A Love Laid Bare (44 page)

The viscount’s brief, sharp nod conveyed his
satisfaction with this answer. He went ahead and on through the
front entry of the house. After a quick look at the room to his
right, he unlatched the door opposite and gestured for Nancy to
follow.

“No furniture, I’m sorry to say, but the floor
appears to be clean.” He raised a brow at Halcombe. “I suppose you
are the cause of the mess across the hall?” he asked with a jerk of
his chin.

“You suppose correctly.” Halcombe tried with no
success to loosen Flora’s monkey grip on his neck so he could set
her down. “I seem to have a limpet attached to me. There is a cot
in one of the other rooms and some water in another. If you will
bring both in here?”

“I will. Frances is close. I saw the carriage when I
was searching for the girls. Which reminds me, someone needs to
collect my horse.”

“Jim should have arrived by now. You can send him. I
am going to meet Frances. I want her to see Flora as soon as they
are within sight.” He turned to the nursemaid. “Have some water and
then rest on the cot for a little while. I will see to Lady
Flora.”

The earl went outside, stopped briefly to assure Zeus
his wait was nearly ended, and walked along the drive in the
direction of the small stable yard. On horseback, one could ride up
to the front, but any wheeled vehicles were forced to use the less
steep approach to the side of the house. He watched as his carriage
rumbled into sight. It jerked to a stop and his wife all but
tumbled out the door. She ran to them, skirts flying and hair
tumbling from its pins.

Frances threw her arms around them both, tears of
relief and joyous laughter bubbling forth. “Richard! And my dear,
sweet Flora!” She cradled the child close, rocking her in the
motherly motion that seemed inborn to women. “Oh, Flora,” she
whispered.

“Mama squish,” Flora said as she tried to wiggle
free. Laughing, Frances held her up and brushed her nose to
Flora’s.

“Mama did squish, pet. I missed you so much I
couldn’t help but squish you just a little.”

Flora wound her arms around Frances’ neck. “Miss
Mama,” she whispered, and nestled contentedly against her
mother.

Frances turned to Halcombe and gasped. “You are hurt!
Dear heaven.” She touched his swollen lip. “Are you injured
anywhere else?”

“Nothing major.”

“What happened? Did you…? Frances abruptly shook her
head. “No, it can wait.”

She leaned on him and Richard buried his face in her
hair. They both stood very still for a few minutes. He was hardly
able to accept they were all together, and unharmed.

“I must see to Nancy,” Frances said eventually,
apparently as reluctant to move as he was. “The sun is hot, and I
suspect Flora needs attention” She sniffed the air. “Yes, she
definitely needs some attention.”

The carriage squeaked to a stop behind them, and
Frances started. “Oh, my, I completely forgot about Rose!”

Mrs. Blount exited the coach and rushed to join them.
“Lord Halcombe! Oh, I am so glad to see that Lady Flora is safe.
And what of Nancy? Is she…?”

“Nancy is inside, Mrs. Blount. Please, go to her. She
will be happy to see you,” Halcombe said. “We will be along in a
few minutes.” The housekeeper bestowed a relieved smile on them and
rushed away.

“Nancy
will
be pleased to have Rose here,”
Frances said softly. “They are rather fond of each other.”

“Nancy will certainly need her,” Halcombe said. “She
has been through a lot in the past two days.” Keeping a firm hold
on his wife, he urged her slowly toward the house.

Summerton met them at the door, a broad grin on his
face. “A happy reunion, I see.”

Frances beamed. “With your help. Thank you, Colin.
Without you…”

“It was little enough.” He gave them a sweeping bow.
“Do come in to this humble abode. I can offer you water…or water…or
quite possibly some water, should you be so inclined.”

They laughed. “I believe we will have water,”
Halcombe said.

“There are a few provisions in the coach,” Frances
said. “But water would be welcome, if only for this little lady.”
She touched Flora’s head, and then looked at her husband. “There
are infant cloths and a change of clothing in the coach as well,
Richard.”

Summerton led the way inside. He gestured to an open
doorway and stepped aside to allow them entrance. “Nancy is in
here, as is a kitten, for some unfathomable reason.”

