Watkins awakened him. “My lord. You have company and it is almost time for dinner.”
“What?” Theo’s brain was encased in cotton and he was tempted to stay and sleep. Why was he so tired? His leg throbbed with intensity. With great effort, he worked with Watkins to repair his appearance and to descend the stairs using his crutch.
~*~
Valeria entered the drawing room before dinner expecting Theo to be there before her. Instead she was caught off guard by the appearance of her brother-in-law. “Michael! I hadn’t been informed you arrived. What a delightful surprise.”
Michael appraised her with sharp eyes.
She was sure she paled as she often did when seeing him without anticipating it. The physical resemblance to Damon was strong.
“I would have thought Theo would have informed you to lessen the shock of my presence. I pray that someday you will not have to remind yourself that I am not my brother.”
Valeria came over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. With most men she was at eye level or looked up to—but Michael, like Damon, she actually had to bend over slightly to do such a thing. It made her self-conscious of her height. “You are always welcome here, Michael, whether I expect you or not.”
Michael grinned and lifted her hand up to his mouth for a kiss. “You are good for Theo. I’m grateful that he has you.”
“You are too kind. Any woman would have been fortunate to be married to Lord Harrow, Michael. I still cannot believe the way God has blessed me after all we’ve been through.”
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Theodore entered on his crutch.
Valeria rushed over to help him.
Theo grinned. “See what happened to me? I marry and am already being treated as if I am in my dotage.”
“Do not expect me to be waiting on you when you are better,” Valeria replied. She helped Theo sit and no sooner had she done so than Wiggins came to alert them that dinner was served.
Both Michael and Valeria assisted Theo to the dining room where a merry meal was had.
Valeria lay in Theo’s arms that night, more content than she ever remembered being. “I do love you, Theodore,” she whispered in his ear.
“Hmmm?” He’d been drifting to sleep but turned his head to kiss her.
“I’m glad your friends will help us.”
“Me, too,” he mumbled.
“I would hate it if anything happened to you. I would hate to be a widow twice.”
“Hmmm.”
“The only way that would be acceptable is if I killed you myself.”
“What?”
Theo’s body shook as he tried to wake up enough to make out what she was saying. She bit back a grin. “Well, if you die, I would rather it be for something important. Like not buying me a certain piece of jewelry I liked or not giving me enough pin money. Or perhaps neglecting to take me to the opera.”
“Hmmm.”
“The only question is just how I would go about doing the deed. A gun is too quick, but poison has its merits.”
“Valeria?”
“What?”
“Kiss me and stop talking. If anything will kill me right now, that will.”
“The kissing or the talking?”
She never did hear his response as their lips met, but she wasn’t complaining.
The next day, Valeria chafed at the imprisonment of being in the house. She understood Theo’s concerns since the shooting, but she was being controlled much like she had been during her previous marriage. She understood Theo meant well, but it was lonely being here with no other women to talk to. Michael was entertaining company, but he preferred to spend time with Theo.
She doubted Lord Wolton would attack close to the house, so she slipped out the side door to the garden while Theo and Michael visited in his study.
The day promised to be warm and the sun was already drying up the dew on the grass and leaves. The spring garden was in full bloom and she meandered through the paths filled with flowers and shrubs of many varieties.
The garden had the same softness she saw in her husband. Not a tightly confined and precise garden such as she would expect from someone like Phillip—but this one reflected its owner. Knowing he’d not spent much time here, the attention to this aspect of the property surprised her.
She finally reached a gazebo she had spied from the nursery window and sat in its shade to take in the beauty of all that was around her.
How had she come all the way from war in France and being orphaned, to being a tortured bride, a widow in hiding, and to this life she now led? How did she go from having such a dark marriage to this one filled with gentleness and light?
They had been spending time each evening reading Scripture to each other and discussing what they read. Both were so new in their faith they were eager to grow and understand who this knowable God was. He was so much bigger and powerful than she had ever grasped. She smiled as she realized that the gods that Lord Diamonte served, as powerful as they were, were never more powerful than Jesus Christ. While she still feared the evil that surrounded the Black Diamond and Lord Wolton, she remembered that her God was ultimately the victor. She still struggled to trust Him, but primarily because she didn’t know Him well enough yet.
But they both would. Just the thought of those precious times with her husband made her smile.
Blessed. She was truly blessed.
She glanced back at the house that rose up so beautifully from the earth. She was taken aback to see smoke rising from the third floor. She watched as it thickened, and then panic rose up within her.
The nursery was on fire!
She ran to the house screaming.
Michael ran out of the study. “What is wrong?”
“The nursery is on fire. Dartanian! We must get Dartanian out!” She took to the stairs.
Michael held her back. “I will go. Please, rouse the rest of the staff and start a water brigade. And find Theo.”
Valeria fought back the tears. “Please hurry!”
Michael ran up the stairs two at a time and Valeria ran to the kitchens, calling for staff along the way.
Fire. Again. A fire. It must be Wolton.
The water started to be pumped and buckets handed over and carried up the stairs by servants.
