Forever Mine

by Monica Burns

  “I’m so happy to see you,” the woman said as she eyed Victoria with intent curiosity. “We’d given you up for lost.”

  “Thank you for your concern,” Victoria murmured as she groped for Nicholas’ arm. When she felt the strength of his forearm beneath her hand, she heaved an inward sigh of relief.

  “Good evening, Lady Farling.” Nicholas greeted the woman with a bow. “You must forgive Victoria, her memory is still faulty.”

  “So I’ve heard, you poor dear,” Lady Farling simpered. “I’m just so glad to see you back among us.”

  “Thank you,” Victoria said again.

  “If you’ll forgive us, my lady, we’re meeting friends.” Nicholas caught Victoria’s arm in his firm grip and started to pull her away from the woman.

  “Of course,” the woman said as she narrowed her eyes at Victoria. “I’ll call on you soon, my dear.”

  “Abominable woman,” he muttered when they were out of earshot.

  “I take it you don’t care for her?” she said with a soft laugh.

  “I never did understand what you—” He stopped and corrected himself. “—what Vickie saw in her. The woman is an infernal gossip.”

  They climbed the wide staircase with a number of other guests, several who greeted them with open looks of speculation. At the top of the stairs, Nicholas guided her down a corridor lined with several doorways with drawn back curtains. They stopped at one of the last doorways and entered an opera box overlooking rows of seats on the floor below. A noticeable hush swept over the people below their box, and Victoria stiffened as a flurry of conversations followed.

  “This will be the most difficult part of the evening, sweet witch,” Nicholas murmured reassuringly.

  “You could have warned me,” she snapped with irritation. Grateful for the fan Molly had insisted she attach to her wrist, Victoria popped it open. The silk bound slats fluttered madly in front of her face.

  “You were nervous enough—I had no wish to make matters worse.”

  He gave her a gentle push forward, and for the first time she realized someone else was seated in the box. The woman turned her head and stared at them in surprise. A warm smile on her face, she stood up and moved to greet Nicholas.

  “I didn’t know you’d be here tonight,” she said as she kissed Nicholas’ cheek and gave him a warm hug. “I thought I’d have the box to myself this evening. If there is one thing James refuses to do for me, it’s attend the opera.”

  The woman glanced at Victoria suspiciously as Nicholas returned her hug. She winced at the woman’s obvious antipathy. Another person her counterpart had managed to alienate. Nicholas turned and reached for her hand.

  “I thought it was time for Victoria to reenter the fray.”

  “Victoria?” Eyebrows raised in disdainful surprise, the woman studied her in puzzlement. Nicholas chuckled.

  “She’s insisted on being called Victoria since her return.” He turned his gaze to her. “This is my sister, Abigail.”

  “Hello,” Victoria said quietly as she extended her hand to the woman. Abigail automatically shook Victoria’s hand. Despite her confusion, the woman was still surprised. Nicholas cleared his throat.

  “Things have changed drastically since Victoria’s return. We’ve reconciled our differences.”

  “Have you,” Abigail said in a skeptical tone of voice.

  “Yes,” Victoria replied softly. She liked how Abigail’s concern and affection for her brother and was so obvious. “Nicholas, Edmund, and I are looking forward to spending Christmas with you.”

  “Edmund? You find him annoying.” A stunned look crossed Abigail’s face as she stared at Victoria with her mouth agape. Nicholas chuckled.

  “I did tell you that things have changed,” he murmured as he caught Victoria’s hand in his and raised it to his lips as he looked at her with reassurance in his green eyes. His gentle chastisement made his sister shake her head.

  “Indeed.” Nicholas’ sister muttered with a cautious look in Victoria’s direction as she frowned. “The Set is all a twitter about your memory loss. Can I presume this is the reason for your…miraculous changes in behavior as well as you not recognizing me?”

  “Yes, I remember nothing before my return.” The lie was unsettling, and she realized how comfortable Brentwood Park had become to her. It was home. London was a foreign country to her.

  “Remarkable,” Abigail said with a healthy dose of skepticism. Nicholas frowned at his sister.

