Valeria left to find a maid and request a bath be set up in her room, so she could bathe her son. She returned and helped him sit up. “I am so glad you are better, mon petit.”
After bathing her son, changing his clothes, and supervising him drinking some broth, she tucked him into a bed of fresh sheets and left the room to let the men know. She searched in the private parlor, but no one was there. She asked the innkeeper to give a message to the men.
Marcus arrived a little while later. “Lady St. John, I hear that Lord Diamonte is recovering?”
Dartanian looked around. “Grand-père is here?”
Valeria grinned and tousled his dark locks. “No, Grand-père is gone and now you are the Duke.”
The little boy sat up and puffed out his chest. “Really? I am the duke?”
Marcus laughed. “You are, my lord.” He bowed before Dartanian.
The little boy laughed. “I am a higher rank than a Viscount.”
“That would be true, Lord Dartanian.”
Valeria turned to Marcus. “I am eager to leave. How soon will Michael be able to travel?”
“He is awake. We could leave tomorrow if we take the journey in slow stages.”
“I believe that would be good.”
Marcus nodded. “Rest up, we will leave early in the morning. We will make Rose Hill our destination. After Phillip helps Jared get Diamonte en route to France, he will reunite with us there.”
“Rose Hill?”
“My principal seat outside of Didcot. Michael’s home is nearby.”
“That will be fine. From there I can decide where we will go next.”
Marcus nodded. “You are welcome as a guest in my home for as long as you need.”
“Thank you.”
~*~
It was late in the evening and Theo rested in bed. He was not sleeping after his nap during the day. His sore ribs would not tolerate the hard floor. Tomorrow he would be driving his own carriage with Michael, Dartanian, and Valeria riding inside, and Marcus riding alongside. The journey south would probably be far more peaceful without Diamonte’s thugs pursuing them.
He wandered to the window and opened it to lean outside. He inhaled...smoke. The distinct odor was more than what would have been coming from the kitchen. He peered out the window.
Smoke came from the room next door.
Fire!
“Michael, wake up, grab your stuff, and get out immediately. The inn is on fire.”
Theo ran out of the room into a smoke-filled hallway and knocked on Marcus’s door. “Fire, Marcus, get out!”
He ran down to Valeria’s door and found it locked. He knocked, but there was no answer. He tried to ram the door with his shoulder but was unable to break through.
Marcus appeared and together they broke through the door into a room filled with smoke and flames licking up the drapes.
“You take your lady, I’ll take the boy.” Marcus picked up Dartanian and ran out to the hallway.
Theo tried to rouse Valeria, but she wouldn’t stir. He grabbed her roughly, threw her over his shoulder and headed for the door, into the flames and smoke that threatened to overwhelm him. His ribs screamed in pain. Escaping outside he found the innkeeper and his wife in the courtyard of the inn.
Marcus had Dartanian on the grass in the village green and was trying to rouse him.
Michael knelt nearby coughing.
Theo gently reclined Valeria on the grass before bending over to cough. She lay so still. He checked her pulse. She was still breathing. He shook her with no response. Marcus was having the same results with Dartanian. The men looked at each other and mouthed the word at the same time.
Poison.
Another attack came without them expecting it and if he had not been awake they would have all been burned to death. Theo knelt with his hands on his knees gasping for breath.
The fire burned even as the servants and neighbors nobly tried to save the structure. The stables had been spared.
The moon was bright. Theo collapsed onto his back into the damp cool grass as he tried to fill his lungs with fresh air. His chest spasmed with pain. His clothes had been singed but thankfully he had his boots on. Michael had grabbed his and Marcus had gotten his on quickly, but other than that they had no other belongings.
“Mittens!” Theo jumped up and went around the perimeter looking for the cat. He tried calling but doubted the animal would hear him above the crackling flames and the building falling apart from within.
A little figure emerged from the grass. now slightly gray and uttering a wheezy meow.
