Most Ardently

by Sheena Austin et al.

  “I think about Ginny and the others when I’m home with my daughters. I’d bring them home with me but how could I impose on my wife in such a manner,” Henry said. “Knowing my loving wife, she would try to care for them all. I daresay it would be too much for her. Especially now. She’s pregnant and will be giving birth soon. No way could she handle that.”

  Henry began walking down the street. Rayven followed him until they reached the Foggy Bog Tavern. Henry went immediately up to the bar and talked to the owner, a short rotund man with graying hair and a wide smile. Rayven sat down at a table near the back of the tavern and waited for him. A tavern maid set a mug of ale in front of him, leaving another for Henry.

  “You’re all set for the night,” Henry said when he sat down across from him.

  “Thank you, Henry,” Rayven said, grateful for his kindness. He took a long swig of ale and set it down. “Now, what’s good to eat here?”

  “Rayven,” Henry said as the tavern maid took their empty platters away. “Why don’t you come home with me to Northanger Abbey for Christmas. I’m leaving in a few days. You said you weren’t going to Paris until after the holidays. We are holding our annual Christmas ball soon after I return. I’d like for you to attend.”

  “That is so kind of you, but I don’t want to impose.”

  “It’s no imposition.”

  “Henry,” Rayven argued, “you hardly know me.”

  Henry shook his head in disagreement. “I know all I need to know. I don’t know many gentlemen in London who would offer aid to the orphans here. Not even my close associates, I’m ashamed to say. But you didn’t hesitate to help them. I admire that. Come home with me.”

  “Only if you allow me to repay your kindness by letting me donate to your project for the children.”

  Henry clapped Rayven on the shoulder. “By all means. I welcome your help. Thank you, Rayven.” He motioned the tavern maid over to their table.

  “What can I get for you gents?”

  “Another pitcher of ale,” Henry announced.

  Chapter 6

  HENRY’S CARRIAGE ROLLED down the snow-covered road toward his ancestral home. The bare branches of the trees were heavy with snow, and everything looked crisp and pristine. Rayven wondered what it looked like in the spring. He imagined rolling hills covered with spring flowers and trees spread wide and thick with green leaves. In Las Vegas, his focus was on the demons he hunted nearly every night. He didn’t stop and appreciate the world around him.

  “It’s so good to be home,” Henry said as the steep turrets of Northanger Abbey came into view. “I miss my family so much when I’m away. Especially now, with a new baby coming and Christmas so close. It’s a magical time.”

  “I always spend Christmas alone,” Rayven remarked, and it was the truth. Most of his angelic brothers and sisters remained in Heaven. Sure, angels often passed through Las Vegas on their way to an assignment, but they didn’t stay. They weren’t supposed to.

  “You have no family?” Henry asked.

  “No.”

  Henry grinned. “Well, you have a family to spend Christmas with this year. You will not be alone.”

  Rayven continued to be stunned by his new friend’s compassion and generosity. He’d thought there weren’t many good people left in the world until he met Henry Tilney. But Henry didn’t live in his world. He lived realms away in the book world.

  Rayven had to admit he would have liked having a friend like Henry in his realm. He had no male friends other than Michael and they didn’t hang out very often. Michael was busy doing God’s work and so was he. The work of the angels was never done. The sexy women that passed through his life were fleeting acquaintances. He never considered any of them friends. Not even his latest sexual partner, Beverly. She wasn’t his friend, but she was the closest thing to a friend he’d ever have. He spent more time with her than anyone. He could always depend on her for sex and conversation, and thus far, she never let him down. He trusted her with everything but his heart.

  Angels didn’t have loving relationships. They were the protectors. Their role on the Earth was to protect humans against demons. He accepted it, but there were times when he longed to have a normal, loving relationship as other humans did. As fulfilling as his existence was, he felt something was missing.

  Rayven’s nerve-endings suddenly went on high alert, interrupting his thoughts. His attention focused on a cemetery near a small chapel they were approaching. A demon was close. He could feel it. It was the first time he felt the presence since he arrived in this realm. It had to be the demon he sought. He wanted to go there immediately and find her but how would he explain his actions to Henry? He would go back there and investigate once the household had gone to bed.

