Rupert’s gaze locked on the dark recesses of the hallway. He headed in that direction like a moth to a flame, and walked straight through the line of people that stretched all the way to the front door. Desperation replaced the panic and he turned toward the soot covered men who stood just beside the front steps. “Did everyone get out? Where are they?” He glanced over at Marcus who was dodging through the people in order to follow Rupert.
“I don’t know, sir. When I got here the house was well ablaze. Only just managed to catch it, we did.”
Rupert followed the line of people into the smoke filled entrance hall. Even from the hallway he could see the blackened floorboards through the timbers that held the ceiling up. Although there was no hint of fire up there, the sitting room downstairs was destroyed. The cellar was visible through the charred remains of what had been the floor.
“Did everyone get out?” Rupert growled loudly and held his arms aloft. He was going to start thumping people if someone didn’t come up with some information and soon. In that moment, Marcus appeared in the doorway and gave him a warning look.
“Where are they Marcus?”
“If you bloody well stand still long enough, I will tell you,” Marcus growled. “They went to the doctor’s house down the road. They -” Anything else he was going to say remained unspoken because Rupert was already on his way to the front door.
Rupert ran down the street as fast as his feet could carry him. His eyes remained locked on the familiar sight of the doctor’s house. Luckily, the door sat ajar and didn’t bar his entrance. He didn’t hesitate to walk right in. His eyes were wide with panic but he didn’t register the maid’s startled scream as he passed and headed toward the low murmur of voices at the back of the house.
“Where are they?” He demanded from the startled maid who lifted a shaking hand and pointed toward the room to the left. In that moment, the door opened and Thea appeared.
“Oh, thank God. Jesus, Thea,” he whispered and yanked her unceremoniously into his arms. “Thank God, thank God, thank God.” It was all he could say.
Relief warred with jubilation and such an abundant wave of the purest, sweetest love that almost brought him to his knees. He kissed the top of her head and placed random kisses on her temple as he savoured the feel of her in his arms, and the sweet joy that she was alive and well. He couldn’t stop kissing her; her face, her cheeks, her neck, and couldn’t stop the fine tremors that coursed through him as the realisation dawned of just how close he had come to losing her for a second time in as many days. “I love you, Thea. God, I love you so much,” he whispered, over and over.
Thea felt the sting of tears and captured his beloved face in her hands to stop his random kisses long enough for her to stare deeply into his eyes. The love in his eyes made her cry and she began to kiss him. “I love you too, Rupert.”
The events of the afternoon had been more than enough to assure her that she should never take anything or anyone in her life for granted. “I love you so much.” She was about to speak again only for her lips to be captured in a kiss that rendered her unable to do anything but cling to his broad shoulders and savour the moment.
When he did eventually lift his head she frowned at him. “Did you capture Fornier?”
Rupert stared down at her, shocked that she could even ask. The blank look she gave him warned him that she simply had no idea how much he adored her, and how devastated he would be if he had to spend his life without her.
“What happened at Ridings?” He demanded incredulously only for the burgeoning temper to suddenly evaporate. They both had questions they needed answering, but wouldn’t get anywhere if he kept her in the hallway so that he could kiss her. Still, it was of little consequence right now. He had come so close to losing her that he just couldn’t let her go. The thought that he might never see her again made him feel slightly sick. It wasn’t lost on him that the bereft feeling of loss that he was currently experiencing was considerably stronger than it had been when he had lost her four long years ago. If anything, the time apart had made his love for her grow stronger. He rested his forehead against hers.
“God, Thea, I nearly lost you,” he growled. “When I saw the house, I just –” He shook his head because he couldn’t find the words to describe the emotions that had rendered him useless.
Sometime later, a loud cough broke their embrace but Rupert made no apology for his familiarity with Thea. Instead he turned toward John and closed his eyes with a nod.
“I take it that Tilly, Argus and your housekeeper all got out safely as well?” Rupert asked and held his hand out to John, who drew him into a hug and assured him that everyone was indeed safe.
“There is something we need to tell you,” John murmured and motioned to the sitting room behind him. “The doctor has kindly allowed us the use of his sitting room for a while. The house is no longer habitable for the time being so, as soon as we have gathered our breaths we are going to head to Weatherby to stay for a while. It is closer than Leicestershire and means that I can oversee the repairs to Ridings personally without having to travel for days at a time.”
“Thank God everyone got out safely,” Rupert growled fervently. He couldn’t let go of Thea and clutched her hand tightly as he followed her into the room.
