To Take Her Pride

by Anne Brear

  Reid stood before the fire, his head bowed, hands clasped behind his back. He hadn’t heard her enter and she stared hungrily at him, absorbing every detail, the profile of his handsome regal face, the breadth of his bowed shoulders, the cut of his trousers, the polish of his boots. Reid Sinclair. The man she loved with every breath of her body.

  He raised his head and turned to stare at her. His blue eyes softened with love and longing. He held out one hand to her and she stepped closer to take it. His warm grip went straight to her heart. “I had to come.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry, Aurrie.” He held his hands out helplessly. “Sorry for everything that has happened. If I had that time back again I would change so much.”

  “Me too.”

  “Will you forgive me? I didn’t know any of it until Tom…” his voice broke.

  She nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

  “I never stopped loving you. Not for a minute.”

  “Nor I you,” she whispered.

  His chin wobbled and he took a deep breath. “I’ll not let you leave me again. Even if I have to court you for years to win back your love and respect, I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever you want me to, but I won’t allow you to leave me again.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  He closed his eyes and a tear escaped from one corner. Aurora threw herself into his arms and he crushed her against his chest. She couldn’t breathe, but that didn’t matter. She was in his arms where she belonged and that’s all she cared about. He slackened his hold enough to press his lips to hers and then he leaned back to cup her face in his hands, his eyes wet with tears. “I love you.”

  “I love you, always and forever.” She kissed him hard, desperately, grasping handfuls of his jacket in her need to be near him. This was where she belonged, she’d always known it. And despite everything, if she had to do it all again, experience the heartache and the pain she would, if it meant she’d end up in his arms.

  A baby’s cry broke them apart and he stiffened.

  Aurora stared into his face, searching for clues to his thoughts. “Our daughter. You gave her back to me.”

  “She should never have been taken from you.”

  The past pushed its way between them, shifting the mood, spoiling the precious moment.

  “We have much to discuss, Aurrie.” Reid ran his hands down her arms, but she moved away. A log fell in the grate, sending sparks of red and orange up the chimney.

  “I did what I thought was right at the time, Reid.”

  “I know, darling.”

  “There are things you need to know.”

  “I know about your parentage and it doesn’t matter, not to me. How could you think it would?”

  “Your mother is very persuasive and I was too shocked to think clearly then.”

  “I’m sorry you went though it all alone.” He was beside her instantly and when she went to move away he caught her hand. “No, don’t distance yourself from me anymore. I love you. We’ll be married as soon as I can arrange it. I won’t let anything part us ever again.”

  “How will it work between us when your mother hates me so much that she pays for someone to investigate my family? She stole my baby!”

  “I’m so sorry for that and I’ve dealt with her.”

  “You have?” She couldn’t help sounding skeptical.

  “Yes. I cannot exile her from my life altogether, I promised my father I would take care of them all, but she will never come between us again. I promise you that on my life.” He sighed heavily. “I have learned that the mother I loved as a boy is not the woman she is now. I don’t know when or why she changed, but as we, my brothers and I, grew up she became controlling, and Father indulged her. That’s no excuse, believe me, and I didn’t realize how impossible she had become until recently.” He shook his head, as though bewildered he’d missed it. “Tom saw it much sooner than me.”

  “Tom saw many things clearer than most. I miss him.”

  “So do I. Very much.”

  “If we marry…”

  “We will marry!” He gripped her hands. “You are the most important person in my life. I would die for you.”

  “Your mother said something similar to me about you.” She allowed him to lead her to the sofa.

  He held her gaze. “Do you trust me?”

  She took a deep breath. “Yes.”

  He smiled wryly. “You don’t sound convincing, sweetheart.”

  “Trust has to be earned, Reid. I saw you with a girl at Tom’s party. I know now that it was just folly, but—”

  He frowned, remembering. “That girl was nobody. I was letting off steam, having some fun, but it went no further than a few kisses.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “It meant nothing. Drunken silliness, that’s all it was. I’ll never ever do such a thing again. I promise you that.”

