Ghost of Christmas Past (7 page)

“
She lives in my hunting lodge in Leicestershire.” He gave
Rupert the address and sighed. “You need to go to Bainbridge as
well. Please Rupert?” John swallowed and moaned low in his throat
as the world began to swirl around him. His hands fumbled and
groped around until he caught Rupert’s hand and gave it a warning
squeeze. “Promise me that you will go to Bainbridge and speak to
your father.”

“
I will, I promise. Right now though I need to find Thea and
bring her here. She will want to see you.”

“
Your father will tell you,” John replied gently. “Promise me
that you will go. I need to see her.” His rambling words trailed
off as he began to slide into unconsciousness. The doctor put the
laudanum onto the bedside table and took a moment to check John’s
breathing.

“
I don’t know where this Bainbridge is, but I think you need
to get there quickly. Get this Thea, who is so important to him,
and bring her back here as quickly as you can.”

A muscle
ticked in Rupert’s jaw as he nodded once before he stalked out of
the room. Having committed the address to memory, he mentally began
to map out what he could remember of the county of Leicestershire
and calculated that it would take at least two days of hard riding
to get there.

He
bumped into the worried butler in the hallway. “What’s your
name?”

“
Argus, sir. I am the master’s butler and have been for the
last twenty years.”

“
Can you tell me, Argus, if the master had any
enemies?”

The
butler shook his head solemnly and carefully placed the dirty water
bowl on the hallway table. “The master is well respected throughout
London,” he replied with pride. “He is a good man and has many
friends and associates who hold him in good standing. As far as I
am aware, there isn’t anybody who would wish him ill.”

“
I am going to arrange for my boss, Sir Hugo, to arrange for
someone to keep a watch on the house. Until we know for certain who
shot Mr Weatherby, I think it would be best if you refused to
answer the door to anyone. Remove the knocker and close the
shutters please. I am going to leave you a note to send off to the
War Office as quickly as possible.”

The
butler nodded briskly. Rupert could read the question in the man’s
eyes but the butler was too well trained to ask. “I am going to
head off to Leicestershire to find Thea and bring her back here,
but it will take me three or four days at least. Meantime, only
answer the door to the doctor. If my colleagues turn up, they will
tell you that they are from an organisation called the Star Elite.
Can you remember that?”

The
butler nodded. “The Star Elite? Yes, sir, I can remember
that.”

“
They should show you a letter with the War Office’s wax seal
on it. Don’t let anyone into the house if they don’t show you this
letter. Now, get that note dispatched as quickly as you can.” He
didn’t wait to see the efficient butler pick the note up and hurry
off to find his cloak; he was already heading out of the
door.

Within
the hour, Rupert was heading toward the outskirts of London at a
steady canter. Despite having sent a note via the butler, he
stopped by the War Office anyway and had relayed events to his
boss, Sir Hugo, who agreed to put Marcus into the house to keep
watch while Rupert was away. It was now of paramount importance to
the Star Elite that they do everything within their power to ensure
that the person responsible for the shooting was identified and
brought to justice, especially if the gunman was French and Rupert
had been the intended target. Assured that everything was going to
be put into motion back at Ridings, Rupert raced to find the
past.

In
deference to the fact that he had no idea who the intended victim
was, his circuitous route to Leicestershire meant that it took him
twice as long as it should have done to get to the address John had
given him.

Afternoon sunshine beamed down on him as he rode between the
tall stone pillars that bracketed the driveway to the hunting lodge
like open arms beckoning weary travellers closer to the stone
mansion that sat overlooking miles of empty countryside to the
front and to the rear. A low mist hung in the air that gave the
place an air of enchantment that captured the imagination and made
him quicken his pace in order to bring his long journey to an
end.

Although
John had been adamant that Thea was at home, he couldn’t help but
wonder if it had been such a good idea that he came in person. He
should have sent a note, but had never stopped to consider his
actions. He had thought of nothing but getting to Thea and being
the one to deliver the sad news in person. Now that he was here, he
wondered if he would be welcomed. Still, there was nothing he could
do about it now. He gave himself a mental shake and cast aside his
doubts as he dismounted and stalked toward the door. He knocked and
stood back to wait for it to be answered. As he waited,
uncharacteristic nerves settled over him as he tried to settle his
thoughts into what he was going to say to her.

Thea
yawned and shifted uncomfortably against the stiffness in her leg.
She wished now that she had moved to the chaise before she had
fallen asleep. She had not slept at all well last night and it had
seemed to require too much effort to even attempt to fight the
fatigue that had swept through her after her afternoon
walk.

“
Mistress? There is a gentleman here to see you,” Tilly
announced quietly from the doorway.

“
Pardon? To see me?” She stared at Tilly in consternation and
mentally ran through whether she was expecting anyone. She hardly
ever got any visitors and, as far as she was aware, the grocer
wasn’t due until the end of the week. “Who is it,
Tilly?”

“
Mr Rupert Samuels, ma’am.”

Thea’s
eyes grew wide at the same time that her stomach dropped to her
toes. She barely got the chance to absorb Tilly’s news before
Rupert appeared in the doorway.

As soon
as he laid eyes on her all of the years they had been apart
suddenly melted away. She didn’t appear to have aged one bit and
was, if anything, more beautiful than before. She had a maturity
about her now that was simply breath-taking. He opened his mouth to
speak only for his pounding heart to lock firmly in his chest and
prevent anything other than a brisk nod. For a few brief moments
words failed him. What was he supposed to say? Good afternoon?
Thank heavens I found you again? I have some bad news for
you?

