“I did.”
The man gave her an appreciative nod and began working on the suturing. Caroline was glad the task was not left to her; piercing a man’s skin with a needle was not something she enjoyed doing, though she would have if she had been forced to do so.
“Will he live?” she asked, afraid of what his answer would be.
“We will know by the morning,” was the reply the doctor gave. “It is now up to him and whatever strength he can give.”
Caroline shook her head. “But I did what I could…”
The doctor patted her hand. “You did better than most, but even if I had been there, his chances would not have been any better. All we can do is wait and see.”
An hour later, Evan paced and Caroline sagged in a chair in the hallway, all of what had happened weighing down on her. William had nearly died—he still could!—and she shook with emotion at the thought of losing him. After all they had been through, it would not have been fair for his life to end this night; not like this. He had given everything, determined to bring the Duke to justice and save women from harm. From the whispers she heard from the group of men who had accompanied Lord Cooper, the man’s reign was over, and she could not have asked for anything more.
Except the life of the man she loved.
Yet, for all the victory they had achieved, Caroline was filled with regret. Regret for not sharing her heart, for not telling William what she had realized—that her heart held more than a great affection for him. No, it held a love so strong, she was unsure if she could live if he were to die.
The door to the room opened, and Caroline jumped to her feet as the doctor walked out, drying his hands on a towel.
“Is he…?” Caroline could not say the word.
“He is much improved,” the doctor said. “Take pride in knowing that your training is what saved his life.” He tilted his head and gave her a quizzical look. “May I ask? Where did you learn such skills?”
“I was an assistant to Doctor Edmund Brown,” she replied with pride. “He allowed me to study under him and work at his charity.”
The doctor nodded. “Then he was a good teacher,” he said with a tired smile. “Lord William is resting, but if you wish to see him, you may. But not too many at a time, mind you. He needs his rest.”
Caroline glanced at Evan, who nodded toward the door. “You go in and speak with him. I will wait until you are done.”
“Thank you,” she said before entering the room. It was a simple room by all accounts, though it was more luxurious than any in which she had ever resided. However, she paid the furnishings no mind as she hurried to the bedside, her heart filled with joy at seeing William propped up on a mountain of pillows, his eyes open.
“Oh, William,” she said as she sat in the chair beside the bed. “I thought…I worried…”
“There is no nee.,” He grunted, his lips forming into a half-smile. “My story is not finished.” He reached over and took her hand. “Thank you for saving me. Not only this night, but since you found me in that prison.”
“Of course,” Caroline said, tears welling up in her eyes. She would not cry! “I would do it again.”
“Earlier, when you kissed me? I felt something inside me…”
Caroline smiled. “As did I.”
“It was not the first time,” he whispered. “However, I could not put you in harm’s way, and with what I had planned, that was exactly what would happen. No, it is exactly what did happen.”
“And yet, we both came out of it.”
He let out a small laugh but then grabbed at his shoulder with a grimace. “That we did,” he said after a moment. “Like most men, I cannot express matters of the heart. Though tonight, when I thought I would die, I realized what a fool I have been.”
“You are no fool,” Caroline replied.
“Oh, but I am,” he said with a light chuckle. “For only a fool would be in the company of a woman as wise and beautiful as you and not tell her that he loved her. I love you, Caroline Rumsbury, for it is your strength that has carried me over the past month.”
The words were like music to her soul, and blinking back tears, she said, “When we were to part ways in Cornwall, it was not what I wanted. As each day passed, I found the thought of not being near you terrifying. I thought it would take time to understand my feelings, but I realized then that I loved you, as well.”
Caroline leaned over and kissed his lips, her eyes closing as she relished the feeling of his lips against hers. A few heartbeats later, the kiss broke, and she realized that he still held her hand as she returned to the chair.
A light tap on the door made them both turn as Evan and Lord Cooper entered the room.
“My brother,” Evan whispered, “I am so glad you are well.”
“As am I,” William said with a smile. “Lord Cooper, what changed your mind?”
The man cleared his throat. “Your words about what it would be like to lose my daughter,” he replied. “Earlier this evening, guilt consumed me. I, like others, knew of the actions of the Duke, perhaps not all of his deeds but enough to know he was a scoundrel. But, like others, I was too afraid to do anything about it.” The man sighed. “When I saw the bravery of you three, I could no longer pretend to be ignorant.”
“And the Duke?” William asked.
“Will be brought up against the most serious of charges,” Lord Cooper said. “That man of his. Thomas, was that his name? Well, he has been taken in for questioning concerning another death, as well.”
