‘That witch should be back by now,’ Trevor said, coming back into the hut. Instantly Louisa stilled. ‘If she has double-crossed me, it will go ill for the both of you.’
‘If Annie has any sense, she will have confessed everything to Lord Chesterholm,’ Louisa said. ‘You had best allow us to go. Even now, a large search party may be coming for us. How do you think you’d fare against such an army?’
‘If she betrayed me, you both will die. She knows it. Do you know how long it takes to cut a throat?’ Trevor pulled out his knife and held it to Louisa’s throat. ‘Not so brave now, are we?’
Louisa closed her eyes and tried to concentrate as waves of helplessness washed over her. There had to be a way. Something she could do. She heard a faint noise. Her heart leapt. Someone was out there. She had to hope that it was not Annie back from her errand. ‘Exactly how long does it take to cut a throat?’ Louisa said in her loudest and most governess-like voice, the one she used when she expected to be obeyed. ‘Will I have enough time to say my prayers? You will allow me to say my prayers.’
‘Here, what is this?’ Trevor spun around.
The door crashed open with a loud thump. Trevor started towards the door with his knife gleaming in his hand. Louisa stuck her legs out in front of him and he stumbled. Before Trevor had time to regain his balance, a fist connected with his jaw and sent him flying against the wall. Louisa’s breath caught as Jonathon flew through the door and landed several more punches on Trevor’s face. A group of stable hands and footmen armed with pistols and cudgels rushed in after him.
‘Get up! Get up and fight like a man!’ Jonathon grabbed Trevor by the lapels of his coat before hitting him again. ‘Annie Sims has confessed everything! How you forced her to try to steal the snuffbox in exchange for her mother’s life. She refused to let you murder two people!’
‘I should have never trusted a woman!’
‘It depends on the woman,’ Jonathon said. ‘I would trust Louisa Sibson with my life.’
He threw Trevor to the ground and gave the order for him to be guarded while his accomplice was rounded up.
Louisa collapsed back against the table. She was not going to die today. Jonathon had saved her.
She moved her hands and felt the ropes give way. Now it happened. ‘Jonathon,’ she called out.
Jonathon crossed the floor in a few strides and knelt by her side. His beloved face was creased with worry. He put his arms around her and held her tight to his chest. Louisa rested her head against him and heard the reassuring thump of his heart.
‘Keep still, Louisa,’ he commanded and quickly cut the bonds with a knife. Then he tossed the knife to his valet, who cut Mrs Sims’s bonds.
His hands rubbed the blood back into her wrists and feet. ‘Are you going to finally admit that you do need help from me?’
‘Yes, yes, I will. I love you, Jonathon. I always will. I want to be with you. I want to share my whole life with you.’
His hands stilled. ‘You must only say that if you mean it.’
‘I love you, Jonathon.’ She lifted her hand and caressed his face.
He knelt down beside her. ‘Now are you going to tell me why you tried to save the day?’
‘It was not planned. I just knew that there was something not right.’
‘You were willing to sacrifice yourself for my son. Do not deny it. Annie has told me everything,’ Jonathon said with a loving smile.
Louisa shook her head. He had to understand the whole truth. ‘I wanted to get away from Annie. I thought I could get her back to the house. Events overtook me. I am not brave.’
‘I heard you taunting that piece of filth before we burst in.’ His eyes grew sober. ‘But next time…’
‘There will not be a next time.’ Louisa nodded towards where several of the footmen stood guard over Trevor. ‘What will happen to him?’
He glanced over his shoulder. ‘His days of thieving and violence are over, Louisa. He will be turned over to the law and will face justice for his crimes. I told you that I was a passable pugilist. It was only with great difficulty that I did not kill him. Has he hurt you?’
‘A few bruises. That is all. It could have been much worse.’ A shudder went through her. ‘He held a knife to my throat.’
‘I know.’
She grasped his fingers with hers and his hand convulsed around hers. And she knew that she never wanted to let go. ‘I suspect a good many people want to see justice done.’
‘And it will be done, properly.’
A series of shivering convulsions went through her. Jonathon motioned to his men who removed Trevor. Then they led Annie and Mrs Sims from the hut. Suddenly the hut was empty and it was just them.
Jonathon placed his jacket around her shoulders and she drank in the warm scent that was uniquely him. Giving in to temptation, she laid her head back against his shoulder. He put his arms about her and steadily stroked her hair until the shuddering stopped.
‘How did you find me so quickly?’ Louisa asked.
‘Annie came to deliver the message, but I already knew the full story from Nanny Hawks.’
‘Nanny Hawks confessed to helping her?’
‘With a little persuasion.’ He cupped Louisa’s face between his hands. ‘You were right about me, Louisa. I have kept too much of life in separate boxes. I did not make the connection until today. It was wrong of me. You paid attention to little details and I just assumed…’ He paused. ‘But you are wrong about me as well. I want you in my life. All of my life. I want you as my life’s partner, not as some doll who cannot do anything without consulting me first. I had that sort of marriage with Clarissa and I hated it. I thought you understood. I want a marriage of equals.’
She turned her face to his palm. Jonathon wanted what she wanted. She simply had not wanted to see it before. ‘Jonathon, I was so frightened.’
‘Frightened of dying?’
‘No, not that. I was oddly calm about that. I was frightened of not seeing you again. Of never being able to touch you.’ Her breath caught at the sudden look of tenderness that crossed his face. ‘Of not being able to tell you how much I love you and how I have never stopped. You are the only man for me and I want to grow old with you. I never want to leave your side. I want you in my life … wherever that life takes us.’
