by Wendy Vella
“Stay close to me, Thea.”
“I’m going to have my men beat you to death like you did to Jacob!” Blackheath bellowed.
“He didn’t kill your brother intentionally, Mr. Blackheath, as you very well know. And this vendetta you have carried for many years seems a waste of your life.”
“Be quiet, Thea.” Ace grabbed her arm as she moved to his side. “He is not rational where I am concerned, so save your breath.”
“Did he use a knife or gun, Mr. Blackheath?” Ace wanted to place a hand over her mouth but he didn’t want the men to run at him while he was distracted. He needed to stay alert; the odds were not in his favor, and while before Thea came into his life, he had thought he would come to a violent end, he now did not want to. He wanted a future with her. He wanted children, and a house in the country.
“He killed my Jacob!” Blackheath roared.
“Not deliberately, he didn’t.”
“Shut up, Thea,” Ace whispered. The men were starting to move closer and he quickly threw off his coat.
“You’re a coward, Mr. Blackheath,” Thea hissed. “The fight your brother and my husband had was a fair one, yet you seek revenge with five men against one.”
“Dear Christ, woman, shut up,” Ace growled.
“I am attempting to buy us some time,” she whispered, and Oliver realized that panic had robbed him off his wits. He should have seen what she was about.
“Keep trying,” he said softly.
“I will be in the front row when the noose is slipped over your head, Mr. Blackheath, and I shall applaud loudly as your neck snaps.”
“Shut up, you stupid bitch!”
Ace didn’t react to Blackheath’s insult to Thea, but he wanted to. Lord, how he wanted smash his fist into the man’s face; instead, he watched as Blackheath raged at Thea. His anger was distracting him and Ace hoped that would play into his hands.
“My husband is a good man, Mr. Blackheath, and your brother’s death was an accident. It is a shame that your misplaced need for revenge has dictated the path your life has taken.”
“You know nothing of me!”
“I know you have no wife or children. I know you were sent to the colonies for your crimes,” Thea continued calmly and Ace wanted to tell her how brave she was when inside she must be terrified.
“Enough!” Blackheath roared. “Shut the bitch up!”
“Stay at my back, Thea,” Ace said, pushing her behind him. “And run when you get the chance!”
Ace charged at the men, fists swinging, feet kicking. He’d fight as mean and dirty as he had to keep Thea safe.
He fought like a man possessed with a thousand demons, and when he received a blow to the jaw and his head snapped sideways, he saw her…his wife, with her fists raised, swinging wildly beside him.
“Run, damn you!” he roared, but instead she lashed out with her foot and knocked the man challenging her backward.
Ace had to turn as another blow glanced his head. He had three on him, which left one with Thea and Blackheath.
“Keep your feet moving!” he roared as he knocked one of the men out. “Fists in front of your face!”
He heard her hiss of breath but could not turn as he had his back to her now. He heard a noise then, shouting coming toward them and knew only relief.
“Hold on, Thea. Help is coming!”
Will arrived first, his roar blood-curdling as he launched himself at the man Thea was fighting. Turning in mid-air, he then put out both feet and kicked the man to the ground. Luke started on one of the men fighting Ace. Ted arrived seconds later, fists raised, and waded in.
“Stop or she dies!”
Ace spun on his heel and found Blackheath holding a knife to Thea’s throat. Her lip was bloodied, hair falling around her face and a bruise was forming on her cheek.
“Stay still, love.” She blinked in answer, but Ace wasn’t reassured; she was likely to do something rash any second. “It’s me you want, Blackheath. If I walk to you, release her and take me as your pass out of here.”
“I want to kill her in front of you, like you did my brother.”
Her eyes were wide and he saw the fear she was trying to hide. Blackheath held Ace’s future in his hands, the reason for his happiness, the soul mate he had sought his entire life, and he could not allow him to hurt her, would not allow him to take her from him. Behind him the fight still raged on, but Ace focused solely on Thea and the man who held a knife at her throat.
“You know you’re a dead man if you hurt her, Blackheath, but if you take me then you may be able to escape,” Ace said as calmly as his galloping pulse allowed him to.
Look at me, Thea. That’s right, love. Ace held her eyes.
“I’m dead anyway, but now I’m taking her with me.”
Blackheath was slowly walking backward, dragging Thea with him and Ace followed, stalking the man, intimidating him in any way he could, trying to unsettle him into making a mistake.
“I won’t let you hurt her, Blackheath,” Ace said, looking at Thea. She was watching him carefully now. Ace lifted his arm slightly and lowered it, letting his fist come to rest on his groin.
“You took Jacob from me so I’m taking her from you.” Blackheath was desperate now, his eyes looking everywhere, knowing he was cornered and that no matter what he did, his days on this earth were close to an end, either by a hangman’s noose or Ace’s hand.
This time when Blackheath looked to the fight that still raged on, Ace fisted his hand again but swung it backward. Her eyes followed his movements. It was a risk, but if he rushed the man he could push the knife into her neck before Ace reached her—but if she could take him by surprise…
God, he felt helpless.
