Love Everlasting (Kingston Novel Book 3), page 32
“Some of those graves he robbed were quite old. Who’s to say that there might be someone here that shouldn’t be?”
Javan glanced around and then headed toward the waiting carriage. “I’ve heard enough. Let’s head back to your house.”
Logan smiled at Vance. “I think we spooked him,” he murmured softly.
“I know I shall have nightmares for a month if not longer after this,” Vance replied. “You probably will as well.”
Logan scowled at him and then nodded. “I probably will.”
“You all did a fine job,” Cheevers told them as they neared the carriage. “I told you it wouldn’t take long.”
“You know, sometimes you can be a bloody arse,” Vance told him as he dropped his shovel inside the carriage.
“Thank you, milord.” Cheevers smiled.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Drake cradled Toriana in his arms through what seemed like the longest ride in his life. Each dip and sway of the carriage had him fearing she would waken. Though he knew she was still in pain, at least passed out, he prayed she was oblivious to it…and he prayed over and over.
It would be a long time before he would willingly let her out of his sight. It would be a bloody long time before he would let her leave his side.
He had come much too close to losing her.
He owed a great debt to Stanley Milton. Had it not been for him, he would have not known who took Toriana. His past deeds were forgiven for his help this night.
Drake’s gaze moved to the blanket that covered her. He owed another debt as well. But to whom was this debt owed? He had many questions. Like who had sent the messenger? Was it the same person who had unearthed the grave and pulled Toriana out? If so, why hadn’t he rescued her before she had been buried?
For whatever reason, it hadn’t been an option for the rescuer…Drake answered for himself.
One man against who knew how many Tulia had with her.
He would find the man who had rescued Toriana and he would pay his debt, no matter the cost.
Drake’s gaze moved to Toriana’s damaged hands and once again he felt his stomach clench even as his heart ached for her. He was so proud of his wife, for her determination in the face of fear was astonishing. Even as proud of her as he was, he wanted nothing more than to shelter her from all the evil in the world.
“Are you all right?” Bartley asked, keeping his voice soft.
“No. I…we…could have lost her tonight.”
“But we didn’t.”
“It was too bloody close.”
Bartley nodded. “In case I haven’t told you…I’m glad she has you, Drake. I could not have picked a better man for her.”
Drake looked up and nodded. “Thank you. I love her. With all that I am, I love her.”
“It shows.” Bartley smiled. He noticed the carriage slowing and pulled back the curtain. “We’re home. I’ll climb down first.”
“You might want to go in and prepare your wife,” Drake whispered, “and her sisters.”
Bartley glanced at Toriana and then nodded. “You’re right. Once they get sight of her all hell will erupt. I’ll send Saul for Dr. Stone. I just hope she stays passed out awhile longer.”
Drake tried not to move a muscle as he sat there waiting. In truth, he wanted to tighten his embrace, to hold Toriana as close as he could and never let her go, but he feared hurting her. Instead he took comfort in just knowing that she was there with him.
He let his gaze move over her. Her blonde hair was caked with dirt. Her beautiful face was covered in dirt, with streaks to attest to the tears she had shed. The dress she wore was also covered in dirt and blood, as were her arms. He didn’t think there were any injuries to her arms, but they would know more once they had inside and cleaned up. It would be his guess the blood came from her hands as she tried to dig her way out of the wooden casket.
Lady Tulia was going to pay for her deeds this night. She was going to pay for the damage not only done to Toriana’s hands, but to the terror she had put her through…and she was going to pay for each tear his beloved had shed.
By the time he was done…Lady Tulia was going to wish she had never laid eyes on any of them.
Bartley came to the carriage door only to find Drake staring at Toriana with tears rolling down his cheeks. So lost in his own thoughts, he didn’t think his son-in-law was even aware of the tears. “Are you ready?” he asked.
Drake looked up and nodded. “I’ll pass her to you.” He spotted Benjamin standing just behind Bartley. “I may need your help in passing her through the door. I don’t want to wake her.”
