by Gill, Tamara
The Runner sighed, running a hand through his already rumpled hair. “When Miss. Knight left for the ball, we can only surmise that Lord Oakes used the opportunity to steal into her home. Lay in wait until she returned.” The Runner turned to Ava, placing his hand over his heart. “We’re truly sorry, Miss. Knight. Tonight we have failed you.”
“We shall discuss this further in a few days’ time at my estate, and I suggest you find out where the lapse in observation has occurred. I want to know.” Tate pulled her harder against him, his warmth and care serving as a balm. Her eyes drooped as a sudden rush of tiredness swamped her.
The Runner bowed, stepping back. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Ava glanced up at Tate, clutching the lapels of his evening wear. “You saved me,” she said, her voice wobbling at the admission.
His gaze shot to her, surprise written on his handsome face. “Always.” A pained expression crossed his features. “You are everything to me. When I saw what Lord Oakes was attempting, what he may have already done. If the fire had not killed him, I would have. I promise you he will never hurt you again or anyone else for that matter.”
“I’m so sorry, Tate,” she admitted. Her heart hurt at how foolish she’d been. The time she’d lost by holding on to a life that only ever half fulfilled her. No matter what she’d told herself, there had always been a piece of her missing. Until that piece had stepped back into her life.
Tate.
“I was holding onto my past and couldn’t see straight,” she continued. “I let what others thought of me, blind me to what I wanted. I let prejudice against me make me believe I was not worthy of you. But not any longer. I can see clearly now. I want a future with you. I want our lives to merge in every way. I want to make us work and let everything else fall about us as it will.”
He smiled, pulling her closer. “You’re not the only one who has been blinded by their own dreams. Of course, I want you by my side, my wife, my duchess, but I do not expect you to be away from here for months on end and it was selfish of me to think you could be. London is not so very far away, and when Parliament sits, or the Season calls me to town, I do not expect you to leave your responsibilities for such frivolities. Here is what matters the most.” He ran his hands over her hair, linking them at her nape. “What I said the last time we spoke I meant. I love you, so very much. I cannot live without you.”
Her eyes smarted as his voice cracked at his last words and she stepped up to wrap her arms about his neck, holding him close. “I love you too,” she whispered against his ear. He turned his head to look at her and she smiled. Ava closed the space between them and kissed him, heedless of those about them. Tate didn’t shy away and ravenously took her mouth, making her forget all the troubles of the night and warming the chill from her blood.
A discreet cough pulled them from each other and they looked to see Hallie and Lord Duncannon standing at their sides, amusement written across their faces. Soot and dirt stained their ballroom clothing, their faces and hands.
Hallie stepped toward them, enclosing them both in a hug. “I’m so relieved you’re safe,” Hallie said, her eyes overly bright. “We got caught up trying to save the horses. With you not at the stables, we stayed and offered assistance and thankfully no horses have been lost.”
“We will have to round them up though in the morning. Most have bolted from the grounds,” Lord Duncannon stated.
All of which was understandable from the trauma the animals suffered, all because Lord Oakes had been a madman. A man so blinded with jealousy at not getting what he wanted and so he had acted out, punished those whom he assumed to be at fault in hindering his ends. Ava shook her head. How could anyone be so evil?
“Come, there is little we can do here. We’ll travel back to Cleremore and you both will stay with me for the duration of the rebuild of your home and stables.”
Ava nodded. There was little she could do here, everything was gone. They would return in the morning and look for the horses, which hopefully had not run too far away. They made their way over to the ducal carriage, and Ava gave her thanks when Tate helped her inside, her legs threatening to give way beneath her.
She glanced out the carriage window and looked at what was left of her home, and despair swamped her. How could Lord Oakes do such a thing? A question she would probably ask herself for many years to come.
“Are you ready?” the duke asked, coming to sit beside her and taking her in his arms, pulling her close to his side.
Ava nodded, not wanting to see any more of the destruction of her home before she was prepared to face it. “I am more than ready.”
Chapter 17
Father has died and I’m on my way home. I have lost everything it seems, you, my father, but at least I have my horses. I suppose that is some comfort in a time when I have none.
– An Excerpt from a letter from Miss. Ava Knight to the Duke of Whitstone
A month later, Tate stood outside Ava’s ruined home, and watched as the first lumber arrived for the new structure to be built. Last week carts arrived filled with stone, and now the builders were salvaging whatever they could of the old house’s building material to use again.
The estate was a flurry of work, and Tate glanced across the yard and watched as Ava discussed things with the man they’d hired to rebuild the home and stables.
A smile lifted his lips. She was so beautiful, capable, and his heart ached at the sight of her. She caught sight of him staring and she gave him a knowing smile. Somehow she’d always know what he was thinking, feeling. Ava Knight was truly his perfect match.
He turned back to the house, shaking his head at the destruction. Lord Oakes had ensured nothing would survive and it had not. Except for the few pieces of furniture and valuables the staff had been able to carry outside before the fire took hold too much.
The local magistrate had declared his death an accident, and knowing that the man had admitted his crimes to Ava before his demise, the authorities were willing to let the case close and be done with it.
Tate was happy for this outcome. After what he’d seen Lord Oakes trying to do to Ava the night of the fire, he would’ve gutted him on the lawn had he escaped, the bastard deserved nothing less.
Ava sidled up to him, clasping his arm and holding him close. “It’s going to be like the fire never happened when we’re finished with it. Don’t you agree?” she asked, looking up at him.
