“If my sword kills the Marquess and frees the north, than it is here I stay. It is your life that matters not mine.” Graham patted his wife’s hand but she pulled it away.
“But it could be Will or Nick that wields the sword.” Charlotte’s voice grew more hysterical. She wanted an assurance that her husband would be all right.
“Charlotte. I would not abandon my brothers to fight without me. As long as you live…”
“Stop saying that. We will live our lives together.” Her hands clasped his shirt front.
Graham looked at Ewan. Charlotte turned to her cousin. “Tell him he doesn’t need to be here for this fight. Tell him…”
“Lass, I have known since the second you came up my drive that this was Graham’s fight. It was why it had to be him that married you.” Regret laced Ewan’s voice.
Charlotte chocked back a sob as she ran upstairs.
Laying on her bed, she could hear the preparations for the journey happening. She wiped the tears from her eyes for the hundredth time. She didn’t know when they were leaving, who was coming, or where they were heading. She cursed herself once again for running away.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Graham opened the door and walked halfway into the room. “It’s almost time to leave.”
She didn’t look at him. “I’ll be down in one minute.”
He didn’t respond but Charlotte refused to turn her head and see if he was still there. The pause continued to stretch out and she was about to look when she felt his weight sinking on the bed.
He lay down next to her. Graham gathered her up against his body, his face in her hair. “We have only known each for a few days. How can that even be possible?”
A smile touched her face and she finally turned to look at him. “We were meant to be together.”
His fingertips trailed along her cheek and down her neck. “Fate is surely at work. I knew from the second that they carried you off that I was meant to rescue you.”
“If fate is at work than why shouldn’t we get our happy ending?” She touched his cheek with her hand.
“Maybe we will. But please try to understand that I cannot run away from this fight. There have to be men who stand up for what is right. If I were one of those men who ran away, I wouldn’t have come for you to begin with.”
She nodded her head. “This morning you said we could leave for America.”
“I know. But that was before I understood that it had to come down to a final confrontation. As soon as little Ewan said it, I felt in my heart that it was supposed to be this way.”
“I love you,” Charlotte’s voice pleaded one last time.
“I love you too. More than I could ever tell you.” Sadness filled every nook of Graham’s face. “We have to go.”
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The five Fairfields, three MacPhersons and an entourage of servants left for the coast. It would only take them a few hours to reach the water but much of the day would be gone. Very few inns could accommodate such a large group so they would most likely camp.
Will and Ewan were in the front of the group. Charlotte and Graham rode together on a massive steed. The horse’s muscles rippled under them, waiting to be unleashed and ride faster than the wind itself. Ewan’s wife Clarissa and his son were behind them while Tom and Nick brought up the rear. Several wagons made up the back of the group.
Charlotte noticed that one wagon was full of supplies such as food and tents. Another, held weapons and the last was full to the brim with bay willow cuttings.
As the horse loped along, Charlotte was continually pressed up against Graham. Her bottom was tucked between his powerful legs. Her back pressed against his strong chest. His arm came around her like a band of protective iron. She wanted to be angry at him but with the contact all she could feel was desire coursing through her body. She cursed herself and tried to straighten away from Graham.
“This would be a lot more comfortable if you would relax,” Graham whispered in her ear.
She cocked one eyebrow. “It would be a lot more comfortable if my husband planned to live through the week.”
Graham sighed heavily. “I don’t know how much time we have, must we spend it fighting?” He touched her golden hair.
Charlotte’s chest constricted. “We could have more time if you would leave with me.”
She felt Graham’s body slump. “I explained this already. I’m not a man who runs. Lord Bard is terrorizing our lands. I won’t leave all of the north to face the consequences of my actions.”
Charlotte said nothing, she knew he was right.
“Charlotte, I know this hurts but you will find someone else. Someone more fitting for your station. Someone who can give you the life you deserve.” His voice cracked over the last words.
“You keep saying that. Now it is time for you to learn something about me. When all the other girls swooned over every handsome man, I never did. Not once. I waited until I found the perfect man for me. Even when I first met you, I didn’t want to give you my heart. But you have stolen it from me. It is yours now, forever. Even if you die, my heart will die with you. I will go on living but I will never love again.” Charlotte spoke softly but sincerely.
“I can’t believe--” Graham started.
“Will you love another?” she cut him off.
A grin split his face, “Never.”
“Then why is it hard to believe that neither will I?” She straightened her shoulders.
He kissed her cheek. “Because I don’t deserve your love,” Graham said softly.
“You have battled an army of men. You have sailed the sea and climbed towers to keep me safe. You carried me across Scotland. How can you think you don’t deserve my love?” She sighed with exasperation.
He looked at her for a long moment. He seemed to try to speak, stopped, and then started again. Finally he spoke. “I have known that I loved you almost since the first moment that I saw you. But, before that even, I knew you could never be mine. I have repeated it in my head over and over. It is difficult to overcome…”
“Graham,” Charlotte stopped him. “I am yours.” She turned on the horse and kissed him hard. “And you are mine. Whatever else happens, we do it together.”