  “We’re here,” Henry announced as the carriage pulled up in front of the main entrance of a stately mansion.

  A man emerged from the front door dressed in black livery. Rayven assumed he was the head butler. The man walked up to the carriage and opened the door. Henry got out first, followed by Rayven.

  “So good to have you home, sir,” he said formally. “I trust your trip was successful.”

  Henry grinned. “It was.”

  Harry nodded. “Very good, sir.”

  “Harry, this is Mr. Stone. Could you take him to the best guest suite in our humble home?"

  The butler glanced at Rayven and nodded. “Of course, sir.”

  DESIREE LOOKED OUT her guest room window to see Henry Tilney emerge from the carriage. She recognized him from his portrait in the family gallery. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Catherine rush forward and hug her husband. He was more handsome than his painting. Their two daughters ran up to their father and put their arms around each of his legs. He let go of his wife, picked up each little girl, and kissed their cheeks in turn. They were a beautiful family, and she was there to destroy it. She was starting to wonder if she could take the souls of Catherine and her unborn child after all. She felt a sudden pang of guilt.

  She was about to turn away from the window when another man stepped down from the carriage. She was unprepared for the extremely striking man Henry was introducing to his wife. His hair was the color of raven’s wings, and he was taller than Henry by a few inches and powerfully built. The sharp lines of his chiseled face made him look very intimidating. That was until he smiled at Catherine and the girls, and his face softened.

  Desiree’s breath caught in her throat. She didn’t think she’d ever seen a more handsome man in her long existence. But that was too inept of a word to describe him. He was beautiful.

  Who was he? She thought. A relative? One of Henry’s friends? She had to know. She wasn’t affected by human males, but this one was doing crazy things to her libido.

  What did it matter? Why did she care? Why was she so silly? She was more than likely going to see him at dinner anyway. She leaned back against the wall as her heart still fluttered. Apparently, I care, she thought with displeasure.

  Desiree peered back out the window. Henry said something to the stranger, and he turned back to him and nodded. He followed Henry, Catherine, and the girls inside the manor.

  Desiree breathed a sigh of relief. She had not planned to show up on Catherine Tilney’s doorstep when she did. She waited at the chapel for two days expecting Catherine to appear. But she never did. Genuinely concerned, she flashed to the woods outside the mansion. She walked up to the heavy wooden front door and used the lion's head door knocker. A butler opened the door and eyed her suspiciously. She told him she was a friend of Catherine’s and he ushered her inside. He asked one of the maids to fetch their mistress.

  Catherine was delighted to see her. Her sister-in-law, Eleanor, was not.

  “Catherine, I don’t mean to intrude, but I was worried about you when you didn’t come back to the chapel,” Desiree told her.

  “I thought you went to Rigby to take that nanny position,” Catherine said.

  “I did. But the gentleman who hired
me didn’t know his wife had already employed someone else. I had no other plans, so I went back to the chapel to wait for you.”

  Catherine frowned, concern on her face. “Where have you been staying?”

  “In the chapel. I have little money. I was counting on staying at my employer’s estate.” She shrugged. “I thought it was safe to stay in the chapel until I figure out what to do next.”

  Catherine tucked her arm in hers. “You’ll stay here with us until you decide where to go.”

  “Catherine,” Eleanor admonished, “you don’t know anything about her.” Her eyes flicked over Desiree. “You told me you only met her at the chapel. She could be a thief or worse for all you know.”

  “That’s total nonsense,” Catherine said dismissively. “If she were going to rob me, she would have done it when we were alone. No one, especially me in my condition, could have stopped her.” She moved past her sister-in-law, “I’ve made my decision, Eleanor. Desiree needs our help. I plan on helping her.”

  “I’m sorry,” Desiree said quickly, looking from one woman to the other. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. It might be better if I go.” She removed her arm from Catherine’s.

