Blood from Walter sullied the normally pristine front of the shop. A smear of it from where Jo dragged him outdoors was impossible not to step in. Our boots made a sickly sticky sound as we crossed over to the window seat.
Viktor moaned once more as we helped him lie across the seat. His muscular legs were too long and dangled over one end.
Mrs. Olofsson knelt by her son’s feet, weeping. “My sweet boy, please be all right.”
Josephine took over pressing into his wound with the fabric. She looked up at me. “How did you find us?”
“Fiona heard everything.”
“Where is she?” Josephine asked me. “I hated to leave her, but I had no choice.”
“She’s locked in your dad’s office. She’s fine. Very brave, in fact.”
Outside, the sound of bells and the whinny of horses told me Lord Barnes had arrived. I went out to greet them. Lord Barnes sprang from the sleigh. His expression turned to panic when he saw the blood. “Phillip, is she hurt?”
“No, no. It’s Viktor. He’s been shot in the shoulder. He killed Walter.” I gestured toward the body.
Lord Barnes looked as if he might faint. I put out a hand to steady him. “The doctor’s on his way. It’s a shoulder wound, but the bullet went straight through.” I told them what I knew. “Then Jo dragged him out here. I’ve never seen a woman that strong in my life.”
Dr. Neal rode up on his horse. Harley offered to take care of the animal so the doctor could go directly inside. Lord Barnes said he’d go across the street to his office and call the undertaker.
I stood with Isak and Harley outside, all of us stomping our feet to stay warm. Josephine came out to stand with us. She immediately started shivering. I took off my coat and wrapped her up, then put an arm around her shoulder to draw her close to my side. “Are you all right?” I asked.
She rested her head against my shoulder. “I am now. I’m so sorry for all this. Isak, the last thing I wanted was for anyone to get hurt because of my poor judgment. I’m mortified and so very sorry.”
“Not your fault,” Isak said, gruffly. “I’m glad Viktor was there and that things went the way they did.”
“I’ve never been more frightened in my life,” Josephine said. “Your poor mother and I were huddled together, both of us shaking like a leaf. Walter paced back and forth while holding the gun on us, muttering to himself. He had no plan. The shop was the only one with a light on. Then, all of a sudden, Viktor tore out of the back of the shop.” Josephine gave us a tremulous smile. “He barreled right into Walter, with no fear and like a bear. They struggled for what seemed like an hour. The gun went off, hitting Viktor in the shoulder. Despite that, Viktor had the foresight to bite Walter’s hand. Walter dropped the gun, and like lightning, Viktor grabbed it. Shot him right through the chest.” She pressed her fingers against her mouth for a second before continuing. “I’d never seen anyone die before. He looked surprised for a moment and then crumpled to the ground. The light faded from his eyes and then went blank.”
“We’ve seen it like that too,” Isak said.
“Too many times,” I said as I squeezed her tighter. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay Viktor.”
“I know what he wants,” Isak said, smiling. “He’s besotted with your Cymbeline. She’s all he ever talks about.”
“Truly?” Jo asked.
Isak nodded. “All about how Cymbeline did this and that and isn’t she perfection—that kind of thing.”
“Oh dear, that’s worrisome.” Josephine peeked up at me.
“Why?” Isak asked.
“She thinks of him as her nemesis,” Josephine said. “He’s angered her by being so good at the things she wishes she could do.”
“Well, you know what they say about that?” Isak asked, raising his eyebrows. “Strong feelings one way might indicate there’s more there than what she’s admitting to.”
Lord Barnes returned, bringing our discussion to a close. Seconds later, the doctor came out to ask if we might help Viktor into the sleigh and take him over to his medical office. “I’ll keep a watch on him tonight. Strong young man like this will be up and about in no time.” Dr. Neal explained that he’d given him a few tugs of whiskey for the pain and cleaned and sewn up the wound. “He’ll be fine as long as there’s no infection, which is less likely in my clinic.”
Viktor was sitting up with his mother by his side when we came inside to help. His color had greatly improved. He gave us a goofy grin.
