A Bride for Alfie (Yorkshire Brides)
Page 6
Alfie decided some fresh air would do him good. He took a short stroll, and then returned. He noticed Allan exiting his mother’s room.
“Is your mother unwell?”
“She is suffering with stomach pain. She has suffered flares over the past year. I am not a good replacement for Audra, and Elizabeth is young yet.”
“I will wake Audra.”
“No, Mother does not want to delay your return home.”
“If Audra were to discover my knowledge of her mother ailing she would never forgive me. We can stay, and allow her to nurse her mother. Maybe being here will endear her to me once again.” He smiled.
As Alfie opened their chamber door, Allan called back to him. “Give her time Lockwood.”
He woke Audra and explained the situation. She leapt into action.
He watched as she cared for her mother day, and night; her mother appeared to be getting better as a result.
After assisting Allan at the store a few days, Alfie returned to the cottage at Lexington to check on his new brother-in-law. Upon his return, the following morning Audra was absent.
“I sent her out for some fresh air; she should be back soon,” her mother said.
He had an uncomfortable feeling, and decided to find her. He covered the entire property without finding her, so he went into the village, and to Robert’s. His stomach burned when he recognized her voice in the distance. She and Robert sat together in the garden. Alfie could not make out what they were saying, just that she spoke in earnest. Perhaps she sought his forgiveness, although he knew Robert would tell her there was no need.
He waited. Robert and Audra rose and entered his home. Alfie could still see them through the window. Her face upturned; she caressed his cheek as he pulled her into an embrace. While his mind reeled at the scene, he was distracted by breaking glass, and screaming. He turned to see fire leaping out of two second floor windows of the inn. An effort to stop the blaze already afoot.
Time slowed for an instant. Robert appeared at his side. “Alfie, we must see if anyone is hurt.”
They ran toward the inn, but Alfie noticed Audra was following them. He stopped until she caught up with him. “Audra go back.”
She grasped the sleeve of his jacket. “Don’t go in there.” Her eyes were wide.
“I must, Audra.” He removed her hand from his sleeve. “Tonight we’ll talk. I will give you your freedom.
“Alfie, I—”
He ran toward the fiery inn.
The intense heat and smoke was suffocating. He called out to see if anyone needed help. He heard no response. Then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Robert was at the top of the stairs struggling with a victim. Alfie weaved through the burning debris and navigated the staircase. He helped Robert lift the young man. They began to descend the stairs: Robert first. A beam weakened and fell. They tried to quicken their pace, but the beam caught Alfie’s shoulder. He lost his grip on their load. The force of the blow pushed him violently into the wall of the stairwell before additional debris fell upon him. He struggled to remain conscious. He thought of Audra. She had been afraid for him. Had he misunderstood what he saw between her, and Robert? Had she been making her peace with him? What possessed him to tell her he would give her freedom.
Chapter 14
Audra watched in horror as the blaze raged on before her. At last Robert exited the inn, a bit singed, but well enough to carry his patient out to safety. Her eyes fixated on the door: waiting for Alfie. Her eyes flitted back to Robert as he briefly looked at her before running back in. Something was wrong. She ran before realizing it. She ran straight into the fray. The heat and smoke struck her like a physical blow. Her eyes and lungs burned. Her ears caught Robert’s voice. She ran to him through the debris. Alfie was trapped in the stairwell but had escaped serious injury. Alfie and Robert simultaneously admonished her. “Get out of here Audra.” Her eyes met Alfie’s, “...not without you.” He acknowledged her with one of his signature smiles. The three of them worked together to free him, once freed he began to climb over the debris until they heard a scream from above stairs. They paused. Robert began clambering over the debris toward the voice until he was overcome by the excess smoke. Alfie pulled him back. “Get Audra out of here.” He took one look back and disappeared into the blackness.
“Alfie...” Robert was as stricken as she at Alfie’s decision. Robert struggled for breath. She made one last attempt to call out to her husband, but received no response. She and Robert fumbled out of the inn together. By the time Robert had somewhat recovered his breath, the building collapsed. She dropped to her knees. Robert tried to console her, but so many people were screaming in agony; he had to begin seeing to them as best he could.
Audra shivered uncontrollably in the heat, when someone yelled victims were being found around the back of the building. She rose, and frantically began going from victim to victim: many badly injured. Then she saw him and dropped to her knees at his side. He was alive.
Robert’s surgery was overrun, but midwife to barber helped care for the wounded. Robert insisted Alfie is placed in one of his own bedchambers. He remained unconscious. She cared for him day, and night.
She had been a fool. Robert deserved a woman to love him wholeheartedly; she would not have been able to give him that once Alfie came into her life. Robert understood, and loved her enough to let her go.
Her pride had denied Alfie the love he deserved in what may have been his final days.
*
A week had passed since the fire. Alfie’s fever abated, and he finally woke. Robert and Audra were by his side.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Alfie, I thought I may lose you.”
Robert gave him a smile and left the chamber.
He raised his hand to her face. “Please stop crying Audra. His voice was raspy. “It hurts me to see you cry.”
She wiped at her tears. “Alfie I was wrong to treat you as I did.”
He tried to stop her with a finger to her lips. She took his hand in hers. “No, I must confess to you. I have loved you wholeheartedly all the while, but my pride...”
“Please Audra, I understood until I saw the two of you together, right before the fire. It was then I doubted my instincts. I began to think you may truly care for Robert more. Until that moment, I could not understand why Robert encouraged me to pursue you. I understand now, and I will request an annulment if that is what you wish.”
Tears pouring down her cheeks she kissed the man she loved. “Alfie you don’t understand. I have decided husband; pride is rubbish. That day before the fire, I was making my peace with Robert. Robert is already beginning to heal; we will always be friends. You, and I will be much more.”
*
A week more of forced recuperation produced a healthy, but impatient husband. Robert and her family saw them off on their return to Lockwood Farm. The passion building between them was unbearable as they rode hip to hip, thigh to thigh. Lockwood’s young groom handled the horses upon their return. They entered the house together: greeted his small staff briefly, excused themselves, and requested to be undisturbed, save being brought warm water for a bath.
He escorted her directly to his bedchamber. As their bath was prepared Alfie sat her in a chair, and began removing her shoes, and hose. He had her down to her chemise by the time their bath was ready. She stopped him from undressing her any further until he stood undressed before her. He entered the tub. She pulled the chemise over her head and joined him. He reveled in her abandon. They took their time bathing one another, and exploring one another. As the bathwater chilled, Alfie stepped from the tub; he dried himself as she looked on. He lifted her drying cloth in invitation. She stepped from the tub, and into his arms. He wrapped her in the cloth and carried her to his bed. He unwrapped her. Alfie stood a moment to enjoy the scene of her naked upon his bed: her dark hair fanned out over his pillows. She was finally his. She loved him completely as he loved her. This night was for them. He join
ed her on the bed: his knees between her legs. She pulled his mouth down to hers. Her warm, fervent kisses broke the last of his will; they, at last, consummated their marriage.
Table of Contents
Copyright Notice
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14