by Vikki Vaught
“Beautiful. I don’t know how you managed it, but you don’t have a hair out of place. You’re a remarkable woman.” He gave her a quick kiss and rushed outside.
Helen took a deep, cleansing breath before returning to the music room where their guests were still playing cards.
When she took her seat, Meredith asked, “Is everything all right? Your husband acted worried and left the room. Did he find you?”
“He did. Unfortunately, he received a message from our steward, so he had to take care of a slight problem that could not wait. He will return momentarily.” She turned to her other guests. “If you will follow me, we shall partake of the repast I’ve arranged.”
Everyone followed her into the drawing room, where the servants had refreshments set out. Helen fought the urge to tell them to leave, but she maintained her calm while she made idle chit-chat with her guests.
At last, they finished the food, and they began to leave. She prayed everything had gone smoothly for her husband. A swoosh of relief swept through her, knowing they did not have to worry about that delirious woman anymore.
Colin and Meredith turned to her, and her friend smiled. “I thoroughly enjoyed this evening. Thank you for having us. We have a committee meeting tomorrow at two. It’s at the rectory, and I hope you can attend.”
Oh, Lord, she’d forgotten that. “I’m not sure if I can make it tomorrow, but I will definitely be there the following week. I’m glad you had a good time this evening. I did as well. We’ll do this again in the near future.”
After the other guests departed, Helen went up to the nursery and gazed upon her sleeping children. If Cecilia had succeeded tonight, she might have killed them. Clearly, the woman was insane. She gently kissed each of her sons on their little foreheads as they continued to sleep.
She slipped into the girls’ room. Christina had kicked off her covers, so she pulled them up and kissed her forehead. She went to Catherine and did the same. While the little girls may not have come from her body, they were the children of her heart.
Helen made her way to her bedchamber. Her maid helped her remove her clothing and don her nightgown. Then she dismissed Sally and told her she would not need her again. Unable to settle yet, she poured a glass of madeira, hoping it would calm her rattling nerves. She let out a slow breath. At last, her ordeal had come to an end. After thanking God for keeping them all safe, she curled up on the sofa in the sitting room to wait for her husband.
* * * *
Matthew and the guards took Cecilia to the magistrate and turned her over. The official tried to interrogate her, but the woman had completely lost any touch with reality. She kept babbling on, making no sense. The magistrate gave up once it was obvious the woman could not answer his questions. Once she was under lock and key, Matthew asked, “What will happen to her?”
“Clearly, the woman is mad, so I shall send her to Bedlam in London. She will live out the rest of her days in captivity. I believe she would be a danger to others and herself. I shall have Dr. Moore treat her wound and sedate her. By the way, how did she receive her injury? Thank God you caught her before she hurt your wife.”
“Actually, my countess defended herself, and that’s how Mrs. Arlington was wounded. Lady Collingswood used a garden claw to get away. My wife is an amazing woman. It’s such a relief to have this over at last. I appreciate your help, but to be safe, I shall send four of my guards with you tomorrow. I’m not taking any chances she’ll find a way to escape. If you need anything else from me, let me know. Well, I shall take my leave. Good evening, sir.”
Matthew arrived home well after midnight. He found Helen asleep on the sofa in the sitting room. She looked so lovely with her glorious hair cascading around her shoulders, shimmering in the candlelight. He’d made the best decision of his life when he’d asked her to be his wife. Thank God she’d agreed.
The Duke of Somerset did him a favor when he decided to marry someone else. If he had not hurt Helen, then she would not have wanted to enter into a marriage of convenience with him. Not only was she beautiful beyond words, she was smart and a wonderful mother. He had never expected to find love in his marriage, but he was so grateful he had.
As he stood watching her sleep, Helen slowly opened her eyes and smiled. “How did everything go when you delivered Cecilia to the magistrate? What will happen to her now?”
Matthew knelt and gently cupped her face. “It’s finally over, sweetheart. You’ll never have to worry about her again. Since she is clearly insane, the magistrate is sending her to Bedlam in London. Although Dr. Moore will sedate her for the journey, I’m not taking any chances. My guards will accompany her to make sure she does not escape.”
She sighed. “I’m so thankful this is at an end. Now we can move forward without any fear.”
He moved beside her and gathered her in his arms. “I’m so fortunate you’re willing to forgive me for my part in all this. As I told you before, I was an idiot, and I promise I’m much wiser from this experience. I’ll never give you any reason to doubt my love for you again.”
Helen tenderly touched his face. “When I married you, I never expected, nor wanted, to fall in love. I’m so happy I did. We’re so blessed. We have four healthy children and our whole lives ahead of us. I shall love you, my darling, all the rest of my days.”
Matthew pulled her to her feet and hugged her close as he thanked God for bringing her into his life. Neither of them had entered into this marriage with the intentions of falling in love, but love sneaked in when they least expected it. Their love was born out of friendship and respect, and he would cherish her every moment for the rest of his life.
Scooping her up, he carried her to his bed and gently laid her upon the clean white sheets. He climbed in beside her. Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her with all the love he had in his heart. Then passion swept them away to that euphoric place where only lovers can soar. Love and respect would bind them together…forever…and beyond.
The End
About the Author
Vikki Vaught started her writing career when a story invaded her mind and would not leave. Ever since then, the stories keep coming and writing is now her passion. Over the last five years, she has written almost a dozen romances and is presently working on her next, while fighting off the other future characters shouting “my turn”!
Vikki lives in the beautiful foothills of the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with her husband, Jim, who is a saint for putting up with her when she is in a writing frenzy. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her curled up in a comfortable chair reading, lost in a good book with a cup of tea at her side. She also enjoys walking her little dog, Marlee who has captured her heart!
While all her books are love stories, she also writes sweet contemporary romances as Vikki McCombie.
Website: http://www.vikkivaught.com/home.html
Email: mailto:[email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VikkiVaught?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vvaught512
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+VikkiMcCombie/posts
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vaughtmccombie/
Amazon Author Page: http://smile.amazon.com/Vikki-Vaught/e/B008EE7TG2/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1433778387&sr=1-2-ent
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5208041.Vikki_Vaught
Other books by this author:
Writing as Vikki Vaught:
Lost Pleasures Found
When Love Sneaks In
Turned Around by Love
Lady Overton's Perilous Journey
Miss Kathleen's Scandalous Baron
The Viscount’s Salvation
Miss Millington's Dilemma
Writing as V. L. Edwards:
To Live Again
Writing as Vikki McCombie:
A Christmas Miracle for Veronica
A New Beginning for Nanci
Cameron's Shocking Christmas Revelation
&
nbsp;