“I’m glad you are safe, little one.” Hugging the kitten he walked back to his friends.
“I suggest we hitch up the carriage and head south. We’ll keep trying to wake Valeria and Dartanian and seek a doctor in the next town.” Theo set the kitten down next to Dartanian and it curled up around him. “We have nothing to stay for. It will be cold. Did any of you leave any of your clothing on the coach?”
Michael shook his head. Marcus shook his as well.
Theo stood. “I have blankets inside to keep our passengers warm. We can buy clothes after the sun rises.” He glanced at Marcus. “You could ride inside for now and we can pick up a horse after we get warmer clothes.” Theo was in his shirtsleeves, a waistcoat, trousers, and boots.
“What about you? How will you manage to drive?” Marcus asked.
“I will manage because I am alive. I can drape a rug across my legs to help. What other choice do we have?”
“We could take turns, so you could warm up inside.”
“We’ll see.” The two men exchanged glances and Marcus nodded. Theo needed to do this.
Soon the carriage was hooked up and the still unconscious Lady St. John and her son, the new Lord Diamonte, were loaded in along with a slow-moving Michael and Marcus.
Theo put on driving gloves that he had stored in the carriage and threw a rug over his legs before he picked up the reins and took off from Newcastle-under-Lyme with his passengers. The horses were fresh but sluggish at three of the clock in the morning and there were a few more hours before sun would break through the horizon. Theo headed south toward the village of Stone, hoping that by the time they arrived they would be able to get a meal and some clothing. He prayed that somehow his two sleeping passengers would awaken by then.
He was cold. He still coughed from the smoke he inhaled. He shivered and perspired at the same time. After a few hours of driving the sun illuminated the road and Theo grew weaker. When he finally rolled into Stone and pulled up to The Boar’s Nest, he was ready to collapse. He threw the reins to the ostler, pulled off his gloves, and shoved them into the storage space under the seat. He got down and stumbled into the inn to request rooms.
He returned to open the carriage door. Michael needed a hand.
Marcus followed and assisted Lady St. John, who had awakened during the journey. A groggy Dartanian got out on his own, but staggered until Marcus picked him up. The ragtag group marched into the Inn and were given a private parlour.
Theo went straight up to the room assigned to him. Once there he collapsed on the bed, fully clothed, and pulled every blanket available over him. Shivering and achy, he fell asleep.
~*~
Valeria was surprised to awaken in a carriage with Dartanian resting against her and Michael and Marcus on the opposite seat. Marcus explained about the fire. That explained why she was in her nightgown. She wrapped her blanket closer around her.
Dartanian took longer to wake up and when he did he needed to use a container to throw up.
Marcus explained the two of them had been drugged.
She didn’t get to speak to Theo when they arrived at The Boar’s Nest. Soon the innkeeper’s wife provided her with a dress that was too large and too short—but at least something decent to get her to the marketplace to find some new clothes for her and Dartanian.
When she returned, she bathed and dressed, while Marcus spent time with Dartanian.
She then bathed her son and put him in fresh clothes. Still weak from his illness he went down for a nap. “Where is Lord Harrow?” Valeria asked.
Marcus was shuffling cards for a game with Michael in the private parlour. “I believe he went to his room when we arrived. I’ve not seen him since.” Marcus had fresh clothes and no longer smelled of smoke.
“The day is getting long and if he is to get fresh clothing he should do that before the shops close.”
Michael spoke up. “He didn’t look too good. Why don’t you go up and check on him, Marcus? It would have been a pretty rough ride this morning in the chilly damp air.”
“Theo’s a hardy sort. I’m sure he was just tired. But I’ll go rouse him, so he can get some clothing and we can head further south tomorrow to Rugeley or Lichfield.” Marcus tossed his cards down and left to find Theo.
11
When the door closed behind him Valeria walked to the window. “The fire was an attempt to kill both Dartanian and me.” She shivered at the thought.