He tweaked her sweet nose. “With one little difference,” he said, smiling, indulging himself with a kiss from her charming lips.
She glanced at his expectantly. “And what would that be?” she asked.
Tate chuckled. “After tomorrow, you’ll return here a duchess and my wife.” At the words, contentment settled over him, soothing his soul.
Her hand shifted from his arm to wrap about his waist. “Yes, and you will return as my husband.”
He wrapped his arms about her and kissed her heedless of the workers about them. And even when whistles and laugher penetrated his brain he did not stop. Would never stop loving the woman in his arms, no matter where or who they were about.
They would be the Duke and Duchess of Whitstone and they made their own rules, made their own decisions and that would never change.
Epilogue
Two years and four months later.
Ava shouted out from the ducal box at Ascot as Titan flew down the straight, the other horses hard on his heels and yet the stallion showed no signs of slowing down. She stood, yelling out across the swarm of heads before her in the stands, Tate by her side, laughing and yelling with her as their horse crossed the line the winner.
For a moment they stared at each other in amazement, before Ava jumped into his arms, tears smarting and her heart beating loud in her chest. They’d won! They’d won Ascot!
“I don’t believe it,” Lord Duncannon said beside them. “I’ve won a fortune.”
Ava laughed, not believing it herself. “You must go down, Tate. Collect
the cup and ribbon.”
He glanced at her, clearly still shocked at what had occurred. Ava glanced back at the racetrack and smiled as the jockey riding Titan trotted him back toward where they would receive the prize.
Tate kissed her cheek quickly before running down the stairs, heading toward their horse. Many people about them congratulated them and Ava thanked them in turn, wanting to remember every moment of this day for the rest of her life.
During the first two years of their marriage they had worked hard to get both stables back up and running, and thankfully the horses had not suffered too much from the trauma Lord Oakes had caused.
“If only Hallie was here to see this. She would love this so much,” she said aloud. Lord Duncannon’s smile slipped a little at the mention of her friend and Ava couldn’t help but wonder what had happened between the pair. “She would be happy for you. I have no doubt.”
Ava glanced to where Tate stood his smile wide, making him look like the most handsome man in the world. He shook the jockey’s hand before giving Titan a big pat on his neck.
“Have you heard from her?” Lord Duncannon asked.
Ava’s attention snapped back to him, having not expected him to be so forward. “She arrives back in London next week if the ship from Egypt is not delayed.”
His lordship did look at her then and Ava didn’t miss the unhidden interest in his eyes. She grinned at him, wagging one finger. “One of these days you’re going to tell me why you both look sheepish when around each other. Tate and I know you are both not telling us something.”
He chuckled and she shook her head. Even Tate did not know what had passed between the pair, but by God, Ava would dearly love to know. When they traveled to London next week to collect Hallie she would demand to know. Not that Hallie would probably tell her anything. The woman was like a safe that secrets never escaped from.
Ava clapped as Tate took possession of the Gold cup and she smiled down at him as he lifted it toward her. Pride seized her, for them both at their day’s success.
“I’m sure you’re looking forward to seeing Miss. Evans again.”
Ava nodded. “Of course,” she replied. “There is an artifact they wanted brought back to the British Museum. They surmised that because Hallie had contacts here, that she would be best to travel with the artifact.” Ava shook the hands of a trainer who came to congratulate them. “I, for one, cannot wait to see her again. I do hope she stays a little longer this time.”
Lord Duncannon nodded, smiling and Ava turned back to follow Tate’s progress back to them through the bevy of congratulations and well wishes in the crowd.
“You do realize we’ll not hear the end of this win for years to come,” she said, laughing when Tate kissed the Gold cup in his hands.
Duncannon chuckled. “I do believe you are right, duchess.”
Tate made it back to her and he handed her the cup. Marrying the duke had been the best decision she’d ever made, and even though his mother had never forgiven them and still refused to apologize for her atrocious behavior, the past two years had been the happiest of her life and she couldn’t imagine at time any longer when they were not married.
“Congratulations, darling. You should’ve come down and received the cup with me. This is yours as much as mine.”
She looked over the prize, smiling. “I will, next year when one of my horses race and wins.”
Tate laughed, kissing her and not caring who saw, an action that he did often. If there was one thing Tate loved to do was scandalize the ton. Which, she had to admit, she enjoyed also.
Author Note
As you’ve probably noticed, I did take some creative license in regards to who actually won the Ascot Gold Cup in 1823. While I’d love to think Titan would’ve been good enough to win, the actual winner that year was a horse named, Marcellus. Marcellus was a four-year-old thoroughbred ridden by Will Wheatley, trained by William Chifney and owned by the Earl of Darlington.
Finished From France with Love - Start the Lords of London series!
Have you heard about my Lords of London series? Dive into these charming historical romances! In this six-book series, Darcy seduces a virgin duke, Cecilia's world collides with a roguish marquess, Katherine strikes a deal with an unlucky earl and Lizzy sets out to seduce a very wicked Viscount. These stories plus more adventures in this fabulous Regency series.
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About the Author
Tamara is an Australian author who grew up in an old mining town in country South Australia, where her love of history was founded. So much so, she made her darling husband travel to the UK for their honeymoon, where she dragged him from one historical monument and castle to another.
A mother of three, her two little gentleman in the making, a future lady (she hopes) and a part-time job keep her busy in the real world, but whenever she gets a moment’s peace she loves to write romance novels in an array of genres, including regency, medieval and time travel.
www.tamaragill.com
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