Mrs. Blount rose from her crouch by the cot where
Nancy lay. “I think a good sleep will do her more good than
anything, my lady. I will stay with her once I’ve collected the
clothes and food from the coach—and a blanket for Lady Flora.” She
gave Halcombe a puzzled look. “What is to be done with the kitten,
my lord? Nancy appears rather attached to it.”

The earl looked from the kitten curled up beside
Nancy to Summerton, who held up his hands.

“I haven’t the faintest idea how it came to be here,
Richard,” he said, with some amusement, “but I have a feeling the
Manor is about to acquire another cat.”

“No doubt,” Halcombe said dryly. He shrugged. “Keep
it here for now, Mrs. Blount, if its presence comforts Nancy. She
was probably awake all night taking care of Flora and needs to
rest.”

“We owe her a great deal,” Frances said quietly.
“Thank you, Rose. We will use another chamber.” She sighed and went
to a smaller room at the front of the house.

“This was your schoolroom,” Halcombe said, arching a
brow. His tone was full of amusement and meant to remind her of the
first time they had met.

Frances’ eyes lit with laughter. “A fateful day
indeed, sir,” she said as she passed Flora to him. “She needs
changing, poor thing.”

The housekeeper appeared in the doorway. Frances took
the bag of provisions from her. “Thank you. We can manage for
ourselves now. Please look after Nancy.”

Halcombe laid Flora on the blanket Frances had spread
out and then glanced at the door. Should he go assist Colin and get
things in order? The question was answered as quickly as it entered
his head. No. He wanted to be nowhere else but here, with his wife
and daughter. Summerton was quite capable.

“Richard.”

He looked down at his kneeling wife and drowsy
daughter. Yes,
here
was where he needed to be. Easing
himself carefully onto the floor, he braced his back on the wall,
and when Frances was finished changing Flora, gathered her
close.

“Let us go home,” she said, lightly brushing a finger
along his jaw.

There were fresh horses to obtain, repairs to
Clifftop to order, and someone should be sent to ensure Jensen was
truly gone, but all these things could wait. For now, he was
content to simply drink in the sweet warmth of his wife’s warm body
so trustingly curled against him.

“We will go home, and soon, but unfortunately I’ve
some additional arrangements to make,” the earl said some time
later. He tipped up her chin and kissed her, allowing his bruised
lips to linger on hers for a brief moment. “Stay with Flora. I
won’t be long.”

Frances nodded. The muted cheerfulness he had
observed earlier slipped away and she averted her gaze. She fretted
with the fabric of her skirt and then turned back to him, cupping
his face with her hands. “If I had lost you…either of you…” Her
voice broke and tears spilled from her eyes. “I love you so very
much. I want to be with you…for all the days of our lives, if you
are willing.”

Halcombe shifted her onto his lap. “I’m afraid you
are stuck with me for the next fifty years or so.” He wiped the
tears from her cheeks, kissed the corners of her eyes. “Goose. If
you have a grain of sense you must know how much I love you, Lady
Halcombe.
My
lady.” He gave her a hug and then raised his
brows. “A lady who apparently is determined to spend the night on
this wretchedly uncomfortable floor.”

Frances blinked. “But I am not on the floor, sir,”
she said sweetly. “I assure you that I am quite comfortable.” She
peered slyly at him through her eyelashes and he chuckled.

“That, my dear, can be remedied.” He playfully rolled
her onto a small patch of the blanket and then got stiffly to his
feet. He was feeling every one of Jensen’s punches now and knew
he’d feel even worse tomorrow. “I’m sorry to leave you, but I need
to speak to Summerton and the other men.”

Frances looked reproachfully at him as she sat up,
but her eyes held a merry gleam. “Go, my lord, and tend to your
duties. Your ladies will be waiting for you.”

Halcombe left the room while he still had the
fortitude. As he walked outside, reality set in once again. His
ladies.
If they had lost Flora…
He cut off the horrific
train of thought. He would have nightmares enough without allowing
his imagination to run wild while he was awake!

Zeus was no longer at the gate, which meant either
Jim or Mathew had taken him around to the stable; an assumption
that was confirmed when Summerton emerged from the house minutes
later.

