Heart in Hiding (The Six Pearls of Baron Ridlington Book 6)

by Sahara Kelly

  Hecate and Finn had waited until everyone had finished dinner before relating the story of Lord Faversill, Johnny Marchville and the Prussian army’s mistake.

  Outrage rippled through the room, Edmund’s jaw firming with disgust, Simon sharing that anger, and the women, Rosaline and Tabitha, looking distraught at the horrid tale.

  “How could anyone do such a thing?” said Tabby, shaking her head. “And to go on and be rewarded for it with a title…I thought I’d seen a lot of things over the years, but a cold-blooded murder of this nature—it’s just so far beyond the pale, I cannot comprehend it.”

  “I concur,” nodded Simon at his most clerical. “There cannot be any excuse—or salvation—for that man’s actions.”

  Hecate smiled at her brother. “I had a feeling you’d say that. There isn’t any way God could forgive such a thing, is there? I know I’m supposed to look for a way to forgive, but this…just no.”

  “Did I add I’d cheerfully strangle the man if he were here right now?” Simon grinned. “I’d explain it to the Lord afterward.”

  “Bless you, Vicar,” added Finn. “I wish you’d been in front of my church when I was growing up.”

  Simon chuckled. “I suppose I am a bit progressive in my thinking.”

  “None of us are complaining,” said Edmund. “But I’m still not sure about the best way to bring the man to justice.”

  Rosaline nodded. “It’s still going to be his word against Finn’s. And—without meaning to offend, Finn—when it comes to the word of a Lord against that of a Colour Sergeant…”

  Hecate echoed her sister-in-law’s concern. “I am forced to agree.”

  For some reason, that brought silence to the room. It was as if everyone awaited the next sentence from Hecate.

  She looked around at her family. “I have some thoughts about how to proceed.” She bit her bottom lip as she chose her words. “An idea came to me a little while ago, but I have yet to work out the details. I hope you will forgive me for not going any further at this point?”

  All eyes were upon her, and she felt both the love from her family and the weight of the task she intended to undertake. “I need to think it through before I can tell you about it.” She looked at Finn. “Even you, Finn. Bear with me. I think it will work, but I must refine the plan.”

  He reached out and took the hand she extended to him. “You have my trust, love. Now and always. Tell me when you’re ready, though, promise?”

  “Of course. You are a very important part of it, so I’ll have to tell you.”

  He grinned. “Oh dear. You’re going to turn me into a frog and put me into Faversill’s boots so I can scare him into heart failure.”

  There was a general laugh at this outrageous but not implausible proposal.

  “I wouldn’t do that to a frog, let alone you,” smiled Hecate. “But…” she held up her forefinger to make her point, “we do have to go to London. And I need someone with enough presence to bring Lord Faversill into their home or at least get him somewhere where there are other people. Finn has to be there, and in a place where I can see him.”

  Various ideas on that theme were bandied around, but the consensus ended up with Kitty and Max.

  “James has a plethora of acquaintances throughout the Ton,” said Tabitha, thoughtfully. “But he’s been less prominent since he married Letitia. They go out now and again, but have most likely been dropped from the most influential guest lists.”

  “Something James is quite happy about, as a matter of fact. They’ll be coming down here for the Christmas season very soon, and I’m not sure when they’ll leave.” Simon smiled at the notion of his sister’s new life.

  Hecate smiled. “I’m very pleased to hear they’re doing so well together.”

  “Now Max, on the other hand,” said Rosaline, “he’s still out and about in town, although not so much since little Margaret arrived. But if you want stellar connections, then he’s your man. And I know Kitty will be overjoyed to show off her daughter.”

  Hecate took a breath. “I still can’t believe I’m sitting here with you talking of children. It seems only a moment ago we were children ourselves.”

  “I’m not sure we ever were, Hecate.” Simon spoke quietly. “Not in the sense that Hugh and Helen are children. We were never allowed free rein to play all over the house, to leave toys wherever we wanted…”

  “Or to be loved,” finished Edmund. He looked around, his gaze coming to rest on his wife. “Thankfully, we did learn that after all. Just a lot later than most people.”