“It would appear so, my lady,” Michael affirmed.
“So how do we stay safe now?”
“Perhaps Theo can sleep on your floor again and keep watch over you and Dartanian tonight?”
“I would feel safer knowing he was there,” Valeria added. She experienced a little spurt of delight at some time alone with him. Even if Dartanian was there, he would sleep easily enough, and they could at least talk.
Marcus re-entered the room with a frown on his face.
“How is Theo?” Michael asked.
“Burning up and delirious. I’ve sent for a physician and I’m heading out to get him some fresh clothing. I will return shortly.” Lord Remington left the room and shut the door.
Valeria sat down by the fireplace. Theo was ill? He hadn’t really spent any time with Dartanian since he had become sick. Had he? She only remembered him once sitting with Dartanian and telling him silly stories. It had warmed her heart. Lord Harrow would be the kind of father her son needed. And the thought of making more children with him made her heart flutter. The man who had rescued her from the fire, who had been pummeled, shot, and had slept on hard floors all to protect her, was ill.
“He’s a strong man.”
“He’s human, Michael.”
Michael rose to bring her a glass of brandy. “Here.”
“Thank you.” She sipped and relished the warmth that spread through her body.
“We will have to come up with another plan to keep you and Dartanian safe tonight since Theo is ill and unable to stand guard.”
“Perhaps I can nurse Lord Harrow and Marcus can guard Dartanian?”
“Why do that?”
“Because Marcus is married and would not be comfortable guarding me. And you are too injured to do the job. If I stay awake to watch Lord Harrow tonight, I can always rest tomorrow during the day.”
“You are assuming that you are safe during the daytime hours.”
“I hoped that I was safe now that Lord Diamonte is gone.”
“Perhaps his cohorts did not realize he was no longer ruling his treasonous empire.”
“Will he be able to do damage from France?”
Michael winced. “Possibly, but much less. And that is only if he somehow survives his gunshot wound and the crossing.”
“It seemed inhumane to deny him medical care.”
“He is responsible for the deaths of many British troups, he poisoned your son, made several attempts to kill you and Theo, and practically had me beaten to death. And you wanted him treated humanely?”
Valeria frowned. “I see your point.”
“We did not kill him, and we offered him safe passage to France. That was more than he deserved.”
“What do you think God thinks of all this, Michael?”
“I believe He hates evil.”
“But He still knew all of this would happen and allowed it, didn’t He?” Valeria took a sip of her brandy. “I don’t mean to cast aspersions on God, but I’m new to this Christianity and there is still so much I do not understand.”
“I did not realize you were a believer.”
Valeria’s heart sank. “I am not a good follower of Jesus, but I am trying.”
“No, it is not that, Lady St. John. You have come from such dark evil in your past that I find it surprising that you know about Christ.”
“I only learned about Him after I buried my husband and escaped. I speculated that there had to be a God. For how could the world be so beautiful at times when there is such darkness?”
Michael nodded but said nothing.
“After we left we found sanctuary with a pastor and his wife until I was able to find a job. They asked no questions and loved Dartanian and me as if we were family. They talked to God as if He was right there with them in the room. I asked questions and they shared about sin and the consequence of eternal death and Jesus dying in my place so that I could have a relationship with God. I read the Bible they gave me, and I prayed and experienced such peace as I ventured out on my own.” She stared into the fire. “I naïvely thought that perhaps God would rescue me from Lord Diamonte. That I would be free from him.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
“But don’t you see, Lady St. John?”
“See what?”
“He did rescue you. What seemed like a terrible accident with Lord Harrow running you over with those silly horses, ended up connecting you with us. People who know first-hand the evil of the former Duke of Diamonte. People who were willing to risk anything to protect you and Dartanian. How many people do you think you could have found in all of London who would have been safe for you to share your secret with? Every step of the way God has led you and brought people around you to care for you and protect you. We’ve not been perfect by any means, but we are all still here. We all survived. But even if we hadn’t, we would have given all so that you and others would no longer be in harm’s way. I long to see my wife and watch my children grow, but I was not afraid to die should that have been required. I know where I’m going.” Michael frowned and bit his lip.
