Mrs. Graham swatted him lightly on the back of head. “Oh, enough out of you. Eat your breakfast. I’ll just leave this plate for Master Zachary and take this tray up to the ladies.”
Edward frowned. “They’re not joining us?”
“Don’t be silly, lad. It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.” She set a plate at the place next to his, then gathered up a tray with tea, crumpets, jam, and butter and left the kitchen.
“So where is Zachary, anyway?” Edward asked.
“Here I am!” Zachary bounded into the room, looking surprisingly clean and wide-awake. He wore a suit of clothes that matched Edward’s own.
Edward grinned. “You’re looking quite dapper today, my boy. Mind you don’t get any food on your clothes. Mrs. Graham would be very cross.”
Zachary sat and spread one napkin on his lap and tucked another into his collar. “I’m ready now.” He began to shovel his food into his mouth with an enthusiasm only a growing boy can muster.
Jonathan laughed. “You’ll grow big and strong in no time, if you continue to eat like that. You might consider slowing down enough to swallow, though.”
“You should see him eat cake. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
Graham came into the room. “The horses are ready, my lords. I just need to hitch them to Lord Caxton’s carriage.”
“Thank you, Graham,” Edward said. “It’s certainly fortuitous that you brought your carriage, Jonathan. I really would not have wanted to take my bride to her wedding in the pony cart.”
“We did consider taking the train, but Theodora and the baby were more comfortable in the carriage.” Jonathan pushed away his now empty plate and silently watched Edward and Zachary finish their meals.
“Shall we go for a short walk, while we wait for the ladies? I know that I was quite at a loss for things to do while I waited on my wedding day. It seemed as if the appointed hour would never come.”
Edward nodded. “I am feeling a bit impatient. Come, and I’ll show you my plans for the gardens.”
****
Anna stood at the window, watching Edward and Jonathan walk around the grounds. Edward gestured broadly, explaining—she presumed—his planned layout for the gardens. Zachary scampered to and fro. She smiled, at least until Zach fell and put a hole in the knee of his trousers. She had to force herself not to open the window and scold; Edward had the matter well in hand. He pointed to the house and ordered Zachary to go in to change. Zachary didn’t seem chastened at all but ran back to the house at his usual speed, a grin on his face.
She turned to Dora, who was feeding the baby in the chair by the fire. “I was a bit surprised to see a viscountess feeding her own baby. Someone of your station usually has a wet nurse.”
Dora laughed. “My mother fed Edward and me herself, and my mother-in-law fed Jonathan and his sister as well. I see no reason to break with tradition. Besides, I find it remarkably satisfying. Didn’t you?”
Anna sat in the chair opposite. “I did, actually, although I didn’t have much of a choice. There was no money for wet nurses when I had Zachary.”
“I am sorry you had such a difficult time. If I had known…”
“There was nothing you could have done, and I understand you were having your own difficulties.”
“True.” The baby fell asleep mid-suckle with a satisfied sigh and a belch. Dora removed him from her breast and laid him in the center of the bed while she rearranged her gown.
Anna looked at the clock on the mantel. “It’s nearly time, I think. Shall we go?”
“Are you ready?” Dora checked her appearance in the mirror, laid a cloth on her shoulder, and picked up the baby, dropping a kiss on his downy head.
“I’ve been ready for seven years.”
The men had returned to the house and were waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. Anna blushed with pleasure to see Edward’s mouth drop open at the sight of her. He held out his hand to take hers, then kissed it very elegantly. “You are, without question, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” He tucked her arm into the crook of his own and led her to the carriage, which had been festooned with ribbons, bows, and chrysanthemums.
“Who did this?” Anna’s eyes widened as she took in the elaborate display, and Zachary popped out from behind the carriage.
“I did, Mam! Mr. Graham helped, though. Do you like it?”
Anna smiled, and hugged him tightly. “I love it. It’s perfect.”
The ladies and children climbed into the carriage, while the men hopped into Edward’s gig and followed behind them. The Grahams played coachman, and they were off.
