by Lynn Landes
She lifts a tear-stained face to look at him, “I'm still the Mouse, Declan. Hiding in the shadows, afraid that I can’t be what you need.”
“No, you’re a warrior, London. I need that part of you to fight for us. We only just found each other. I won’t lose you now!”
Looking into his eyes, he snarls at her, “Say it!” His eyes stare into hers, and all her doubt falls away.
“I love you, Declan, I want to spend my life with you as your partner, friend, lover, wife, and mother of your children,” she is stunned to see tears in his beautiful eyes.
“Our contract is now void, Lady Sheridan. I’m never letting you go,” he kisses her hungrily this time, all doubt worry and fear, fades away, replaced by joy, and a craving for each other. They leave their guests to fend for themselves and stay locked in each other’s embrace until the morning.
Chapter 30
“I’ve hired Jonathan to provide security for you until Tessa Hubbard is arrested,” Matthew announces over lunch in the dining room the next day.
“How long do you think that will be necessary?” Declan asks quietly.
“Honestly, Tessa Hubbard is desperate. Her husband's assets were frozen, which means she has no access to his money. They were in substantial debt, and I imagine the collectors will come calling, if they haven't already.” Jonathan watches London to see how she responds.
“That’s terrible,” she drops her fork and stands up to pace.
All three men stare at each other in surprise. “I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even my worst enemy.”
“You’re a better person than I am,” Matthew snorts.
“If what you say is true, we could simply inform the sheriff, and he can arrest her when she steps off the train,” Declan suggests.
“No, it’s not that simple. We have no way of knowing where she is or if she’s already here.”
“My wife is not going to be bait, Marshall,” Declan snarls.
London walks over and places a hand on his shoulder. “What do you suggest we do to get this over with. I want to get back to our lives.”
Declan reaches up and takes her hand while they listen to the Marshall. “Dinner at a restaurant, using a carriage that is easily recognizable. If she approaches you, we would have witnesses.”
“When?” Matthew asks.
“As soon as possible,” Jonathan says.
“Fine, we’ll go to the Copper House Tavern tonight. They know us well,” Declan says.
“Perfect. I will ride ahead of you to prepare the staff and talk to the Sheriff,” Jonathan replies and leaves.
London watches him leave and fights back a yawn. “Tired, my love?” Declan asks softly.
She turns and smiles at him. “Yes.”
“Go rest while you can,” he suggests.
“Thank you, I think I will.” London walks slowly from the room. Exhaustion beats at her as she steps into the entry and yawns.
“Tired, my lady? Perhaps a stroll will make you feel better,” an angry voice snarls. London feels the pressure of a gun barrel in her side, and her eyes fly open wide.
“Tessa, we should talk about this,” London says. Tessa stuffs the pistol she stole into London’s side and hisses at her.
“Shut up and walk! I’ve been sleeping in the carriage house for days, watching you! Tell the maid that you and I are going for a walk. Don’t make me shoot her,” Tessa hisses.
Mary is working in the sitting room when she hears them approaching the door. “Lady Sheridan? Is everything alright?”
“Yes, Mary, I’m going for a walk with the new maid. Could you have hot tea ready when I return?”
“Of course,” Mary hurries away.
“Move, Mouse, before I start shooting them all. Do you think the old man would survive a bullet wound?”
“That’s not necessary, Tessa, I’ll go quietly.” She giggles when London hurries down the hall to the back door leading to the garden.
“Of course you will, Mouse.” Her laughter is tainted with fury.
Matthew watches the way Declan's eyes follow London from the room, and he smiles. “You may thank me now,” he teases.
Declan grins and glances back at him, “I could never thank you enough, Grandfather.” His voice grows hoarse, “I can’t let anything happen to her.”
“We won't. It's our turn to protect her,” Matthew declares, and for once, they are in perfect agreement.
“I’m was going to work in my shop, but I don’t feel good being far from London,” Declan says. “Instead we will work in the library, I have so much to tell you, Grandfather.”
They walk together, and order tea brought to the library. Mary brings in the tray and places it on a table.
“Mary, when London wakes, will you inform me. I'd like to spend some time with her before dinner.”
“Wakes?” Mary is confused. “Lady Sheridan went for a walk with the new maid.”
Declan and Matthew jump up at the same time. “I didn’t hire a new maid! Where are they?”
“The back garden, your Lordship,” Mary’s eyes grow big when Declan jerks open the drawer of his desk and grabs his revolver. “Find the Marshall, he should be in the guest house!”
“Yes Sir,” Mary runs from the room, and the men run towards the back garden.
Chapter 31
“I can help you, Tessa,” she pleads.
Tessa shoves London in front of her as they cross the lawn.
“Help me! All of this is your fault!” Tessa strikes her on her collarbone with the pistol butt and laughs when London screams, falling to her knees. Pain rips through her shoulder, sending stars floating in front of her eyes.
“Get up and walk!” Tessa hisses, grabbing her by her hair and jerking her to her feet, sending a silver hair clip tumbling to the ground.
London stumbles to her feet and fights back a sob as Tessa gestures to the maze and shoves her along.
