Andrews Brothers 02 - The Rescue

by Felicia Rogers

  ****

  Lady Vonda’s mouth dropped as Chadwick’s identity was revealed. She pushed Devlin into a shadowy corner and whispered harshly, “How did you let this happen?”

  “Me! It was your spy who betrayed you.”

  “No, it was you who betrayed me. I gave you one simple task, win Flannigan’s land for me. And what do you do, you place it on the table and piss it away like it was nothing.”

  “I did what you told me to!”

  She waved away his words and stalked angrily onto the front patio. She waved to her driver and her carriage jerked forward. “Come. We must make new arrangements. We may have lost this round but there are others who are witless and not sly to our methods. Let’s away to London and check on the Elis situation. If your brother has failed maybe you can take his place.”

  Devlin felt light headed as he followed his lady love to her carriage and climbed inside.

  ****

  Farrah wrung her hands as Chadwick was escorted from the room. She shouted, “Wait!” The door closed on Lord Greywold and his lady cohort just as the constable, his men, and the shackled Chadwick reached the door.

  Brigitta grabbed her hand. “What are you doing?”

  She faced her cousin. “Brigitta, I remember your letters. I remember what happened to you and the duplicity you were involved in. I know the type of man you say he is but, Andrew, I mean, Chadwick, the man I know isn’t like that. He is kind and generous, considerate, and funny. He has expressed love for an old woman when everyone else shunned her. And when I thought all was lost he gave me hope.”

  “Farrah please, just listen.”

  Farrah shrugged off her cousin’s arm and ran to Chadwick’s side. She lifted her face to his. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

  “Don’t be, I deserve your censure and much more.”

  She shook her head. “No, you don’t. You deserve my admiration. It’s true you aren’t perfect.” He cocked a brow and she smoothed it with her finger. “And maybe you are a rogue, but I love you.”

  Brigitta gasped and Rowena clapped.

  Luke stepped forward and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to say.”

  Chadwick shifted his gaze to Luke. “Don’t say anything, dear brother. I owe you an apology and a debt of gratitude for putting up with my foolishness for so long.” Chadwick lowered his head, when he lifted it again, emotion filled his throat. “You don’t have to drop the charges, I understand. But do you think you could ever forgive me for my slight to you?”

  Myriad emotions ranging from surprise to anguish raced across Luke’s face.

  “And Brigitta, I do apologize for my act of duplicity in regards to you. I never meant to hurt you. I…” A sad smile tinged Chadwick’s lips. “…had gotten the family so far in debt I saw no other recourse. I must admit performing tours with you were some of the happiest moments of my life. Until recently that is.”

  Brigitta took a step away from her husband and drew close to Chadwick. Farrah’s heart soared. Could her cousin forgive Chadwick?

  Brigitta cradled his cheek in her hand and sighed. “I forgive you.”

  Luke had been holding his hand out to his wife but now his arm dropped to his side. “So that is how it is to be. Any others who wish to extol the virtues of my black-hearted brother?”

  Kingsley stepped forward. “Lord Rav-, I mean Mr. Andrews, informed me of his duplicity earlier today. Since I’ve known from the beginning that he was not truly Lady Rowena’s son, I assumed it was a nonissue. Mr. Andrews has been nothing but kind toward her ladyship and the staff. I see no reason to make him leave.”

  All eyes focused on Luke. Niles Max stepped from the shadows. “I know no one is asking me and I might not count in this situation, but I have to say, when I thought I was destined to be handled by Lady Vonda for the rest of my life, Mr. Andrews helped me see a way out.”

  Reports from other staff members shifted about the room. “Do you know that Mr. Andrews worked in the kitchen while I worked in the ballroom?”

  Luke frowned as the defense of Chadwick grew. “It seems, my brother, that I’ve been outnumbered.”

  Chadwick shook his head. “I deserve to rot in the gaol. There is no need for you to give in.” Chadwick turned on his heel and the guard led him forward. Farrah lurched and grabbed the tail of his coat.

  “No, you mustn’t leave me.”

  Chadwick faced her, bent his head until a strand of hair fell over his brow, and winked. She almost laughed aloud. Why the fellow was playing his brother like a fiddle!