“Your coachman has already taken your horse in hand,
if that’s what you are wondering. Mathew has gone for Shadow, and
Jim went to follow Jensen to insure that he has indeed hared off as
ordered.”

“He will be on board a ship, if he knows what’s good
for him,” Halcombe said harshly. He looked at Summerton then, and
raised his brows. “It appears you have taken care of everything,
Colin, and left nothing for me.” He clapped a hand on his friend’s
shoulder. “We are in your debt, my friend. I know the hike up that
cliff was not easy. Without your help…”

Summerton frowned and shook his head. “Don’t be an
ass, Richard. We both know you’d do the same for me. Besides, it’s
good to get a little action now and then.” He grinned. “But next
time,
I
get to beat up the villain. You can’t have all the
fun.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Halcombe gingerly dabbed at
the cut on his lip with his handkerchief, attempted a grin and
swore. “Damn, that stings.” He stuffed the handkerchief back into
his pocket, the brief bit of humour fading from his eyes. He wished
he was able to express how much he valued Colin’s friendship, but
Summerton’s disinterested stare made it clear that there was
nothing more to be said. Instead, he turned and gestured at the
gaping window of the house. “That is rather a mess. I’d best see
about having it boarded over until repairs can be made.”

“A small price to pay for having Lady Flora and her
nursemaid safely returned to you,” Colin said quietly.

“So it is,” Halcombe replied with seeming ease, but
the horror of the past twenty-four hours gripped him still.

Colin looked sharply at him and put a hand on his
arm. “It’s over, Richard. Don’t dwell on what might have happened.
Go forward. You and Frances have had some difficult years. Now you
have a chance for happiness.” He punctuated his quiet words with a
light punch on Halcombe’s shoulder.

Halcombe looked pointedly at Colin’s fist, but the
corners of his mouth tipped up. “I don’t need any more bruises
today, thank you,” he said. “But if you want some of mine…”

Summerton grinned and backed up a few paces. “I would
not think of it.”

“I had a feeling you might say that.” The earl
started walking and Summerton fell into step beside him. “I’m going
to have a word with the steward before I go in. Frances will be
concerned about leaving the house in this condition—and rightly
so—but I want to leave for home as soon as possible. Will you be
returning to the Manor with us? I know you never intended to be
from Town this long.” He frowned. “And you don’t even have a French
spy to show for it, since my reported stranger turned out to be
none other than the nefarious Mr. Jensen.”

“Ah, but you provided a grand adventure!” Colin said
with a grin. “My agent may turn up yet. So, if you will, please
continue to keep an ear out for any rumours…although I think even
the local smugglers will avoid this area for a time.” He looked at
his clothes and brushed at his breeches. “It seems I’ve collected
almost as much dust as you are wearing. Since neither service nor
food is among Clifftop’s amenities at the moment, I think I will go
today. I must get back to Town as soon as possible. There are
decent accommodations within reach where I can eat and get a little
sleep.

Halcombe glanced at the sun. “Better to leave now, if
you hope to make it before dark.”

“I
intend
to arrive before dark,” Summerton
said. “Shadow still has a few more hours in him and will be fresh
again in the morning.” He touched Halcombe’s arm. “Take your people
home. I’ll be in touch.”

“Good luck,” Halcombe called as the viscount
departed, “and thank you.”

He was not sure Colin heard him, and, in any case, he
did not expect an answer. Summerton often walked a lonely, private
road but perhaps someday he, too, would find happiness. Halcombe
paused and sent a silent prayer of thanksgiving heavenward for his
wonderful daughter and lovely wife. With a vow to be ever mindful
of his own good fortune, he went to join his family.

***

Halcombe Manor, several weeks later
.

Languid after their lovemaking, Frances slid closer
to her husband and idly ran her fingers through his hair. “I do
hope Mary is safe and well,” she said. “Even though Colin’s letter
said he was going to Dunnleigh and would aid her in any way
possible, I worry.”

“We can trust Colin to care for her,” Richard said
firmly. “There is nothing we can do except stand ready to help if
they ask. You have other people to think about now.”

Frances rose up on one arm and smiled mischievously.
“Do I? Let’s see… I have you and Flora and…”

“This little sprout,” he said, patting her belly, for
they were almost certain that she was with child. “And then, of
course, there is me.”