  “I believe you.” And she did. The devastated look on his face convinced her it was indeed nothing.

  “But I have been through a lot, Reid. It’ll take time to repair our relationship.”

  “I know, my love, and I’d give anything to have spared you from any of it. Things should never have gone the way as they did.”

  She thought of the lane, of Mrs Murphy, Anthony, Dilys, the Ellertons and closer to home, of Lily and Noah, and of course Sophia. So many people and experiences, a life so very different to everything she’d ever known. How could she explain any of it to him? “I am not the same person you once knew.”

  “Then allow me to get to know you again. We have a lifetime to talk, Aurrie.” His smile seemed unsure and her resistance dissolved like puddles on a summer’s day.

  “I need you to love me for who I am, where I came from, who my family are.”

  “I do and I will for the rest of my life.”

  She stared down at their joined hands. “I missed you.”

  “Oh my darling.” He crushed her into his arms, kissing her with an abandonment that she gloried in. “I love you. I love you.”

  “Never let me go,” she cried into his neck.

  “Never. I promise.”

  The baby’s crying came from the kitchen and Aurora’s breast tingled with the release of milk. She stood, her hands in his. “I need to go to her.” She gazed down at him. “Would you care to see your daughter?”

  “My daughter.” His throat worked and he smiled, rising to his feet. In the hall, Aurora saw Sophia disappearing up the stairs and so she led Reid up to the bedroom.

  Sophia stood by the window gazing out, rocking the baby and humming. She stopped on seeing them and looked from one to the other.

  “This is Reid Sinclair,” Aurora made the introductions. “Reid, this is my mother, Sophia Middleton.”

  “I’m glad to finally meet you, Mr Sinclair.” Sophia gave him a piercing look before handing the baby to Aurora and leaving the room.

  “There, my darling, Mama is here,” Aurora crooned, kissing the tiny soft cheek.

  “She’s so small.”

  “Yes. Too small really. The midwife says I must feed her often as possible to build her strength up, but she’s a fighter. I can tell.”

  “Like her mama.” Reid kissed the top of the baby’s head.

  “Here, hold her.” Aurora handed the baby over to him and she seemed even smaller in his arms. She watched Reid lift the baby closer for him to kiss her again and her heart swelled with love at the sight of them both.

  “What’s her name?” he whispered.

  “Olivia Winifred Sophia Sinclair.”

  His chest expanded and adoration lit his eyes as he gazed at his baby. “Olivia Sinclair, I’m your papa.”

  Epilogue

  As the carriage trundled through the gates and up the drive, Aurora nervously held Olivia tighter. The baby’s arm twitched but she didn’t wake up. Aurora glanced up at Reid, who sat beside her and he returned her smile. She then looked across at Sophia and Noah sitting opposite and Sophie’s answering expression was as nervous as he
r own.

  Everything had happened so fast. Within three days of Reid knocking on the door at the farm cottage she was preparing to return home. Reid hadn’t stayed at the farm, but gone back to the Hall so he could speak to her parents and ask her father’s permission to marry her, which was silly really with her being a widow, but Reid wanted to do it properly and she’d agreed. He was the man she always meant to marry. It also gave him the opportunity to speak to her parents about all that had happened, before she saw them.

  They had also discussed Merv Ellerton and Reid promised that he’d make sure that when the man returned from his bolt hole, he would be quietly advised to stop his illicit business or face the consequences.

  All too soon the carriage stopped and the door was opened by Tibbleton. “Welcome home, Miss Aurora, I mean, Mrs Sinclair.”

  “Thank you, Tibbleton. It is good to see you again.” She waited for Reid to descend from the carriage first and take the baby from her before giving her hand to Tibbleton who helped her down. He did the same to Sophia with Noah following last.

  Aurora looked up the house, at the windows above and then around the snow covered garden and lawns. Tears blinded her. She was home. Turning back to the front door, she stopped on seeing her mother coming out to stand on the top step. Winnie opened her arms and Aurora ran into them, crying.