“Faster!” Tessa shouts as they enter the wall of shrubs. “It was brilliant, London the way you lived amongst us. I used your idea to dress as a maid and enter this house. It's beautiful, and it would've been mine.”
They reach the middle of the garden where the water fountain is, and Tessa laughs, “Look at how far we've come. Turn around and look at me! Look what you've done!”
London turns to look at her and stares in shock. “Tessa,” she gasps. Gone is the perfectly dressed Lady and in her place, an angry, bitter woman. Her dark hair is twisted up in a messy knot beneath her maid's cap.
“Lady Hubbard!” she shouts, then takes a deep breath to calm down. “I look amazing, much better than you did,” she smooths the white apron over her black dress and glares with hatred.
“What are you going to do to me?” London demands, angry now, and glances around looking for an escape.
Tessa stares at her and lifts the trembling pistol, “I’m going to kill you and take away everything you lo…”
Declan and Matthew run in from behind as a shot echoes out. Tessa screams as a bullet strikes the gun, sending the pistol skidding across the ground. She tries to run, but Declan tackles her to the ground.
London sinks to the path, sobbing.
Tessa is screaming, “You ruined everything!”
Jonathan runs into view with his rifle slung over his shoulder. “I’ve got her, Declan,” and takes over, handcuffing Tessa.
Declan runs to his wife. He runs his hands all over her looking for wounds. “I thought she shot you!”
“I'm okay,” she hisses when he reaches her shoulder. Matthew offers a handkerchief, and they ignore Tessa's rantings until she calls Declan's name.
“Declan, did you know your wife has a father in the workhouses?” She laughs when they turn to look at her. “Or should I say, had a father in the workhouse?” she stops struggling and pleads for him to listen to her.
“What did you say?” London’s brown eyes narrow on Tessa as Declan helps her to her feet.
“This creature lied to us for
years, pretending to be someone else, while her own father rotted away in a workhouse! How can you trust her? She planned and plotted to get the shares of your company with my husband! They were lovers!” Desperate now, she screams out anything that will make him listen.
Declan laughs, he knows better, “That’s absurd.” London’s ears roar with a strange sound as terror fills her mind. “She said had a father,” she whispers.
“Her own father died broken-hearted, waiting for his daughter to come and save him!”
“NO! What did you do to my father?” London screams and runs at her, forcing Declan to hold her back.
“You should thank me, Mouse. He was ready to die! You broke his heart.” Laughing now, Tessa screams, “He wasn't even invited to the wedding! You should've seen his face when I showed him the picture of you on your wedding day. It was heartbreaking.”
“You're a monster,” she screams, fighting Declan to get to her. He's surprised by the burst of strength as she struggles to break free. “Let me go!” London rages.
“You're not alone, London, never again,” Declan says into her ear, and the sound of his voice causes her to freeze. She turns, sobbing in his arms.
“I’m not the monster, Mouse, you are! Every word you speak is a lie!” Spittle flies from her lips.
“Is it true, London? Is your father in a workhouse?” Declan asks her.
“Yes,” Tessa screams. “I have proof. It’s all in my pocket, the paperwork, the ledger showing all her investments. I have it all!”
London stares at Declan, seeing the confusion and hurt.
“Release me,” she demands, and when he hesitates, she pulls away from him and turns facing Tessa, noticing the necklace for the first time.
“Let me tell you a story about a mouse,” her voice trembles with emotion as she looks at them.
“Once an Earl was happily married to a lovely woman. She was his world, and he was hers. They couldn't bear to be apart. He was always reaching for her, and she glowed with his love and adoration.” The memory has her reaching out as if to touch.
“When the sickness struck, hundreds were infected. I’m sure you remember, the newspapers wrote about it.” She shakes her head as if to clear the memory. “Cholera stole the light and love from their lives. Their only child, who was eleven, lost her mother and her father on the same day.”
“Poor little mouse,” Tessa sneers.
London ignores her taunts; she only has eyes for Declan.
“Her father drank away his sorrow, leaving her to fend for herself. He was broken and began gambling, soon it was all gone. His title, his holdings, every memento that would have been cherished, save one. He gambled away everything, save her.”
London moves quickly, stomping to Tessa and ripping the locket from her neck. “This was my mother’s!” Tessa’s shouts in shock and no one moves for a moment as she turns, and pops open the locket.
London hands it to Declan, who looks down. He closes his eyes, blocking out the image of a honey-haired child, broken-hearted and alone.
“Surely, you’re not falling for this, Declan!” Tessa’s shrill voice has him turning on her.
“You may address me as your Lordship or Duke! Get this creature out of here!” She is guided from the yard, spitting mad and shouting obscenities at them. Jonathan loads her into a carriage to take her to the Sheriff.
The yard falls quiet, and he reaches for her, but she backs away from him with a shake of her head.
“No!” London snaps at him.
“London, why didn’t you tell me,” he tries to say, but she interrupts him.
“I’m not finished. The child learned that it was better to be invisible and not heard. A mouse could move unseen, listening, and learning, pulling information that could be used to save them. She grew, and the young woman faded away, and in her place, the Mouse was born.”
London doesn’t wipe the tears that stream down her face as she continues her story.
