The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2

by MacMurrough, Sorcha

  Will gave her something resembling his old boyhood smile and she saw that the familiar scar upon his face which had been so like her own husband's was also completely gone.

  "Come help me cut my hair and get cleaned up. I don't want to scare her when she wakes."

  "You mean she isn't awake now?"

  "No. But soon."

  Elizabeth's gaze moved slowly until they rested upon Will. He smiled again.

  "Come, help me."

  She sponged the dried blood off him, scrubbed his long hair, and washed his back, while he sat with a hot steaming towel over his face. She shaved him, and trimmed his hair until it was well above his ears and collar.

  "Throw my hair into the fire, please?"

  Vevina did as she was told and went in search of some clean clothes as he finished soaking. By the time she came back he was already out of the tub and dry. He took the drawers, shirt and trousers from her, and donned each in turn.

  "Thank you, Sister. You don't know what all your help means to me."

  "I want to understand, though, Will," she said with a sigh. "Please, can you tell me what happened here tonight?"

  "I think you already know some of it."

  "Yes," she admitted. "We've always been very close. Almost like twins ourselves. But how… Why now?"

  He shrugged. "Because we're home now at last, and we've endured all of our trials of fire. But there will be more."

  With that dire warning, he led his sister out of the bathroom and went over to the outer door and unlocked it at last.

  All was silent in the house.

  Will looked at Vevina and took her hand. He led her over to the bay window and seated her on the trundle bed which she had been sleeping on ever since the accident.

  She lay down upon it without demur. He stroked back her auburn hair from her brow and kissed her tenderly on her forehead.

  "Will! Look! A black moon."

  "The eclipse will be waning shortly. Sleep now, Sister."

  "It's so lovely."

  "Sleep."

  Vevina struggled to keep her eyes open, but her leaden lids refused to obey her commands.

  Her last sight before she slept was of her brother glowing gold and silver in the dim light of the eclipse like the statue of a god.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Vevina came awake with a start. Then she heaved a huge relieved sigh and relaxed upon the pillows. Her husband was pressed tightly up against her back as always.

  The bright sunlight streaming in through the lace curtains bathed everything in a golden glow. She sat up more slowly a second time, trying not to wake Stewart, and moved over to her brother's bed.

  Will was lying on his back, his face in peaceful repose. Elizabeth too seemed to be deeply asleep. Their fingers were laced together tightly, and for a terrifying instant Vevina was reminded of the effigies on the medieval tombs in the Church at Ardmore.

  Then their eyes opened and relief flooded through her.

  "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Will asked in a whisper.

  "Yes. But what of you?" she asked with a worried frown.

  "We are well, as you see."

  Vevina scrutinized her brother closely. He looked perfectly fine apart from his silvered hair. Elizabeth also looked well apart from the fact that her raven tresses had been shorn and she seemed too still.

  "What does Doc say?"

  "That she's mending well. We need to be patient."

  "Do the others know she is awake?"

  He swung his long legs out of the bed.>

  No cast, she noted with a start.

  "They will soon. We need to feed her. Some porridge and cider, I think."

  She nodded. "I'll ring for the servants then."

  "Good. I'll get dressed."

  When the food arrived a short time later, Will tucked a cloth around his wife's neck and fed her like a baby. She opened her mouth to eat, but never once did she say a word.

  Nor did she move the lower half of her body, though her hand came up feebly every so often to grasp the spoon, like—

  Like the children when they had been very small and first learning how to eat.

  Good Lord. Elizabeth might still be alive, but how was Will to cope with a wife who was simple?

  But he seemed to manage very well, keeping up his reassuring murmurs as she ate. Vevina wondered at times what language he was speaking, for she only rarely recognized occasional snippets of verse amid his low tones.

  But it was not French, Portuguese, or Spanish either, she determined after a time. She looked at him again and noticed he was wearing a neatly-tied stock and cravat, while Elizabeth's long sleeves covered her wrists.

  She shook her head. It had all been a dream. She was sure of it. She told herself to stop being silly. There was no such thing as—

  Her brother was gazing fixedly at her, and smiled again.

  "Do you need anything, Will?"

  "You might want to give me some advice about female matters and how to deal with them, but apart from that, no."

  "Oh, um, is she-"

  "Yes," he said simply.

  "I'll get you something and take her into-"

  "I'll do it. She's my wife."

  She sighed heavily. "This can't be easy for you."

  "Neither was fighting in Spain. Being with Elizabeth, tending to her, is a pleasure compared with that."

  "Do the memories still sting?" she asked gently.