  “My darling girl, you’re home.”

  “I’m sorry for everything,” Aurora mumbled, her mother’s soft fragrance of rose and jasmine filled her senses.

  “As I am, my dearest one.” Winnie kissed her cheek, holding her tight. “But all will be well now. This is a new beginning.”

  “May I have a turn?” Josiah stood behind and Bettina and Harriet, both crying silently, were standing behind him.

  Aurora rushed into his arms, happiness flowing out of her like water from a burst dam. Her father’s strong arms held her fiercely before he allowed her sisters to come forward and embrace her too.

  Amidst crying and talking, Aurora turned to see Sophia walk up to Winnie, for them to smile shyly at each other and then hold each other close, their tears mingling.

  Reid cleared his throat. “Might we not go inside? I have precious cargo.”

  At once they were all fussing and smiling at the baby and each other. Reid was ushered inside first with the baby and everyone crowded into the drawing room after him. He reluctantly handed Olivia over to Winnie, who kissed and cried over her granddaughter, while Bettina and Harriet fought over who was to hold her next.

  “You’ve made me a very happy man, Aurrie dear,” her father said, coming up beside her and taking her hand and kiss it. “This house hasn’t been the same since you left.”

  “I’m sorry, Father, for everything. For the worry I caused, the gossip…”

  “Enough of that. What is done is done and not all of it can be laid at your feet.” He stared down at their joined hands. “No, your mother and I did wrong to not tell you, or prepare you for the truth.”

  “You weren’t to know it would come out.” She glanced over at Reid, who was busy boasting to Winnie about his clever daughter. “Julia had no right to meddle in what didn’t concern her.”

  Her father followed her gaze. “Ah, but she always will if it is in regards to her sons. You must be prepared for that. Some women will fight to the death for their offspring, like animals in the wild.”

  “That is what worries me, what stops me from being completely happy with Reid. I’m always wondering what Julia will do next.”

  “You mustn’t let her ruin your future, Aurrie, she nearly did it once.”

  “I know.” She linked her arm through his. “I know Reid has told you a little about the Ellertons and—”

  He patted her hand. “Forget them. It’ll all be taken care of, I promise. That man will not be in business for long, of that I am certain.”

  “Thank you.” Relieved, she rested against his side.

  He smiled, his eyes warm. “When will you be married?”

  “In three weeks. The first banns were read yesterday in church at Hebden Bridge.”

  “And that is where you’ll stay until you marry?”

  “Yes.”

  He frowned. “You aren’t coming home?”

  “No, Father, I’m sorry.” She smiled sadly in apology. “I’m staying at the cottage until I marry Reid. I think it is for the best, but you will give me away, won’t you?”

  “Of course, my dearest girl.” He patted her arm in reassurance. “And then?”

  She took a deep breath. “Then we return to Sinclair Hall.”

  He looked surprised. “So you’ll be close by?”

  Aurora lifted her chin. “Just across the lawns.”

  Later, after feeding Olivia and leaving her in the company of her doting aunts, Aurora went downstairs and into the drawing room. Her mother and Sophia were sitting before the fire, sipping tea.

  Sophia glanced up with a smile. “Is Olivia settled?”

  Aurora sat beside her on the sofa. “I don’t think she’ll sleep, Bettina and Harriet are singing to her.”

  “Dear heaven, the poor babe,” her mother muttered, pouring Aurora a cup of tea.

  “Where are the men?”

  “Reid has gone back to the Hall, he says for you to join him when you’re able.” Her mother passed the teacup over to her. “Josiah and Noah have gone to the stables to check on a mare. They’ve talked non-stop about farming practices for an hour. We shooed them away.”

  “I’m sorry Noah is taking up Josiah’s time, Winnie,” Sophia passed Aurora a plate of shortbread. “He’s determined to make Aurora’s farm the best in Yorkshire.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about that.” Aurora bit into the shortbread. No one made it as good as Mrs Pringle.

  “What about the farm?”