“What is it?” Valeria asked.
“Theo.”
“Theo?”
“He is the only one of us who has not taken that step of faith. Marcus has been sharing with us for years, but it was not until each of us got attacked by the Black Diamond that we really took our eternal destiny seriously and accepted Christ. I’ve tried talking to Theo about it and so has Phillip and Marcus.”
“But he does not know Jesus?”
“Oh, he knows of Jesus Christ and he understands a lot about God and I would guarantee he could tell you much about Jesus’s life here on earth. But has he accepted him as Lord? Bent his knee to submit to His authority?” Michael shook his head. “That I have no assurance of.”
“I did not realize. I had hoped...”
“Why did you think he had?”
“He has risked everything and been so honorable towards me even when in my weakness, I tried to tempt him.” She sighed. “I thought that came out of a heart like Christ’s.”
“Love can do that to a man, make him rise to new heights. I pray that somewhere along this journey he has taken that step of faith. Theodore is private. He doesn’t always say a whole lot about himself. I never saw him grieve his father’s death. I did witness it when his mother died shortly after. That devastated him. But beyond that he has always been that gentle, even-tempered man you met.” Michael laughed. “This journey has definitely brought out new sides to the man I had not seen previously. I’ve never seen him lose his temper before. Did you now he almost beat me up?”
“Theo?”
Michael nodded and grinned. “Seems like a certain woman has gotten under his skin and he’s not quite sure what to do about that.”
Valeria grinned. “Maybe I need to make it a little easier on him?”
Michael raised his hands. “You didn’t hear it from me. I’m staying out of this.” He set his hands down on the arms of th
e chair and grinned. “But I’ll be praying for your success, my lady.”
Valeria grinned in response. She liked Theo’s friends.
~*~
Theo felt like he had been run over by a carriage pulled by at least four horses. He coughed, and his lungs ached. His lips grew parched but soft hands lifted his head and cool, soothing water passed through his lips. He could not make out the voices but he recognized someone was there on the fringes of his consciousness. Valeria. Where was Valeria? Was she all right? He remembered a gun to her head. What happened after that? He remembered her close to him wrapped in only a cotton nightrail, her form thrown over his shoulders. Flames. Smoke. Terror that he had not been in time. Was she all right? Had she awakened? He tossed his head trying to remember but soft hands and a cool cloth were placed across his forehead.
A little while later his body was stripped of his clothes and he was half-dragged, half-carried to a bathtub. He shivered even though the water was warm. Whoever was torturing him poured water over his head. He was dried off and dressed and soon he found himself wrapped up in a cocoon of blankets. He smiled. Finally, he could rest. But Valeria. Where was she? Why couldn’t he know if she was all right? A soothing voice and a gentle hand eased him as he drifted into a fitful sleep.
~*~
Valeria stayed with Theo most of the time. At night Marcus slept on the floor with Dartanian near the fireplace as she rested in a chair by Theo’s bed, watching over him.
Michael helped keep guard during the day.
Theo kept calling her name and she tried to soothe him, but he seemed fearful. It warmed her heart that his concern was for her safety and well-being. It made her sad that he was being tortured by dreams of recent events with no consolation that they resolved well.
Dartanian was enjoying his time with Marcus and Michael as they worked at teaching him how to read and play simple card games. Marcus would also take him out for long walks to help tire him out.
Theo remained sick for three days. Marcus sent a note to Rose Hill to inform them of their delay and that they hoped to be en route soon.
Valeria spent much time praying for Theo and reading out loud to him from a Holy Bible the innkeeper lent her.
Lord Harrow's Heart Page 14