“I’m awake,” Toriana whispered.
“I was hoping to get you inside before you woke up,” Drake told her with a smile.
She noticed the tears on his cheeks and started to reach up to wipe them, but the pain in her hands caused her to grimace as a soft groan to hissed from her.
“Try not to move, love.”
“I’m all right, t-truly. I know you’re t-trying to be gentle, but, let’s j-just get inside where I c-can get warm.”
Nodding, Drake cradled her in his arms and climbed down from the carriage as quickly and as carefully as he could. Once outside on the sidewalk he looked at her to see if she was indeed all right, only to find she had passed out yet again.
“Bloody hell,” he muttered as he headed for the front door. “Have you sent for the doctor?”
“Dr. Stone is already here,” Bartley stated following behind him. “Kimbra sent for him after we left.”
“Thank God…and your wife.”
Bartley grinned.
“I believe that’s Lord Surrey and Lord Pendrick’s carriage coming down the road, milord,” Kimble stated. “It apparently didn’t take them long at their task.”
“They had many hands and shovels.” Bartley glanced over his shoulder toward the carriages. “Have Hamby, Gram, and Saul help you see to the carriages.”
“Yes, milord.”
Mr. Tadmen stood at the doorway, his worried gaze on the form in Drake’s arms.
As soon as he entered the house Drake stopped. They were all there waiting; her mother, sisters, and grandparents. Even the servants were there waiting. That didn’t surprise him. They were all just part of her family, as they all liked to say.
And they were all staring at Toriana now. The expressions were a mixture of sadness, anger, and horror. He knew all those feelings well. They were all coursing through him like a raging fire, but he was doing his best to keep them under control.
He knew his sweet wife looked a mess, but he didn’t want any of them to think the worse…or to have their fear frighten Toriana.
“She’s fine,” he stated in a low voice. “Well, except her hands. They need medical care.”
Kimbra took a deep breath, nodded, and wiped the tears from her face. It was shocking to see her daughter in such a pitiful state, but Drake looked almost as bad. He had tears running down his face. His hair was in wild disarray, and like her daughter, he was covered in dirt.
“Mrs. Tadmen, go upstairs and place another blanket over Toriana’s bed to protect it from the dirt. Once we have her cleaned up, all we’ll have to do is remove it and not have to bother her by changing all the sheets.”
“Yes, milady,” Mrs. Tadmen murmured as she hurried off to do her bidding.
Kimbra turned to an older man at the back of the group. “Dr. Stone, we have need of you now.”
An elderly white haired man came forward. “Lead the way. Bartley grab a decanter of brandy, we may need it.”
“Dr. Stone, this is The Duke of Hertworth, Toriana’s husband,” Kimbra introduced.
“We can meet later, young man. Let’s get this dear girl upstairs so I can take a look at her.”
Alianore and Kinsley had been standing hand in hand staring at Toriana in Drake’s arms. It was hard to see just what was wrong the way he was holding her, but the blood wasn’t hard to miss at all.
“Kinsley and I will show Dr. Stone up to the room,” Alianore said as she took Kinsley’s hand and practically dragged her past Drake.
“Come on, Aurora,” Kinsley called back over her shoulder.
Aurora hurried after them.
“Don’t be running up the stairs,” Dr. Stone scolded them. “I’m not as young as any of you.”
All three girls slowed their pace.
Drake turned his gaze to Bartley. “Carry the doctor up the stairs…I’m not waiting to get Toriana upstairs.”
Bartley’s eyes widened as he glanced from Drake to the doctor. Even as worried as he was over Toriana, he still almost smiled over that order.
“No one will be carrying me anywhere, young man,” Dr. Stone called out as he continued up the stairs. “Toriana is going to be fine. I’ll take good care of her…but don’t be rushing me.”
Drake gritted his teeth and took a step toward the stairs.
