by Dawn Brower
“We never discussed names.” He said. “Do you have any in mind?”
Maybe everything would be all right. Asher’s mood did seem much improved. “How about Sorcha Lili for our daughter,” she suggested. Catherine’s name was a variation of Caitrìona, but she liked the idea of naming a child after her many-times-removed grandmother’s sister. It was a nod to her family’s ancestry.
“I like it.” He rocked their son in his arms staring down at him. A small tear fell from his eye. “They’re so beautiful.”
“We need a name for our son. What should we call him?”
“Declan, after my father—it was his middle name,” he answered. “And James for the private that saved my life.”
“Declan James,” she tasted the sound of it on her tongue. “It fits.”
The day hadn’t started well, but it ended on a good note. No one ever said marriage was easy. Asher and Catherine had been tested far more than she would have liked; however, thus far, they’d been able to navigate the rough terrain. They might actually find a measure of happiness and move on with their lives.
Chapter 18
March 1917
The twins were a month old, and ornery little beasts. Perhaps she shouldn’t think of her children in that manner, but she hadn’t been getting much sleep. Asher had decided their entire family needed to go back to England—him, Catherine, and the twins. He could continue his physiotherapy at Seabrook, and the twins were now old enough to travel.
Catherine thought it was a wonderful idea. She was tired of the never-ending war, and she wanted her children some place safe; however, she also wanted them baptized before they made their journey home. Seabrook wasn’t located anywhere near the places the German’s had chosen to bomb. Most of the air raids were strategic military installations. Going to London was out of the question, and they would not visit while they were still at war.
She rounded the corner to head toward Saint Gervais. Victoria was helping Asher watch over the twins while Catherine went to speak to the priest. They had a small window of time before their ship was scheduled to cross the channel. They’d be back in Seabrook and safe from the perils of war. Hopefully they wouldn’t have to worry too much longer about any of it. Surely both sides must be ready for it all to end.
Something flew overhead, so she paused to look up at the sky. As it started to fall, she realized what she was staring at. A bomb, and it was heading straight for Saint Gervais. Catherine couldn’t be more than fifteen feet from the church. She turned and ran in the opposite direction. It struck before she could take two steps. Debris flew everywhere. She coughed as she breathed in dust. Catherine glanced behind her and took in the sight of the destroyed church. The roof had collapsed inward, with some of the structure landing outside of the building. Another boom filled the air as more of the church started to crumble.
Catherine hit the ground her head bounced off the surface. Smoke filled the air and enveloped her. She had to get up and go back to the hospital. There were probably a lot of people inside that church who needed her, but she could barely think straight. The pain in her head had worsened exponentially in mere moments.
Screams echoed through the air, and Catherine lost consciousness. She wouldn’t be getting the twins baptized before they left. Perhaps it was for the best. France held a lot of bad memories…
Ash was getting worried. Catherine should have returned already. A loud boom had echoed through the city, amplyifying his worry. He prayed nothing had happened to her, but their luck hadn’t been the best as far as injuries went. The twins were fussing, and soon they’d need to be fed. Something they needed Catherine for. He had to go look for her. “Can you handle the twins on your own?” he asked Victoria. “I’m going to look for her.”
She nodded. “I think so.” Victoria stared at the infants. “So far, only Sorcha seems distressed.”
Declan did seem calmer. Catherine had special gifts. He’d been skeptical at first, but he’d come to believe them over time. Some of her predictions had come to pass and he couldn’t ignore that proof they were real. Was it possible that the twins had those same gifts? Maybe they had skipped Declan and somehow Sorcha knew something was wrong with her mother. He prayed his wife was all right. They’d already been through so much. Asher couldn’t lose her now.
He started to leave and smacked into Julian. “What’s your hurry?”
“I have to find Catherine.” He glanced back at Victoria and the twins. “Can you stay with them?”
Julian paled. Apparently, the idea of watching two babies terrified his cousin. Asher would have laughed if he wasn’t so worried about Catherine. He’d never have guessed that two tiny humans would scare Julian when nothing else ever did. Julian was usually a rock of immobility—nothing ever got to him.
“I’ll protect them with my life,” Julian vowed.
“Hopefully it won’t come to that.” Asher nodded at them both. “I’ll be back as soon as I find her.”
He headed out of the room and exited the hospital. The physiotherapy had worked wonders on his mobility. He no longer needed a cane, but he still struggled with his pace. Running was more difficult than he’d have liked, but he attempted it anyway. He’d take whatever risk he had to if it meant Catherine remained safe.
The church was several blocks from the hospital. He didn’t get far when he noticed black smoke billowing in the distance. It was in the area where the church had been built. If the German’s had bombed the church… He ran faster as that thought entered his mind. Asher was numb to the pain.
It didn’t take him long to reach the site. The roof of the church was gone, and there were large pieces of the building lying all over the ground in piles. The roof had taken most of the blast. He didn’t want to see the inside of the church. He scanned the area for Catherine. A few feet in front of him, she was crumpled to the ground. He rushed over to her side and checked for a pulse. It was steady, and her chest moved up and down, regularly indicating she still breathed. He pulled her into his arms. “Catherine,” he whispered her name. “Wake up, darling.”