“Together.” He kissed her hair and squeezed her tight.
The caravan made it to the sea but the tide was low and would not be high enough to sail until two in the morning. Instead of risking attack on the open sea at night, the group decided to camp out and sail early the next afternoon.
Tents were erected and bay willow branches were placed on top of each structure. A quick dinner was had and then Ewan and Will left to find a ship to carry them south.
Graham and Charlotte took a walk along a river that fed into the ocean. They followed inland until it ceased to be brackish and the river grew smaller. Up ahead, they could see a patch of bay willows. Charlotte skipped ahead and, parting its branches, she lay herself down in the soft grass underneath the tree. The last light of day was filtering through the branches, giving the tree a magical glow.
Graham followed his wife at a more leisurely pace. Slowly he parted the branches and assessed her lying in the grass. His eyes ran up and down her body. His hands clenched at his sides. The emotion of the day had taken its toll. He looked the way she felt. She wanted to be close to him. Charlotte smiled up at her husband. “Come lay with me.”
Graham stripped off his shirt and boots. Charlotte’s breath caught. He was so magnificent. She would never tire of looking at him.
His lips came down on hers and he began to undo the buttons of her dress. “I can’t be slow,” he ground out.
“Yes,” she said as she hiked up her dress, wiggling underneath him.
Graham growled at the sensation and entered her quickly. Their lovemaking was desperate and filled with the pain of potential loss but the pleasure of love.
When it was done
, Graham snuggled her close. “We can’t stay for long. The others will worry and we should get back before the night settles in too thickly.”
Charlotte nodded. She wanted to treasure these stolen moments for a few more minutes before they returned to the reality of the fight ahead. She wasn’t sure when they would have another like it.
Graham sat up and started putting on his clothes while Charlotte adjusted her clothing back into place. Graham smoothed her hair and then took her hand to lead her back to camp.
“Charlotte. We are together in this.” He turned to look at his wife, holding her other hand.
“Yes,” she smiled brilliantly at him. She was glad they were now on the same page.
“When the real fight comes, you must hide away while I fight.”
“No,” the smiled died on her face as she refused.
Graham pulled her in his arms. “Listen. You could be carrying my child. You will have to protect that life for us. We are together but our roles are different.”
Charlotte’s mouth hung open. That part of marriage hadn’t even occurred to her. She placed her hand on her belly.
Graham put his hand on top of hers. “Promise me you will hide.”
She nodded but didn’t verbally agree. She had to think this all over.
Graham seemed to take that as an assent and put his arm around her as they went back to camp.
Throughout the next morning, goods were moved from the wagons to the ship and when the tide was ready, the group began the two hour sea journey to Workington.
From there, wagons were quickly procured and by nightfall the group was moving up the drive of Harlington Manor.
This time Graham took the lead on his own horse with Charlotte seated in front of him. Will, Ewan, Tom and Nick fanned out just behind them.
Lord Fairfield stood on the balcony with another man next to him watching their ascent up the driveway.
Charlotte started when she saw the man next to Graham’s father. “It is my father,” her breath seemed to catch in her throat.
She felt every muscle in Graham tense. “Bloody bullocks,” he mumbled under his breath but he kept the horse moving up the drive.
The two elders made their way out the large front doors and Ewan moved next to Charlotte and Graham.
The smile that split Lord Fairfield’s face was that of undeniable joy. “My sons, you have all returned.”
The Duke of Norfolk looked less amused. He scowled at all of them. “Cousin Ewan, I am overjoyed to see you have joined my daughter.” His steely gaze moved to Graham. “The tale that Lord Fairfield has told me is preposterous to say the least. In addition, while you are a perfectly acceptable chaperone, this man has my daughter in his arms on his horse.”
“Papa,” Charlotte began.
He held up his hand. “Not one word. I knew it was folly to send you on this journey. Whatever possessed me to assent, I cannot begin to recall, but you will return immediately home. We leave first thing in the morning.”
“Phillip,” Ewan got down from his horse and addressed his cousin, the duke, directly. “Charlotte cannot return home tomorrow.”
“Do not tell me what to do with my own daughter,” the duke’s voice rang with authority.
“Phillip, I have married them.” Ewan stood straighter, not backing down from the other man’s look of outrage.
“Explain yourself,” The duke’s nose was now inches from his cousins.
“Inside,” Ewan growled back.
“Cousin Phillip.” Little Ewan called from the back of the group. He jumped off his horse and bounded towards his elder cousin.
“Ewan,” the boy’s father bit sharply to the boy. “That is not how you speak to your elders.”
“Sorry Papa.” The boy halted and dropped into a bow. “Your Grace.”
Lord Beaumont ever so slightly jerked his head in acknowledgement and the boy took that as a sign to continue.
“I have seen Charlotte’s kidnapping in my dreams.” Ewan smiled at his elder cousin.
The duke turned to leave.
“I can show it to you,” Ewan volunteered.
“What?” the duke spluttered.
“If you just hold my hand, you can see it also.” The boy closed his eyes and held out his hands to his great cousin.
