Rescued By the Spy

by Laura A. Barnes

  “Charles…,” Raina began hesitantly.

  “We don’t have time for this, I must leave. Let me make this quick for you Mallory. Raina gave me the jewels two nights ago. As for the main jewel, there is not a hiding space I cannot find. Good day to you both.”

  With that Maxwell climbed upon his horse and trotted away. Which left Raina stuck behind the hedges with Charles. She could see the anger radiating off him. She realized she would experience this anger from Charles when she had met up with Maxwell. But while she loved and respected Charles, she still had to complete her mission to the Crown. And the mission was to help Maxwell retrieve the jewels and the missing heir. Or else it was her life. This was one bit of information she had not shared with them. Her very life hung in the balance. There would be no way they could stop the Crown from having her killed. It was a higher power they had no influence over. For her aid in helping Maxwell, the Crown would wave every accusation against her for Charles’s kidnapping away. If she did not complete the mission, her death would suffice.

  The silence, while unbearable before was threating to choke her now. In response to Maxwell’s words, Charles wrapped his hand around her arm, tightening his hold, his anger was clear. As he dragged her towards the stables, he spoke not a word. He ordered the groomsman to escort her safely to the house as he stomped to his horse’s stall.

  “Charles, let me explain.”

  He held up his hand for her silence, “Not now Raina, I am not in the mood for any more of your lies. Please see to Ivy’s safety, I will return shortly.”

  “But…”

  “What a fool I have been, concerning myself over your welfare. Still you have no faith in me to protect you. Your opinion of me must be very insignificant.”

  “No, that is not the case. It is not what you think, Maxwell twisted my involvement with him, to distract you.”

  “Is what he said true?”

  “Yes.”

  “That is all I needed to hear. Now please see to Ivy for me.”

  With those last words he left the stable for an unknown destination. While Raina doubted he would return, she only hoped he was aware of his surroundings and stayed safe. She followed the groomsman back to the house and went in search of Ivy. She found her in Thorn’s study. Ivy was wrapped in Thorn’s arms in an intimate moment. Raina backed out of the room and made her way upstairs not wanting to disturb them. Ivy was safe, not that she was in any danger. From what she learned of Maxwell, he would never harm his friend. Not only Ivy but any of them. Ivy had faith in Maxwell on that score, if only everybody else could too.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  CHARLES SLAMMED INTO HIS father’s townhome in anger. How could she continue to keep lying to them? Especially him. Discarding himself of his disguise he stormed into his father’s study and poured himself a scotch. His drink of choice. While others preferred the malt flavor of bourbon, he preferred the smoother taste of scotch. But one was not enough, after his third drink, he took the decanter with him. Sliding into the overstuffed brown leather chair by the fire, he drank his anger, fear, and love away.

  Why did she risk her life and not confide in him? Still after everything they had been through, she continues to lie to him. And the fool that he was, he put the offer of marriage on the table to her. How she must have been laughing to herself before she so readily agreed. Of course, marriage to him would be a better alternative than to wherever else her life was leading her to. Yes, she tried to explain to him. Explain what; more lies on top of the ones she previously spoke. Then there was the fact in which she continued putting his families’ lives at risk with her actions. Why did she continue to aid Maxwell? Particularly when she put doubt in everybody’s minds of his character. Or was this another ploy to draw attention from her? Charles didn’t recognize what to have faith in now. He wanted to believe in the love he felt for her, but she was causing him to doubt her too much.

  This is where Thorn and his Father found him a few hours later, too soused from drink to make any sense. He mumbled his feelings of love for her and her lies to him. As they fed him cups of coffee, one after the other to sober him up, he saw the looks of pity on their faces. But the looks were not of the feel sorry for her betrayal, they were the looks of compassion filled with humor.

  “Bugger off both of you.”

  “Is that how you speak to your Father?”

  “No sir,” he humbly replied.

  But it only earned him more laughter. They were laughing at him. Did they not understand the severity of the situation? They were harboring a treasonous wench.

  “Well I would not refer to your future wife as a wench in her company my Son.”

  “Or in the company of others,” Thorn drawled.

  Did he actually speak his last thought aloud? He must have for their comments. What a fool he was?

  “Love usually does that to a man.”

  Again, he was speaking what he should keep to himself. Oh well, he might as well tell them of her deception. They could decide how to handle her. He no longer wanted her on his hands.

  “We already know, she told us what happened with Maxwell today and told us the full truth,” Thorn explained.

  “You will wed her this evening. I have a special license from the Archbishop himself. You will offer her your protection. After the wedding, it will be for you to decide how you want the marriage to proceed. But my advice to you, is to hear her out and do not turn your back on this rare gift of love. It only happens once in a lifetime. Do not let your pride stand in the way,” his father told him.

  “But she is still lying to us. Raina is looking out for herself and doesn’t care for the lives of others.”

  “You would too, if your own life hung in the balance of completing the mission she was assigned.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It was complete the mission or her life,” clarified Thorn.

  “Explain yourself,” demanded Charles.

