“RUN!”
For once in his life, he wasn't going to run. He wasn't going to let other people take care of him, and he wasn't going to assume everything was going to work out. He was going to fight...for everything he cared about.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ONE LAST FIGHT
ONE LAST FIGHT
“Let her go,” Aaron said.
Matheson had the gun aimed right at Don, but he couldn't take proper aim without possibly hitting Lola. Aaron wasn't sure her scream had carried down below, alerting Corrigan and Harold. He hoped it did, for he knew they had guns on them as well. For now, it was two on two, with a threatened actress and a small child to protect.
“You owe me a ransom,” Don said. “Otherwise, your actress dies, and then your child is next.”
Mary made a move toward Gwendolyn and Matheson switched the aim of his gun. With only one gun and two of them, he couldn't threaten both at once.
“You want your ransom?” Aaron asked, reaching into his pocket. He thanked his lucky stars that he had a coin purse on him. He wasn't going to bring it, but at the last moment, he had convinced himself to be prepared. “There's more where that came from. However, I don't give up my fortune that easily. If you want it, you need to come and get it.”
“Not a problem,” Don sneered. “I will take you down in an instant, you weak pathetic excuse for a...”
“I said come and get it!” Aaron lunged at him. The move startled him, and Don loosened his grip on Lola. It was enough for her to break free. She ran for Gwendolyn and Matheson, who got both girls behind him. Aaron managed to get one blow across Don's face before he started to fight back.
Mary launched onto Aaron's back, a classic double team move. Aaron was smart enough to feel it coming, and rolled forward, throwing her off. She hit the ground with a thud, and didn't move.
Don grabbed his shoulders, and Aaron knew he was at a disadvantage. The other man was bigger, stronger, and taller. He also probably didn't have a brain condition that could throw him into a fit at any movement, especially if his head made contact with a solid object.
Aaron ducked and brought his knee into Don's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Don's body went limp for a moment, and Aaron used that as leverage. He pushed him forward so that he was on top. Although it was a good move, it was nowhere near the end of the fight.
Don pushed upwards, putting both hands on his enemy’s throat. Aaron felt his windpipe push down and he choked. He flailed his hands, trying to hit Don in the face, but it was hard when his vision was blackening.
It couldn't end like this. Not when he was so close to being happier than he had ever been in his entire life.
He had always been smaller, always been weaker. He had always had other people fight his battles for him, and take care of him, and it meant that he wasn't the best at throwing his own punches.
However, he didn't want it to be that way anymore. This was his moment; his time to stand up for himself.
He used his knees as leverage and brought his hands against Don's chest. He compressed, robbing the other man of air as well. Don choked, and it was the momentarily loosening Aaron needed to push his hands off of his throat. He then delivered a closed-handed blow to Don's nose. He felt the satisfying crack, and then blood poured.
Aaron didn't stop his assault. He didn't want to kill him; he wanted him brought to justice. However, he hit him just long enough to make sure that he was disabled in the fight.
“Aaron!” Harold suddenly grabbed him from behind. “Stop. Stop. You're done.”
“He threatened my daughter!” Aaron cried. “He threatened my family; he snuck into my home...”
“I know,” Harold said. “I know.”
“You will see justice done, do you hear me?” Aaron hollered at Don, who could barely blink at him. “You and your thief wife.”
“Do you want me to tie them up, sir?” Corrigan asked, having arrived at the top of the stairs. “Throw them in the carriage with us?”
“Yes,” Aaron said. “Bring them to Navy HQ. They were in league with Taners, so the navy will take responsibility.”
He finally stood, wiping his hands on his pants. He was shaking, but it wasn't the type of shaking that went with having a fit. This tremble was adrenaline, energy and strength; something that he hadn't felt in a long time.
He turned to Gwendolyn, who was hiding behind Matheson. His brave child did not look fearful or upset. Instead, she glared at them.
“Can I hit him?” she asked.
