing to be taken. I love her, and she loves me. It is as simple as that.”
“Don’t be absurd,” Archie said contemptuously. “I know that she is not a thing, but that does not change the fact that I deserve to have her for my wife!”
“That’s enough, Archie.” Cecilia said, speaking for the first time since Nicholas had arrived. Her voice was quiet, but firm. “I am sorry that you are frustrated, but I love Nicholas, and I will not marry you, no matter what you say to me. And I shall never forgive you for what you have done here today.”
“But Cecilia,” Archie said, his voice pleading and pathetic, “can’t you see that I was only trying to protect you? What good has ever come of your romance with the Marquess? It has brought the wrath of the Duchess upon your father! Can’t you see that she will never accept you? That you can never truly be a part of his world?”
“Do not speak to her like that!” Nicholas yelled, aiming a kick at Archie, who rolled out of the way, onto his hands and knees, before standing up to face Nicholas.
Archie lifted his arm to swing at Nicholas, but this time, when Nicholas swung his broom handle, his aim was true. He hit Archie over the head with a sickening crack, and Archie fell immediately to the floor.
He landed next to Cecilia, who quickly moved away from him, swinging her legs to kick him once in the side, whether on purpose or by accident, Nicholas did not know. He found that he did not care whether the kick had been purposeful—seeing it had reminded him that Cecilia was alive and well, and strong enough to kick her legs.
The relief that washed over him was like no other feeling he had ever experienced. It was so overwhelming that he felt tears welling in his eyes.
“Oh Cecilia!” he cried out. “Are you hurt, my love? What did he do to you? Did he hurt you?”
“I’m all right, I think,” she replied, with a slight tremble in her voice. “He must have hit me over the head in the workshop, I don’t remember anything strange before waking up here with no idea how I had gotten here.”
“What happened once he brought you here?” Nicholas asked.
“He hit me again, and knocked me unconscious. He tried to kiss me after I woke up, and he accused me trying to seduce him.” She cast her eyes down as she finished this statement.
“Oh, Cecilia!” Nicholas exclaimed.
“I swear to you, I never gave him any reason to believe that I had romantic feelings toward him, you must believe me!”
“No doubt he fell for your beauty and natural charm, but if you say that you did nothing to encourage his affections, then that is all that I need to know.”
“I swear it, Nicholas,” she said. “I never even knew of his feelings toward me until tonight, so I could not have encouraged them, even if I had wanted to!”
“Of course not, Cecilia,” Nicholas said, taking her in his arms. “I know, I do. Hush now, I will never let him hurt you again.”
Cecilia leaned into his embrace, and he felt her shivering in the cold cellar air. Nicholas pulled off his wool coat and wrapped it around her.
“Th-thank you!” she said, sounding relieved.
“I suppose we had best get you home safely,” Nicholas said. “Your father is worried sick about you.”
“What shall we do with…?” Cecilia said, tilting her head toward Archie’s lifeless form on the floor.
Nicholas knelt down to examine the situation. Archie was passed out cold, on the floor. His breathing was shallow, but it was steady, and Nicholas felt sure that he would wake up eventually and be fine. Nicholas did not relish the idea of becoming a killer, but he was not entirely relieved that Archie was more or less unharmed.
“I suppose we shall have to tie the fool up and bring him to the constable,” he said, somewhat reluctantly.
Cecilia looked at Archie and pursed her lips. She handed Nicholas the length of fabric that had been used to bind her wrists, and Nicholas used it to tie Archie’s wrists together. Nicholas then threw Archie over his shoulder and carried him across the cellar and up the stairs into the kitchen. He placed Archie unceremoniously on the kitchen floor before returning to the basement to retrieve Cecilia.
* * *
Cecilia waited in the cellar for Nicholas to return, and when he did, he embraced her firmly. Cecilia pressed her body close to Nicholas’ and kissed him, holding on to him as though her life depended upon it. She loved him deeply and she felt safer in his arms than she ever had anywhere else. As he continued to kiss her, she opened her lips to his, and moaned deeply when his tongue began to caress hers.
She was surprised at her own eager response to the touch of his lips. Her heart beat faster as the intensity of their kissing increased. Suddenly, she no longer felt cold. Heat was spreading through her body, radiating outward from the core of her. She felt an aching in her loins that was unlike anything she had ever experienced.
Nicholas’ hands were moving up and down her body, holding her close to him and feeling the curve of her hips. Her own hands were clenched tightly against his back. She could feel the strain of his muscles against his coat.