“Excellent,” William said. “And the women? What will happen to them?”
“I’m going with your brother tonight to retrieve this ledger about which you spoke. Rest assured that, in due course, the men who sold them will not escape justice, and the women are to be set free.”
Caroline’s heart soared at the words. She would never have believed they could have brought down a duke let alone an entire coterie of evil men.
When Evan and Lord Cooper left, Caroline brushed a wave of hair from William’s brow. “I am proud of you,” she said. “You have more than redeemed yourself. Those women will be thankful.”
“I’m pleased.” His voice was so low, she could barely hear him, and his eyes fluttered as he attempted to keep himself awake. “But there are certain things I must do once I am well. One more wrong to make right.”
“What is that?” Caroline asked with curiosity.
“May I ask a favor?”
“Of course. Anything.”
“Do not leave my side,” he murmured. “Not yet.” His eyes closed, and his even breathing told her he was asleep.
“I will never leave you,” she whispered.
As he slept, Caroline remained by his side watching the rise and fall of his chest. What had begun as heartache had ended with love. And like Doctor Brown had said, the greatest healing was of the heart. For once that was opened, anything was possible.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Caroline was filled with joy when William returned to the Lymington townhouse two days later. Evan had insisted they stay there, though Caroline argued that it would be best if she found a residence of her own. William seemed disinterested in this suggestion, however.
As to their journey today, a week after arriving at the townhouse, William had refused to tell her where they were going, nor would he reveal some secret he mentioned the night before.
“The sun is bright, the wind cool. Everything is nearly perfect,” he said as if that was the most important topic to discuss. “And this day will be wonderful.”
Caroline glanced at the small wooden box he held on his lap. “Your hands appear tired,” she said. “May I hold that for you?”
He shook his head. “No, you may not, for this is not for you.”
She clicked her tongue in mock vexation. “Keep your secrets,” she teased. “I will not help you if highwaymen attack us before we reach our destination. Wherever that may be.”
This brought about laughter
from them both, and as the carriage slowed, Caroline peeked through the curtains. They were entering a small village made up of only a spattering of tiny cottages clustered together. When the carriage came to a stop, she became curious as to their whereabouts. She had certainly never been here before.
“While I was at the home of Lord Cooper,” William explained, “I spoke of my need to complete a few tasks. This is one of them.”
Still secretive, Caroline thought with annoyance as she stepped out of the carriage.
A man and woman with bright red hair came out the front door of the nearest cottage. Both appeared to be well into their middle years, and they had a look of confusion that had to have matched that of Caroline.
“Are you Mr. and Mrs. Belmont?” William asked.
The man glanced at the woman before responding. “We are. And who might you be?"
“You daft man,” the woman said as she shot a glare at her husband. “He obviously ain’t the butcher. How might we help you, my Lord?”
“I have come to speak to you about your daughter.”
The woman groaned, her hand going to her chest. “My Marina is dead,” she whispered with a sniffle. “She disappeared from her place of employment four years ago. We learnt she’d been killed in London.”
Mr. Belmont wrapped an arm around his wife as she wept on his shoulder, and Caroline felt a contraction of her heart.
“What befell your daughter,” William said, “your pain, I’m sorry.”
“Did you know her, my Lord?” the man asked.
“No, not really. I realize that nothing can replace your daughter, and that no amount of money can ease your grief. However, I hope the contents of this box will help you both live a better life and ease some of your burden.”
He passed the box to Mr. Belmont, who opened it, his eyes going wide. Inside sat several coins they had retrieved from the treasure and several pieces of jewelry. “I don’t understand,” he said with a gasp. “Why’re you giving this to us?”
“I tried to save your daughter and failed,” William explained. “And for that, I’m sorry.”
The woman took a step forward, tears streaming down her plump cheeks. “No one told us anyone had tried to help Marina,” she said. “To know someone cared enough to try is enough for us.” She threw her arms around William, who gave Caroline a surprised look before patting the woman’s back awkwardly.
When they returned to the carriage, Caroline turned to William. “You are an extraordinary man,” she said. “Surely you have completed all of your tasks now.”
“No,” he said, a mischievous grin on his face. “I have one more thing yet to do.”
***
They had traveled a short distance when the carriage came to a stop beside a large oak tree. Caroline exited the vehicle and stared out over large rolling fields void of any houses. The road snaked between two of those fields, and London lay on the opposite side of the valley.
“It is a view, is it not?” William asked.