  “I’m the least likely person to believe my marriage has changed, Abigail. However, I would have expected better of you to have confidence in my belief Victoria’s behavior is a true transformation,” Nicholas said in a cool reprimand. “The doctor believes her head injury is the reason for the changes in her.”

  “Oh.” Abigail looked significantly chastened, Victoria leaned forward.

  “If it makes you feel any better, Nicholas was hard to convince that I wasn’t Vickie. And he wasn’t very nice about it at all.” She looked up at him and saw the look of displeasure darkening his face and laughed. “In fact, he hates being reminded of it.”

  “For that, sweet witch, I’ll extract a suitable punishment in the future.” The look in his eyes told her precisely when he’d make good on that promise. Completely unrepentant, she laughed again, which made a look of annoyance settle on his features.

  Amazement still on Abigail’s face, Nicholas’ sister urged them to sit down as the warning chimes for the performance sounded. Victoria took a seat in the corner of the box, grateful for the drapery that provided a small shield against probing eyes. Nicholas took a seat beside her, and leaned toward her as he caught her hand in his.

  “You’ve handled all of this with a grace and aplomb Vickie never could,” he whispered as he squeezed her hand. “I’m proud to call you my wife.”

  Victoria nodded at his words, but deep inside she knew she wasn’t his wife, and it made her heart ache unbearably. She loved him more than he could possibly know, and the fact they weren’t really married struck deep. Forcing a smile to her lips, she nodded and glanced away as she saw the troubled assessment in the moss-colored depths of his gaze.

  The curtain came up a moment later, and she was swept away by the singing. She’d never been to the opera before, but she’d fallen in love with it by the intermission. As the house lights came up, she leaned back with a sigh of pleasure. The evening was turning out much better than she’d expected.

  “You’re enjoying yourself.” It was an observation not a question as Nicholas smiled at her.

  “I’ve never been to the opera, but I love it,” she said with a nod. “I’m not all that crazy about being scrutinized so much, but I’m glad you insisted.”

  “It was a true test of my persuasion skills,” he said with a touch of irony. Nicholas raised her hand to his lips and winked at her as his mouth brushed across her skin. It was impossible not to be amused by his self-satisfied expression.

  “And you say I get my way all the time.”

  He squeezed her hand then turned his head to look at his sister whose expression of astonishment had changed little since their arrival.

  “Abigail, I saw Sir Kenelm, the Home Secretary, across the way. Do you mind keeping Victoria company and not allowing anyone to accost her?” Nicholas’ turned back to Victoria as his sister nodded her agreement.

  “But you said—”

  “It’s just for a moment, sweetheart. There are very few people who would attempt to reach you here, and Abigail will keep the hounds at bay.” Despite the reassurance in his voice, a wave of fear rolled over her.

  “Although we’ve not been friends in the past, Victoria, I promise you’ll be safe with me.” For the first time, Abigail eyed Victoria with a friendly look. “I’m sure Nicholas won’t be gone long. It’s obvious he’s besotted with you, and I’m certain only the most important of business would make him leave your side tonight.”

  Reluctantly, Victoria nodded and Nicholas kisse
d her hand in a tender gesture that warmed her heart.

  “I’ll return in no time.” The moment Nicholas left the opera box, the silence stretched out between her and Abigail. After several painful moments, Nicholas’ sister turned to her.

  “I’m glad you’re looking forward to having Edmund with us for Christmas. In the past…well, you’ve made it clear—”

  “That’s in the past. I can’t imagine the holiday without him,” Victoria said with a smile. “I’m looking forward to his reaction to a couple of the gifts Nicholas and I got him.”

  “Victoria, may I be frank with you?” Gray eyes so like Edmund’s glinted with a fierce look of determination. Victoria swallowed the knot forming in her throat and nodded.

  “Yes.”

  “So help me God, if you hurt either of my brothers, I’ll see to it that your reputation among the Set will be completely destroyed.”