Kimbra laid her hand on his arm. “Lean down here,” she instructed him.
With a glare, he did as she asked and then was quite touched when she took her soft linen hanky and wiped the tears from his face.
“Much better,” she stated.
“I didn’t know…that’s to say—”
“It’s all right, Drake. You’re allowed to cry the same as the rest of us.” Kimbra smiled at him. “Now, let’s get Toriana upstairs.”
“Either act like someone or get the bloody hell out of this room!”
The cleaning of Toriana’s hands seemed to be taking too bloody long in Drake’s opinion. Even in her unconscious state, she cried out as the doctor meticulously removed the dirt and splinters from her hands…and each time she cried out all he wanted to do was throttle the old man. But he couldn’t get his hands on the doctor for six reasons…Bartley, Logan, Vance, Javan, Gustus, and Cyril kept preventing him.
“You’re hurting her, you daft, ass!” Drake shouted as he tried to move the wall of men in front of him.
Dr. Stone put down the instrument he was holding. He stood up and crossed the room. Six men stood between him and the giant man, who at the moment, was in a fit of rage. “You’re not helping matters, son. You’re only making me nervous and thereby it’s taking me longer. Go away. Go do something constructive…anything, as long as it gets you out of here so I can do what needs to be done.”
Drake stopped pushing against the human blockade in front of him. “But what if she needs me?”
Dr. Stone smiled. “I have a feeling she’ll always need you, but right now let me take care of her. As soon as I see to her injuries you can come back in…but let me do what I need to do before an infection sets in.”
With a nod, Drake glanced toward the bed where Toriana lay. “I’m trusting you with her care.” With that he turned and left the room.
Dr. Stone surveyed the rest of the occupants in the room. “That goes for the lot of you. Her mother can stay, but the rest of you leave. I need peace and quiet to work.”
Bartley held the door opened and motioned everyone out of the room. He offered Kimbra a smile and then followed the rest out into the hallway.
“It’s going to be another long night. Let’s go downstairs and get comfortable.”
“To hell with that,” Drake muttered, as he headed for the stairs. “I have some unfinished business to settle with Tulia Henden and I don’t plan on waiting.”
Grandfather Justin was sitting on the bottom step leading upstairs. He slowly came to his feet when he heard what sounded like a lot of approaching footsteps on the top landing. “Did the old man toss you out?”
Drake nodded as he came down the stairs first. “I was making him nervous.”
Justin laughed at that. “Can’t imagine why.”
For the first time in what felt like hours, Drake grinned. He really liked this grandfather. “Keep watch while I’m gone, will you?”
“Where are you off to?”
“To take care of Tulia and whoever else helped her.”
“Before you leave I’d like a moment of your time. Come into the parlor while I tell you about the message I sent.”
Drake raised a brow. “Another message?”
Justin smiled. “This one you’ll find to your liking, I’m sure.”
Drake looked over his shoulder to where Bartley was coming down the stairs. His father-in-law shrugged a shoulder to let him know he had no idea what Justin was talking about.
Out of respect for him, Drake followed him into the front parlor. He was surprised to find Grandmother Masina already there sitting before the fire, reading a letter. She looked up when they entered.
“I wondered if you would get him to come in here,” she commented to her husband.
“Drake and I are not only grandfather and grandson-in-law, but we’re good friends,” Justin stated as he grabbed the decanter of brandy on his way to his seat. “I knew he would give me his time before rushing off.”
“Mr. Tadmen, you might want to bring three or four more bottles of brandy into the front parlor along with a couple dozen glasses,” Logan told the older man.
“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, we could use some hot tea and coffee as well,” Grandmother Francis added.
“Yes, milady. I’ll see to it right away. Also, there is some food set up on the sideboard for any who might want something to eat,” Tadmen stated as the group filed past him.
“You’re a gem,” Alianore replied. “I’m sure some of us will be making our way in there throughout the night.”