He saw her blink and braced himself to spring as he saw her hand move. It was quick and executed perfectly, and in seconds, Blackheath had dropped the knife and doubled over. Thea had punched him in the groin. He was on the man before she had taken two steps, pummeling with his fists.
“Stop, Oliver!”
He heard her but he couldn’t stop. This man had threatened her, his love, his life, and he would pay.
“Oliver, please stop!”
The please penetrated the fog of rage that had filled his head. Lowering his fist, he stood and took a step back, and then another. Turning, he then caught Thea as she ran at him.
“My love,” he rasped, holding her in a fierce hug. “Dear God, Thea, my brave girl.”
Her body was shaking, great wracking sobs into his chest. He held her as she cried, and looked over her head at the men who had come to their aid—his brother-in-law, his friend and the footman who was so much more than that, and would always be a treasured member of their household for as long as he should wish it.
“Go and get more men from the inn, Ted, and we shall bind and gag them. Someone will guard them in one of the stables until transportation can be arranged, and a magistrate called,” Will said as he came to where Ace held Thea.
“Sweet Christ, Thea,” he whispered, laying a hand on her head. “You scared me, little sister.” He brushed a kiss on top of her head and she lifted her face to look at him. “That’s got to hurt.” Will tried to smile as he touched her lip, but Ace was sure that, like him, he felt only rage at the bruises on Thea’s face.
“Thank you for c-coming, brother.” Her smile was more of a wince as it pulled at her lip.
“I’m only grateful this man kept you safe until we arrived.” Ace shook the hand that Will held out to him. “It seems you did indeed marry well, sister.”
“She was in danger because of me.” Ace felt he needed to make that point.
“We have all made enemies, Ace. Some are just more persistent than others,” Luke said, arriving now all the men were bound and gagged.
They walked back to the inn slowly and Thea stayed pressed to his side, needing the contact as much as he.
“Take her to your room. I shall have a bath brought up and something to put on her bruises,
” Will said when they entered. Ace nodded, then picking her up, he carried her up the stairs. She didn’t protest; all the fight had gone from her body now they were safe
Closing the door, he then lowered her to the bed.
“Sit there, sweetheart.”
She didn’t speak as he unlaced her boots. The bath was brought and filled, and a tray of food and drink, plus some salve for her face.
“I was so scared, Oliver. I thought those men would kill you and I could do nothing to stop it happening.”
He was removing her dress when she spoke. Throwing it on the bed, he stripped the rest of her clothing. Thank God her body bore no marks from their battle.
“When I turned and saw you fighting at my side, I was sure my heart would give out, Thea.” Picking her up, he lowered her into the steaming water. “I wanted you to run like any sane woman would have, but not you, my strong, brave wife.”
“I should be tending you,” she whispered as he took the cloth and soap and began to wash her. “It is you that must be hurting.”
“I have had years of practice, sweetheart. You have not.”
“You were magnificent, Oliver.”
Her words surprised him, Ace had thought she would be horrified at the way he fought—no holds barred, he had just done what needed to be done to keep them safe. Only this woman would think he was magnificent, his beautiful girl.
“Thea, most women would have swooned to be confronted with so much violence, but not you.” He ran the cloth gently over her face, and like a child, she simply closed her eyes trustingly and let him. It humbled him that she had so much faith in him, believed in him more than he ever had.
“I believe I have told you several times, Oliver, that I am not like most women.”
“That you did,” he said, “and you’re perfect.”
She snorted but said nothing further as he finished washing her and lifted her from the water.
“You’ll be stiff and sore tomorrow,” Ace said as he smoothed some of the paste over her face.
“Then I shall need to use you as a pillow,” she said, lifting her arms as he threw the nightdress over her head.
“Let me see to you now,” she clucked and hissed as she uncovered the bruises starting to form on his body. He closed his eyes as she placed a kiss on each, and then she was leading him to the bath.
“Soak in there now, Oliver, and I shall bring you something to drink.” He grabbed her hand as she prepared to walk away.
“I realized that had something happened to you today then I would have been doomed, Thea.” He opened her palm. “My heart sits here, love. You are the keeper of it, and for the rest of our long and happy lives, God willing, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you never have a chance to doubt that, love.”
“Oh,” she sniffed, then wiped her nose on her sleeve—then yelped.
“Your face is hurting, love, have a care.” Oliver smiled into her misty eyes.
“I have never known such rage as when those men set upon you, Oliver. It was hot and consuming and all I could think was that I needed to help you in some way.”
“My fierce little warrior.”
He washed and got out of the bath, and then when he was dressed, Ace lifted her into his arms and sat on the bed, holding her close. He needed that, needed to have her next to his heart, where she would always be safe.
Chapter Eighteen
Christmas day dawned clear and cold, and Thea climbed from the warm bed to push the curtains aside. The ground was blanketed in snow.
“Get back here, woman.”
The words were a deep rumble from beneath the covers but she did not join him; instead, she came to his side of the bed and kissed Oliver on the lips.
“Go back to sleep, my love, and I shall return shortly.” He mumbled something but soon his breathing was once again steady and Thea knew he slept.