Caroline nodded in agreement. “It is certainly a sight to see,” she replied. The city seemed within reach if she were to extend her arm, and yet it was at least another hour’s ride away. As she gazed at the collection of tall buildings, she added, “The city calls to me; it always has.”
“Yes, I know,” William said before turning to her. “I have spoken to Evan, and he wants me to return to Applefield Estates with him. To return to the home that once belonged to my mother and father.” He chuckled. “To find a way to return to society and the businesses we own.”
“It is what I suspected you would do,” she said. She knew William’s life had been to train for a world of which she could never be a part. And though it pained her, she had always known the possibility of his returning was great. “I’m very pleased that you have repaired your relationship with Evan. And with your actions last week, you saved many people and redeemed yourself.”
“That I have,” he replied. “I cannot in good faith have you wear that any longer. We are not married.”
She glanced down at her hand where the ring he had given her still sat, and when he began to remove it, she swallowed hard. When he placed it in his pocket, a hole was left in her heart.
“I must admit, the idea of returning to Applefield is tantalizing, I know your heart is there, in that city, with the people. To help those less fortunate than either of us.”
“It is true,” Caroline replied with a sigh. So, this was it? This was where they would say goodbye? “It has been my dream to help others, and now with my portion of the treasure, I know I can.”
“I understand.”
They stood in silence for several moments, and Caroline wished they would leave. Standing here only cut the wound deeper.
Then William sighed and reached into his other pocket, producing a second ring. “I have thought it over—you did see me thinking just now, did you not?”
She nodded but had no clue what he meant.
“I have come to a decision. I have no desire to return to Applefield, not to live, that is. Perhaps a visit from time to time would suffice, but…” She shot him a glare, and he laughed. “What I want is you to marry me.”
Caroline’s breath caught in her throat, and she stood dumbfounded like some silly fool, and he frowned. She did not want him to believe she did not wish to marry him, for she did, but the words would not come, so she nodded her agreement instead.
“You had me worried for a moment,” he said with a chuckle as she threw her arms around him.
“I love you,” she said.
He placed his hands on her waist. “And I love you,” he replied before leaning down to kiss her.
Epilogue
One Year Later
It had been a year since the Duke of Chesselberry had been taken into custody, and word came that the man had been sent to prison. If he had been a commoner, he would have been hanged by the end of the week, but his standing kept him from such an end. An end he did have when he was found hanged in his cell, though rumors circulated around The Pub that he had not done so by his own hand. Regardless, no one came forward and no evidence linked his death to anything but suicide. Not even the guards had any other cause, and so it was ruled as such.
More importantly, most of the women who had been held captive were freed. Free to put their lives together again, and Caroline was there to help them do just that, as were many others. Whether those others were there because of their guilt in allowing such travesties to occur or if they truly wanted to help, Caroline did not know, nor did she care. At least they had come forward, and that was what mattered most.
She and William married not long after he asked for her hand, a simple ceremony in the gardens of Applefield Estates. They returned to London a month later, purchased a building for her charity that had rooms above that allowed a place for those in need of a bed.
“Your husband,” Melody, a woman who had arrived to have a cut sutured, said, “you can tell he likes helping others. He’s a good man.”
“He is,” Caroline replied as she looked over where William was helping a young boy select a hat from a small collection of donations they had received. “He most certainly is.”
Though William had taken on several of the businesses owned by the family, Evan had no problem with William spending much of his time at the charity.
“There,” Caroline said as she returned her tools to the table. “Now, be careful. I do not want to have to resuture that later.”
“I will,” Melody said. “And thank you.”
When she was gone, Caroline washed her hands and walked over to William, who was getting ready to close for the evening.
“That boy,” William said with a smile and a shake of his head. “Oh, the tales he told me.”
“Boys can be that way,” Caroline said as she wrapped her arms around her husband. “But not you. Well, that is unless you are trying to impress a woman with your skills of living in the forest.”
When the laughter d
ied, he gazed down at her. “We have the most wonderful tale of them all.”
“We do.”
He leaned over and kissed her, and her stomach fluttered with a now familiar urge.
Their tale was one of a rake wrongfully accused and a servant with no home. Each had taken his or her path filled with sorrow and hurt, which forced their hearts to close in order to protect them from further pain.
However, their paths crossed once more, and it was when they were united as one that their dreams had been fulfilled.
As the kiss broke, Caroline looked into the loving eyes of her husband, and she knew more dreams were to come; all of which would come true.
Redeeming The Rake (Delicate Hearts Book 3) Page 19