“Hello, boys. Don’t look like that. I’m fine. Doc gave me some whiskey and I’m feeling no pain.” His words slurred slightly.
“You gave me a scare, little brother,” Isak said as we helped him to his feet.
“Nah, I’m too dumb and tough to die,” Viktor said.
With Mr. and Mrs. Olofsson trailing behind, we escorted Viktor into the back of the sleigh and tucked blankets around him. “You’ll come with me?” Viktor asked Isak.
“I’ll be there the whole time.” Isak climbed in beside him.
Dr. Neal came outside and walked over to the sleigh. He held up his hand to show us a bullet. “Found this lodged in the front of the counter. Went clean through you, Viktor, thank the good Lord above.”
Isak took it from him. “We’ll keep that as a memory of how brave my baby brother was tonight.”
“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Olofsson murmured as she wrapped her arms around her waist.
“Mother, please, go upstairs and rest,” Viktor said. “You’ve been through enough.”
Mr. Olofsson took his wife’s hand. “I’ll take her up and make her something hot to drink.”
“We’ll come see you in the morning,” Mrs. Olofsson said.
“He’ll be home in the morning if all goes as expected,” Dr. Neal said. “This is merely cautiousness on my part.”
A smaller sleigh driven by Cymbeline came speeding down the road. She slid to a stop and jumped to the ground, then grabbed Jo into her arms. “Jo, thank God. I was scared to death.” She let go and gasped when she saw Walter’s body on the ground. “Is he dead?”
“I shot him,” Viktor called out gleefully from the sleigh. “Saving your sister.”
“What? Viktor?” Cymbeline’s gaze darted to her supposed nemesis, then back to her sister. “Is it true?”
“He’s a hero,” Jo said.
“What are you doing here, young lady?” Lord Barnes asked.
She appeared not to have heard her father. As if in a daze, she walked over to the sleigh and climbed inside. Then, in a move no one saw coming, she leaned close and kissed him on the cheek.
“Cymbeline,” Jo said, under her breath. “What’re you doing?”
“Cymbeline Barnes, get out of there this instant,” Lord Barnes said.
Cymbeline ignored him. She seemed only to have eyes for Viktor. “Does it hurt?’
“Not now. Doc gave me medicine and whiskey.” He gazed at her with the eyes of a man in love. “You’re very pretty.”
“Thank you, Viktor. Not for the unnecessary compliment but for saving my beloved Josephine. From this moment forward you shall no longer be my nemesis.”
“I was your nemesis?” Viktor touched his cheek where she’d kissed him.
“Of course. How could you not know that?” Cymbeline’s forehead wrinkled in obvious confusion. “We’ve been enemies since the dawn of time.”
“Impossible,” he said. “You’re not my enemy.”
“What are you talking about?” Cymbeline asked crossly. Had she forgotten her pledge only moments before?
“I can’t be your enemy.” He gave her a boozy, loving smile. “I love you with all my heart and soul. Someday, you’ll be my wife.”
Cymbeline jumped from the sleigh so fast it was as if her skirts were on fire. Seconds later, she’d gotten into her own sleigh, turned the horse around, and headed down the road toward home.
“Did I say something wrong?” Viktor asked with a longing look at the back end of Cymbeline’s sleigh.
>
Despite everything we’d been through that night, the whole lot of us burst out laughing. Even Lord Barnes.
Josephine
The party must go on, even after an abduction by your former—formerly dead lover. Dinners for the entire week of Christmas in our house were grand, jolly affairs, and this year would be no different. By the time dinner was ready, I’d bathed and dressed and promised myself for tonight, at least, I would put aside all thoughts of horrible Walter. This time of year was magical to my little sisters, and I didn’t want to ruin it for them.
We sat around the dining room table for our feast. My littlest sisters, sitting on either side of me, looked adorable in their matching red dresses and bows. Cymbeline and Fiona sparkled in dresses made in the same shade of deep blue. All the men were in evening suits and bow ties. Mama wore a beaded gold dress that glittered under the chandelier.
I took both my baby sisters’ warm hands in mine as we all bowed our heads for the family prayer.