  He shrugged. "Not so much as they used to. I have a new life with Elizabeth. It's hard now, I know. But in the New Year things will be different. You'll see."

  "That's months away."

  "A few more weeks."

  She looked up at him quickly. He had to be confused. Today was the first day of autumn…

  "I'll get you those things."

  "Thank you, Sister. We're both very grateful."

  Will made Elizabeth finish her food and then took her into the bathroom.

  By the time he came out Vevina had tidied the room. She had to admit she had not only been neatening, she had also been looking for clues, evidence that what had happened the night before had not been some dream.

  Yet as hard as she tried, she could only find one thing out of place. Elizabeth's jewel box lay open and empty on the side table. She took it up and put it back on top of the dresser, and replaced her modest collection of jewels.

  Will got his wife back in bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. She smiled at him and touched his clean-shaven face. He kissed her hand and stroked her hair tenderly.

  Once again Vevina had the sensation she was seeing something she should not. It was as if they were there, and in another world of their own, a shadowy world, a mysterious cavern…

  She blinked, and started as she heard a groan. Her husband yawned and stretched, and was patting the bed and turning over to look for her.

  "There you are, darling. You missed a wonderful eclipse last night," Stewart said as she went over to give him a kiss.

  "Yes, I saw it. I have something to show you. Turn over and look."

  He did so. His eyes widened and he sat bolt upright. "Will! Elizabeth?"

  Will smiled calmly. "The worst is over. Thank you for everything. Now go tell the others the good news."

  Everyone in the house was of course overjoyed, but also cautiously optimistic. The fact that Elizabeth was not able to speak or walk was obviously cause for grave concern. But the fact that she was even awake was a miracle as far as they were concerned.

  Thomas hugged his sister and pumped Will's hand. Doc examined her again, and Parks slapped Will on the back and kissed Elizabeth's brow.

  Vevina watched them all in confusion. Didn't anyone notice anything strange about any of this except her? But apparently they thought a broken leg which mended in less than three weeks was the most natural thing in the world, for the only person who asked about it was Stewart.

  "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked Will with a frown.

  Will patted
him on the shoulder heartily. "Fine. You two go see the children and stop making such a fuss."

  "All right," Stewart said dubiously, but at his reassuring smile they both went.

  Another week of rest saw Elizabeth able to form words to ask for what she needed, and some clear signs that she would be able to walk again as her legs began to move.

  A second week found her able to respond to questions and with some memories of her likes and dislikes, and her family.

  By the third week she was able to come down to dinner. Though she spoke little, she seemed to understand all that was going on around her, and took great if quiet delight in the children, following them with her eyes and smiling.

  She stared at everything with wide-eyed wonder, and she and Will were inseparable, with him not leaving his wife's side for even an instant.

  Thomas and Charlotte were still concerned about her, but pleased enough with Elizabeth's progress to consider returning to Somerset in time for the birth of their first child. He was also undeniably worried about Ferncliffe causing trouble for his niece little Sophie, and for the Rakehells.

  So the Elthams and the Stones began to pack. The Fitzgeralds assured them they would remain and keep an eye on the unfortunate young couple for as long as possible.

  Thomas hated to leave his sister, but there had been no news of Ferncliffe and his associates. He could not help but feel nervous on his own behalf and that of the other Rakehells back in Brimley. It was either remain in Ireland for the entire winter waiting and wondering, and having their baby born in Ireland, or leaving before Charlotte grew any larger.

  "I hate to leave you, old man, but-"

  "We'll be fine. Really. I give you my word. It was a terrible accident, but she'll be fine. And I'm sorry-"

  Thomas shook his head. "Not your fault. Whatever got into her mind spooked her, and is gone now. She loves you. And I understand about the past now. You and your sister have told me everything. There's no need to ever mention it again."

  "I'll be patient with her. She has no reason to fear what happened to Jane, ever."

  Thomas nodded, embarrassed. "I know that. I'm very grateful." They shook hands, and then he embraced his brother-in-law. "Come to Somerset soon, eh? And consider yourself an honorary Rakehell."

  "Thank you. We'll see you in the spring. Take care of Charlotte. He'll be a fine son."

  Thomas stared at him, but shrugged, and went to see his sister one last time.

  It was a tearful farewell for Thomas and Charlotte as they left Elizabeth, but she embraced them both and told them to give her niece Sophie a kiss for her.

  "Be happy," Thomas whispered, holding her close as she stood on the very spot where she had nearly died less than two months before.

  "I shall. I'm getting better every day," she said slowly.

  Vevina was thrilled at her progress, but she could not help wonder at the change in her brother. He was excessively devoted to Elizabeth, but seemed to shun Parks and Monroe.