It was a fairly short drive to the village church. Anna was pleased to see no one waited for them but the vicar and his wife. She hadn’t wanted anyone else to be there, least of all her father, but had harbored a niggling fear she would arrive at the church and find the entire village waiting.
She felt Edward beside her, taking her hand. “See? Completely empty, as you requested.”
She smiled, grateful he had heeded her words.
Anna went through the ceremony as if in a dream, present but so happy and nervous that she forgot everything as soon as it happened. Zachary presented the rings, and they exchanged them, sliding them onto their respective fingers next to the Fede rings they already wore. Then it was over, and Edward was kissing her, and people were applauding, and Zachary was jumping up and down. She was wed. Finally.
The rest of the morning and early afternoon passed in a blur. They had a magnificent wedding luncheon prepared by Mrs. Graham and Dora, Anna eating more delicious food than she thought possible. Jonathan and Dora presented them with a wedding present of their carriage and both horses. Anna and Edward both protested that it was too much, but Dora shushed them both.
“I have my brother back, and a new sister, as well as a nephew. I am deliriously happy today, and you will not ruin it by rejecting our gift. Besides, you will recall that you gave us barely any time to get you anything else.”
Jonathan chuckled. “I would not argue with her, if I were you. She can get quite fierce.”
Edward threw up his hands in mock defeat. “Very well. Thank you both. We will employ it very soon to come down to Durham to visit you.”
“I should think so,” Dora sniffed. “No excuses.”
Young Peter took that moment to make his presence known from the bassinet in the corner, letting out a lusty cry that startled them all. He had been miraculously quiet, not fussing at all for the entire day, as if he knew how important it was.
“Let me.” Anna walked to the bassinet, reaching down to lift up the red-faced and screaming boy. He quieted instantly, and she pressed him to her chest before she handed him to his mother.
She pulled Edward to his feet. “Come, husband.” She leaned in and whispered, “I need you.”
Edward grinned and whispered back, “I was wondering when you’d say that.”
They said goodnight to everyone and hurried upstairs.
Chapter Twenty-Five
In the quiet solitude of their room, Edward kissed her. Then he unfastened each one of the hundred buttons down her back just as she’d imagined he would. She shuddered in delicious pleasure as he kissed and caressed her at every button until she thought she’d collapse into a puddle on the floor.
The beautiful gown fell to her hips, and she stepped out of it. She shivered as Edward pressed his lips to her shoulder then unfastened her petticoats, letting them slide to the floor. As she started to unfasten her corset, he stayed her hand.
“Leave it, for now.” He kissed the swell of her breasts, placing his hands on her hips. She nearly swooned with sensation. She reached for him, unfastening his trousers, stroking his hardness beneath the fabric.
Neither noticed a frantic knocking at the door until they heard Dona’s panicked voice from the corridor. “Anna! Edward!”
Edward groaned. “What now?”
“It’s Zachary!”
> The heat that had been pooling in Anna’s groin evaporated, replaced by cold fear. She ran to the door and opened it, heedless of her attire. Edward stood behind her, his hand gripping her shoulder.
“What? What’s happened?”
“He’s gone.” Dora stood there, wringing her hands.
“What do you mean, he’s gone?” She pulled Dora into the room. “Tell me.”
“After you went upstairs, he said he wanted to go outside to play. It wasn’t dark yet, and the weather was fine. He’d been so well behaved all day I let him go.”
Anna looked out the window. The sky had darkened and rain pelted the glass.
“He hadn’t returned by the time it started raining, so Jonathan went to look for him. He saw him being thrown into a carriage, but it got away before Jonathan could catch up to it.”
Anna looked at Edward, sure the panic on his face mirrored her own. He fastened his trousers and held up her dress for her to step into. She spared the merest thought that the dress would be ruined. Nothing mattered but finding her boy.
She pulled on her boots, and she, Edward, and Dora rushed downstairs. Jonathan and the Grahams were waiting for them, their faces pale, lips pinched with worry.