Slipping on a dress, she laced her feet into sturdy boots and pulled on her thick velvet cloak and woolen gloves, then quietly left the room.
The halls were cold so she ran quickly down the stairs, stopping briefly to blow her parents a kiss as their painting sat above the stairs. She heard voices as she reached the front door.
“I tell you my heart nearly stopped, Joe, when I arrived and she was swinging her fists alongside her husband. She looked bloody magnificent, I tell you, and I have never been so scared or proud in my entire life. Of course, we will not be telling her that.”
“Too late, I heard you.” Thea walked through the open doorway to greet her brothers. Both were wrapped in warm clothes like her, with Will stomping his feet and slapping his gloved hands together.
“Come along, sister, as usual you have kept us waiting,” he said, holding out his hand.
Taking it, she then took Joe’s in the other. He held a basket in his free one. They walked over the grass, their feet crunching on the frost, leaving trails that would soon disappear when the sun rose.
“Careful, Thea. The bridge is coated in ice.”
“I see that, Will, thank you.” Clutching their fingers, she then let them drag her up the hill, which was part of the tradition. Once at the top, they made for their parents’ graves, where Joe rested the basket in his hands. Opening the lid, he then pulled out the bottle of Champagne and three glasses.
Below them, the village of Twoaks was starting to rise. Small plumes of smoke from Chimneys filled the air and soon the church bell would ring and they would all make their way there for the morning service.
Looking around her, she saw the graves of Livvy, Phoebe and Bella’s parents, and below, Luke’s family. Her roots were here in this soil—those that had created her, those that had helped her grow and those that she had befriended.
“To Mother and Father, may they rest in peace.” Thea took the glass from Joe and raised it high to join her brothers.
“Mother and Father,” she and Will added before drinking.
They’d come here every Christmas they could. For a few years just her and Joe, but one of them always stood here and drank a toast to their parents.
“Father told me a few weeks before his death,” Joe said slowly, almost as if he was pulling the words from his memory. “That his wish was for us was to be happy, no matter if that is with a servant or a King, and I lost sight of that for a while, Thea. Please forgive me, as I can see that you love your husband very much.”
“You were worried for me, Joe,” Thea said, taking the hand he held out to her and squeezing it.
“I like your husband now, sister. Especially knowing that he can protect you and love you as you deserve to be loved, and can I add that I have never been prouder of you and Will than I am standing here at this moment. Both of you have people you love, and who love you back, and I believe our parents would be happy with their three children who stand here this day.”
“After a few rough years,” Will added. Raising his glass, they all drank to that.
“You are both the best men I have ever known,” Thea said softly, “and it was because of you that I struggled to find the man I wished to live my life with. No one, until Oliver, ever compared to either of you. Thank you for raising me and thank you for…well, for just being you.”
“Oh, God, are we going to spill our innards?” Will groaned, looking down at the village below.
“Only if you wish it, brother,” Joe added. “However, it seems only fear as both Thea and I have just opened a vein.”
“Since returning to Twoaks after my time in India, I’ve realized that I’m not happy unless you are both near.” Will’s voice was deep with emotion now. “Livvy and my son will always be at my side, but I need you both also, it seems, to be happy.”
“That is so typical of you to have the best speech,” Joe muttered, putting down his glass and grabbing his brother and Thea into his arms and holding on.
“So our pact is that we stay close, a days ride, maybe two upon occasion, but we can reach each other if need be?” Joe said.
&nb
sp; “Agreed,” they all said.
“And now I must inform my husband that we have to purchase a property in Twoaks, or nearby.” Thea wiped her tears on Will’s coat.
“Why do you always do that to me?”
“It annoys you more than Joe,” Thea said.
“Do you hear voices?”
Will and Thea followed Joe to the ridge of the hill and looked down.
“Good Lord, how did they know where we were?” Will’s brows rose.
Coming up the hill were Penny, Livvy and Oliver.
“Penny knew,” Joe said softly, a slow smile forming on his face as he went to meet her. Will reached Livvy first, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her soundly. Oliver kept walking until he was inches away from her; he then cupped her face in his hands.
“Hello, wife.” His kiss was soft and achingly sweet and her toes curled into her boots.
“H-hello, husband,” she breathed against his lips.
“Can I share your toast?”
She didn’t speak because something was blocking her throat, so she simply nodded, then took his hand and led him to her parents’ graves. Her brothers and their wives followed.
Oliver walked to the graves and placed a hand on the headstones of her father and mother and said a few silent words.
They then laughed—they toasted their family and friends who were buried here, and they widened the bonds of love that had surrounded Thea’s family for so long. Change had brought these three wonderful people into their lives, and in doing so had strengthened what had always been.
“To us!!” Joe toasted, and they all raised their glasses.
THE END
The Lady Seals Her Fate
Chapter One
Miss Hannah Wooller was tired. She’d woken early to the sound of her sister shrieking that Pumpkin, her dog, was dead. Knowing that exercise was in his immediate future, the lazy animal had pretended to be asleep so his morning walk would be delayed. The following mayhem roused Hannah from her bed, and considering she’d been in it a meager four hours, that had not boded well for either the day or her humor.