Tia almost laughed. “You think so?”
“I know it for a fact. You make a beautiful couple. I can’t wait to see your offspring. They will no doubt be ridiculously gorgeous.”
Children? Now that’s something she never thought about. Being married to a man, everyone would expect her to conceive and have a houseful of children. She looked at Penny, a little dazed. “I never thought of having children.”
Penny got a wicked look in her eye. “With that handsome betrothed of yours, I’m sure it won’t be long before you are with child.” She giggled and Tia blushed deeply. “That’s if you don’t conceive on your wedding night.”
Tia shook her head at her bold friend. “I think you’ve had enough champagne. Come, let’s go find your husband.”
As she made her way through the crowd, Tia couldn’t help but notice a definite change in the people around her. Where they had been standing in groups gossiping about her the past week, they were now all eager to wish her well and extend invitations.
She was still annoyed with Oasis, but she had come to the rescue once again.
***
Oasis was drunk.
And deservedly so.
She was getting married and to a woman she loved deeply. She grinned stupidly at Caleb and received a scowl in return. “What?”
“Do you have any idea how you look with that foolish grin on your face?”
“Yes,” Oasis wiggled her eyebrows. “I look happy.”
“You actually do,” Caleb admitted reluctantly. “But do you know what this means?”
“Happiness? It’s a state of euphoric…”
“No, you dolt. Do you realize that you’re going to have to fight on the frontline?” Caleb looked worried. “You might not make it back.”
“I know.”
“You sound almost breezy about it.”
“I am.” Caleb closed his eyes and Oasis smiled broadly at him. “No matter the outcome of my two years on the frontline, I at least get to spend a whole year with her before I have to ship out.”
“And that’s enough for you?”
“That’s more than I thought I would ever have,” she said softly and looked out the window. “Now let’s talk about something else lest I sober up.”
“We’re almost home, just don’t fall asleep now. Tell me why you kept your proposal a secret from me?”
Oasis glanced at him. “Because of this. You would’ve tried to change my mind.”
“Of course, I would’ve talked you out of it. There are so many other solutions we could’ve explored.”
She sat up and frowned. At this rate she would be sober by the time they reach home. “There were none, Caleb.”
“We could’ve killed him and left her a widow.”
“Are you crazy? You can’t kill the man who is third in line to the Spanish throne. Nor do we kill innocents.” She was sobering up fast and she wanted to punch Caleb for this. “I can’t believe we’re back to this topic.” She had hoped that she would pass out in her bed and for once sleep without being tempted to see Tia. She had seen her leave with Lady Penelope early on and it had cost Oasis to remain and socialize with the men, instead of following her. But now that she was sober, the idea of visiting Tia was suddenly becoming quite appealing. There was so much she had to explain to clear the air between them. She hated that Tia was so reserved with her. On the other hand, maybe it would serve her better if she gave Tia some time to cool off first. “Will you come in for a nightcap?”
Caleb smiled. “What are we having?”
“Anything you want.”
“Then I’ll come in for a nightcap.”
***
Tia gasped and tried to free herself before her ribs began to give in. “Bur…ton, you need to let up a little.”
He did so with an adorably sheepish look on his face. “Sorry.”
“No harm done, brother.” She embraced him again and kissed his cheek. “I’ve missed you.” Her eyes filled up at the sight of his doing the same.
“We need to find you a husband to help me look after you,” Burton said softly. “You’re becoming increasingly difficult to protect.”
Tia sighed and looked away. “I got engaged tonight.”
Burton’s jaw dropped. “What? You…? To whom?” He rubbed his face vigorously. “You know I was just joking about the husband part.”
“I’m not.”
“Good heavens, Tia, what happened to our lives?”
“I did.” She covered her face with her hands. “All this started the moment I made contact with The Maverick.”
“You’re right. But why? How did it all go so wrong and why?”
Tia chuckled and peered at Burton through her fingers. “Because I met my soul mate. The universe was trying to wake me up to that fact.”