“Which way did they go?” Edward grabbed Jonathan’s arm.
“North, along the cliffside road.” Jonathan handed Edward his overcoat and the two started to leave.
“Wait! I’m coming, too.” Anna reached for her cloak, hanging on a peg by the kitchen door.
“Anna, you need to wait here, in case he returns.”
Anna clasped Dora’s arm. “You’ll stay, won’t you?” Her sister-in-law nodded, and Anna turned back to Edward. “He’s my son. I cannot stay here and twiddle my thumbs.”
Edward sighed. “Very well. Graham, please send for the constable.” The older man nodded, and they ran into the storm.
They hurried to the stable, the rain soaking them thoroughly within moments. Icy shards pelted her face as she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head.
Jonathan mounted one horse, she and Edward another, and they raced along the road. The gravel was loose, wet, and stones shot up as they passed, stinging her legs. Finally they spotted the carriage, lying on its side at the side of the road.
Anna’s heart sank into her gut, and she jumped off the horse as soon as they reached the vehicle, almost before Edward had halted. She ran to the carriage, peering in the window.
Nothing.
“It’s empty! Where is he?” Warm tears mingled with the cold rain on her face.
Jonathan pointed toward the sea. “There!”
As lightning flashed, she could make out two figures scrambling toward the priory looming dark before them. The larger figure tugged at the smaller one, and they disappeared behind the rocks, moving toward the path that led down to the sea and the Tynemouth pier.
“It’s Weston!” Edward shouted, barely audible over the crash of the thunder and the shriek of the wind whipping through the stone ruins.
They raced past the priory toward the path. Zachary’s little arms flailed at his captor, who slapped him hard across the face. Anna swore she heard the crack of wet flesh on her son’s cheek. She ran faster, passing Edward and Jonathan. Zachary and Weston disappeared, and she raced to the edge of the path. Weston was scrambling over the rocks toward the pier. The storm-churned waves crashed beneath them as the tide came in. Anna cried out as Weston stopped, holding Zachary with one hand. Another flash of lightning and she saw the glint of gunmetal in his other hand. A crack, and something whizzed past her head.
Edward caught up to her, grabbed her cloak. “Anna, stop! He has a gun!”
Anna stood her ground, rain and tears mingling on her cheeks. She felt a rage she’d never experienced. She and the storm were one. “He’s my son, Edward!”
She broke free and hurried down the steps, somehow confident she would not lose her footing on the slippery stone. She could hear Zachary calling for her as Weston dragged him along the narrow wall at the base of the cliff.
“Weston! Stop!” Anna’s voice disappeared in the wind.
Weston fired again and nearly lost his footing. Anna screamed, stunned into silence as she watched them wobble, then lean into the cliff. Edward ran to her, grasping her arms in his hands. “No! Your skirts will weigh you down. You’ll fall. I cannot lose you!”
He didn’t wait for a reply but scrambled over the rocks toward the wall. Jonathan reached Anna’s side and held her close, more as a means to stop her from racing across the rocks than for comfort.
“There isn’t enough room for us. Edward will get to him. He’s Edward’s son, too.”
Anna sobbed, watching the two people she loved the most flirt with death upon a narrow path of stone above the churning sea.
****
Edward’s feet kept slipping as he crept along the ribbon of stone, hugging the cliffside. Zachary was just ahead, fighting Weston every step of the way. Edward tried to imagine what on earth had possessed the man to run down here instead of staying on the road above.
“Weston! Let him go! He’s only a child!”
Weston’s face was a mask of fury and madness as he screamed into the roar of the sea. “No! You’ve taken everything from me! The shipyards! Anna! I tried to stop you, but you wouldn’t die!” Another badly aimed gunshot ricocheted off the stone above Edward’s head.
“Damn it!” Edward continued after them, alternately watching Zachary and looking down to check his footing. Anna would never forgive him if he managed to kill himself before he reached the boy.
