Tempted

by Rita Thedford

  "Christian!” Elizabeth raced to him. “Are you hurt? Are you all right?” She clutched him to her, murmuring love words, words of comfort.

  "I'm fine,” he whispered against her hair. Elizabeth's scent was soft. She was living and breathing, alive in his arms. Relief tore through him as he sent up a prayer of thanks that this nightmare was finally over. Drawing back, he turned her very carefully. “Look down, sweetheart. Park cannot threaten us more. He has found his own hell."

  Like a crumbled doll, he lay still, his eyes open in death. A shaft of steel, bloody and sharp, impaled him as he'd tumbled from the scene of his crime. He no longer needed wealth and title. He'd found the grave instead.

  Elizabeth shuddered in Christian's arms, as together they spotted Rawlins and Pandora. Rawlins, hair standing on end, held a pistol in one had and had the other arm bundled around Pandora. She visibly shook as she stared at Park's lifeless body.

  "I thought I told you to stay home,” Christian called down.

  "Could not obey that command, Your Grace. Pandora and I are much too fond of the both of you."

  "That must have been your scream we heard, Pandora,” Elizabeth called. “Very distracting. Quite effective."

  Pandora looked up. “Never could follow orders. I never know my place either, but I am not sorry for it.” Her voice shook. “Well, we've done our worst so let's leave. Besides, I never could stand the sight o’ rats."

  A furry rat squealed, hissed, and scurried in the distance. Pandora let out another bloodcurdling scream and rolling up her eyes, fainted dead away.

  While Rawlins dropped to his knees beside her, Christian tugged Elizabeth to his side, smiling faintly. “Mmm. Seems large weapons often come in small packages. ‘Tis hard to imagine a mite like her roaming about the countryside with a pistol then fainting at the sight of a rodent."

  "Hmm. She is normally quite daunting."

  Elizabeth looked at Park's crumpled body and burrowed into Christian's arms. “I was so frightened."

  He tightened his hold on her. “What? My fearless bride? Afraid?"

  "It is just that I love you so. I could not bear to live without you."

  "That will never happen, sweet,” he murmured, placing a gentle kiss upon her lips. “I will follow you, even into the hereafter.” He breathed in her sweet, familiar scent.

  "Ah, yes. No doubt you will follow me there, but darling, I much prefer our heaven here on Earth."

  Epilogue

  Devonshire, Spring, 1821

  "You grow lovelier each day, Elizabeth,” Christian said, as she rested her head upon his shoulder. Unable to help himself, he teased a dark auburn curl, twining it lazily around his finger.

  "Mmm. You say the nicest things. Continue please."

  He chuckled. “I shall sing your praises until I am a doddering, gray-haired man, my love. Never fear."

  She gazed at him, love swimming in her vibrant eyes. “Thank you for bringing me to Devon. Since Mama and Papa could not travel to see Alexander, it is wonderful to bring him here. Besides, I very much wanted you to see where I grew up."

  The Graysons’ country estate was indeed glorious, Christian thought. Set amid rolling hills with the birth of spring all around, it was a delightful interlude for them on their first trip as a family. Due to Lord Henry's health, Elizabeth's parents had left the furiously paced life in London for the quiet of the country. Though Henry seemed quite well now, they had been unable to travel south to meet their grandson.

  Birds set up a cacophony in the trees just outside the parlor window on this sunny April day. Alexander, just two months old, lay in his basket bed near his parents’ feet, cooing in his own form of communication. With a soft squeal, he kicked chubby legs and began a serious study of all ten toes. Bending down, Christian plucked a fat toe and gave it a wiggle.

  "Do you suppose he is hungry?” He frowned.

  Elizabeth chuckled. “Believe me, darling. He shall let us know quite loudly when he needs feeding. You have much to learn about babies."

  "Indeed, I do.” Gently, he lifted his squirming son and placed a kiss upon his forehead before settling him in his arms.

  Softness filled every corner of her heart as she watched father and son together. Every day seemed just one more new miracle as she studied the two, faces close. So much alike were they that it almost made her heart stop with pride. Alexander possessed his father's wealth of dark hair and aristocratic nose. From her, he'd inherited eyes the color of summer pansies.

  "He is as handsome as his father,” she said. “No doubt, he shall cause many female hearts to flutter."

  Christian grinned, masculine satisfaction glowing in his eyes. “Do you think so?"

  "Mmm. Do not look so pleased. Heaven help us if he becomes a naughty rogue like his father."