Valeria helped in the relay when it dawned on her. Theo! Where was he? He couldn’t move very fast with his leg. She broke rank to run back into the house.
Theo came down the stairs with Dartanian and the kitten snuggled against his chest. No crutch, but pain was etched clearly on his face. He was covered in smoke and his clothes were singed.
She took Dartanian from him. “Theo. Come with me.” She tried to help him further down the stairs.
“No. I am needed to fight the fire. I must join Michael who is at the head of the bucket brigade. It’s my home. My responsibility.”
“Theo,” she pleaded.
He moved up the stairs and her heart went with him. Knowing it was useless to argue, she took Dartanian from the house and went away to a spot where she could view the progress from a point of safety.
Dartanian coughed but he seemed unharmed.
“Père?” he asked.
“He went back to fight the fire, Dartanian. Let us pray he stays safe.”
“Oui, Maman.” Together they bent their heads and prayed.
With the noise from the fire licking the outside of the third floor and the smoke billowing out from a window that had exploded, she failed to hear horses coming into the yard.
“Lady Harrow!” Phillip rode up. “What happened?”
“A fire in the nursery. Michael and Theo are there. Theo has a broken leg. He is not in a position to be helping.”
“Katrina and Beth are close behind me.” He dismounted and ran into the front doors that she had left wide open. Smoke had started to come through there as well.
The carriage pulled up. Valeria was embraced by the two women as their nurse took charge of
the children and Dartanian.
The smoke slowed and while the stone on the outside of the house was singed, the fire was contained to the nursery alone.
Michael escorted Valeria to her husband who had been taken to his room. “There’s your hero.”
“Thank you, Michael. I believe your wife is waiting for you.”
He bowed and closed the door as he departed.
Valeria rushed to be by her husband’s side. He lay so still on the bed. “Theo?”
He opened his eyes and looked at her. Tears came down. “Dartanian?”
“He is fine. He told me how he was trapped within the flames and how you came through to get him out. How you did that without him being singed…”
“Kiss me.”
“What?”
“I love you. Kiss me. Please.”
Valeria sat down on the bed next to him. He smelled of smoke. She leaned over and kissed him. Long. Lingering. Lovely. She broke it off and the tears finally came. “I could not have born losing you.”
“It would not give you a good reputation.”
“What?”
“Well, if your husbands keep dying, no one will want to marry you.”
“Really?”
“Guess I’ll be forced to stay alive to keep you from that fate.”
Valeria grinned and kissed him again.
His valet interrupted them with the news that the bath for Lord Harrow was ready for him.
Valeria smiled at her husband. “Thank you, Watkins. I will tend to his lordship. Please have food brought up in an hour.”
Theo’s brows rose when she mentioned bathing him, but he grinned.
Their guests did not see them for the rest of the day.
17
“The nursery will need to be gutted and redone,” Theo told his friends the next day as he sat with his leg propped up on an ottoman.
“Your home is large enough that it will not inconvenience you too badly. But I’m sorry you lost all those childhood memories.” Phillip stood, looking out the window at the rain as it fell.
“Dartanian deserves his own memories. I have the fortune to spend on him. I’m grateful no one was hurt.” Theo frowned. “I wish I knew how it started though. Was it an accident or was it intentional? With everything that has happened I am becoming paranoid about every disaster that befalls us.”
“You have every justification for paranoia, Theo.” Michael sat across from him with his legs outstretched, twiddling his thumbs.
“I realize you all just arrived, but I’m tempted to take Valeria and Dartanian to London,” Theo said.
“You cannot dance attendance on her there with that leg. I think you should wait a few weeks until you are more healed up.”
Theo growled. “I feel as if we are sitting ducks here.”
“The enemy would have an easier time getting to you or Valeria or Dartanian if you were in London. It will be far easier to post guards here and keep you all safe.” Phillip sat across from him. “We’ll be here to keep you company and provide extra protection.”
“I’m grateful.” Theo leaned his head back as a fresh wave of pain from his leg flowed over him.
“Still hurts?” Michael asked.
“Even worse after yesterday.” Theo rubbed it, wincing as he touched his thigh.
“Perhaps you should be resting in bed?” Phillip suggested.
“I cannot do that.”
“Why?” Michael asked. “We can fend for ourselves. You do not need to entertain us.”
“I would go crazy up in that room alone.”
“We could send your wife to be with you. Then we would always know where the two of you are—together and safe.” Michael winked at Phillip who grinned.
Theo’s face grew warm.
~*~
Valeria visited with Katrina and Beth out in the gazebo.
“This is where you first spotted the fire?” Katrina asked as they all looked at the back of the house and the burned marks on the stone around the third-floor nursery windows.
Valeria nodded. “I’m so grateful that both Dartanian and Theo survived.”
“I’m amazed that Theo not only rescued Dartanian with a broken leg but then proceeded to fight the fire. He never spent much time here. I didn’t realize how attached he was to this place. I wouldn’t have thought he would care.” Katrina spoke softly as she gazed at the estate.