“At fourteen, she invested in her father's name and began to make money. Enough to keep them from the workhouse, but it seemed he was determined to join his wife. The more she made, the more he gambled and drank away.”
“Multiple times, she pulled him from the workhouse and managed to invest and make more money, but each time seemed worse than the last. The last time the collectors came, she was working. At sixteen, she'd managed to find work as a scullery maid. When they came for him, he didn’t fight. He didn’t fight for her Declan. Instead, he left her alone to fend for herself. The Mouse did what she had to do to survive. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do, walking away from him. Watching someone, you love slowly kill themselves is a death in itself.”
“London?” he steps forward, but she angrily scrubs the tears from her cheeks.
“Why is it so hard to be seen, Declan?” The heartbroken loneliness in her voice has him reaching for her. She evades his touch and rushes from the garden.
“Let her go, Declan, she needs time to process this,” his grandfather says hoarsely.
“No. She needs someone willing to fight for her,” he whispers and wipes away his own tears.
Chapter 32
London waits for Declan to come. Removing her dress causes a groan of pain. Lifting her arm is a struggle as the blow to her collar caused a sizeable purple bruise and aching pain that rips through her body.
“Easy, my Lady.” Mary assists her and helps her slide on a robe. When she sees Declan at the doorway, she tells him, “keep the ice on it, the doctor should be sent for.”
“No,” London gazes out the window. “I’m fine. I want to sleep.”
“Thank you, Mary. We will send for him in the morning.” He stands in the doorway of their bedroom and stares at his wife as Mary leaves.
“You’re wondering if you know me at all, aren’t you?” she turns to stare at him.
“Maybe.” He steps close and pulls her robe aside to look at her shoulder, gently checking the bruise before pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
“Don’t be kind to me, it makes me cry,” she shudders and fights back a fresh wave of tears.
“Why didn’t you tell me about your father…” he cups her face holding her in place to keep her from avoiding his eyes.
“You never asked about my family,” she sniffs, struggling not to cry.
“I asked about your life,” he says.
“I know,” she whispers. “I didn’t know how to start.” She glances at him, “My father was the Earl of Ironhand, Declan.” She watches the shock ripple across his face.
“What?” The Earl of Ironhand was set to marry a titled princess and ran off with a Bulgarian commoner. The scandal was heard of as far away as the States.
“Yes. They immigrated, and my father began to invest in the stock market. It was how he made his money. For a time, life was good. They loved each other dearly, but when mother died, the man I loved was no more. My father was gone. He was never cruel to me, nor physically abusive,” she grips his shirt, “but sometimes I wish he was.” London's voice breaks.
“Don’t say that!” he rumbles.
“I would have given anything to see something, feel something, maybe see the man inside him come alive again!” The sobs wrench from her, and he picks her up and carries her to a chair. He sits with her, cradling her in his arms. “Why didn't he fight for me?” she sobs.
“I don't know,” he says, holding her close, wondering how she survived.
They are silent for a little bit until she calms down enough to talk.
“The father I loved was lost to me years ago, but It’s the thought of Tessa telling him that I didn’t care about him which cuts the deepest. That he died thinking I didn’t love him! Why would anyone be that cruel?” she asks.
“That woman is sick, London,” he presses a kiss to her forehead and holds her tight. “We will pray that she finds peace,” when she stiffens and stares at him in surprise, he smiles.
“We will not give her another second of ou
r lives, London. We will pray the Lord heals her, and never again will she be between us. You'll be free to start your life without anger, regret, or fear,” Declan explains softly.
“That sounds lovely, but I’m not sure I can.”
“Yes, you can.” Declan is adamant, “The Lord blesses those who trust him, London. Do you trust him?”
“How could I not? He led me to you,” she kisses him softly, and he uses his thumbs to wipe away her tears.
“Exactly, pray with me.” Declan leads the prayer, and she whispers the words after him. “I love you, Declan Sheridan,” she whispers.
“I love you more, London Sheridan,” he smiles and guides her to the bed. “I want to know all about your life, London. No more secrets,” he insists. They talk for hours about her childhood, growing up with her father, and learning how to play the stock market at his side.
“Daddy used to tease his friends that I could pick stocks better than they could. It became entertaining to see who I could beat.”
“Why didn’t he send you to family?” Declan asks.
“I don't know, perhaps he tried,” she yawns, and her eyes drift shut. “I didn't have time to worry about it. I had enough money stashed away to stay at the boarding house, which is where I met Dillon.” Her voice fades, and he covers her with a blanket and watches her sleep before leaving.
Chapter 33
Matthew is sitting in the library, reading his bible near the fireplace when Declan enters. “Shouldn't you be in bed, Grandfather. You've been busy.”
“Who could sleep after this day?” he replies. “How is she?” Matthew asks.
“Exhausted, hurt, confused, but resting for now.” He glances at the door, wondering if he should've left her. “I needed some time to process this day.” His voice is hoarse when he sits next to him on the large couch.
“I owe you an apology, Grandfather. I never understood the loss you and my father experienced until today. I almost lost her,” he stops speaking, and Matthew grips his hand.