  She had mentioned it to him a few times, but he'd simply shrugged and said he had a lot on his mind.

  Yet now there it was again, she noticed one Sunday in mid-October. He never met Parks' eye any more.

  Finally she challenged him head on. Will and Elizabeth were resting on the bed in their private pale blue, white and primrose chamber, Vevina sewing in the chair beside her brother.

  "Please, Will, you always used to trust me. Won't you tell me what's going on? I can see there's something amiss between you and Parks. It's not, well, it's not because of Elizabeth, is it? You can't possibly be jealous-"

  He shook his head. "No, it's because of me."

  "Why, what is it then?"

  "Not is, but will be."

  "Why, what have you done?"

  Will's lips thinned to a narrow line. "I can't tell you."

  "Will, for pity's sake! After everything that happened the night of the eclipse, everything you shared with me then, you refuse to tell me if you and your friend have quarreled?"

  He sighed. "You're right. But I didn't want to get you or Stewart involved. Now I'm cooped up in this house with Elizabeth to tend to, and I can't and don't wish to carry out my mission. Our mission, the three of us."

  Vevina stared, then threw down her sewing. "Drat. I knew it! That's why you've all been staying at Joyce Hall instead of with us at Clancar Castle. I thought it was a bit of male high spirits."

  He frowned. "We don't womanize or swill gin. You ought to know that."

  "Yes, I ought to. I'm sorry. I just thought with the war over and everything you might, well, let off steam."

  "My life with Elizabeth has been steamy enough, thank you. And Monroe and Parks are only interested in their mission."

  "Let me guess. It's something to do with clearing Father's name and ours. We caught Samuel and Willoughby. But that isn't enough for you. You want a formal pardon, and the men responsible punished. But revenge is a double-edged sword, dear brother."

  He didn't even trouble to deny her accusations. "There were more than two traitors," Will pointed out. "We need to bring them to justice. And there was also a secret cache of weapons."

  She stared at him in confusion. "But how? Where?"

  "That's what we were sent to find out."

  "And did you?"

  "Yes."

  "And didn't tell Parks?" she guessed. "Why ever not?"

  He sighed.

  Her brows knitted. "Will, why not?" she demanded more insistently.

  "Because I'm not so sure I want them to be used in the way they're planning."

  "But if they fall into the wrong hands—"

  "Or the right ones?" he asked, his look one of challenge.

  Vevina's mouth dropped open. "What are you saying, Will?"

  "That perhaps Emmett wasn't so wrong in 1803. That now is the time to overthrow the British and win our freedom."

  She gasped. "Parks may be your best friend, but he's regular Army. He'll hang you from the highest tree if he even suspects—"

  Will sat up straight and leaned forward. "You've seen the people here, downtrodden and treated like doormats by people like Fitzsimmons and the Teagues. Decent people like the Lynches not even allowed to own their own land except by dint of one of their cousins turning Protestant and laying claim to the estate and permitting them to live on sufferance. It's wrong. You know it is," he argued passionately, his aquamarine eyes alight with a new fervor she had never seen before.

  "I do know. And all of us in this house would agree with you. But armed rebellion, Will? It's madness. You have too much to risk. You're married now. This is not just your fate, but Elizabeth's. You're no use to her hanging from a gibbet!"

  He sighed. "I'm not saying I would do anything with the muskets other than tell them I never found them. I'm tired of fighting and death. But I've opposed tyranny for far too long to accept it meekly when it's right on my own doorstep."

  "I understand that. But if the French were to invade?"

  "I would give them up in a minute," he promised her. "But the men at Horse Guards want us to use them to invade France."

  She started forward to the edge of her chair. "What are you talking about?"

  "They think the French are still planning to invade."

  "But Napoleon is-"

  "Planning to escape from Elba. It stands to reason. A man like that? He was lucky he wasn't assassinated by his own generals. He was an intelligent man. If he came out of the war with his life, he would have contingency plans. I'm telling you, Vevina, he will be back," Will said, his eyes shining.

  "It would be madness—"

  "He's mad for power."

  Vevina shook her head. "But who would follow him, after all he did?"

  "People just as power-hungry as he is."

  "Will, I think you're letting your fears get the better of you—"

  He shook his head. "I'm telling you, Sister, the war isn't over yet. Napoleon may be on Elba now, but that's not so far from Corsica and Italy."
/>   "So what's the plan? That the French come here and we do what?"

  "Fight and kill them, and then take their uniforms and invade ourselves."

  She sat back in her chair, winded.