“Ash?”
“Yes, it’s me,” he answered. “Can you walk?” He’d carry her if he had to. Asher had never been more terrified in his life. If she’d left even five moments sooner she probably would have been inside that church when the bomb hit. Fate must have been on her side. If he’d lost her…
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on to him. “All those people.” A tear fell from her eye. “So much pain inside. Someone needs to help them.”
Asher glanced at the church. The Good Friday service had been underway when the bombing had hit. Anyone attending it was either dead or seriously injured. It would take a while for them to dig through the rubble to find them. He was in no condition to do it. His body might be better, but it was a long way off until it healed completely. “We can send people back to help. My anxiety will be on high alert until I get you back to the hospital.”
Catherine pulled away from him and stared at the church. He wanted to make everything all right for her, but he didn’t think it was possible. The damage had been done. “They can rebuild.” Most of the structure remained intact.
“But they can’t replace the lives lost.” Sadness echoed through her voice. “How much more loss can we take? This war has done so much damage and there doesn’t seem to be any sign that it will end.” She turned and met his gaze. “I’m ready to leave France. Can we arrange to leave today instead?”
He had a ship waiting to take them across the channel. A small sailing vessel that should make the crossing quickly, but they had to travel to the coast first. The boat was docked in La Havre. It would take a little over two hours by autocar to get there. It was doable, but he had to secure the transportation there. Julian might be able to help with it.
“I can make it happen.” He kissed her temple. “Let’s go back to the hospital and finish packing. Merlin isn’t going to be a happy cat in that carrier you have for him.”<
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She laughed. “You have no idea.”
He helped Catherine to her feet and they headed back to the hospital. When they walked inside, the wail of a baby crying echoed through the hall. Catherine rushed forward and went toward it. Asher followed behind her. Sorcha had a red face, and her mouth was wide open as she bawled. Catherine took her from Victoria and cooed, “There, there, little one. Mama’s here.”
Sorcha calmed down almost immediately, as if Catherine had a magical touch. Maybe she did. She’d certainly charmed him. He’d been the worst sort of rogue before they met. His whole life changed after that first encounter. He hadn’t known it then, but he’d found the love of his life.
“That daughter of yours has a set of lungs on her,” Julian said with awe laced through his voice. “I was no help. Victoria has the patience of a saint.” He gestured toward Catherine. “What the bloody hell happened to you?”
“Sorcha knows what she wants and has no problem letting the world know it.” Asher grinned. “She gets that from her mother.” He patted Julian on the back. “Catherine decided to get a little too close to a bombing for my comfort. I need your help.”
“Anything,” Julian replied. He kept staring at Sorcha as if she were a foreign creature. “As long as it doesn’t involve watching the twins again today. I don’t think my heart could take it.”
Asher laughed. He couldn’t help it. “No,” he answered. “What I need is equally as important at the moment. I need an autocar to drive us to La Havre. Catherine’s ready to leave France.” He’d liked to have left sooner, but neither one of them was healthy enough to do it. Now that his part in the war was over, he couldn’t be more anxious to return home. With his injuries, he’d never be able to help the war effort again.
“As it happens,” Julian said. “I never gave up that last ambulance we stole. I brought it here. I hate walking.”
Trust Julian to keep that handy. “Want to transport us?”
“I’d rather go home with you,” he said quietly. “I’m not officially enlisted as a soldier in this war. I’m getting too old for the spy business.”
Asher couldn’t blame him for feeling that way. They had a duty to their country, but a man could only give so much before he had nothing left. Julian had lost someone he loved, and Asher had almost given his life for the country he remained loyal to. He wasn’t so sure he could walk away if he hadn’t been injured so badly. In some ways, he was grateful for it. He’d needed that reality check. Yes, he’d been injured before, but not nearly as roughly as he’d been that last time. He had Catherine and the twins to consider, and he had to make better choices. They were his first priority.
“Then come home with us. We can leave the autocar at the coast or have someone drive it back. The hospital probably could use a good ambulance.”
Julian appeared to think it over. “All right.” He glanced back at Catherine and the twins. “How long until we leave.”
“How fast can you help me pack everything in the autocar?”
He grinned. “Faster than you, I imagine, gimpy.”
Asher wanted to slug him but held back. It wouldn’t aid his cause to hit his cousin. Instead, he said, “Be careful or I’ll give you baby duty on the crossing.” Or Merlin duty… The cat would be equally unhappy. Why not inflict that same misery on his beloved cousin?
“Please no,” Julian replied in a horrified tone. “I’ll carry everything down now.” He gestured to the small cases that had already been packed. They didn’t have a lot of belongings. “What’s that thing for.”
“That is what Merlin will travel in.” The cat rubbed against Julian and purred. “Why don’t you secure him inside of it and take him down too.”
Julian stared down at the cat and frowned. “I’m going to regret this aren’t I?”
“I wouldn’t know.” Asher shrugged. “I’ve never placed him inside it before.” Though he had seen Catherine do it, and Merlin had scratched her in the process. He held back a grin as Julian picked the cat up and carried him over to the carrier.