“Perhaps now that he has a family to share it with it has more value?” Beth smiled at Valeria. “How has it been to be married to Theo? Is it everything you would have hoped for?”
Valeria stood but did not say anything. What could she say? She had been married only a few weeks but had still not consummated the marriage. With Theo’s injury, she suspected it would be a few more weeks before he might make an attempt.
“Valeria?” Beth asked. “Is everything well between you and Theo?”
Valeria turned at the concern and love she heard in her friend’s voice. “He is gentle and kind, and I am content in our marriage.”
“That doesn’t sound honeymoonish to me.” Katrina teased.
Valeria sighed. “Maybe we haven’t had our honeymoon yet.”
“I would have thought, with the way he looked at you, that you would have been fortunate to have made it to the first inn.” Beth giggled.
“He drove the carriage. I rode inside. Not physically possible.” Valeria folded her arms as she looked to the wooded area in the distance. Something shimmered in the sunlight. “Duck!”
The report of a gun was heard, but the women had already hit the floor of the gazebo as a bullet whizzed past and embedded itself in the post opposite where Valeria had been standing.
The three women crept low out of the gazebo, quickly maneuvered to the protection of some bushes, and ran to the house. They rushed down the hallway and stopped outside Theo’s study.
The three women were breathing heavily and still holding hands. Valeria let go of Beth’s hand and knocked on the door.
“Enter,” came Theo’s voice.
She opened the door.
Each woman made a beeline for their husbands. Beth went to Phillip who was standing and wrapped her arms around him. Katrina launched herself in to Michael’s lap, sitting sideways, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her head in his shoulder. Valeria looked at Theo and he held out his hand to her. She came and sat down on the loveseat next to him and gave him a kiss.
Valeria took a deep breath. “We were out in the gazebo, visiting.”
“Valeria was shot at,” Katrina said softly.
Michael sat up straight almost knocking his wife off his lap.
Phillip hugged Beth closer and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Theo placed a hand on Valeria’s jaw. “Were you injured?” He was furious. His muscles had tightened along his entire body. His mouth was set in a firm line and his eyes were a steely grey.
“I spied something shiny and saw a flash. We ducked before the report and the bullet reached us.”
“You will need to stay in the house until we have this resolved,” Theo said.
Valeria pouted.
“I think he’s being wise, Val,” Michael said. “All of you need to stay put.”
Valeria nodded.
Theo drew her close and gave her a kiss.
She melted into his embrace, planting a hand on his chest, forgetting about the company in the room.
A throat cleared breaking through her haze. For a moment, she had forgotten about the bullet and their guests.
Theo broke the kiss and gave her a broad grin.
Phillip was the first to excuse himself and Beth. They left the room, soon followed by Michael and Katrina.
Valeria laid her head on Theo’s shoulder and his arm wrapped around her.
“I am thankful God spared you, sweetheart.” He kissed her forehead.
“Me, too. My eternal home is with Him, but I would like to live in this one for a few years with you first.”
The
o gave her a lingering kiss. He broke it off and grinned. “Do you think you could help a poor, crippled man to his room?”
“Will you also need some help when you get there?” Valeria stood and pulled him up.
He reached for his crutch. “I most certainly will need some help when I get there.” He gave her a grin and a quick kiss.
Together they managed to get up the stairs to their suite.
~*~
Theo lay in bed with Valeria tucked up beside him, asleep. He gently caressed her shoulder. His leg throbbed, and his heart ached at the idea of losing her. Lord, help me find Wolton so we can live free of this fear. He was tortured by thoughts of losing his wife and frustrated that they had become so comfortable together. Due to his leg he had not felt comfortable pursuing her physically beyond the kisses and a few caresses. She had not complained, but she was frustrated. He could see, hear, and feel the desire in her. He fought against those emotions himself.
Finally, he was willing to pursue this and his body was unable to accommodate him. The splint was too high up and the pain far more severe since the fire. That one event set his healing back and it frustrated him. He was grateful for one result of his broken leg though, and that was the comfort he found every night having his beautiful wife by his side.
~*~
The next week passed quickly, with the women spending time together and with the children, and Michael and Phillip scouting the area and asking questions of the villagers. No strangers had been seen in the neighborhood. A letter finally arrived from Marcus, along with a few men.
Dear Theodore,
I’m sending several Bow Street Runners to help provide protection for you and help you find Wolton. There has been no sign of him in London, but that is not unusual as this is not a frequent haunt of his. We are praying for your safety and hope to join you there soon.
Stay safe, my friend,
Remy
The Runners were set up around the property wearing Harrow livery and one was in the house specifically to protect Dartanian.
Theo should be more at ease, but as time went on, he lived in a state of agitation, waiting for the next catastrophe to hit but not knowing where it would come from.
Marcus and Josie arrived within the week and the house was filled with laughter and chaos of old friends and new, along with many young children, of which Dartanian was the oldest. Help had been hired from the village to work on restoring the nursery.
Lord Harrow's Heart Page 21