Nicholas moved his lips away from hers and kissed along the smooth slope of her neck. Cecilia moaned once again; the sensation of his lips against her neck was a new form of pleasure. He continued to lower his mouth, now licking and nibbling at her collar bone.
Cecilia’s feelings of desire were mingled with fear, exhaustion, and anger after everything that had happened to her today. After a moment, she reluctantly slid out of his embrace and looked down at the floor. How can I explain to him how I feel? I hardly understand it myself.
“I’m sorry, I…I cannot…”
“Shh…” Nicholas said, holding her close, “there is no need to apologize, my darling. I am sorry, I quite lost control of myself, when I ought to be worrying about getting you to safety.”
“Oh Nicholas!” Cecilia said. “You rescued me, I shall never be able to thank you enough! There is nothing at all to apologize for.”
“Come, darling,” Nicholas said, kindly, “let us get you back home to safety. Everything else can wait.”
Nicholas would have liked to hold her in his arms for the rest of his life—but right now, he needed to get her home safely. He hoisted Archie over his shoulder once again, taking no pains to avoid hurting him further. Then he walked out of the kitchen into the night air, with Cecilia at his side.
His stallion was tied up next to Cecilia’s horse in the yard, and he headed toward them.
“Will you consent to ride double with me?” Nicholas asked Cecilia, “I can lash this buffoon to the saddle of your horse and bring him with us. After I see you safely home, I shall take him to the constable to have him arrested.”
Cecilia seemed to be in a bit of a daze, but she agreed to this plan readily. She averted her eyes from Archie to avoid looking at him, and Nicholas felt a pang of sympathy. What must it feel like to be betrayed by someone you believed to be a friend?
Chapter 30
Cecilia felt a wave of
relief as she left the house where she had been held captive. If Archie had his way, she would have spent her life in that house as his wife, raising his children. And he had said that she would no longer need to work, as though she should be relieved at the idea.
Cecilia rode double with Nicholas toward her father’s house, her body relaxing into his arms. He guided his stallion with ease, and held the bridle of her horse, carrying her former friend. Nicholas was in control, and Cecilia loved him for it. Still, a worry had crept into her mind that she could not seem to shake loose.
“Nicholas?” she said, sounding more nervous than she actually felt.
“Yes, Cecilia?” he responded, his tone so full of love and concern that it brought tears to her eyes.
“I love you,” she said quickly. After all, this was the most important part, everything else was mere details and would fall into place, she felt sure.
“I love you too, Cecilia!” he said, sounding relieved. “I am so sorry for what that…beast…did to you. I cannot tell you how relieved I feel to have you back by my side!”
Cecilia breathed in deeply, taking comfort in his solid presence beside her. She could feel a wave of desire roll through her body, even though she was exhausted and her body was sore.
“Archie said that I was a fool to believe that I could be a part of your world. And that you could never truly understand me.” Cecilia said, nervous to hear Nicholas’ thoughts on the matter.
“Archie,” Nicholas said, with an edge of anger in his voice, “is a fool, and a madman, let us not waste time worrying about his ravings.”
“Of course, you are right about that.” Cecilia said, feeling slight relief at his insistence, “Still, we do come from very different worlds. And perhaps I would not make a proper wife. I should like to continue my work in the woodshop after we are wed.”
Nicholas sighed deeply, and then began to speak. His tone was steady and kind. “Cecilia, it’s true that we come from very different worlds, but in the end, we are two people in love with each other, and that is all that matters. I would never claim to understand everything about you. You are the most fascinating person I have ever encountered, and I hope to learn more about you every day for the rest of my life!”
It was the perfect answer, and it was exactly how Cecilia felt too. “Oh, Nicholas!” she said, “I do love you!”
“As for your work,” he continued, “as long as it brings you joy, I have no objections to you continuing to do it! After all, I would be quite happy to spend the rest of our lives discussing the geometric principles involved in designing bookshelves.”
Cecilia laughed and felt some of the tension leaving her body as they continued to ride toward her home.
“My love,” Nicholas said, after a few moments of riding in silence.
“Hmmm?” she sighed in response.
“I would like for us to be wed as soon as possible. I fear that I cannot wait much longer!”
“I should like that too, Nicholas,” she replied. “But shouldn’t we at least wait until after your sister’s debut? You did promise your mother, didn’t you?”
“I did,” he said reluctantly. “But surely she will see that circumstances have changed, given the danger you were in today. I cannot stand the thought of being apart from you. And I am quite certain that Isobel won’t mind.”
“Are you sure?” Cecilia asked, “Your sister seems like a very reasonable sort of person, but her debut is terribly important, and I should hate to provide any distraction.”
