by Rebecca King
“She was murdered on the other side of the woods, in the early hours of the morning, by Joshua – Pierre.” Hugo glanced at Harriett, searching for any sign of distress but could detect nothing other than consternation in her beautiful green eyes as she watched him.
Simon sighed. “I’ll send a word to her relatives. Where is she now?”
Hugo and Simon took several moments to discuss arranging for Romilla to be buried next to her mother.”
They were interrupted by the butler, who bowed politely and handed Simon a small piece of parchment.
On reading it, Simon sighed and shook his head.
“I am afraid you will have to bring me up to date with everything later. I have to go to the mines again.”
“Mines?” Hugo asked, glancing at Harriett.
“There are some safety issues at one of the tin mines at Bodmin. It’s a profitable mine, but it is very time consuming trying to run the mines, the house and the estates. I have just bought the farm that adjoins the Manor’s land because the farmer has decided to relocate and needs the money quickly, but I can’t run that too. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”
“So that is who you were meeting in that tavern in St Issey?” Hugo asked, thinking back to the watch’s reports. “Why meet so late at night?”
Simon wasn’t surprised Hugo and his men had been following him. Although he hadn’t seen any of them, or detected anyone following, he was strangely reassured that they had been so thorough and couldn’t feel anything but pride and admiration for the way they worked.
“Because it was the only time I could make it. I had been meeting the foreman of one of the mine’s there, and stayed to meet the farmer.” Simon replied, seeing no reason not to tell Hugo everything.
“Is there anything I can do?” Harriett asked, noticing the weary droop of her father’s shoulders, and the clear frustration he was unable to hide.
Simon studied the couple in his study for a moment, and made a decision.
“I need some help to run the mines, which you can’t do,” he warned Harriett with a dour look. “But it would help tremendously if you could take over the running of this house. It is yours, after all, because I would like to move into the dower house.”
Harriett frowned. The dower house, although smaller than the Manor, was still large, and had its own land, which bordered the de Mattingley property.
“I didn’t think anyone had lived there for years.” Harriett couldn’t remember anyone having lived there. Although the outside had been tended by the gardeners, the house maintenance hadn’t been kept up.
“There hasn’t. It needs a lot of work doing to it, but I can afford it, if only I can get the time to arrange it.” He turned to his daughter. “Mrs Hodgkiss will help guide you, and I will too of course. It would be a wonderful relief if you could take over the running of the house. Now all I need to do is find someone who can help you, and help with the mines.” Although he was looking at his daughter when he spoke, his words were intended to put the thought in Hugo’s mind.
Hugo knew the man was making his position clear, and was well ahead of him.
“I think it is a wonderful idea, but only if you really do want to move into the dower house. While it is being renovated, you can hand the reins over to Harriett so she is not thrown in at the deep end, and move to the dower house knowing the Manor is in safe hands. You are close enough to visit whenever you want to, and Harriett can turn her cottage into treatment rooms where she can use her skills.”
Harriett’s gaze flew to Hugo as the import of his words sank in. It was something she had never considered before, and it intrigued her.
“Treatment rooms?” she said sharply, studying him.
“You are now officially a member of the Star Elite, and I have a sneaking suspicion that whenever the men need medical help, they will come to you rather than visit a doctor,” Hugo explained ruefully. He didn’t mind that, as long as they didn’t bring danger with them, and it would help tremendously if Harriett wasn’t living there when they visited. He didn’t add that he would leave a key hidden in Harriett’s garden for any of them to use so they could use the cottage as shelter while waiting for Harriett to attend to them. The memory of his arrival at her house was still sharp in his mind, and he was glad that she would be safely ensconced at the Manor from now on.
“You can turn your cottage into treatment rooms. The bedroom can be used as a treatment area. The kitchen can be used as a waiting area where people could drink your herbal teas, and the small bedroom can be used as a storage area.”
“Do you think that the villagers will come to me a bit more?” Harriett thought it was a lot of trouble to go to, and although the cost would be relatively minor, she really didn’t think she would be that busy.
“I think they will come to you in droves, especially now there is no doctor in the village,” Simon added, liking Hugo’s thinking, and threw him a look of gratitude.
“It’s possible, I suppose,” Harriett replied, trying to think of the pitfalls, but seeing none. She would hate to see her little cottage fall into rack and ruin and really couldn’t see anyone else living there. It was hers; the only home she had ever lived in. She couldn’t bear to part with it completely. Turning it into a healing centre would be perfect. “I think it is a wonderful idea.”
Hugo grinned, relieved that one hurdle was out of the way.
“What about you, Hugo? What do you plan to do now? I take it you have family who are waiting to hear from you?” Simon asked, seeing no other way to broach the subject.
Harriett realised that, despite feeling close to Hugo, she still didn’t really know that much about him.
“I haven’t spoken to my family in over five and ten years. I don’t suppose they are interested in where I am.”