“And so, it threw all these tantrums and drew us into it?” Burton laughed. “I always thought that love entered our lives stealthily, not with lightening and thunderclaps.”
They both laughed.
“So, who is it?”
“Who else?”
“Pope? You’re marrying Pope?” Burton walked over to the table and served them both some tea. “How is it even possible?”
Tia gave him a quick rundown of the week and when she was done, Burton was holding his head in his hands.
“What now? No one comes back alive from the frontline.”
Tia felt her heart jerk at hearing her own fears uttered. “I will marry Pope and when the time comes, we’ll look for a solution.” She placed her cup in the saucer and exhaled noisily. “I have so many questions for Pope, but I don’t know where to start.”
“I know where you can start.”
Tia looked at him in surprise. “You do?”
“Drive over to his house and confront him. You’re getting married in a few days and you need time to work through all the answers.” She stared at Burton, her jaw unhinged. “I mean right now, Tia. Finish your tea so we can go.” He got up. “I’m going to tell Janine that I’ll be back late.”
A strange rattling sound jerked Tia from her stunned stupor to find that her hand was shaking hard, jiggling the cup and saucer.
She slowly put them down and looked at her hands. Why was the thought of seeing Oasis suddenly so unnerving?
It’s because you yearn for her, her presumptuous inner voice offered gleefully.
***
“Stupid bladder,” Oasis mumbled as she sat up and threw her legs over the bed. The fire had burned down, leaving only a few glowing embers, dumping the room into shadows. She made her way over to the bathroom. On her way back to the bed, she stopped to stoke the fire and added a few logs. Behind her, she heard her door open and glanced over her shoulder only to drop the piece of wood, at the identity of her visitor. The blonde hair sticking out from under the cloak was unmistakably familiar.
“Tia?”
Tia threw off the cape and Oasis hungrily took in her beautiful face. “Oasis.”
“What…Why are you here?” she asked as she approached the blonde. Tia’s eyes raked over her body, making Oasis feel suddenly so vulnerable under the quiet scrutiny. Oasis looked down at her loose-fitting linen knee length breeches and shirt. She looked up at Tia, her confusion evident. “Why are you here, Tia?”
Tia’s eyes were hooded as she looked at Oasis. “I need answers. Lots of them.”
“And you waited until midnight to come looking for them?” Was she the only one who thought that this was strange? Or was she still drunk? No, maybe she was still dreaming, she raised her hand pinched the skin on the back of her hand. She cocked her head to the side when Tia chuckled.
“You must’ve had quite a lot to drink tonight by the look of things.”
Oasis carefully reached out and touched Tia’s shoulder. “You’re not a dream,” she said after a while. “You didn’t seem like you wanted to talk to me at the ball. What changed your mind?”
Tia went to sit on the bed and Oasis followed suit. “I feel
like there is quite a lot I’m missing about what transpired over the past week.” Tia folded her hands in her lap. “I can’t help but feel that you’re lying to me, or at the very least keeping something from me.”
Oasis looked at the fire. She had tried to always be truthful when dealing with Tia, but she wasn’t sure how the blonde would react to the latest developments. If they were going to build a life together then the truth was a necessary component of their union.
“Do you remember that you promised to believe in me, even when you felt like doubting me?” She saw Tia’s eyes narrow as she turned her body so she could face Oasis directly. She nodded slowly. “I was referring to this very moment.” She waited for Tia to react, but when she simply gazed at her, Oasis continued. “I was the one who had you kidnapped.”
Tia gasped as she rose and glared down at Oasis. “You were behind this? Do you have any idea how terrified I was?” She turned away and her hands curl into fists. “The humiliation of being found the way I was and the rumours that followed.” She swung around, her eyes burning with fury. “And you willingly put me through all that.”
“I had to.” Oasis sighed. “It was the only way to get you out of your engagement.”
“By intentionally damaging my reputation? How was that of any help?”