  “I think that calls for a toast.” Finn picked up his almost empty wine glass and stood, raising it aloft. “To the Ridlingtons, a family that has conquered their past and ensured the very best of futures, not only for themselves but for their descendants.”

  Chairs scraped on the floor and other glasses were raised.

  “To family.”

  *~~*~~*

  Later that night, after brandy and tea had been consumed, and conversations had finally ended, Hecate led Finn up several sets of stairs to her very own private space.

  She walked in—then smiled broadly, seeing that it had been kept clean and tidy, but untouched since she’d left it several months ago.

  “This is it, Finn,” she turned to him. “This is where I grew up.”

  He looked around, noting the paintings on the wall, the thick curtains covering not only the windows but some of the surrounding stone, and the assortment of rocks and other bric-a-brac that cluttered the tops of several chests of drawers.

  There was one small mirror, and a fair sized bed, covered in the thickest and largest sheepskin he’d ever seen. “I’ll bet that creature provided mutton for half a village,” he observed, running his hand over the soft fronds.

  “I don’t know. I inherited it from some long ago Ridlington Chase resident.” She walked to her bookshelf. “I must remember to pack some of these for taking back to Doireann Vale. My favourite stories.” She looked up. “My friends, if you will. I lost myself in these books when I was young. They were my way out.”

  He pushed the sheepskin aside and sat on the bed. “You really were a magical princess in a tower, weren’t you?”

  She chuckled, running her fingers over familiar surfaces. “I suppose I was, in a way. But I never saw myself as a princess. I read about them, imagined their adventures, but for some reason I never put myself in their place.” She walked slowly to stand in front of him. “I never dreamed of a handsome prince rescuing me. My future was one of those things that I couldn’t quite see as clearly back then…”

  She put one hand on his shoulder and with the other she raised his chin. “And I never, ever, could have dreamed of anyone like you, Finn Casey.”

  Slowly leaning forward, she kissed him, a sweet touch of the lips that rapidly turned into the fire that she knew would always burn between them.

  His arms came up and seized her, lifting her off her feet and swinging her up onto the bed at his side.

  “Your prince is staying the night, my Lady,” he whispered as he found her laces and pulled them loose. “I’ve obeyed the proprieties long enough.”

  “Indeed you have,” she wriggled as he pulled her dress away from her shoulders and she tried to unfasten his breeches.

  His chuckle was rough. “This is fun but frustrating.” He put his feet onto the floor and pulled her up. “Turn around, let’s do this properly.”

  Obeying him, she felt that little shimmer of excitement elicited by the touch of his hands on her skin. She was down to her chemise in no time at all, with her dress tossed casually over a chair. Spinning around, she dodged his arms and reached for his clothes. “My turn.”

  His jacket joined her dress, his shirt landed on the floor and she had to stop there for a moment, just to run her palms over his chest. He’d filled out so well. This wasn’t the thin, sick Finn Casey she’d brought back to Doireann Vale.

  This was the true Finn Casey. Warm skin, muscles showing bene
ath, lovely copper nipples she had to admire with her fingers for a moment while enjoying his tiny moan of pleasure.

  “Finn,” she whispered, letting the urge to taste him take over. Following her instincts, she moved close and ran her tongue over the tiny buds, loving his gasp and the way they hardened even more.

  “Siren,” he muttered, pulling off his breeches. “You’ll drive me mad.”

  Her hands dropped low and she found him hard, ready for her hands to curve and stroke the silk velvet.

  He groaned. “Hecate…”

  “I know.” She released him, stepped back and unfastened the ties of her chemise. “I’m here. I’m yours, Finn. Always.”

  At that point she knew she had given him the power, and he took it, sweeping her off her feet and into bed in the best tradition of all Handsome Princes.

  And continuing in that tradition, he made love to her wildly, joyfully and thoroughly, satisfying them both until they were limp and sated bodies slumped against each other.