“No,” Aaron replied, crouching down beside her. “I did what was necessary. It's up to someone else now to bring both of them to justice.”
“Can I watch?” Gwendolyn asked.
Aaron agreed to that. “I'll take you to the trial,” he replied. “But for now, what do you say we get you home to your mother?”
“Yes,” Gwendolyn replied. “Yes. I want to tell her all about it.”
“And possibly give her a heart attack,” Aaron said, taking her hand. “Are you alright, Lola?”
“Fine,” she said, having been through worse. “Are you alright?”
“I'm more alright than I've been in a long time,” he answered truthfully. “Not that I want to make this a regular habit.”
“No,” she agreed. “But it does add a bit of excitement to a day.”
“Struggle again,” he heard Corrigan's voice say. “And I won't be as kind as Lt. Bamber. I have no qualms with breaking in your face. I don't particularly like the justice system. Too wishy-washy.”
“I am a lady!” Mary protested. “You can't.”
“You're not a lady!” Gwendolyn turned around. “You're just a thief.”
“Out of the mouths of babes,” Aaron muttered and looked at Harold with a smile. “Let's go.”
“I do agree with Lola,” Harold said. “If you could not make this a regular occurrence, it would probably be good for all of us.”
“I don't know,” Aaron grinned at him as they headed down the stairs. “A little excitement is good for all of us. Although...” He looked around at the mess they had made. “Gwendolyn, did the mean people pay the innkeeper?”
“Yes,” she said. “Lots of money. And said to keep quiet.”
“Shall we go down and give them a little more for the mess?” he asked her. “It's always good to pay people for their services.”
Gwendolyn's eyes lit up. “I can give them money?”
“Of course, you can,” he answered and handed over the coin purse. “Come on, let's go down together.”
“It's rowdy down there,” Corrigan warned him.
Aaron shrugged. “Gwendolyn's a brave girl,” he said, and they headed down the stairs.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
HOME
HOME
The carriage ride back home was nowhere near as long as the one getting there. Perhaps it was because Gwendolyn was safe in his arms, and Aaron nodded off. Before he even thought twice about it, they were pulling up in front of the manor.
They had arranged a stop in front of Navy HQ to drop off the Irish thieves, who were bound and gagged. They protested a little bit, but Peckard, who greeted the carriage, knew exactly what it was about. All he needed to do was snap his fingers and there were guards to take them away.
“The Earl Rippon sent a note, identifying them,” Peckard said. “In addition, Taners confessed. Justice will be done, have no fear of that.”
“Thank you,” Aaron said, yawning. “It's an interesting end to a day.”
“You should get home, Lt. Bamber.” Peckard raised an eyebrow at his bruised face. “Before anyone thinks you engaged in a fist fight before bringing these men to justice.”
“Me?” Aaron grinned as he headed back to the carriage. “Never.”
Climbing back in, Gwendolyn instantly leaned against him again. Aaron brushed back her hair, leaning his head on hers as the carriage started to roll again. Before he knew it, he was jerked awake by a particularly loud bump
.
The sun was just starting to come up, and everyone had dozed off. He noticed that the second carriage was back, which meant Shauna and James had returned.
“Here we are,” he said softly, shaking Gwendolyn awake. Her eyes opened and she sat up, with the boundless energy of her father.
“Is Mother here?” she asked.
“I think so,” Aaron replied. “She is probably very eager to see you. Go inside.”
Gwendolyn eagerly climbed out of the carriage and ran into the house. Aaron watched her with a smile, knowing that she was safe.
“What are you thinking?” Harold asked, watching him as the rest of them climbed out of the carriage.
“How much life has changed,” Aaron said. “Particularly in the last 12 hours.”
“Change is a good thing,” Harold said as he clapped him on the shoulder. “Don't fight it.”
“I'm not,” he grinned. “But who would have thought that I'd be the father first?”
“I'll catch up to you, don't worry,” Harold said. “Come on.”