Oasis slowly came to her feet, but kept her distance from Tia. “I went to the Gentleman’s Club and found out about the archduke. I discovered that the man was very proud and renowned for collecting unobtainable objects. The more others desired it, the more fascinating he found it.” She noticed that Tia was actually listening, her eyes still smouldered with anger, but she was a tad calmer now. “If there’s one thing about you, Tia, it’s that you are quite sought after and thus nearly unobtainable.”
“Until tonight.” Tia sounded so dejected and Oasis wanted nothing more than to cradle her in her arms.
“Yes. I knew the archduke would not be interested in you once he heard of the rumours surrounding your kidnapping and rescue. So, I approached Lady Rocheline and told her how glad I was that Captain Masters was leading the rescue team. I also happen to mentioned the possibility of a promotion he might receive for rescuing you, as well as the title of ‘hero’ that would come with it, knowing full well that Captain Masters had opted not to be part of the team.”
Tia frowned. “Why?”
“Rocheline is very ambitious and I knew she would persuade her husband to reconsider his involvement.”
“I still don’t understand why it was important to get him to lead the team?”
“Rocheline is a rumourmonger and I knew that I was going to stage your rescue in such a way that Captain Masters would be tempted to share it with his wife.”
Tia almost smiled. “You set Lady Rocheline up. She wasn’t aware of it, but she was playing right into your hand.” She shook her head. “That is quite devious, if you ask me.”
Oasis took a careful step in Tia’s direction. “I had to make it all look real. The rumours, my absence, everything.” She gently reached for Tia’s hand. “I promise you that I wasn’t aware of the king’s scheme. I knew he would be angry, but adding that safety clause, he out-manoeuvred me brilliantly.” She brought the delicate hand to her lips and kissed it gently. “I was hoping to approach the king for your hand in marriage as soon as the engagement had been broken, but the king had other plans.”
“And still you approached him.” Tia was watching her closely with those beautiful eyes. “Why did you do it, Oasis? You of all people should know how dangerous it is to serve on the frontline.”
Oasis grinned as she looked down at the small hand that lay in hers. “I was desperate and in love.”
“Oh, Oasis, you could die,” Tia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Oasis smiled at her. “How am I supposed to live without you then?”
She gently cupped Tia’s cheek. “We have one full year together, before I have to leave. But I must tell you that I’m not ready to die yet. Especially not now that I’ve found you.”
Their gazes held for an eternity, before Tia leaned forward and kissed Oasis. When they broke apart, Oasis was holding on to Tia.
“I don’t think my legs work anymore.”
Tia giggled. “Mine are broken, too.”
“Can you stay?” Oasis’ lips trailed up Tia’s neck and to her lips. “Can you?”
“Burton is waiting for me downstairs.” She exposed her neck to allow Oasis access to the tender, sensitive flesh. “But if we can be quick, he won’t know a thing.” Tia yelped when Oasis immediately swept her off her feet and placed her on the bed. Oasis made quick work of the small buttons of the dress and the petticoats. When she was naked, Oasis hungrily kissed her breasts
“And you?” Tia asked breathily.
“Tonight, is for you. Consider it your engagement gift,” Oasis spoke around a succulent nipple. Her hand slipped between the satiny legs and gently parted the swollen lips. Oasis swallowed Tia’s moan when her thumb brushed over the hard nub and slipped two fingers into the tight cavern.
“I need your mouth.” Tia was trembling as she pushed at Oasis’ shoulders. “I need to feel your mouth down there.”
Oasis eagerly obliged her betrothed and handed Tia a pillow to smother her moans as Oasis feasted on her like a starving beast.
Epilogue
‘The Maverick and the Duchess’
Tia glanced at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She remembered meeting Oasis’ mother soon after their engagement and as intimidated as she was by the beautiful woman at first, she remembered the woman looking her up and down.