  “There’s something about this chamber,” he panted, “or maybe it’s the sheepskin…”

  “Mmm. So it would seem,” she purred.

  “We should see about building one at Doireann Vale.”

  Hecate giggled. “I’m not sure about that. We might never come out of it.”

  He hugged her close. “I know. Isn’t that a wonderful thought?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  They spent two days at Ridlington Chase, although Hecate had expected to spend only one night with her family. Finn reassured her that all would be well and that the extra day was a chance to meet the little boy that Hugh had become and to cuddle Helen…they grew so fast that she knew her nephew and niece would change drastically before she had chance to see them once more.

  And so she set aside her concerns and played Aunt Hecate, the lady who sat and laughed with them, petted the dog—whose name turned out to be Wellington—and generally enjoyed herself.

  Rosaline was thrilled to have company, because although she was quite blunt about her devotion to her family, she admitted it was nice to have someone different to talk to for a bit.

  Hecate told her about Richard and Cressida and the imminent arrival of the twins.

  “And you’re sure all will be well?” Rosaline’s forehead was creased with worry. “I mean two babies at once? God knows one is hard enough…”

  Hecate smiled. “Cressy is a strong and capable young woman, not only in mind but also in body. She will give birth without any troubles, Rosaline. I would have known had it been otherwise.”

  “Well…yes, if you say so.”

  “I do,” emphasized Hecate. “But I love that you worry about all of us. Doesn’t Edmund keep you busy enough?”

  That made Rosaline laugh. “Everything keeps me busy, without a doubt. But you know family is family.

  Hecate sighed. “Yes, and isn’t it wonderful? What Edmund said about us finding the right way a bit later than expected…that was so true. We might all have become horridly nasty people, Rosaline, given the way our father lived and treated us.” She looked at the other woman. “I think you may have put our footsteps on the right path.”

  “Me? Oh no, I don’t think so.”

  “Don’t dismiss your impact on us. There we were, free at last from the burden of the old Baron. That was the time when we discovered we could actually live our lives without that shadow hanging over us. It could have been a disaster. But what happened? You marched in, took over control of everything and showed us what the word family really meant. And Edmund…well, we could all see what was happening. How he was changing with you as his wife.”

  Rosaline leaned over and hugged her. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me, Hecate. I wouldn’t have looked at it that way, myself, but thank you. Thank you so much.” She sniffled, wiping away a tear or two. “Oh dear. This will never do.”

  Edmund walked in, rolled his eyes at the two of them and paused. “Should I leave? Let you two weep for a bit?”

  “Silly brother.” Hecate laughed at him. “I’m trying to persuade Rosaline that she is the most amazing sister-in-law I could ever wish for, and she got emotional.”

  Edmund’s brows moved together in a frown. “She’s been like that a lot recently…” his voice tapered away as he stared fixedly at his wife.

  “Um…” Rosaline blushed.

  “Aha.” Edmund’s exclamation made Hecate jump. “And just when were you planning on telling me, Madam?” He was the picture of outraged fatherhood.

  Rosaline’s chin went up. “When I was ready.” She returned his glare. “And that wasn’t supposed to be yet, because I’m not absolutely sure…”

  Hecate reached over and rested her hand on Rosaline’s stomach. She closed her eyes and opened the door in her mind. And yes…there it was. Movement, energy—not Rosaline’s, but of Rosaline—the faintest sound of a change beginning.

  She moved away, aware that she had both pairs of eyes glued to her face.

  All she had to do was nod.

  “Oh God,” Edmund stumbled in his haste to reach his wife. “Oh God, Rosaline…really?”

  “Yes,” she swallowed. “I would say it’s just been confirmed…” She looked at Hecate. “Is it…”

  “Very early,” answered Hecate. “But as of now, all is well.”

  “Could we wait a little to mention this, Edmund?” Rosaline clung to his hand as he knelt by her chair. “I’d rather hold off on the announcement for now. Let’s just keep it between us? For another month or so? Christmas would be a wonderful time to tell the family.”