“Easy now,” he said. “Good kitty.”
Catherine came to stand beside Asher, Sorcha still in her arms. “You’re an evil man giving him that task.”
“He deserves it,” Ash replied. “Julian thinks himself invincible, and he has a smart mouth.”
Not long after that, Julian’s curses filled the room, but he managed to secure Merlin. He gave the cat quite a tongue-lashing as he carried him out of the room. Asher snickered at the entire scene. “Do you think Merlin understood any of that?”
Catherine shrugged. “Perhaps.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist. “We’ll be on our way home soon.”
“Thank God,” she replied and glanced at Victoria. “Though I’ll miss some of the friends I’ve made.”
He leaned down and kissed Catherine’s forehead. “You’ll see her again someday. I wholly believe that.”
In four months, it will have been three years since he first met Catherine. In that time, they’d been through war, fallen in love, married, and had the twins. They had their entire lifetime ahead of them. He fully expected it would be filled with happiness. No matter what life threw at them, they’d survive it.
Julian came back in. “Everything’s packed. Let’s go.”
Asher picked up Declan who was still asleep. Sorcha’s eyes were wide, and she stared at everything as she rested in Catherine’s arm. They walked out of the hospital and didn’t look back. They each took a seat in the autocar and Julian drove them away from Paris. Asher wasn’t sure if he wanted to ever return. He’d happily stay in England for the rest of his life.
Epilogue
The snow had melted, and it left nothing but wet grass and mud outside. Three years ago, they’d returned to England and made Seabrook Manor a home together with the twins. The war had taken longer than that to finally end. It didn’t conclude until November of 1918—over a year after they left Paris. It had been deemed the Great War, and the death toll had been astronomical. Both sides had more losses than was bearable, but in the end, the Allied forces had come out the victor. If it could be considered a win…
Catherine was glad they’d escaped relatively unharmed. Asher still walked with a limp at times. The muscles in his leg had been too shredded to heal properly. Overall, though, they couldn’t be happier. Many had suffered far more than they had. Asher's family was whole and healthy, but beyond that they had each other. Their children both had Ash’s golden blond hair, but her sapphire eyes. They were adorable most of the time. Although, the three-year-old terrors already showed signs of having the family gifts.
Sorcha appeared to have empathy. She had more patience than a normal three-year-old and seemed almost ethereal at times. At least when she didn’t throw a temper tantrum… Declan followed his sister’s lead, but he seemed to always know when to hide the evidence of their misbehavior. If Catherine didn’t have an idea what to look for, she often missed it. They’d grow more difficult as they aged, but she was confident she and Asher could handle it.
Currently, the twins were running circles around the settee in the sitting room. Catherine was curled up against Asher letting the children wear themselves out. After they went down for their nap, it would give her and Asher some much needed time alone.
“When is Julian supposed to be here?”
“This evening.” Asher pressed a kiss to her cheek. “He’s courting someone. He feels obligated now that he inherited the title.” His older brother had enlisted in the war and died, then Julian’s father passed away shortly after. His death had devastated the family—Asher included. The loss would be felt for a long time to come. There were way too many deaths as a result of the war.
“Oh?” She lifted a brow. “Whom?”
“Miss Brianne Collins—I am not acquainted with her.” He trailed his fingers lightly over her breast. “She’s the niece of the current Viscount Torrington—Liam Marsden. I went to Eton with his sons.”
“I think I’ve heard of that family. Wasn’t the former viscount a reformed pirate?”
“I believe so,” he said. “As fascinating as this is...” Asher kissed her neck. “Shouldn’t Nanny be here to retrieve the twins?”
Catherine grinned. Her husband was insatiable. “Stop that. The twins might notice.”
The nanny arrived not long after. Sorcha and Declan went with her, albeit, unwillingly. Luckily, the nanny knew how to handle them. Catherine didn’t doubt that they’d be napping soon.
“Now that the termagants are gone,” Asher said. “Why don’t we take a nap ourselves?”
“Victoria will be here soon,” she reminded him. It would be good to see her friend. They’d corresponded over the years, but it was the first time she’d have the chance to visit with Victoria since leaving Paris. With both Julian and Victoria expected, it would be a full reunion. They should have a party to celebrate. She hadn’t considered the possibility until that moment—maybe invite Miss Collins for Julian. “We don’t have time for the pleasures you have in mind.”
He nuzzled her neck, and then sighed. “Remind me never to invite anyone to stay with us again. I barely have enough alone time with you as it is.”
Catherine ran her fingers through his hair. “Darling, you have me all to yourself every night. Surely you can be generous enough to share me with the rest of the world occasionally.”
They’d had a lot of ups and downs over the years, but most of them had been good. Their love was like a river flowing into the ocean as the winds mixed with heaven. One large all-encompassing passion couldn’t be contained within one person—the twins were a result of that love and added to their growing adoration.
“If you insist,” he agreed. “Since making love to my beautiful wife isn’t an option, how about a stroll in the conservatory?”