  “I’d never do anything to hurt Nicholas or Edmund,” she said firmly. “I’m nothing like Vickie. The woman was a heartless bitch who deserved to have someone slap her upside the head.”

  Before Abigail could respond the curtain behind them swished open. Startled, the two of them turned to see a man standing in the doorway of the box. Abigail immediately stood up, and glared at the man.

  “I suggest you leave, Lord Darby,” Abigail said in a scathing tone.

  Taken by surprise, Victoria stared at the man watching her intently from the top platform of the box. Dark brown eyes bored into hers, and he had an air of desperation about him that set Victoria on edge. He studied her for a moment, his eyes harshly inspecting her features.

  “When they told me you were alive, I didn’t believe it. Why didn’t you answer my letter? I thought you loved me.” There was something familiar about the man that sent a frisson of fear crawling across her skin. When he took a step toward her, Victoria stood up and tried to put her chair between them.

  “My lord, I must insist that you leave this instant,” Abigail said sharply. “You do not want to be here when my brother—”

  “Fuck, Guildford,” he snarled. “He doesn’t scare me.”

  The look of shock and fear on Abigail’s face made Victoria tremble. Panic rose inside her as Darby closed the distance between them. In a desperate attempt to calm the man, she tried to make her voice soft and soothing.

  “I really am sorry. I wish I could tell you that I know you, but I don’t.” The response was an honest one since she’d only read a letter from him, but not met him in person. Her answer made him even more agitated.

  “You’re lying. I trusted you with the book, and now you’re playing games with me.”

  Darby wore a crazed expression on his face, and Victoria flinched at his vicious response. Vaguely, she noted the people on the opera house floor and others in their theater boxes turn with eager anticipation to watch the scene. God, where was Nicholas. He should never have left her.

  “Come back to me. I’ll help you regain your memory. If you don’t come back to me, I’m as good as dead. I should never have trusted you with the book. He knows you gave it to that idiot brother-in-law of yours.”

  “Don’t you ever call Edmund an idiot again,” she said in a fierce, tight voice as she slapped the man.

  The slap sent Darby’s head snapping backward. As he recovered, his hand crept up to his cheek, and the insane, venomous expression on his face forced Victoria to step back in fear. The low railing of the theater box pressed into her thighs telling her there was nowhere to go. Abigail tried to stop him from reaching Victoria, but the man viciously struck out at the other woman and knocked Abigail to the floor. As Darby continued to advance on her, fear clawed its way through her as her gaze darted to the floor two stories below. A fall from the balcony would kill her.

  His hands outstretched, Darby’s fingers encircled her neck. Panic driving her actions, she stomped her heel on his foot and raked at his eyes with her fingernails. Instantly, he released his death grip from her throat. The sound of his pain and rage echoed through the theater. Blinded, he swung his arm angrily. His wild swing smacked Victoria on the side of her head. Stunned by the blow, she teetered backward over the side of the banister. Screams and shouts filled the opera house, and an image of Nicholas flashed through Victoria’s mind as she felt her body plunge downward.

  § § §

  Screams ricocheted off every wall in the theater as Nicholas charged into the opera box. The next moment passed in a blur as he saw Darby explode like a gored bull. The man wildly struck out at Victoria. The blow caught her on the side of her head, and Nicholas lunged forward as her body started to catapult backward over the balcony’s low rail. Darby, still unable to see through his injured eyes, stepped into Nicholas’ path. Desperate to reach Victoria before she plunged off the balcony, he shoved Darby out of his way. Knocked off balance, the other man staggered back, his arms flailing in the air.

  A hideous cry sounded in Nicholas’ ears as his hands grasped first air, and then the soft flesh of Victoria’s arm. With every muscle in his body, he strained to halt the momentum of her fall. As he pulled her toward safety, they toppled backward into the theater box. Chairs cracked and splintered as they tumbled to the floor.

  His body took the brunt of their fall as he held Victoria close to his chest and landed on carpeted floor with a loud grunt. From down below, the screams and cries of horror continued, and Nicholas suddenly realized Darby no longer stood in the box.