“I shall speak to her as soon as possible, but in truth, I believe that she already has her mind set on marrying the Duke of Westfield,” he said with a chuckle, “and the rogue seems rather keen to oblige her, so I expect that her time as a debutante may be quite short!”
“I see,” Cecilia said with a smile. “Well I hope they will be very happy with one another.”
* * *
They had not been riding for very long when they arrived at Cecilia’s home. Nicholas dismounted and helped Cecilia down from the stallion’s back before tying him up in the front yard. He put his arm around her shoulder to support her as they walked up to the house.
Cecilia knew that she ought to be concerned about someone seeing them touch, but she was too exhausted to care. She could not bring herself to worry about the opinions of her neighbors. Until today, it had been her opinion that Archie was her best friend, practically like a brother, and now she saw how wrong that had been. Let the neighbors think her a harlot, she would know it was not true.
When they walked through the front door, they found her father pacing about the kitchen, talking animatedly to a man that Cecilia did not recognize. Mrs. Williams was busy making tea for both men.
“I am certain of it—my Cecilia would not just run off without leaving word of where she was going and why.” Her father was muttering as he paced.
“Papa!” Cecilia cried out, when she saw him, and ran to embrace him. The look on his face passed from shock to relief in the span of just mere seconds. He hugged her tight and kissed her cheek, tears glistening in his eyes.
“Cece?” He cried out in shock, then the questions followed. “Oh Cece, thank goodness you have returned! What happened? Where have you been? Are you hurt? What happened to you? Did someone take you? Did someone hurt you? Please, Cece, tell me are you all right?”
He was talking so fast, and repeating himself in his haste, that Cecilia could hardly make out the words he was saying.
“Papa,” she said, in the calmest voice she could manage, “I’m fine. I’m exhausted, and my head is aching, but I shall be all right.”
Her father stepped back, keeping his hands on her arms and looking her over carefully, as though trying to confirm what she had said. “You’re fine, oh, thank goodness you’re fine! But, Cece, where were you? What happened to you?”
The man she did not recognize introduced himself then. “Miss Baxter, My Lord, I am Mr. Keating, the constable. If you could tell me what has happened tonight, I would be much obliged.”
Cecilia wanted desperately to go to sleep and speak no more of what had happened that day. But she knew that she would have to explain sooner or later, and at least some part of her understood that waiting would not make the process any easier. Steeling herself, Cecilia told what had happened.
When she had finished her retelling, her father sat in stunned silence for several seconds. When he finally regained his voice, it shook with anger. “Archie! How dare he do that to you? After all that we have done for him!”
“Now, Miss Baxter, I am sorry to have to ask this,” Mr. Keating said. “But you said that Mr. Mowbray accused you of trying to seduce him.”
“Yes, he did.”
“And is there any truth to that claim?”
“No!” Cecilia yelled, feeling anger rising inside her
“Now, Miss, there’s no need to get upset, I only meant to say—a young man like Mr. Mowbray could read more into something than you intended. Are you sure that you never did anything that would make him believe…?”
“Anything that would make him believe that I wanted to be hit over the head, tied up, and held in a musty cellar?” Cecilia said, her voice shaking with anger. “I can assure you, that I did not!”
“All right, Miss Baxter,” the constable said, his voice calm and steady. “There’s no need for all that. I’m merely trying to understand the situation.”
“Cecilia is my fiancé,” Nicholas said, his contempt for the constable’s line of questioning evident in his voice. “I assure you that she did nothing to encourage this madman’s fantasy. If she had, why would he have needed to kidnap her?”
“Hmm…” said the constable, rubbing his chin in thought, “well, I suppose you make a good point about that.”
Cecilia’s father placed a hand on her shoulder and said firmly, “Mr. Keating, if my daughter says that she did nothing to encourage Archie, then you may be completely certain, that she did nothing to encourage him!”
> Cecilia was surprised to hear intense anger in her father’s voice. Of course, he had reason to be angry, but he has always been so calm, and now he seems prepared to beat Archie senseless, if Nicholas hadn’t done it first.
“I knocked Archie out in the process of rescuing Cecilia,” Nicholas said, calmly. “He is tied up in the yard right now. Perhaps you should speak to him when he wakes up, constable.”
“Yes, I suppose that I should.” Mr. Keating said, “My Lord, please show me where he is, and we shall decide what to do from there.”
Chapter 31
Nicholas assured himself that Cecilia was safe and well before leaving the house. He went with Mr. Keating to the yard, where Archie was still tied up and slung across the back of Cecilia’s horse.
The Marquess In Her Bed (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 24