  “I’m signing it over to you and Noah, and in turn it will go to Lily and Will.” The two women stared at her as she ate more shortbread.

  “But Aurrie, Tom left you the farm. It’s your security.”

  “I won’t need it once I’m married to Reid.”

  Winnie nodded. “That’s true.”

  Sophia shook her head. “We can’t take it.”

  “Why?” Aurora put her plate down and wiped crumbs from her mouth. “It makes perfect sense. I want you to have it.”

  “I don’t deserve it,” Sophia whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

  “Don’t speak so.” Aurora took her hand in a fierce grip. “I want you to be happy and secure. You didn’t have to take me in when I found you. You took care of me instead of sending me on my way.”

  Winnie dabbed her wet eyes with her handkerchief. “It’s very fitting, Soph. For years I’ve worried how you are. Now I can be happy knowing you are married to a good man and have a home of your own.”

  “And Hebden Bridge isn’t far. We can visit often.” Aurora selected another shortbread.

  “Thank you, Aurrie.” Sophia kissed her cheek. “You don’t know what this means to me. Noah will be as happy as a dog with two tails.”

  “You’re my mother. I love you. Do you think I would stop seeing you once I marry Reid?”

  Sophia froze. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to me.”

  Aurora paused from taking another bite. “What?”

  “That you love me. You’ve never admitted to it in front of me.”

  “I’m sure I have.”

  “No.” Sophia’s bottom lip trembled. “I never thought you would love me as your mother because you already have a mother.”

  She looked from Sophia to Winnie. Both these women meant a lot to her, they both loved her, wanted the best for her. Too much had happened for her to pick one over the other, not that she ever would. She needed them both in her life. “I am a very lucky person. I have two wonderful, beautiful mothers and I love you both very much.”

  Leaving Winnie and Sophia to talk of old times and discuss new ones, Aurora donned her coat and boots, scarf and mittens and left the h
ouse to walk across to the Hall. Snow crunched under her feet, the only sound in the silent gardens. Unlatching the gate, she gazed at the bare trees, their branches dusted with white, their bud tips swelling with new growth, readying for the coming spring.

  Deciding to enter the Hall from a side door, she stepped into the conservatory, a glass domed room full of warmth and light. Cream furniture and leafy green potted plants gave the room a tropical feel and Aurora pulled off her mittens and tucked them into her coat pocket. She had always liked the simple spaciousness of the conservatory compared to other rooms of the Hall, which were stamped with Julia’s extravagances.

  Voices drew her out into the hallway and towards the front of the house. Before reaching the main reception rooms she turned left into a smaller tiled hallway that led to the study, billiard room and at the end the library.

  At the study’s closed door, Aurora hesitated, hearing raised voices from within. She closed her eyes on recognizing Julia’s voice. Despite Reid’s assurances, she couldn’t help but feel anxious about seeing Julia again. Aurora quickly knocked on the door, determined to get it over with.

  “Come in,” Reid called.

  Aurora opened the door and entered. She smiled at him and lifted her cheek for his kiss as he joined her. She then turned her attention to Julia, whose appearance surprised her. Dressed expensively as always, Julia wore a skirt and short waist jacket in severe black, but she looked old. “Good day, Mrs Sinclair.”

  “Aurora.” Julia inclined her head like a duchess.

  Aurora, feeling Reid’s tension through his body, stepped forward. Something had to be done. For them to belong in the same family there had to be a truce or some sort. “Julia, can we not start again?”

  After flicking a glance at Reid, she nodded. “Yes. I believe we must.”

  Aurora slipped her hand through Reid’s arm, hating the tense atmosphere and wishing she was back home with her family. But this house, and the people in it, was her future and she had to make a stand now or forever be in Julia’s shadow. “I know you love your sons, Julia. I know how much you adore Reid, how proud you are of him. I am too. His happiness means the world to me. That’s why I left in the first place, so he could free of me and my family associations, but don’t you see? It’s never as easy as that. Neither of us can be truly happy without the other.”