‘If that is what your heart desires. And we can live wherever you like, even Sorrento. It is my family—you and Arthur—who come first, not my inheritance.’
Louisa bit her lip, knowing what he was offering. He would give up everything to be with her. She did not need Sorrento. That had been an excuse, a way to hide from the beckoning future.
‘I can grow lemons and vines in Northumberland, if we have a glasshouse.’ Louisa stopped and struggled to get out of Jonathon’s arms. ‘Oh, no.’
‘What’s the matter?’ His face creased with concern. ‘Are you injured, Louisa? What is going on?’
‘Miss Daphne.’
‘Miss Daphne is safe with Mrs Blandish. She is anxious for you, but allowed me to conduct the rescue.’
‘Miss Daphne is sure to be insufferable from now on. She will feel that she has had a hand in this.’ Louisa leant back against his arms. ‘Our marriage. She is sure to claim credit for it.’
‘And why not let the elderly lady have her illusions?’ Jonathon laughed softly and gathered her in his arms again. And she gave herself up to his kiss.
Epilogue
Eighteen months later
The bride wore ivory, a perfect foil for her radiant blondeness. The highly fashionable London church was packed with friends and relations as well as all the members of the ton. Much to Louisa’s amusement, Susan Blandish had put her foot down and her groom backed her. They wanted their friends to share their day rather than the fashionable and had threatened to elope. Faced with such fierce opposition, both mothers put aside their differences, combined forces and booked a bigger church.
Now Susan Blandish’s sweet clear voice filled t
he church, solemnly repeating her vows as she gazed up into Rupert Furniss’s eyes.
A single tear trickled down Louisa’s cheek as she silently mouthed along, remembering how slightly less than a year and a half ago she had said the same vows at St Cuthbert’s in Chesterholm. Then, as now, she was surrounded by friends she loved. Jonathon’s fingers curled about hers and she knew he was remembering the day as well.
She glanced up at him and smiled. He squeezed her hand. On her other side, Margaret stood, beaming, and next to her, the marquis whose proposal she had accepted only a few days previously. The pair planned a summer wedding. Margaret had blossomed now that her mother was convalescing in a small sanatorium in Switzerland for her nerves.
Miss Daphne sat a few rows in front of them with the bride’s family. Even now her head was bent down as Nella Blandish whispered some new intelligence in her ear. Louisa knew the pair were busy concocting some new scheme. She was very pleased that Miss Daphne had decided to make her home at Chesterholm, rather than staying in Sorrento.
A little further back on the bride’s side, Daisy Milton, now Viscountess Ravensworth, stood with her husband. Louisa and Daisy kept up a lively, almost daily correspondence, only seeing each other when they happened to be in London. Three months ago, Louisa and Jonathon had served as the godparents to Daisy and Adam’s first-born son. And now Daisy’s sister was busy preparing for her marriage to a wealthy farmer who lived on the estate next to theirs in Warwickshire.
Louisa fumbled for a handkerchief as Rupert Furniss began to say his vows. Jonathon pressed a large white handkerchief into her hand.
‘A good wedding deserves a good cry,’ he whispered in her ear. ‘And your lace handkerchief would be sodden before Furniss gets to the “I do”.’
Louisa smiled up at him, pleased that he had been so thoughtful.
The rest of the ceremony flowed over her as the handkerchief became increasingly damp.
As the happy couple walked out of the church, Louisa tucked the handkerchief into her reticule. ‘Thank you for looking after me.’
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. ‘Someone has to. Any idea on where they are going for the wedding trip?’
‘Susan is hoping for Italy and I believe Rupert will oblige. I have offered the cottage.’
‘It is a perfect place to honeymoon. Although I fancy their trip will not be as crowded as ours.’
Louisa smiled back at him. They had gone to Sorrento after the wedding along with Arthur, Margaret and Miss Daphne to close up the houses. There she had shown him the little grave and they had held each other for a long time, neither saying a word. Later that night, he had made tender love to her in the garden where the lemon trees and jasmine were in bloom. Louisa was convinced that it had been then amongst all that peace, tranquillity and love that their daughter, Mattie, had been conceived.
‘Shall we stay at the wedding breakfast long?’
Louisa gave a quick shake of her head. ‘Just until the cake is cut and then we need to get home to Arthur and Mattie. Our family.’
The word—family—still sent a thrill down her spine. Jonathon still took the time to tease her about her grasp of the Italian language. Louisa did not mind as she was just so happy that the Italian doctor had been proved wrong and she could have children. Their own little miracle.
‘Arthur will be standing guard over his baby sister. He is absolutely besotted with her.’ Jonathon guided her around a crowd of people.
‘She is a dear little thing, but I do not know if it is a good thing to have Arthur so completely wrapped around her little finger…’
‘He has to learn about managing women at some point in his life and where better place to start than with his baby sister?’
Louisa closed her eyes. Her life had changed so much in the past year and a half. She had rediscovered the joy and pleasure of being a woman. And while she would never be the idealistic and impulsive young woman she had been, she knew that that woman remained a part of her. She had been reborn and renewed, all because of the love she shared with this man.
‘I am very glad I have you, Jonathon.’
‘And I am never going to let you go,’ Jonathon whispered in her ear. ‘You complete my life.’
‘And you complete mine.’
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2011
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Michelle Styles 2011
ISBN: 978-1-408-92319-1
Breaking the Governess's Rules Page 24