“Thank you, Father, for the bounty we’re about receive,” Papa said. “And for our special guest at our table tonight, Phillip Baker. Thank you for sending him to our family.” His voice cracked as he said the next part. “Thank you for keeping my Josephine safe today and for Viktor. In your name we pray, amen.”
After a chorus of amens around the table, Cymbeline and I got up to serve us our first course. The staff had cooked the meal, but they were enjoying dinners with their families tonight. Mama couldn’t bear to have them away from their loved ones during holidays. She remembered her own father having to work through every Christmas.
After dinner, all the staff and their little ones would come for caroling and cake. Mama’s mother and sister, Annabelle, and her husband, Clive, would come too. Papa would pass out presents to the children and holiday bonuses for the adults. I always looked forward to our festive evening, made even more so this year with the presence of Phillip.
The first course was a savory squash soup and one of Lizzie’s buttery rolls. I took the platter of rolls around while Cymbeline served the soup. When we were done, I sat back in my chair. I glanced across to Phillip, seated between Cymbeline and Fiona. He smiled at me with such love that it gave me a lump in my throat. I looked down to grab my spoon and gasped. There was a felt bag where the soup spoon should have been.
“What’s this?” I looked at Papa, assuming it was something from him. “Do we all have one?” I scanned the table. My brothers had goofy expressions on their faces. Fiona bounced in her chair. Cymbeline wouldn’t look at me at all. Mama gave me a gentle smile.
“No, darling, this one’s just for you,” Papa said. “And it’s not from me.”
Phillip rose from his chair and went around the table, stopping in back of Addie’s chair. My sister, as if rehearsed, jumped from her seat to sit with Delphia. Phillip moved Addie’s chair out of the way, then picked up the bag and withdrew something into the palm of his hand. He dropped to one knee. My hands flew to my mouth. This was the moment. It was happening. In front of my entire family. I started to shake, not from fear or cold as I had earlier but from pure excitement.
Phillip held up an exquisite emerald-and-diamond ring. Where had he gotten such a thing?
“Josephine, your father’s been saving this for you. It’s from his great-aunt Josephine and is to be given to you upon your engagement. By the grace of God, I’m the man who gets to offer it to you.”
My gaze darted to Papa. He nodded and smiled.
“Josephine, I’ve loved you from the first time I set eyes upon you. You’re everything I’ve wanted all my life. A place to call home. Will you be my forever home? Will you be my wife?” Phillip smiled up at me. “Please say you will.”
“Yes, I will marry you.”
He slipped the ring on my finger as my family clapped and cheered.
“You may kiss her,” Papa said. “Since you’re officially engaged.”
“As if they haven’t already,” Cymbeline said.
“Cym, hush,” Fiona said.
Phillip leaned close to brush his lips against mine. “Thank you for making me the happiest man in the world. I’ll not let you down.”
“I know you won’t.” I touched my hands to the sides of his face. “I trust you with my heart. With everything.”
When he stood, Delphia said, “Phillip, you may sit next to Jo now since you’re engaged.” She blinked her big blue eyes to show us all what a sacrifice she was making before sliding from the chair and heading to the one formerly occupied by Phillip.
I gazed down at the ring on my finger. “I’ve never seen this, Papa. I had no idea.”
“It was a secret,” Papa said. “A surprise from the past and a reminder of how much you’ve meant to this family. Your sacrifices and the good example you’ve always set for your younger brothers and sisters has never gone unnoticed. Your mama and I are so very proud of you.”
Tears spilled from my eyes at his kind words. “It was easy to be good with these people as my siblings.”
“Not that good,” Cymbeline said.
“Speak for yourself,” Fiona said, smiling sweetly.
Mama raised her glass. “Shall we toast our lovebirds?”
We all clinked glasses and then dived into our soup.
“When will the wedding be?” Addie asked.
“What will your dress be like?” Fiona’s eyes grew even bigger than usual. “Aunt Annabelle will make it for you, won’t she, Mama?”
“I don’t think we could stop her,” Mama said. “When would you like to marry?”