“Wait, do I look like a disaster?” Aaron asked.
“You look like you've been in a fight to save your daughter,” Harold said. “Come along.”
Aaron climbed out the carriage, and the butler held open the door.
Shauna was standing in the hallway, holding Gwendolyn, with happy tears running down her cheeks. When she looked up at Aaron, her jaw dropped. “What happened?” she asked in shock.
Aaron grinned. “I'm fine. How was your adventure?”
“I deserve a round of applause.” James came out the kitchen, chewing on an apple. Lola looked at him, inspecting his face, which had a bruise on it.
“Did you get into a fight too?” she asked.
“No,” James said, horrified. “I gave the performance of a lifetime, thank you very much.”
“He did,” Shauna vouched for him. “Everyone was staring at him. There were several people in the tavern that could have passed as ransom collectors, but nobody came forward. How could they, with a crowd of 30 surrounding us.”
“And they thought it was me?” Aaron asked.
“Yes,” Shauna replied. “Probably assisted by the fact that I yelled Lord Bamber. What I didn't think about until after was that now your entire village knows that you have fits. We kept James's face hidden with a hood, and then my...body, so your identity is not going to come into question. But...they do know.”
“I don't care, let them think I’m possessed,” he replied. “The point is that we're all safe.”
“Father, come here,” Gwendolyn left Shauna for a moment, pulling them into a three way hug.
Shauna recognized what she had called him, and looked up to Aaron, even as she was enjoying being wrapped up in his arms. “Oh,” she said simply.
“You think our daughter isn't smart?” Aaron asked. “How long have you known, Gwendolyn?”
“From the moment we met,” she said, looking up at her parents. “We look the same.”
“We do,” he said. “I'll have to find you a portrait of Aunt Annabelle when she was a child, because you look just like her.”
“Do I now?” Annabelle swept into the room, and greeted her fiancé with a kiss. “I suppose that is proof that she is your child.”
“As lovely as this is,” Lola said, clearing her throat. “I thought I'd take a carriage, take James back to his dwellings, and then go on to see Wesley. If he's stronger today...I'd like to bring him back.”
“Of course,” Aaron said. “Whatever you need. James, sir, let me pay you handsomely before you go.”
“You know,” James began and looked around. “I know you can afford it, my Lord....but when I play decoys, it's for a matter of their ego. This was a matter of the life of a child. I think my good deed will be rewarded in another life. And that's payment enough.”
“Well,” Aaron winked at Lola. “Good find indeed.”
Lola smiled, curtsying to Aaron and then leading James out.
“I think the rest of us,” Harold said. “Are eager to get some sleep.”
“Aye, sir,” Matheson replied. “I can second that. It's been a very long night.”
“We'll be recalled to the ship soon enough,” Corrigan said. “I appreciate a bed that doesn't move.”
“There are some flower choices I'd like you to look at...” Annabelle called after Harold. “For our wedding.”
“Our wedding?” Harold asked. “Isn't until...”
“Oh, that's alright,” Annabelle said. “We can always order more.”
“We could use them for ours,” Shauna spoke up. Aaron raised an eyebrow at her.
“Really? And when is our wedding?”
“Two weeks?” she asked. “Does that suit you?”
“Mother!” Gwendolyn cried. “Yes, please.”
“It suits me just fine,” Aaron leaned in to kiss Shauna. “As long as you are sure this is what you want.”
“It's been what I've wanted since I was 18 years old,” Shauna said. “And you saved our daughter today. There is not a stronger, more passionate husband in the world.”
“I suppose I did do that,” he replied. “We'll take the flowers, Annabelle, but you're next, Harold.”
“Aye,” Harold replied. “That I promise you.”
Half an hour later, Lola was entering the hospital. Wesley was sitting up on the bed, fully dressed, his nose buried in letters. When he looked up, she saw pure joy on his face. “They are discharging me,” he said. “Which is good, because I was starting to go crazy.”