  “Oh, release him. If I have him placed in the gaol, then what will all these people do for entertainment?”

  Chadwick lifted his chin. “You know me too well, brother.”

  “You must promise to stay away from Stockport, unless… well, unless we summon you. And no more pretending to be me.”

  “I wouldn’t dare.” The cuffs fell from his wrists and clanked against one another. Chadwick gathered her into his arms and rested his chin atop her head.

  No, he wouldn’t dare, thought Farrah.

  Epilogue

  “Oh do hurry, Chadwick. We’re going to be late!”

  Chadwick tugged on his greatcoat and straightened his cravat. His old room in the Stockport estate seemed cramped after his spacious suite at Ravenwood.

  He sighed and studied his reflection in the looking glass.

  Much had happened since Luke had dropped the charges against him. Letters from Angus’ uncle had arrived. It seemed Angus had married soon after his arrival on the coast, but he had hesitated to share the news with Farrah. Chadwick had feared the news would distress his lady love, but just the opposite seemed to occur. She had danced around the room as if a burden had been lifted from her spirits. Chadwick couldn’t have been happier. He had been free to woo Farrah without fear of her first love returning.

  After their modest wedding, they had had a decision to make. Live at Flannigan house, move in with Farrah’s father, or stay with Rowena at Ravenwood. Farrah had cast the deciding vote claiming that she wanted Rowena to be the first to play with their children.

  Settled at Ravenwood, they both decided taking care of three estates was entirely too much work. Flannigan house and all the surrounding property was given to Lucretia, Trace, and the Hagan brothers. The fight for who took which room could be heard across the divide between their two properties. Burrows land was given back to her tearful and grateful father.

  Farrah flitted past. “Please stop daydreaming, darling. We must hurry. I don’t want to miss the naming of the baby.”

  “I don’t understand why we had to come. They could have sent it to us in the post.”

  She slapped his arm playfully and he stroked her rounded stomach. “Soon we will have our own child to name.”

  “Yes we will, and rest assured we will invite the family for the naming.”

  He drew her onto his lap and stroked tendrils of hair away from her face. Her lips parted and he planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. She groaned and his lips lifted in a grin.

  “Have you thought of any names?” she asked.

  “Several have come to mind. I thought if it was a boy we could name it after Rowena’s husband, James.”

  “That would please her.”

  “And you? Have you thought of any?”

  “Yes.” She paused and tugged on his cravat.

  “Are you going to share?”

  She cleared her throat. “I was thinking Salvato for a boy and Andromeda for a girl.” His incredulousness must have shown because she continued, “I know they sound strange, but they both mean rescued.”

  “Ah.”

  “You don’t get it.”

  “Not really.”

  “Chadwick, no matter how you came to be with Rowena, you rescued me. Without you I would have been forced to live in a loveless relationship with Devlin Forster, but now look at me. Not only have I been reunited with my extended family, but I’ve been blessed with one of my own.” />
  Tears formed in his eyes. No way would he receive all the credit. He took her hands and drew them to his lips. “You are not the only one who has been rescued.” He mulled her names over in his mind. Salvato, which he believed was Italian, and Andromeda which he recognized as a Greek goddess. He grimaced. Maybe in the next couple of months he could convince her to change them to middle names.

  “I see the cogs in your mind turning.” She rose from his lap and sashayed toward the door. His eyes were drawn to her backside and he leaned back and smiled.

  She twisted to face him, her hand on her hip. “Chadwick Andrew Ravenlowe get up and help me down these stairs. Salvato or Andromeda doesn’t want to be late anymore than I do.”

  Oh, yes, he’d been rescued as well.

  Author’s Note:

  Thank you so much for joining me for Chadwick’s story. When I wrote The Ruse I had no idea that Chadwick would receive redemption for his previous actions, but I’m so glad he did.

  If you’ve enjoyed this story I hope you will take time to read some of my other works. Also please feel free to stick around to learn more about a Christmas regency and to read a sample of Cora, book three in the Southern Hearts Series.

  Want to find out more about me? Then check out my website. www.feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com

  Look around and leave a message if you like. I love to chat with readers.