  "You seem to like rogues quite well, the naughtier the better, or must I remind you of what you said last night while in our bed?” His grin was positively lascivious as he leaned close and whispered lewd, teasing phrases in her ear.

  She felt her cheeks heat and pushed at his shoulder playfully. “Bloody hell! I hope my parents didn't hear! Do you suppose they did?"

  "If so, love, I doubt the sounds coming from our chamber were unfamiliar to them.” He gazed at Alexander and carefully stroked his son's rosebud lips. The babe grinned, showing off his toothless state. He babbled softly. “I shall never forget the night he was born."

  "Neither shall I,” she returned drolly.

  "It was raining."

  "I wouldn't know, Christian. I was too busy yelling my head off."

  He smiled. “You did, you know. You yelled your bloody head off, but I am still amazed at your courage. I remember swearing then and there that I would never touch you again."

  She couldn't help it. She laughed. “One should never make false promises, darling. But I must admit that I am extremely pleased that you have changed your mind."

  "So am I, sweetheart. So am I."

  * * * *

  As night spread soft violet shadows across the land, Elizabeth strolled past the yard and up a nearby hill to the place where Charlotte rested. A giant oak with leaves just budding in shades of softest green guarded the family cemetery. Approaching the ironwork fence, Elizabeth slowly opened the gate, her eyes caught by an ivory marble angel that stood nearly as tall as she was. Darkness was falling fast.

  "Ah, Lottie,” she murmured, approaching the grave. Someone, her mother no doubt, had planted yellow jonquils and bright red tulips at the base of the stone. A lilac bush nestled cozily against the angel's flowing robe. “How I wish you were here."

  Sinking to the ground, Elizabeth tucked her feet beneath the hem of her soft pink dress. With a shaky finger, she traced Charlotte's name and sighed. “He is beautiful, my Alexander, and I love him so very much. I wish he could know you, dearest. And Christian is my world. You would have loved him, and he would have adored you.

  Feeling her twin's presence, she closed her eyes, unafraid of the soft chill on her skin, the slight brush of wind over her hair. A great feeling of love and tenderness threatened to overwhelm her. It was as if Charlotte had come from heaven to keep her company. Bowing her head, she breathed in the scent of flowers and freshly turned earth. Crickets sang into the coming night. “I never told you, Lottie, how much you taught me. Truth to tell, I seldom listened. You knew everything about love. Until recently, I didn't understand the meaning of the word. I was always too cautious to believe in something that seemed so frivolous. I was wrong."

  In the distance, she heard the sound of laughter coming from the gardens behind the house. Christian's voice, her father's, then her mother's. The people she loved, her family. Reaching out, she pulled a sturdy weed from the base of the marble and tossed it away.

  "When you were taken from me, I lived in a world of hate. Quite simply, I lived for revenge. But that is not a good way to live, is it? You knew all along that people were made to love and in the end, I have learned the truth.

  Loo
king at the evening sky, she breathed deeply of the scented air and spotted stars drifting lazily in space. “Though you were taken so young, your life is valued beyond measure. When you died, a part of my heart died with you, but you needn't worry, Lottie. Christian has given my heart back to me.

  "Instead of the need for revenge, love consumes me. Love rather than hate motivates and sustains me. Love learned from you. Love learned from Christian. And now, the love for my child. Love has been a fine teacher, Lottie, just as you were the truest sister and friend."

  Dashing tears from her face as she heard her husband approach, Elizabeth laughed shakily and stood.

  "Are you finished with your visit, darling?” he asked from where he stood behind the fence. His face was kind and patient as he watched her.

  "Oh, yes. I believe I've had a wonderful visit with Lottie tonight."

  "Are you hungry? We've been called in for dinner. But if you'd prefer to spend more time here, I shall dine with you later."

  She laughed and moved across the quiet family cemetery until she was close enough to touch his hands. “I've been too long alone here, dearest. Come, let's go inside and join the family."

  "I love you,” he said. “Sometimes I find it amazing really to find that one person can make my life so complete."

  Deeply touched, she moved into his arms and together they stood, just holding each other close. Pressing her cheek to his, she looked over his shoulder to the midnight sky. A star, more vivid than the others, winked brightly. Was it possible? Could it be? Did people really move from earth into some mystical heavenly plane and guard their loved ones from afar?

  She liked to think it true and just in case it was, she smiled and winked back.

  Meet Rita Thedford

  Rita Thedford lives in Texas with her husband of 24 years and two teen-agers. She worked as a newspaper journalist for a number of years before starting a family and turning her attention to romance fiction. An advocate of “happy endings", she's currently at work on her next adventure.

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