  Edmund kissed her cheek. “As you wish, love. It won’t be easy, but I’ll do my best.”

  “As will I,” said Hecate, as she rose from her chair. “I must go and find Finn. Since we’re off to London tomorrow, I expect he’s sorting out the details of our trip.”

  Her smile broadened as she left the room, thrilled to her toenails that another niece or nephew was on the way. Good Lord, the Ridlingtons were a prolific family. Hugh, Helen, Margaret, and probably Richard’s twins any day now. Five new additions, five links to the future. And now a sixth.

  Hecate spared a moment to wonder if or when her turn might come. She had avoided even considering the notion for most of her life, since she was haunted by the loneliness of her own childhood, and the fear she would not know how to be a mother. Then she found Finn, and he looked up with a smile that made her heart dance. She didn’t have to worry about being a parent—because she wouldn’t be handling such matters on her own.

  *~~*~~*

  Later that afternoon, Edmund and Finn found themselves alone in one of Ridlington’s many rooms, this one containing a rather manly set of leather chairs, a chessboard, and plenty of books that might well amuse a gentleman seeking to enjoy some solitary time.

  “Edmund.” Finn looked at the other man. “It has occurred to me that I have been remiss in one duty that I should have performed as soon as we got here.”

  Edmund watched him carefully. “Oh?”

  “Shall we sit?”

  “All right.”

  Finn cleared his throat. “As head of the Ridlington family, it is only correct that I apply to you for permission to wed Hecate. My circumstances are limited at best, and I will freely admit I don’t have the resources to support her at this time. But I have a brain in my head and I can work. I will devote my life to keeping her happy and comfortable. I’m not sure how yet, since I’ve been a soldier as long as I can remember. But I’ll do anything in the world for that woman.” He paused. “So there it is. That’s why I’m asking your permission, sir.”

  There was dead silence for a few moments, which Finn found a bit disconcerting.

  Then he saw Edmund’s mouth begin to curve upward, and moments later the Baron was curled up in his chair almost howling with laughter.

  “What?” asked Finn, frowning. “What on earth did I say that was so funny? You expected this, Edmund. You told me yourself that it looked a
s though I was going to be family…”

  Edmund laughed even more.

  Finn sighed, stood and ambled over to the side of the room where a small rolling stand held what looked like a snifter of whiskey. He poured two healthy glasses and returned to Edmund, who was down to a low chuckle and a hiccup.

  “Drink this.” He held out one of the glasses.

  Edmund accepted it, they clinked in a toast and both men took a hefty swallow.

  Finn coughed. “By God, that’s strong stuff.” He stared at the glass, realising it was some kind of rum instead of the whiskey he'd been expecting.

  “You’ll need it if you’re planning on marrying Hecate,” smirked Edmund, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing them at the ankles. "And yes, it's real rum. The sort real sailors drink."

  Finn sat. “So does this mean you grant your permission? Do we have your blessing?”

  “Good lord, man. Do you have any idea what Hecate would have done to me if I’d refused?” He shook his head and chuckled. “That’s what made me laugh. She might not have turned me into a toad, but I wouldn’t even bet against that.” He took another drink. “D’you know, when she was very young, she discovered she could make us all itch?”

  “What?” Finn gaped at the other man. “Itch?”

  Edmund nodded. “I believe she was barely four years old, but if she was upset or irritated, all of a sudden we were the sufferers, punished for whatever we’d done that had made her angry.” He shrugged. “And yes, we did tease her. She was the youngest.”

  “But…itch?”

  “The nurse spent hours trying to understand why five of her charges had suddenly been afflicted with rashes. Ones that disappeared early in the evening. Which was, of course, when Hecate went to bed.”

  “I had no idea…” said Finn.

  “That’s why I laughed. Firstly, at the thought of what revenge she would exact on me—it would be unbearable so of course you have my blessings, and secondly at the memory of our nurse’s face when she saw our matching rashes.”