“I know the timing is awful given there is Jemima’s funeral tomorrow and then my imminent departure, but I would consider myself honoured if while I am away, you could consider the possibility of becoming my wife.” He silently shook his head when she took a breath to reply and continued, choosing his words carefully.
“I have made provision for your future comfort in my will should I not return, but now that I have you to return to, wild horses wouldn’t keep me away. Upon my return, the first thing I will do is propose to you properly.” He frowned down at her sternly for a moment, the quirk of his lips betraying him. “I expect you to love me even more when we have been apart for a while, and hope you will readily accept my offer for your hand when the time comes.”
“I would be honoured to be your wife if you return to me still wanting to be my husband.” Eliza whispered. “I love you so much that you are everything that I am. I cannot consider a future without you.”
Her heart; although battered and still deeply bruised; was already beginning to feel whole and warm again. Something only a few short weeks ago she hadn’t considered possible, she mused sliding off Guinness and into the security of Edward’s loving embrace.
She briefly returned his smile and snuggled against him when he slid his arm around her waist, seemingly content to keep her by his side as much as possible as they walked towards the house.
Whatever the future held in store for them, Eliza had no doubt that they would face it together. She had seen enough of the Star Elite to know that they were a highly trained group of militia that made Scraggan’s men look like rank amateurs. Seeing them in action went a long way towards reassuring her that both Edward and Peter were going to be as safe as possible.
There was no question that she wouldn’t remain at Havistock Hall and get to know Edward’s family while she waited for him to return to her. She could get to know Edward’s family and decide on the words she was going to use to accept Edward’s proposal of marriage.
They were so lost in each other that it took them forever to get to the study and the waiting group of people, having stopped to exchange whispered secrets and promises amid many, many kisses along the way.
“We thought you’d never get here.” Dominic murmured ruefully from beside the hearth, wincing as his wife’s sharp elbow jabbed him in the stomach. “What?” He grinned briefly at her, delighted at the sight of Edward staring adoringly at the woman he held plastered to his side.
“Sorry, we were somewhat delayed.”
“I’ll bet.” Sebastian added, raising his brows unrepentantly as his wife scolded him in frantic whispers.
Edward shook his head at them, drawing Eliza to a halt in front of their new guest.
“Eliza, I would like to introduce you to Sir Dunnicliffe from the War Office.” Edward murmured, a tone of formality hardened his voice.
Eliza watched the man bow formally over her hand, before kissing the back of it and standing upright, his grey eyes twinkling down at her.
He was far younger than she had expected and couldn’t be all but eight and twenty, if that. His shock of dark blond hair sat above his handsome, bronzed face that bespoke the fact that he had either recently been at sea, or spent a considerable amount of time outdoors. The twinkling grey eyes staring kindly back at her held a wealth of intelligence and hidden secrets that made her wonder if despite his youthful looks, he was indeed considerably older than he appeared.
“Pleased to meet you, Sir Dunnicliffe.” Eliza replied, before Edward swept her across the room and seated her on the long chaise before the fire.
“I hope you don’t mind Eliza, but Dominic has already brought me up to speed with what has happened so far, with your father etc., and has shown me the papers you and Jemima have taken such care of over the past few months.”
Eliza smiled briefly at him, wondering where this was headed. There was a hint of hesitation in the man that gave her a sense of deep foreboding. Instinctively her hand sought and found the reassuring warmth of Edward’s. She made no attempt to hide her anxiety when he turned to look at her and knew he understood when his eyes met and held hers in silent reassurance for several moments.
“I can assure you that we are fully aware that Jemima was set up by Scraggan, only on this occasion I think it was Rogan who set her up. While I am happy for him to go to Derby for the moment, he is going to be moved to The Tower as soon as possible.”
“Th-The Tower?” Eliza’s eyes grew wide and she shuddered with a wave of revulsion. “In London?” She had heard a lot of stories about the place, and none of them were pretty.
“He will be tried for treason, smuggling spies, smuggling goods, evading taxes, numerous counts of murder, fraud and anything else we can throw at him. He will swing from the gallows at Newgate. Once we have some information from him.”
While informing them of Rogan’s future, Dunnicliffe’s demeanour had lost the appearance of affable bonhomie and he had become hard and unwavering. The firming of his jaw, the dark glint in his eye and steady clenching of his jaw turned him into a true warrior, very much like the man seated beside her.
“He isn’t going to see the light of day.” Dominic’s voice held a ring of satisfaction felt by everyone within the room, not least Peter who felt slightly appeased that at least one of the Scraggans were going to face justice.
“Do you think-?” Eliza broke in, frowning at the carpet for several moments. She slowly became aware that everyone was waiting for her to continue. “Do you think it was a bit odd the way Rogan was so easy to capture?”
“What do you mean?” Peter added, thinking over the afternoon’s events carefully, wondering if he had missed anything.
“I mean that Rogan is wealthy and has many men in his employ. So why was his camp set up in the middle of the woods, unless I am mistaken on the very edge of the Havistock estate?”
Everyone lapsed into silence for several moments before Dunnicliffe coughed and shifted uncomfortably.
“Do you think he was set up by his father?” Dominic murmured, trying to fathom the logic.
“I think that Rogan is incredibly confident, and feels he can do as he pleases. The camp you were taken to isn’t his main camp; it is something his men set up late last night. We have been watching them carefully and knew they were in the area.” Dunnicliffe declared flatly, his eyes calm and matter of fact as they met hers. “My men were watching and moving to help. The arrival of Edward and his brothers expedited things a little.”
He turned solemn eyes on her. “I am afraid you must prepare yourself my dear.” Whatever else he was going to say was stopped by the sudden loud scream that came from the back of the house.
“God, not again!” Edward cursed, lunging to his feet.
“What is it?” Dunnicliffe snapped, his hand going to the pistol resting on his hip.
“It’s alright, you can stand down. It’s the maids.” Sebastian’s eyes slid uncomfortably to Eliza, unwilling to explain further and upset her again.
“Jemima is in one of the rooms. The maids are a little frightened having a body in the house.” Eliza murmured gently, shivering at the seemingly endless scream. She frowned at the hesitation she could see in Dunnicliffe’s eyes as they met and held hers for several moments. Eliza could almost see him assessing, wondering and immediately she felt chilled to the bone. He had news she wasn’t going to like, she was sure of it. Briefly she wondered what the scream had interrupted, but had no time to question him.
“Good God, make it stop!” Edward snarled, lunging to his feet and stalking towards the door.
Eliza jumped up to follow him, aware that Sir Dunnicliffe and the rest of the family were behind her as she followed Edward down the hallway towards the back of the house.
As soon as the door to the servants’ area opened, the deafening screams increased in volume and Eliza felt her patience begin to wane.
Didn’t they realise there was a body in the house and respect was required? Jemima wasn’t that scary. Had none of them e
ver seen a dead body before?
“What the hell is wrong this time?” Sebastian snapped, struggling to see down the dimness of the corridor. The sudden rush of movement as the maid flew past them and into the kitchens startled them all and they stared at each other in consternation for several moments.
“Sweet Jesus.” Edward whispered, his eyes locked on something over Eliza’s shoulder. His hard hands on her shoulders prevented her from turning around as his eyes rounded in sheer disbelief at the latest turn of events.
The story continues in The Gallows Bride, due out on 25th April 2013.
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Other books in the Cavendish Mysteries series include:
If You Were Mine – Book One (released 18th December 2012)
Cinders and Ashes – Book Two (released 15th January 2013)
Capturing Sir Dunnicliffe will be released summer 2013.
Chasing Eliza Page 23