Once they were inside with the door closed, John handed everyone a liberal dose of brandy before he carefully recounted the encounter with Van Heisen. He was only interrupted once or twice by Marcus, who had quietly joined them. News of the financier’s demise, whose body was burnt beyond recognition and was still in the house, was enough to spur Marcus into action. He shared a brief look with Rupert who told him about the planned operation to close the investigation and, with a nod; he hurried off to report to Hugo. Although the financier couldn’t be questioned now, they could at least close the door on the case of the French spies without needing to worry about the risk of repercussions from any of the men’s associates.
“It’s over now,” Rupert declared firmly. He had taken a seat next to Thea and turned a tender look on her. “I have decided to leave the Star Elite. I am not afraid to admit that I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life doing nothing more challenging that enjoying life for a change.” He smiled down at her wide eyes and felt rather pleased with himself.
Thea felt her stomach flip at the tenderness on his face as he looked at her. Was he really asking -? She frowned a little, not really believing what she had just heard.
“I am sure that your father would love to have you around a bit more,” she replied obliquely and tried to push out of his arms only for him to tighten them and keep her firmly against his side.
“What about you, Thea? Would you prefer to have me around as well?”
Thea felt a little shaken and froze at the raw intent on Rupert’s face. “Well, of course I would,” she replied softly. It was the truth, but was he serious about leaving the Star Elite?
It was as though he had read her mind because he kissed her cheek and glanced across the room at John. “Given that Ridings is not habitable and won’t be for some time, I think it is time for all of us to retire to the country.”
“I quite agree. I have just arranged for carriages to take us to Weatherby. I have to confess that I have already written to the caretaker there and requested that the house is opened up and an adequate number of staff are hired to run the house. I need some country air to recuperate and am assured by the wonderful doctor here that I am quite fit to travel. Thea needs to return home but, because of the threat from Frances, I don’t think that it is a wise idea for her to go there alone. She needs protection.” His eyes met and held Rupert’s. “Your father has Bainbridge under control, but Weatherby needs to be returned to its former glory if you are willing and able? It would make a wonderful home and has plenty of space for a young family.”
“Uncle John,” Thea warned and gave her uncle a chiding look for his blatant matchmaking.
Completely unperturbed, Rupert g
rinned and glanced down at Thea. “What do you think? John is right. I can help father at Bainbridge, but it is already working well and needs the minimum of input. Weatherby is a challenge. Do you feel able to help me turn it into a home and a working estate?” This way he would have the freedom to be able to make his own decisions without stepping on his father’s toes, and would have a challenge of turning the house and estates into a home for Thea and their children.
Thea was stunned but couldn’t find any cause for argument. It sounded wonderful but was he really suggesting that they should get married?
“It would be lovely to have Christmas at Weatherby,” Rupert added softly. “You know, we could have a proper family Christmas with a tree with all of the trimmings. I am sure that my parents would love to come and pay a visit.”
Rupert winked at John, whose supreme smile was smug to say the very least. He turned back to Thea who was blinking tears away with very little success.
To Thea it sounded perfect and she could do little more than cry. “It sounds wonderful,” she whispered into Rupert’s shoulder. “If you are sure?”
“Thea, I cannot think of anything I should like more than having you as my wife. I love you, darling.” He slid onto one knee before her. “Marry me?”
Thea sniffed and only had the opportunity to nod once before Rupert lifted her out of her chair and swung her around in a wild circle of joy. He glanced at John over the top of her head and mouthed a silent ‘thank you’.
This time round nothing was going to stop him from securing the woman he loved as his bride. There would be no hateful parents to stand in the way or force either of them to do anything they didn’t want to do. There would be nothing but fun, laughter and a future that was bright with happiness.
“Let’s go home,” Rupert whispered. “I have it on good authority that Christmas is a wonderful time for a wedding.”
The End.
OTHER BOOKS BY REBECCA KING
Further details on all of Rebecca’s books can be found on her website:
Rebeccaking-author.co.uk
TIPTON HOLLOW SERIES
Harriett (Tipton Hollow Book 1)
Beatrice (Tipton Hollow Book 2)
Tuppence (Tipton Hollow Book 3)
STAR ELITE SERIES
Capturing Sir Dunniciffe (Book 1)
Smuggler’s Glory (Book 2)
His Lady Spy (Book 3)
Lord Melvedere’s Ghost (Book 4)
The Lady Is Innocent (Book 5)
My Lord Deceived (Book 6)
Captive Surrender (Book 7) – Released November 2014
Ghost of Christmas Past (Book 8) – Released January 2015
THE CAVENDISH MYSTERIES
If You Were Mine (Book 1)
Cinders and Ashes (Book 2)
Chasing Eliza (Book 3)
The Gallows Bride (Book 4)
Lord Cavendish Returns – Released January 2015
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Archie and the Battleflat Adventures: The Harriman Mystery
Ghost of Christmas Past Page 20