Capturing Sir Dunnicliffe (The Star Elite Series) (31 page)

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 f
ather 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 t
hat he couldn’t go back until his future was set.

“Can I ask you a question?” Hugo asked, 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 H
ugo,” she whispered, delight coursing through her.

“You know I have to leave soon.” H
e 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 watc
hed 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 love 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 ha
d 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