“I think you will find you are wrong,” Simon murmured, a knowing look on his face that made Hugo stare at him with a frown.
Simon realised he had to come clean. “While running the tin mines, looking after the house, and trying to keep an eye on Harriett, I managed to get someone to look into your background. Although it was deuced difficult to locate Sir Dunnicliffe, seeing as that isn’t your only name.”
Hugo heard Harriett gasp.
“I should call you Lord Entwhistle, shouldn’t I?”
Hugo frowned at him.
“I am not Lord Entwhistle; that is my uncle.” He didn’t need to see the look of regret on Simon’s face to realise that his uncle had died. “I have his title?”
“It has been bestowed upon you, along with his estate in Yorkshire. There is only one Hugo Dunnicliffe, fifth and youngest son of the Earl of Craighampton?”
“My father wouldn’t allow it.” Hugo shook his head, stunned at the wealth of emotions that swept through him.
“He encouraged it. Your father has been trying to find you for several years. It seems that your family very much want you back, and that includes your father and mother, and all four of your brothers. The second one-” Simon squinted at the window, trying to remember the names of Hugo’s brothers.
“Richard,” Hugo whispered softly, memories flooding back with such force that he shook with emotion.
“Yes, that’s it. Richard has just returned, having been injured in Spain, and both Matthew and Mark have been back for some time now. Only Stephen is still in France, but at last word he was well.” Simon wondered if he should have spoken to Hugo alone, as the man was clearly struggling with his emotions.
“Your father asked me to give you this.” Simon rose and handed Hugo a rolled parchment sealed with a wax seal carrying the family coat of arms.
Hugo took it hesitantly and stared down at the familiar seal. He couldn’t open it, and didn’t know when, or if, he could. The Hugo who had left the family all those years ago was dead and gone. Was it possible to revisit one’s past? He wasn’t sure, but he knew that he couldn’t go back until his future was set.
“Can I ask you a question?” Hugo a
sked, turning his attention back to Simon. At the older man’s nod, he posed the question that burned in him most.
“Why aren’t you fighting for king and country?”
Simon smiled. “I have been, but I am afraid I am no longer fit enough. I was discharged on medical grounds several years ago.” He stood and lifted his shirt to reveal a large, puckered scar that ran around his waist. At Harriett’s gasp, he shot her an apologetic look before sitting down and rolling up the hem of his breeches to reveal a wound below his knee that made even Hugo wince.
Although he knew he had shocked them both, he wasn’t sorry. He wanted his son-in-law and his daughter to know and understand. “I will update you both on how I sustained them another time,” he murmured, replacing his clothing.
“I’d like a word with your father, if I may,” Hugo said quietly, ignoring Harriett’s stare. He knew she was brimming with questions, but what he had to ask wasn’t meant to be done in front of the bride-to-be. She would know soon enough anyway and, although he didn’t expect any objections from Simon, there were things he needed to discuss prior to asking her directly.
Harriett nodded, wondering if Hugo was going to ask questions about her father’s visit to his family. Once outside, she was immediately glad that she had chosen to take a walk around the gardens rather than wait in the house. She couldn’t help a tiny pang of hurt that he didn’t want her listening to his questions.
She wandered through the gardens, stopping to smell the wonderfully lush honeysuckle that lined the narrow path, absorbing the beauty and wonder of mother nature’s abundance, when a gentle cough made her jump.
She found Hugo standing somewhat sheepishly behind her.
“That was quick,” she said, glancing around for her father.
“He has gone to the tin mines, and said he will catch up with us later.”
Harriett looked at him, and watched him shift uncomfortably from foot to foot. She knew he was about to tell her when he was going to leave and, dreading the moment, nodded down the path that would take them deeper into the gardens.
“Do you want to walk?”
Hugo considered the path and shook his head. “No, here will do, or we can go back to the house.”
“What for?”
Oblivious to the gardeners pruning the roses nearby, Hugo drew Harriett into his arms and stared down into her face.
“I love you,” he whispered, dropping a kiss on her stunned lips.
Harriett felt the familiar sting of tears and rapidly blinked to keep them at bay. Her heart began to pound. The truth was clear to see in the steady love shining in the depths of his beautiful sea green eyes.
“I love you too Hugo,” she whispered, delight coursing through her.
“You know I have to leave soon.” He hated even saying the words, and felt her stiffen in his arms. He was grateful she didn’t become angry, or tearful at the prospect – it made what he had to say next a little easier.
“Now that we have the links, we can continue to watch activities in the area and gather information. When the time is right, and we have tracked the chain back as far as it goes, then we can start to round up the French spies and shut the chain down. There is much more work to do, and most of it has to be done undercover.”
Harriett did understand. She would never accept the unfairness of being kept apart from the man she loved, but understood his reasons for wanting to be involved and do his bit to fight for king and country. At least he wasn’t going abroad to fight.
“Will the Star Elite remain in the area?”