Thea
swallowed and stared at him. Their eyes met and held for several
long moments across the length of the sitting room, which faded
into the background as the air thickened with awareness. A small
voice warned her that she needed to mind her manners. She should
rise and sketch a quick courtesy, but she couldn’t bring herself to
move. She daren’t move in case the spell was broken and this turned
out to be all a dream. Was he really there?

Her
heart pounded in her ears as the minutes ticked by. The years had
made him harder, edgier somehow. The small grey hairs at his
temples gave him a rakish charm that befitted his more angular
features that maturity had brought him. The youthful arrogance had
gone and been replaced with someone who was watchful, leaner, and
considerably more handsome. Her stomach lurched as the memories of
the last time she had seen him came flooding back and her heart
wept for all of the years that had passed since she had been able
to even speak his name.

Rupert
moved into the room, all the while searching the familiar features
of the woman who had haunted his every waking hour since the day
that they should have married. She was even more beautiful up
close. Her wonderful blue eyes stared steadily at him and were
shocked and filled with curiosity. His heart ached for everything
they had lost and he wanted to reach out and just hold her, if only
she would let him. So many emotions cascaded through him that he
struggled to put a name to them all. There were so many questions
that he didn’t know what to ask first. He studied her for several
moments longer than was polite, and was aware of the cautious
scrutiny of the young maid who was standing just inside the doorway
watching them.

Thea
felt physically sick. Her heart ached at the sight of him standing
so close. She wanted to get up and leave, to run and keep on
running until she was far away from him, but she couldn’t. Her body
wouldn’t let her. It hurt to physically have him so close yet it
was wonderful at the same time. He was so big, so solid, before her
that she yearned to reach out and touch him just to see if he was
real.

“
Hello Thea,” he growled in a voice that was considerably
huskier than usual.

“
Rupert.” Her attention was drawn to Tilly, who was watching
them avidly. “Would you care for some tea?”

Rupert
turned to the young maid. “If you please, that would be
nice.”

As soon
as the maid left, Rupert closed the door and turned toward the
woman he had yearned to see. He was aware that she hadn’t made any
attempt to stand and wondered if it was just too painful for her.
“How are you, Thea?”

“
I am fine, thank you. Please take a seat.” She waited until
he sat on the end of the chaise closest to her. “I am a little
surprised to see you in such an out of the way place as
this.”

“
I am here for a specific purpose,” he replied quietly. He
struggled to tear his gaze away from her. Several dark curls had
escaped the bun at the back of her neck and they bobbed against the
smooth skin of her cheek as she talked. He itched to touch one to
see if it was as soft as it appeared and clenched his fists in an
attempt to keep his hands still.

Thea
frowned and sat upright. “Are your parents alright?” She took
advantage of the opportunity to scour him from head to toe but
couldn’t see anything amiss. Indeed, he looked wonderfully hale and
hearty.

“
I don’t know,” he sighed in all honesty. “I haven’t been back
to Bainbridge in some time.” It was on the tip of his tongue to
admit that he had left his ancestral home at the same time that she
had vanished out of his life but was reluctant to discuss the past
just yet. He remained silent while Tilly deposited a tray of tea
things on the small table between them.

As soon
as the maid had left the room, Thea rose and poured. The sight of
her standing tall and straight warmed him to his core and he felt a
wave of relief wash over him that rendered words impossible.
Although her movements were slow, they bespoke of an elegant grace
rather than painful awkwardness. She handed him his tea cup with a
hand that shook slightly but he made no reference to it because if
he was honest, he was just as shaken.

While
she settled into the chair opposite, he took the opportunity to try
to remember the words he had rehearsed on his journey there. He had
considered various ways to tell her about her uncle but, now that
he was here, he found himself extremely reluctant to break the
news. Still, the memory of John looking pale and lifeless against
the pristine white sheets of his bed were enough to prompt him to
say what he needed to say so that they could start to make plans to
leave. As soon as she was in London they would have plenty of time
to discuss the past.

He knew
one thing for certain, now that she was back in his life he had no
intention of walking away from her a second time. Just seeing her
again, feeling the impact she had upon him was more than enough to
assure him that she was still very firmly a part of his life. She
just didn’t know it yet.

“
I am afraid that I have come with some news, Thea,” Rupert
announced quietly and placed his cup on the table with far too much
precision. He sighed and moved to kneel before her. The gravity on
his face must have forewarned her that she wasn’t going to like
what he had to say because she started to frown at him. He
carefully picked up her delicate hands in his and studied the
contrasts in her pale skin against his tanned, work-roughened
fingers as he savoured the feel of her so close.

“
I have had cause to be in London recently and met with your
uncle.”

“
Is he quite well?” She whispered and stared into his eyes
searchingly. Up close, the thick fan of her lashes against her pale
cheeks held him captive. He had never seen such long lashes on
anyone before; why had he never noticed that about her
before?

“
I am afraid that he has been injured, Thea.” He felt rather
than heard her gasp and clutched her fingers tighter in an attempt
to reassure her. “He was alive when I left London, but he was
poorly.” He didn’t want to say at death’s door. “He was asking for
you.”

Thea
swallowed and felt a wave of sickness sweep through her. She didn’t
seem able to draw her horrified gaze away from his wonderfully
familiar features. The stoic support in his steady gaze held her
calm and she found herself clutching his fingers in
return.

“
When? How?”

“
A couple of days ago,” he replied. “He got shot I am afraid,
but we don’t know who by or why.”

“
Shot?”

Rupert
nodded. “I don’t know if you are able to travel, but I think it
would be best if you came to London with me. I have arranged for a
carriage for you. How long will it take you to pack?”