The next flash of lightning hit the priory directly above them with a tremendous crash that made his ears ring. In slow motion, Edward saw Zachary bite down hard on Weston’s hand. Weston teetered, then remained suspended in mid-air before plunging into the water. Zachary plastered himself against the wall, his gaze fixed on the figure below as it sank beneath the frothy waves.
Edward hurried toward Zach as fast as he could safely go. When he reached him, the boy leaped into his arms with such force it was a wonder they didn’t both fall.
“You’re all right now, Zach. You’re all right.” He took a deep breath, relishing the weight of his boy hanging on his chest for just a moment.
“Zach. I’m going to put you down now. We’ll walk back to the rocks. Can you do that?”
The little boy nodded, his lips blue and quivering from cold and fear, but his eyes clear.
They inched back along the wall until Zach jumped onto the rocks and into his mother’s arms.
She ran her hands over him to ensure he was unbroken, then smothered him with kisses. Edward was surprised to find he was shaking and was grateful when Jonathan reached out a hand to help him down off the wall. He hurried to his family and wrapped his arms around them both, kissing his wife on the top of her sodden head and reaching down to carry his boy, who clung to him like a limpet.
They slowly made it up to the priory where they found Graham waiting in the gig with the constable, his eyes wide with shock. Edward handed Zachary and Anna into the gig and watched them drive off with Graham. He and Jonathan remained with the constable, assuring themselves the man now understood what a monster Weston had been.
Chapter Twenty-Six
In Zachary’s bedroom, Anna fussed, much to her son’s annoyance. She wrestled him into his warm pajamas, towel dried his hair. Mrs. Graham made him a warm cup of chocolate. They both watched over him, Anna unable to stop touching him, needing to reassure herself that he was safe and unharmed.
After only a few sips of chocolate, he yawned, snuggled into his bedclothes, and fell asleep. Anna continued to watch over him until Mrs. Graham ordered her to leave and get out of her own wet clothes.
In her room, she discovered her dress was indeed ruined. She stepped out of it, sloughed off her boots, and sat on the edge of the bed. A brief rap on the door and Edward came in. He pulled her to her feet and into his arms, grasping her tightly.
She pulled back, both pa
lms on the side of his face, kissed him hard, then hugged him again. “I could have lost you. Lost both of you.”
“But you didn’t. We are all fine, unharmed, and Weston cannot bedevil us again.”
“What happened? It was so hard to see. One minute he was there, and then he wasn’t. You and Zach were still so far apart.”
“Zachary bit him.”
Anna’s eyes widened, and a tiny bit of maternal pride crept into her voice. “He did?”
“He did.” Edward turned her around and unfastened her corset, then draped a towel around her. He removed his own wet clothes and wrapped himself in his dressing gown. Anna toweled her hair, then his, and they climbed beneath the covers of the bed. Anna rested her head on his chest, comforted by his slow, steady heartbeat.
“What did the constable say?”
“He witnessed the whole thing from the top of the cliff and appears to have seen the error of his ways. He is searching Weston’s house now for proof the man was behind your fire and John Baxter’s death. On the sea wall, Weston said he tried to stop me, but that I wouldn’t die.”
Anna shuddered. “Your accidents, with the saddle, and the gunshot! He was responsible?”
“I think so. I shouldn’t be surprised to find he killed my parents as well, to gain control of the shipyards while I was away. I can only assume I would have met with an accident if I had returned as planned. Instead he had to wait for me to be declared dead, but I ruined that as well. The man must have become completely unhinged.”
Anna shuddered. The notion of Edward’s death was so troubling, and she didn’t like to be reminded of how long he’d been gone, and what he must have been through.
“We are all together now, and safe. That is what matters.” Anna placed her hand on her abdomen, suddenly remembering what she had meant to tell Edward earlier today. “Edward, darling.”
His eyes were closed. “Hmm?”
“I need to tell you something.”
His eyes opened, alarm sparking within them. “What? What’s wrong?”
Anna laughed. “Nothing! I just wanted to wait until we were wed to tell you. My, um, wedding gift to you, I suppose.”
Secret Promise Page 18