“You should hear about the night I had,” she replied. “You'd be grateful for the safety and peace of the hospital.”
“Will I now?” Wesley asked. “Did you apprehend them?”
“Don and Mary are in custody at Navy HQ,” Lola replied. “And Gwendolyn is safe at home. Everything is wrapped up, and I imagine Taners will face trial with them in the coming weeks.”
“A trial which I intend to attend,” Wesley replied. “I will make sure that they do not walk away freely. It's the least I can do, given that I was cooped up in here the rest of the time.”
“And after that?” Lola asked. “Winter will soon be over.”
“Ah,” he took her hand as they sat on the bed. “You and I?”
She sighed. “Do you still think we can make it work? This life?”
“I think,” he replied. “That one day, we will both be tired of the road, of the life in a sea chest, or a suit case. One day, we will want a quiet life. But until that day comes...”
“We should continue,” she replied. “Will you trust me, while you are away?”
“Of course,” he said. “I was wrong to accuse you in the camp. I was wrong to say anything at all. My brain, Lola, it may work in matters of tactics, but I seem to fail in matters of manners.”
“I was wrong to dismiss your thoughts,” she said. “They worried you and I should have addressed them.”
“It's in the past now,” he said. “We did not know each other very well, Lola, when we became engaged. We were swept up in the romance of it all. But now that we have had more time to get to know each other, I feel I love you even more.”
Her smile was wide. “I love you too,” she leaned in to kiss him. “I've always loved you, even when we were fighting. In addition, I think that we will always fight, too. But we'll make it through.”
“Aye,” he said. “We will. Now, shall we head back to the manor?”
“Do you think you'll be docking in Ireland?” she asked as she helped him up. “In the spring leg?”
“It's possible,” he replied. “We always dock there at least once. Why?”
“As I took James back to his boarding house, he mentioned a new tour contract. We will be touring through Ireland. I thought maybe, we could arrange...”
“You want to see my manor house.” He finished her thought.
“If I am to be Lady Rippon one day,” she said with a smile. “I could at least see the throne I wi
ll sit on.”
“And the bed you will sleep in, when you are old and tired.” He let her put an arm around his waist, careful of the wound. “I think I could find out our plans for docking. If not...I could just send word ahead. You would have the keys to the place; the run of the manor.”
“The lady of the house,” she smiled. “I like that.”
“My wife,” he promised her. “When our hearts our ready.”
“When our heads are ready,” she answered. “Our hearts are already there.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
HAPPINESS
HAPPINESS
It felt so odd to Shauna to be in a wedding dress in the local church, knowing she would be going home to Bamber Manor. She had been in love with Aaron most of her life, and had dreamed about marrying him forever. However, she had resigned herself to the fact that it would never actually happen. She’d never thought he would go against the system, and she thought that she hadn't wanted him to. Now that it was happening, she realized that she had wanted this all along. A tiny corner of her heart that she had chosen to hide away had hoped that he would love her more than the system; more than the world around them. Now, he did.
“I could not imagine wearing such a fancy gown every day,” she said to Lola, who was helping her dress. “I am not jealous of you.”
“Acting is nowhere near as glamorous as it seems,” Lola said with a smile. “Although now you've seen why in more ways than one.”
“And you'll be next down the aisle,” Shauna said.
“I will be,” Lola answered. “That I can promise you, even if I have to run away and elope tomorrow to be first. Harold and Annabelle have such solid plans.”
Shauna laughed, turning around to give her a hug. “Thank you, for being there. I know I have been difficult.”
“Nonsense,” Lola said. “That is what makes us real people.”
“Mother, are you ready?” Gwendolyn finally said. She had been as patient as she could, but her beautiful gown was now getting crushed from her constant spinning around. “I can't wait any longer.”
The Lord’s Secret (The Regency Renegades - Beauty and Titles) (A Regency Romance Story) Page 15