As soon as possible, I thought to myself. “What do you think, Phillip?”
“Whatever my bride wants is what I want.”
I placed my hand on his knee. “Should we have a winter wonderland wedding?”
“Wait until spring,” Cymbeline said. “So you can have it outside in the yard with all the flowers in bloom.”
“I’d like to walk you down the aisle at the church,” Papa said. “The first of five.”
“Yes, Papa. I’d like that too,” I said.
“Can I be the flower girl?” Delphia asked.
“How do you know about flower girls?” Mama asked.
“A book.” Delphia dipped her spoon back into her soup as if the answer were so obvious it wasn’t worth asking.
“A spring wedding does sound lovely,” Mama said. “And would give Annabelle time to make your dress. She has a lot of clients these days.”
Spring sounded far away.
“And we’ll want to get started on your cottage right away,” Papa said. “Our wedding gift to you.”
“But Papa, you’ve already done too much,” I said.
“When a daughter gets married, it’s expected that her father will give a dowry to her groom. I already made a deal with Phillip that it has to be within walking distance.”
“So you’re not really getting anything for free, old boy,” Flynn said. “All of us breathing down your neck night and day.”
“I can’t ask for anything more,” Phillip said. “I look forward to each and every one of you being in and out of our home whenever you wish.”
“You say that now,” Cymbeline said with a shake of her head. “Just wait. You’ll see how annoying we all are before long.”
“I think he already knows,” Theo said.
Everyone laughed as we continued on with our soup. I barely tasted it, though, so blissful with the man I loved by my side. A spring wedding. Yes, that would be perfect, even though I wished it wasn’t months and months away. Having a ceremony and reception we’d remember all our lives would be worth the wait. And really, who was I to disappoint Mama and my sisters? Or deprive Papa of walking me down the aisle? Sensible, dependable Josephine would have to take second place to this giddy, frivolous one.
I looked around the table once more, taking in the faces of my precious family. We’d all been through so much together, but when I looked back, I would remember the good moments rather than the hard ones. Th
is one had to be at the top of the list.
Josephine
The morning of my wedding, I sat on the window seat of the bedroom I’d shared with my sisters for most of my life. Birds chirped and sang from the trees. Cymbeline and Fiona had risen before me and were already downstairs. Faint music of Fiona at the piano accompanied by Li’s violin drifted up to me as they practiced for the festivities. On the lawn, Jasper, Harley, and my brothers were arranging tables for the reception. No one could put together a party quite like the Barnes family.
“Good morning, darling.”
I turned to see Mama in the doorway. She had a tray with coffee and breakfast rolls.
“Good morning, Mama. Why aren’t you downstairs for breakfast?”
“Two reasons. I had to have myself a little cry, and I wanted to spend a little time with you before it’s time to get you into your dress.”
“Why’re you crying?” I asked, alarmed. “Is Grandmother all right?”
“Oh, yes, she’s fine. Looking forward to today. As is my sister. She thinks your gown is the prettiest she’s ever made.”
“What’s made you sad?”
“Not sad, more sentimental.” She set the tray on the dresser and poured a coffee from the silver pitcher into a cup. Immediately, the nutty aroma filled the room. “I’ll miss you, that’s all. You’ve been such a friend to me.”
“Mama, I’m only a few minutes away. You can walk over to see me any time you want.”
She let out a sigh as she fluttered her hands in front of her damp eyes. “I know. But it’s the end of an era. My oldest baby flying from the nest.”
“Oh, Mama. I’ll never fly too far.”
“You’re such a dear to put up with my nonsense. Anyway, don’t mind me. I’ve come with breakfast. Lizzie’s afraid you might be too nervous to eat, so she’s sent your favorite rolls with a dish of butter and some fresh strawberries. If you recall, she was a wreck the morning of her wedding.”
“I’m not a bit nervous.” I smiled, remembering how Lizzie had paced this very room in her wedding dress before it was time to go to the church. “I’m simply deliriously happy.”
The Spinster (Emerson Pass Historicals Book 2) Page 23