  Abigail struggled to her feet, a large red spot forming on her white face. Nicholas got to his feet, pulling Victoria up with him. The knowledge of her close brush with death swirled through him like a vicious whirlpool. The pounding of his heart echoed in his ears as he realized how close he’d come to losing her. Over the top of Victoria’s head, he saw the damage Darby had done to Abigail’s face.

  “Are you all right?” When his sister nodded, he tilted Victoria’s head back and went cold with fear. She was barely breathing, and the color was completely gone from her face.

  “Christ Jesus,” he whispered in horror.

  “Oh dear God, Nicholas,” Abigail breathed in horror. “She must have hit her head.”

  “Nicholas swept Victoria up into his arms and left the theater box with Abigail behind him. As he stepped out into the corridor, he met Sebastian’s gaze, who had been sitting with Sir Kenelm and followed Nicholas back to the box. His friend looked at Victoria then immediately turned to create a path through the growing number of people flocking out of their opera box. It wasn’t until Sebastian was met by two police officers that he was able to make any real headway. The officers took one look at Victoria, and immediately cleared the corridor of the growing number of spectators.

  Fear was his constant companion as he and Abigail made their way downstairs and outside. Not once did Victoria stir, and his heart pounded with fear. God help him if something happened to her. He needed to tell her he loved her. The thought made him go rigid with shock. He was in love with his wife and might never have the chance to tell her.

  Chapter 28

  Present Day

  “You have my mobile number, right?” Nick glanced at the private nurse as he stood next to Victoria’s bed.

  “Yes, Mr. Barrows,” the middle-aged woman said quietly and smiled. “I’ll take good care of Miss Ashton. You go on home and get some rest, like your sister said.”

  With a reluctant nod, Nick leaned over Victoria and kissed her forehead then walked toward the door. He paused and turned toward the nurse. Before he could speak, Mrs. Willoughby waved him out of the room with her hands.

  “Yes, Mr. Barrows, I’ll call you if there is any change whatsoever.”

  The nurse eyed him with a sympathetic gaze, and he nodded at her response. With one last look in Victoria’s direction, he walked out of the hospital room. Visiting hours were over and the hospital corridors were relatively quiet as he made his way to the elevator and down to the lobby. As he exited the medical facility, he saw Nora’s red Corsa a short dist
ance from the main door. As soon as he dropped into the passenger seat and closed the door, Nora put the car into drive and pulled away from the hospital. Several minutes passed before his sister glanced at him.

  “So what happened today?”

  “Just like all the other times, she seems to be on the verge of coming out of the coma and then she’s gone.” He stared out the window, not bothering to look at Nora.

  “Have you eaten supper?” his sister asked.

  “No, I wasn’t hungry.”

  “Fuck. Are you deliberately trying to make yourself sick, Nicholas Barrows?”

  “No,” he snapped. “I just wasn’t hungry.”

  “Well, you better get an appetite before you wind up in a hospital too,” Nora exclaimed angrily. He glanced in her direction and saw regret cover her face. “Look, it’s been a week since the bombing. She’ll come around eventually, I’m sure of that. But you need to take care of yourself, and you can’t do that if you stay with her twenty-four seven.”

  He didn’t answer her. The signal ahead was red, and Nora came to a stop. She twisted slightly in her seat and pulled a small bag up off the rear floor and dropped it in his lap. He stared at it for a moment before his gaze slid in her direction. She arched an eyebrow at him and accelerated as the signal turned green.

  “The countess’ journals. You left them laying out at the hospital the other day. I didn’t want them to disappear, so I swiped them.” Nora shook her head. “Did you really think I’d let sleeping dogs lie? You need to read them, Nick. You really do.”

  “You’re hell bent on pushing this down my throat.”

  “When it comes to the countess and Victoria Ashton, you bet.”

  “Fine. I’ll take a look at them tonight.”

  “Good.” Nora’s head bobbed as she stopped at an intersection and made a right-hand turn.

  A short time later, his sister pulled up in front of his town house. His jaw tight with tension, he turned his head toward Nora and forced a smile to twist his lips.