“I’ve heard you were quite a beauty, my dear, but I must say that love looks really great on you.” They had been great friends ever since. The wedding arrangements had brought her even closer to Oasis’ aunts. She had been sad when Oasis informed her that for the sake of propriety and her father’s fraud when he registered her as a child born in wedlock and whose mother had died, her Romani family could not be present at their wedding. She had spent an hour arguing with Oasis until Floure, Selina and Malina had to convince her that they were not offended. In retaliation at such an injustice, Tia’s insistence on a gypsy wedding ceremony at the camp had caused huge smiles all around, even from Oasis. But Oasis’ smile quickly faltered when Tia announced at that there would only be a wedding night after the gypsy ceremony. She stepped away from the mirror and looked at her dress. She loved the comfortable, bright clothing. It made her feel light and free. Just like a marriage to Oasis. She grinned as she thought of her ‘husband’. They fit together so well, effortlessly.
“Whatever thoughts you’re having must be wonderful, my dear.”
Tia spun around to find Floure standing in the doorway. The older woman was already dressed and looked magnificent in her colourful garb.
“Floure.”
“I thought that since we’re all dressed and waiting for the groom, we could talk and drink a little.”
Tia grinned. “I love your customs.
“Oh, but they’re yours too now, my child.” She approached Tia and gently brushed a golden lock behind her ear. “I hope you’ll also bring up your children in the Romani values.”
“Children? But we’re both women, Floure. How…?”
The woman laughed, the sound deep and sultry. “Oh, it’s possible. Let me go get the wine and the girls and we’ll tell you more.” She gently tapped Tia’s jaw. “You need to close your mouth, dear.”
***
The courtyard of the prison was as dreary-looking as the building itself. It seemed that each of the rocks that were used to build the prison, were made out of compressed misery. Oasis pushed her hands in her pockets, wondering if she would ever be able to scrape this image from her memories. A loud clank sounded and a door open. Four soldiers, escorting two shackled prisoners, marched past her on their way to the gallows.
Jack Durham and Percy Leland looked petrified as they were shepherded up the short steps to the platform. They began to st
ruggle against their bonds when they saw the two nooses hanging motionless in the air. Oasis moved closer until she stood before the scaffolds. An old priest mounted the stairs. He began to read a text from his Bible, but Oasis doubted the wild-eyed men even knew he was there.
“Do you have any last words?” he asked the two men, but no reply was forthcoming.
“I do.”
Twelve pairs of eyes turned to Oasis and she smiled. “My name is Lord Benedict Pope, Marquess of Trenton and husband of Lady Tia Bellingham, the Duchess of Camphor, and the lady you were convicted of kidnapping.” She pulled a cigar from her pocket and lit it, blowing the smoke high over her head. “I have a final send-off for the two gentlemen.” Durham and Leland looked at each other and back at her. “Wherever it is you’re going, remember not to repeat your mistake of thinking that a brutal takeover would not be paid back in full, especially not when the king has been selected by the people and is loved by them. Die well.”
It took a few heartbeats, but she knew exactly when realisation dawned for them. Durham’s eyes registered terror and the crotch of Leland’s pants turned a shade darker. She stood there smoking her cigar as they placed the noose over their heads. She closed her eyes briefly when they dropped, but she watched them kick and strain as their life forces drained from their eyes. When it was all over, she dropped her half-smoked cigar in the mud at her feet.
The eight men and boys who had died needlessly and brutally at the hands of these two men had finally been avenged. Rest in peace, my brothers. She walked briskly to the exit and to her carriage.
“How was it?”
“Morose, Caleb, but also very satisfying.”
Caleb nodded and held out the flask to her. “Good. Now let’s go get you married.”
“Yes, let’s do that,” Oasis said as her face lit up at the prospect of seeing her wife.
***
The music filled her blood, stirred her soul and made her lightheaded with desire as Tia danced. Unlike the other women and girls dancing with them, she had no intention of keeping her partner from encroaching on her personal space. She wanted her close. Close enough to hear her breathing, smell her sweat, to touch her hard body. She threw her head back and laughed. Loud and free. For she was happy. Happy in love and happily married.
Worlds Apart Page 29