“So, what is all this about?” Criston asked as he and Francis took a seat across from Justin and Masina.
Grandfather Justin waited until everyone was in the room and seated. He smiled at each of his grandchildren and those grandchildren not of his blood. That thought made his smile widen. It dearly warmed his heart how his son’s family kept adding numbers to his family.
Drake began pacing in front of the fireplace as he waited. Absently, he noted that Benjamin was standing beside Gustus and Cyril. He thought what an odd group the three made and then shook the thought away as he continued pacing.
Bartley took a seat next to his parents. “Was there a reason you called us in here?”
Justin patted his son’s hand. “More than once I’ve told you I have some very good contacts. Over the years I have made some very good friends. Can’t have too many of those. But, I’m not the only one…so does Masina.” He let the comment sink in as he poured himself a glass of brandy and took a sip.
Drake grabbed the nearest empty chair and sat it down next to the settee where Grandfather Justin was sitting. “Exactly why are you telling us this?”
Justin met the dark blue eyes of his newest grandson and smiled. “I cannot allow you to do as you wish to Lady Tulia Henden. Not only would that upset Toriana, it would upset me as well. It would also land you in prison.”
“I wasn’t going to kill her,” Drake muttered.
“You couldn’t say that for sure. Once you came face to face with her, you don’t know just how far she might push you. But that is neither here nor there any longer.”
“We have Mr. Stanley Milton’s own testimony that Lady Henden, along with her coachman, Willis, your footman, Owen, and two street thugs, abducted Toriana,” Grandmother Masina stated. “That was enough to get things going.”
“What things?” Bartley asked.
“To have them arrested, of course,” she stated, smiling.
“What if Milton won’t testify against her? After all, she’s his cousin,” Logan pointed out.
“He will testify…of that I have no doubt.” Masina smiled yet again. “Did I mention that Mr. Milton has agreed to become my personal secretary?”
Grandmother Francis laughed. “Very well done, my dear.”
“Thank you.” Masina nodded as her smile widened.
“I don’t understand,” Aurora murmured from beside Kinsley. “How did this come about?”
“I don’t understand either,” Kinsley confessed.
“Well, while the rest of you were busy worrying, or off finding our precious Toriana, Masina and I were also busy.”
“Messages,” Drake murmured and then smiled. “You do love to write them, don’t you?”
“I do.” Justin nodded and took another sip. “Right about now, Lady Tulia and her men should be getting arrested or chased down.”
“What if they can’t find them?” Alianore asked.
“I’m sure she’s not going to go into hiding,” Vance stated, pulling her to his side. “Tulia is too much of a creature of habit. She views the ton as her audience and she has to be front and center stage.”
“All this talk of messages, I guess I should send one to my house,” Aurora told Kinsley. “If my father and Casler arrive home they won’t know where I am.”
“Ahhh, another message sender,” Justin stated, sending Aurora a wink to let her know he was teasing.
Kinsley stood up. “Come on and I’ll show you where the paper is.”
“Exactly where is Casler?” Logan asked watching as his sister and Aurora crossed the room.
“I believe I mentioned he and my father were called away this morning,” she stated over her shoulder.
“Called away on what?” he persisted.
Aurora turned away from the desk and headed for the door leading out to the foyer.
“Where are you going?” Kinsley asked, following.
Aurora stopped and turned and nearly collided with Logan. Ignoring him, she smiled at Kinsley. “I’m sorry. I’m just overly tired and my mind isn’t working the best right now. Instead of sending a message I believe I’ll just go home. It’s been a long day and an even longer evening.”
“Go sit down, Kinsley,” Logan stated.
Kinsley looked from Logan to Aurora and then did as he ordered, but every few steps she kept glancing back over her shoulder at them.
“I suggest you send your message, because until your father or Casler come to retrieve you, you aren’t leaving,” Logan told her in a near growl.
“Just because you think of me as one of your sisters does not mean you can order me about,” Aurora hissed out softly.