  “No, Desiree. Please stay.”

  Desiree turned to Eleanor, waiting for her response. She could have influenced the woman to be compliant. Given Catherine steadfast insistence, she didn’t think she needed to.

  Eleanor pursed her lips in disapproval. “Very well, Catherine, but I will be talking to my brother about this. He made me responsible for your well-being, and that’s all I’m trying to do.”

  Catherine grinned. “I know you are, El, but I doubt he would object to me offering sanctuary to someone in need. You know your brother.”

  Eleanor sighed. “Bleeding hearts, the two of you. One of the reasons he went to London was to check on those little urchins he is so fond of.”

  Catherine led Desiree into the foyer. “That’s why I love him so much.”

  Desiree had enjoyed her time with Catherine and the girls. Eleanor was a bit standoffish in the beginning, but after she realized Desiree hadn’t come to Northanger Abbey to kill them in their sleep, Catherine’s sister in law warmed up to her too.

  She sat down in front of the vanity and brushed her hair, wondering what the evening would bring.

  IT WAS ALMOST TIME for dinner, and Desiree had to get ready. She would have to conjure up something else to wear. She didn’t have any formal attire. With Henry gone, Catherine insisted they not get dressed up for dinner. That was good for Desiree. She was supposed to be a nanny, not an English aristocrat.

  In a flash, a simple but stylish cerulean blue gown with an empire waist replaced the one she wore. She smiled as she regarded herself in the mirror. Her meager wardrobe was growing. Instead of creating a fancy hairstyle with her demon powers, she brushed her dark scarlet curls back from her face. She wound her long hair into a neat bun, leaving long, soft ringlets to frame her face. She applied a touch of rouge to her cheeks and her lips. She was ready. Keeping it simple seemed to be the best approach.

  Desiree studied herself in the mirror one last time before going down to dinner. After seeing the newest houseguest, she was acutely self-conscious of her appearance. She wanted to know more about him but was it wise? Again, she wondered why she was making such a fuss about him. He was human. She was a demon. She wasn't permitted to fraternize. She was there to secure a pure soul and save herself - no other reason.

  Chapter 7

  RAYVEN UNPACKED HIS satchel and placed his belongings in the mirrored, paneled armoire. He got that tingling sensation again and spun around, searching the room.

  The demon is in the mansion, not in the cemetery. She was living under Henry and Catherine’s roof and they had no idea. Who was she pretending to be? How did she enter their home?

  Those were all questions Rayven planned to get to the bottom of as soon as possible. He also needed to find out whose soul she was after. Given the people he met so far, anyone of them could be her target. The fact that she was in the mansion could mean she had found her victim. But who was it and how soon would she act?

  Rayven felt a sudden sense of protectiveness for Henry and his family. He wouldn’t allow the demon to do them any harm. Not while he was there to prevent it.

  He thought about his last mission again. The demon had given him more trouble than he admitted to Michael. The creature was crafty and highly skilled. Something had changed in the underworld. The demons he encountered were bolder and more desperate to complete their missions. They appeared more frequently, keeping him and his fellow warriors quite busy. Most of them were soul-stealers, which deeply disturbed him. They were taking souls from healthy, vibrant people whose time on the Earth was not yet up. They were destroying lives and families who didn’t deserve it. Why did Lucifer need so many souls? Could the demon in Northanger Abbey shed some light on that question? He'd make it his business to find out.

  He freshened up and dressed quickly in a brown waistcoat, a white muslin shirt, and black trousers. He was looking forward to meeting the demon and finding an opportunity to confront her. Was she lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike? Or was she the other guest Henry mentioned? He would soon find out.

  Henry, Catherine, and Eleanor were already seated when Rayven entered the dining room. Their other guest had not appeared yet. Again, he wondered if she was human or the demon he was after.

  Henry sat at the head of the table with Catherine on his right and his sister, Eleanor on his left. Rayven took his place beside Eleanor. The other guest would be sitting across from him beside Catherine.