The duke hesitated for a few moments and then he reached for the boy’s small hands. A cry erupted from his lips and he jumped back.
“Sorcery,” The duke whispered under his breath.
“Yes, Your Grace. It is sorcery. I don’t know how I came to have it. Papa says that it is from your uncle,” the boy said.
“Uncle Ulrich.” The Duke of Norfolk spoke more to himself than anyone else.
Little Ewan smiled. “That’s right. But the Marquess has it too. Only he is terrible and Graham and Charlotte’s baby will have it as well. It runs in the family I guess.”
“Baby?” Charlotte, Graham and her father seemed to say all at the same time.
Baron Fairfield stepped forward. “You must be famished after such a long journey. Let us go inside where we can talk. Come. Everyone.” He ushered the group through the great doors.
Phillip Beaumont listened as first Charlotte, then Graham, and finally Ewan told their part of the great adventure they had been on. Other’s gasped and once even clapped, when Graham told of how their ship had gone down. A hush fell over the room when Ewan told of how his son had seen the marquess’ death and it was Graham’s sword that delivered the blow.
Phillip’s voice held little emotion as he turned to the child. “Do you know when his death occurs?”
The boy shook his head, “No.”
“Do you know where?” the duke pressed on.
“Here,” the boy said softly. “That is why we have come. Even I have a small part to play.”
“I have little choice but to believe all that you have said. Graham, if everything I have heard is true, then you deserve the heart and hand of my daughter. Ewan will see to the introductions into society and I will see to your title.” The duke stood and reached his hand out to his daughter, pulling her into a hug.
“Title?” Graham asked, genuinely mystified.
For the first time the duke broke a small grin as he spoke, “The KingPrince Regent will surely grant you a title for what you have done. Besides, it would be fitting for you to have a title prior to becoming a duke.”
“A duke?” Graham looked more frightened in that moment then he had while battling an army of men.
“You married the future Duchess of Norfolk. Upon my death, you will become the next duke. Will, I know you already have a title but it will be elevated. Perhaps an earl? We will also grant you funds to set your land right. Nick and Tom will each receive titles and land of their own.” The duke touched his daughter’s cheek.
“But Your Grace, we only wanted to save Charlotte. We do not require reward. Even marrying Charlotte, I only did because…” Phillip stopped Graham.
“I am Phillip. You are my son-in-law now, use my Christian name. Charlotte is the apple of the Prince Regent’s eye, and mine. He would not let these deeds go unrewarded. It is curious how your skills lent themselves perfectly to Charlotte’s rescue. I’ve never seen the like.”
“I have said the same many times. It almost seems as though fate is on our side.” Graham hugged Charlotte, kissing the top of her head. “Now we must plan for the final piece in Charlotte’s rescue.”
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER TWELVE
Long into the night, they planned for the marquess’ attack. The bay willow branches were piled into the storeroom in the basement. Charlotte would sit amongst them with Will outside her door.
Charlotte had protested at first. “We said together. We will not be together if I am stuffed in the basement.”
“Charlotte, Little Ewan has told you there is a baby. Your job is to keep that baby safe. That means hiding where the Marquess can’t
find you.”
“I don’t agree that I should guard her. You will need me with you.” Will shoved his bow in the air to prove his point.
“If something happens to me, I need you to stand between her and the Marquess.” Graham grasped his brother’s hand and Will gave one single nod before they shook on their agreement.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with tears. It had been a long day and she was exhausted. “I don’t want to talk about anything happening to Graham anymore.” A tear spilled down her cheek.
“You need some sleep.” Graham held his wife in his arms.
“We all do.” Baron Fairfield rang for the servants to usher their guests up to their beds.
Harlington Manor quickly filled with the stillness of sleep as the exhausted occupants tried to rest up for the hammer that would surely fall.
But barely an hour had passed when Little Ewan awoke with a loud cry. “He’s coming. Ring the bell, he’s coming!”
Lord MacPherson jumped out of bed, and threw open his door. “He comes,” his voice boomed through the empty corridor.
Graham reacted first and threw off the covers, sprinting towards the door. He rang the servants’ bell then strapped on his sword. He turned to see Charlotte scramble out of the covers. Her feet hit the floor and then she stood staring at him with gigantic eyes.
Will dashed into the room. Graham crossed back across the floor in two strides to reach his wife’s side. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed Charlotte hard on the lips, trying to drink in every last detail of her face before Will grabbed her hand. “Take care of my heart,” he said to his brother.
“Take care of mine,” she called back as she and Will disappeared around the door.
Graham stood for one second looPrince at the spot where Charlotte had just stood. Then, sword in hand, he headed for the door.
Nick and Tom were already in the great hall when Graham walked in. Then Ewan joined them. The four men did not speak a word but strode out the giant doors to meet the Marquess of Huntly. His father, the duke, little Ewan and Lady MacPherson, waited in the great hall.
Stealing a Lady's Heart: A Regency Fairytale (Fairfield Fairytales Book 1) Page 9