  “After we found you on the beach and Shears escaped, we reported to the Crown of the incident. They seized the weapons and his men. They declared anybody who aided Shears would find themselves hung without a trial. Raina’s name was the first on the list. She had kidnapped you and held you against your will for Shears. So, for that she was guilty. When she went to them with a plan to destroy Shears, she was presented with the charges for her execution. She was told if she complied with their plans they would dismiss all charges. If not, then Raina will hang. So, she worked undercover with Maxwell on retrieving the jewels and destroying Shears.”

  “How was she supposed to do this?”

  “Shears payment to the people who aided him, was in the jewels. Raina infiltrated in a disguise in every town along the way and stole the payments. After she stole the payments, she destroyed the shipments of illegal guns in Shears’s warehouses along the coast.”

  “Why did she place herself at risk?”

  “I think you already know the answer to your question Son.”

  Charles processed this new information and understood the severity of her actions.

  “She wanted to atone for her past deeds.”

  “And?” Thorn prompted.

  “She loves me.”

  “I think he is finally getting it George.”

  “Yes, I see that he is.”

  “Then why did she not confess her mission to begin with?”

  “Her mission is not complete Son, until it is she will not be free from the Crown.”

  “What does she have left to do? She gave Maxwell the jewels.”

  “Yes, and he found the other one in my study this afternoon.”

  “Then what?”

  “Until Maxwell has the information he seeks and completes his mission, Raina will always be in danger. It is up to us to help Maxwell succeed, to be able to free Raina.”

  “That is why tonight you will marry her, so we can protect her better,” ordered his father.

  “No, I will marry her tonight because
I love her. I am such a fool I should have listened to her, she wanted to explain, but I walked away from her.”

  “Well only you can make this right. You need to get yourself upstairs and clean your drunken mess. Tonight, I get myself another daughter. It has been a long time coming. Now go, you don’t wish to be late for your own wedding.”

  Charles pulled himself off the chair with a huge grin. It was all going to end well. He may be a fool, but he was a fool in love. Before they wed, he would profess his love and tell her of his trust in her and he would never doubt her again.

  …..

  Raina sat before the mirror as Ivy’s maid Mabel dressed her hair. Red beads were interwoven between her dark tresses. They had her hair worn down decorated with jewels. The Duke had a gown sent over for her to wear for her wedding. The dress included a letter explaining how he would be honored for his new daughter to wear the gown. Ivy had explained it had been her Mama’s. When asked if it bothered her that she was to wear it when Ivy herself didn’t for her own wedding, Ivy laughed in response. She replied she was too short to wear the dress and Raina was of the height and the stature of her mother. She was delighted Papa had sent the gown for her. Feeling better Raina allowed them to dress her in the elegant white creation. There were lace and pearls which adorned the train while the upper half of the dress was covered in silk. Smooth to the touch. Tiny buttons adorned the back of the dress. Once Mabel was done with her hair, Ivy dismissed the maid.

  As she stood up, Raina turned in a full circle asking Ivy how she looked.

  Ivy smiled her appreciation, “Gorgeous, you will knock my brother for a loop.”

  “I feel your brother will not notice me through his anger.”

  “Nonsense, by now Thorn and Father will have talked a bit of sense into him.”

  “By which you mean, they will have forced him here to wed me.”

  Laughing, Ivy responded, “Believe me, there will be no force tonight. Trust me when I say you will only see the love in his eyes when you say your vows to one another.”

  “I want to believe this to be true, but you weren’t present today when he left. He would not even look at me and I could feel his anger in my gut.”

  “That was then, this is now.”

  Raina listened but did not believe. Hearing a carriage arrive from below she went to the window to view. She pulled back the curtain and saw Charles alight from his father’s carriage, following him was the Duke and Thorn. They were laughing and appeared to be in good spirits. As Charles looked upward he caught sight of her watching him. He waved the men ahead as he continued to watch her. Their gaze did not part from one another; speaking the unspoken words their hearts could not tell each other. Touching her fingers to the glass, her answer was a small nod. Then he disappeared up the front steps. Raina sighed as she pulled back, she thought his eyes were telling her of his forgiveness and his love, but his nod and disappearance spoke of something else entirely.

  A knock upon the door turned her around as Ivy answered. A servant handed Ivy a jewelry case with instructions for Raina.

  Ivy smiled as she handed Raina the note and case, “Maybe this will put your mind at ease.”

  Raina opened the letter:

  My darling Raina,

  I hope you will forgive a fool for his actions and wear this gift to you as a token of my love.

  This necklace belonged to my mother. I have worn it around my neck since she died as a remembrance to her. I gave it to you once to wear to save my life, and you did. Today, I am giving it to you again to wear, but this time I would like for you to wear it for the love we share with one another.

  Please adorn yourself with my gift and love.

  I wait below anxiously for your hand in marriage.

  Your devoted servant and soon to be husband. Also, the man who loves you with his life.

  Charles

  Opening the case, it was the ruby necklace she had worn months earlier to Ivy and Thorn’s betrothal ball. She wore it for Ivy to find her. It was the evening she had sacrificed her own goals for those of another. With shaking fingers, she touched the jewel. Raina lifted the necklace and fastened it around her neck. Her fingers kept tracing the jewel as she reread the letter.