  While Rayven sensed the demon, he didn't detect malice. Demons exuded evil, so invasive and insidious he could almost taste it. He felt none of that. Was she shielding her true essence? His need to find the demon increased and it put him on edge.

  “Rayven,” Henry asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Are you satisfied with your room?”

  Rayven nodded. “Yes, it’s very nice. You and Catherine have a lovely home.”

  “Thank you," Catherine replied. "Northanger Abbey has been in my husband’s family for generations. When I first came here to visit, I was quite overwhelmed by the grandness of it. The house I grew up in was very modest. Living here, took some getting used to.”

  Henry reached across the table and took his wife’s hand. He brushed it with his lips. “You have adjusted quite well, my dear,” he added, his love for her clear.

  Catherine blushed. “You had a lot to do with that. You treat me like a queen.”

  “You deserve it.”

  How Henry and Catherine felt about each other was endearing. Romance authors wrote about the kind of love they had. It was surreal for Rayven to realize they were characters Jane Austen created and shared with the world.

  There was a sound of hurried footsteps in the hallway.

  “Sorry, I’m late,” a female voice announced.

  Henry and Rayven stood up.

  “You must be Desiree,” Henry said.

  “Yes. Thank you for having me,” Desiree replied as she glanced around the dining room. Her eyes settled on the dark-haired man standing beside Eleanor. She felt a tremor of excitement as he stared at her with penetrating gray eyes. He was truly the most handsome man she’d ever seen. She had not been wrong.

  Henry gestured to the chair across from Rayven. “Desiree, you’ll be sitting beside my wife.”

  She walked around the table to her chair, feeling the other man tracking her every move. His rapt attention deeply affected her in an unfamiliar way. When she sat down, their eyes met. Her heart did an uncharacteristic flip.

  “Desiree, this is my new friend, Rayven Stone. Rayven, Desiree Black, a friend of my wife.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Desiree said evenly, attempting not to give her tumultuous reaction to him away.

  Rayven’s gaze riveted on Desiree and his inner demon detection system went haywire. Not just because she was the demon he came there t
o find, but it was her astounding beauty as well. She had fiery red hair and startling green eyes. Holy shit, she was so stunning. It was hard to believe this gorgeous woman was a soul-sucking demon from Hell.

  “Rayven?” Henry asked. “Is something wrong?”

  Rayven turned to look at Henry, realizing he hadn’t said a word or acknowledged their other guest. “I’m sorry,” he turned back to Desiree. “The pleasure is all mine,” he said as he sat down and continued staring at her.

  Harry, the head butler entered the dining room. "Are you ready for dinner, Sir?"

  "Yes, Harry, we are."

  "Very well, Sir," the butler replied and left the room.

  Henry took his seat. “I am starving. It was a long ride from London.”

  Rayven was quiet throughout the multi-course meal, stealing furtive glances at Desiree. He was impatient to get her alone to confront her. He had to figure out what her game plan was and stop it, but he needed to know the target. Whose soul was she planning to steal and why had she chosen this family? Had she already accomplished her goal and acquired a soul elsewhere? He had to assume if she had, she would no longer be there.

  The guest Henry brought home disoriented Desiree. She felt his eyes on her during the meal and tried not to make eye contact, but she found it impossible. She wanted to look at him. He drew her like a moth to candlelight. She didn’t understand it. She hoped dinner would be over soon so she could put distance between them. He was evoking feelings in her she never felt before. It scared her that she began to wonder what it would be like to have a relationship with him. In eons, she was never attracted enough to a human to get involved with one. It was forbidden, and she didn’t want to exacerbate Amadeus’ displeasure with her.

  Catherine told her earlier Henry’s guest would be staying for the Christmas Ball. The event was three days away. She would have to avoid him until it was over, and she secured what she came there for – Catherine’s soul. She had some serious misgivings. Her mission was slowly becoming less important and more distasteful. After spending so much time with Catherine and her girls, she'd grown to care for them. Tragically, the thought of spending eternity in Oblivion brought her back to reality. Her mission was important. Her freedom and her immortal life were at stake.