“To begin with, yes. We do have to interrogate Joshua – Pierre - before he goes anywhere. There are still many questions that remain unanswered. Then, using the information we already have, and the information Pierre will give us, we will start to investigate the chain. At some point, we will go undercover to find out who is involved, so we can make sure everyone is arrested. Someone, probably me, will remain in the area to watch the spies coming ashore and I will then report back down the line.” He didn’t want to go into too much detail, but knew that if he wanted her to accept his decision then he needed her to understand what was involved.
“I need to go and discuss matters with my boss, and so cannot promise anything, but I would like to become their man in Cornwall. It means I will need to keep watch, and will spend some nights out. I hope that, when I am living in the area, people will trust me enough to help me keep a watchful eye on strangers.” He tugged her closer and dropped a kiss on her lips. “It also means that I can live here, with you and your father more often than not.”
When the spy smuggling link was eventually broken up, the Star Elite would move on to their next job, equally if not more dangerous. But, given the fight against Napoleon was gaining ground, it looked as though England would not be at war with the French for too much longer. Ridding the country of its spies would play a large part in keeping the country safe and secure. Until then, he had the perfect opportunity to lay the groundwork for a future with Harriett – and he wasn’t prepared to ignore it, even for the Star Elite.
“That would be wonderful,” Harriett said softly, delighted that he was going to try to spend some more time with her. She could see his reluctance to leave clearly written on his beloved face and was thrilled by it.
“Of course, it means that you will have to make an honest man out of me.” Everything within him froze. He studied her face and watched shock, followed by wariness, which was quickly replaced by surprised delight.
“Do you mean-?” Harriett couldn’t say the words; a thick lump of emotion was lodged in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. Did he mean what she thought he meant?
“It means that I love you. I think I have since the first moment I saw you. It is the only explanation I can come up with for you constantly being in my thoughts. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, you are always there, tucked in here.” He tapped his heart with one hand.
“You seemed in such a rush to get away from Willowbrook, I wondered if I had done something to offend you,” Harriett whispered.
“I had to leave before I did something stupid like throw myself at your feet and beg for your hand.”
Harriett giggled, and shook her head. “Oh, you.”
“I may just do that now if you don’t let me finish,” he added chidingly, giving her a mock stern look.
“Harriett Ponsonby, I love you with all of my heart. Will you please do me the honour of becoming my wife?”
“I would love to,” Harriett whispered, sniffing as two large tears escaped and trickled down her face. “I love you so much, I cannot conceive of a future without you in it.”
“Thank God for that!” Hugo groaned, kissing her soundly.
Several long moments later, he broke the kiss off and eased back to stare thoughtfully down at her. “Do you think you would like a visit to meet my family? I think I should like to see them again, but only if you are willing to come with me.”
Harriett froze and stared at him in surprise. She longed to say yes, but couldn’t ignore her background that was so unsuitable for someone of his status.
He sensed her hesitation and read the cause accurately. “I am the man you have come to know, not the title. Don’t confuse the two Harriett. I may go and visit my family again, but I will always be Hugo,” his voice dropped to a whisper as he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Your Hugo.”
“I’m a witch though,” Harriett warned, knowing that her association with him would cause him problems.
“I don’t care. I love you for who you are, not what you are. You only do good for people – look at the villagers in Padstow. They are overjoyed you have decided to finally become one of them. I know my family will adore you.” Conviction rang in Hugo’s voice. He knew that his family would undoubtedly love her for her gentle nature and kindness, as well as her ability to twist him around her little finger. Smiling ruefully he ignored the question in her eyes and dipped his head for a kiss.
“I lo
ve you Harriett,” he whispered, not giving her the chance to reply.
Harriett sighed, and melted against him.
Simon, who had been watching the interplay from the study, smiled at the clear love between the young couple and was glad that his initial impression of Hugo was accurate.
He had been surprised when Hugo had asked for his agreement to approach Harriett for her hand, but delighted that the man was obviously devoted to his daughter and was going to try to move heaven and earth to be together as much as possible while England and France were at war. As soon as the war was over, Hugo had confirmed that he would leave the Star Elite to concentrate on his family and matrimonial duties, and would help Simon with the tin mines. This was enough for Simon to give his full agreement and enthusiastic support, and he had welcomed Hugo into the family with a huge grin and a hearty hand shake.
Whatever the future held for them all, he knew that de Mattingley Manor would be filled with love, laughter and happiness - and he couldn’t ask for anything more from life than that.
The End
Coming Soon
The Star Elite – Book 2
Smuggler’s Glory – released autumn 2013
The Ladies of Tipton Hollow – Regency Romance
Capturing Harriett Marchington – released September 2013
Other Titles by Rebecca King
The Cavendish Mysteries
If You Were Mine – released December 2012
Cinders and Ashes – released February 2013
Chasing Eliza – released March 2013
The Gallows Bride – released May 2013
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