  He wanted to marry her. He loved her. Smiling she looked up and saw the other woman returning her smile of joy at her.

  “Mama’s dress and necklace. Her memory will be strong tonight. See I told you. Now we shall be sisters, but not if we do not get you downstairs.”

  “He loves me, doesn’t he?” Raina asked in awe.

  “Yes, my dear.”

  With those actions Raina could not wait to see him. All would be well in time. She knew now, all she needed to do is to have faith in their love and it would guide them along the way. Rushing towards the door she was on her way to join Charles when she opened the door and came to a complete stop. For there stood Charles himself. He stood there in hesitation, but Raina did not give him any time to wonder, she launched herself in his arms. Pulling his head down for a kiss. It was no chaste kiss, it was a kiss of undying love. The kind of kiss which says what words could never describe. She poured her love into the kiss with one slow touch at a time.

  Charles had been scared to knock. Afraid of her reaction to their quick impromptu wedding, but when she appeared in the doorway and threw herself in his arms he had his answer. At least what he was hoping for, anyhow. Her kiss upon his lips poured out her love for him so in return he spoke of his. Their lips entwined with their passion as each stroke of the tongue drove their love deeper. When he pulled back from the kiss, he rested his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you,” she whispered back.

  Three simple words spoken to each other. The words made everything click into place and douse their fears and doubts into oblivion. Simple words which needed no more explanation.

  “Now that is all settled. Are we having a wedding this evening or not?” Ivy quipped from behind them.

  Charles turned with Raina pressed tightly next to his side, “Yes, my dear Sister I believe we are.”

  “Then go below Brother, we will be along shortly.” She tried to shush him away with her hands.

  “No, I am not letting her out of my sight again.”

  Ivy laughed, “Very well.”

  They could hear her laughter echoing from the staircase as she made her way below.

  “Charles?”

  Placing a soft kiss on her lips, “Shh, we will talk later. I was a fool before. Let us rejoice in this happy occasion. There will be time for explanations later.”

  She sighed. It would have to do. She was confident and secure in their love now, to know they could solve all their problems. Tonight, was her wedding night. An evening she used to dream about when younger but dismissed over the years after tragedy had taken over her life. It was a time for rejoicing. Raina has a chance at a new beginning, one which would be filled with love. The love she had seen when she was younger between her mother and father.

  Turning back, she ran back into her room and retrieved her jewelry box, he had returned to her. Raina pulled out the worn blue handkerchief and wrapped it around the flowers Ivy had arranged for her to hold during the wedding ceremony. His mother’s dress and necklace, his love, now a piece of love from her parents. The token made this complete.

  Charles fingered the material, “Your father’s?”

  “Yes, Mama had made it for him for their wedding day.”

  Charles smiled endearingly at her small gesture, “A fine addition for our wedding. Now all who we love, and miss will be remembered in our special day.”

  Offering his arm to her, they made their way downstairs, where his Father, Thorn and Ivy awaited them. Ivy had decorated the library with roses from her garden and candlelight bounced off the walls creating a warm glow. Charles walked her in front of a man of the cloth who preceded to marry them.

  When asked who gives the
bride away, every occupant in the room gave their approval. It was a sign for Raina as acceptance into their family. A sign of forgiveness from Thorn and love from her new family. She would give none of them doubt again for this token of love.

  When he announced them husband and wife, Charles swept her in a passionate kiss which held promises of later when they were alone. The preacher had to cough his disapproval many times before Charles released her lips.

  After the kiss, hugs were given to the wedded couple. Ivy then directed them to the dining room for a celebration dinner and wedding cake. As they dined and celebrated the wedding, Charles and Raina could not help to laugh and share a private joke as the wedding cake was served. They thought of the last time they had their wedding cake. This wasn't their first wedding cake, but it would be their last.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  THEY STOOD BEFORE THE glow of the fireplace. A few inches separated them, each staring into each other’s eyes. The room was lighted in candles with rose petals decorating the floor and bed. Ivy had worked her magic while they wed. A bottle of wine sat chilled near the window with a spread under a tray for them to enjoy later.

  Neither of them moved. The air sparkled with their passion for one another, savoring the moment of being alone at last. Charles lifted his hands and pulled out the jeweled pins from her hair, watching as it draped over his hands. Her long black tresses curling around his fingers. He slid his fingers through her glorious mane luxuriating in the touch of its softness. She still did not move but watched him with heavy leaden eyes. When he ran his thumb across her lips, she moaned closing her eyes. Her eyelashes fluttered across her cheeks. When he spread her lips open with his thumb she opened her eyes, her tongue slowly darting between her lips to sample him. A flick of her tongue against his thumb, brought his other hand drawing her head to his lips.

  His lips devoured her, his tongue drawing her lips open to slide in to savor her. She tasted of honey, sweet honey. A flavor he hungered for and craved more of. When her tongue joined his, he was undone. His desire for her grew into a reckless passion. Not one kiss or touch was enough, he was starved for her.