Chapter Twenty-Four

 

Edward’s sleep had been plagued by nightmares. He had tossed and turned throughout the night, and upon waking he was soaked in sweat. Attempting to raise himself, he collapsed back into the pillow.

How fitting, he thought as his mind returned to the last time he had fallen ill. Was this a sign that the new path he chose would not change the outcome? Would what happened then be repeated? Was he destined to an even worse fate than what had occurred ten years earlier?

This time, however, he had nothing to sign away. He owned nothing of value to be stolen from him through his own foolishness.

As Annabel came into the sitting room, he understood there was one similarity. In his own way, although he was uncertain to what degree, he cared for the woman. Perhaps love was too strong a word, for he could never allow his heart to be trampled again. However, he did have a great affection for her.

“Edward?” Annabel asked as she hurried to his side. “You do not look well.” Before he could respond, she placed a hand to his forehead and pulled away. “You are on fire! I will get you a cool cloth.”

“Thank you,” he managed to whisper, although he doubted she heard him. His throat was parched, and he attempted to bring moisture to his mouth to no avail.

As Annabel puttered about in the kitchen, Edward was reminded of Mary ten years ago, who sought to console him for her own gain. Yet, as Annabel returned and knelt beside him, he recognized a distinct difference in the two women. While Mary had been accommodating, he now saw her displeasure at performing such menial tasks. On more than one occasion, she had insisted that the maid attend him, and he overheard her whispering that she had grown tired of nursing him.

“I am a lady, not a nursemaid!” she had snapped at her brother—no, her husband!

In contrast, Annabel tended him with delicate hands, and she did so out of kindness. No other reason existed, for she was there against her will, brought on by actions of his own.

“Annabel,” he whispered. Her blue eyes lit up, and he felt a longing deep in his heart. How he hated this moment. “It is time.”

“Time? Whatever do you mean? Time for what?” She placed the cool cloth across his forehead, more than likely believing him delirious.

How he wished to tell her that the man who had been running for the past ten years no longer wished to do so. That it was she who had broken down a wall that surrounded his heart, allowing him to see the good inside himself. That he saw that love and trust could be found once again. However, it was not time for that. It was time to begin wronging rights.

“It is time for me to start over.” His throat burned, and he wished for a small sip of water, but he would ask nothing more of this woman.

“I am well aware of that,” she said. “We spoke of it last evening. Do you not remember? You promised to return to your village when this is over.”

For a moment, he closed his. This woman had been a means to restore himself to what he once was, and she did not know that she had accomplished that. Yet, it was not the wealth that Edward realized he needed, but rather the ability to believe in himself once again.

She went to stand. “Allow me to go find…”

He grasped her hand. “It is time for you to leave. Return to Scarlett Hall this very day.”

“But the ransom…”

He shook his head. “It will not be paid. In my coat pocket are notes that will provide enough funds to hire a carriage home.”

“You mean I can truly leave?” A tear rolled down her cheek, and he wiped it away with his thumb.

“Yes. But you must know something. The letter I received, the one brought by that man yesterday? It indicates that the man who hired me wants you dead. Your life is in danger, and you must be careful so that this does not happen again. This man may not stop with this attempt if your death is of such great importance.”

Annabel nodded. “Thank you,” she replied. “I will inform my aunt when I arrive home.” She wiped more tears from her eyes. “But what of you? What will you do?”

Edward forced himself to smile, although his heart clenched knowing he would never see the woman again. He turned his attention to the window and the blue sky beyond it. “I will remain here,” he replied.

“I see. So, this is goodbye?”

He raised a hand to wipe away another tear, but his limb grew heavy, and he allowed it to drop back to the sofa. “It is,” he said. “Thank you for all you have done for me. I am sorry we did not meet under better circumstances.” He let out a small laugh that only increased the pain in his sides. “In my heart I wish we did, for I know I shall never meet another woman such as you.”

Annabel leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “And if that man, Cecil, returns? Or someone else wishing to harm you? You are unable to defend yourself in your current condition. Or what if your illness worsens and there is no one here to take care of you?”

Edward took a deep breath. He had no doubt that once word of Annabel returning to Scarlett Hall reached Adam, men would be sent to the cottage to exact revenge. However, that did not matter, for it was Annabel’s life that was important, the only thing about which he cared.

“I have no concerns for anyone coming after me,” he murmured, every drop of energy going into keeping his eyes open. “It is an unwritten rule in these types of agreements. At worst they will never hire me again, which is fine since I am no longer interested in such work.”

He doubted she believed him although she nodded, but he did not have the capacity to think clearly enough to come up with a better argument.

“Edward, I…”

“Goodbye, Annabel.” He shifted so that his back was to her, for he could not see her suffer a moment longer.

He heard her skirts rustle as she rose, and her footsteps as she walked into the bedroom. A short time later, the footsteps returned. They paused for a moment, and Edward feigned sleep, silently urging her to leave, to not make any attempt to convince him to allow her to stay.

She did not, for the front door opened and closed, and he turned to see he was truly alone. As his body shook, alternating between fever and chills, and despite now having no chance of restoring his wealth, Edward smiled. All he had ever wanted in this world was now gone, yet what was left was far more valuable. Annabel was in his heart, a heart once broken now filled with happiness that she would be safe. And that had been the wealth he had needed all along.

***

Wearing the one good dress of those that had been waiting for her at the cottage, Annabel walked with a heavy heart toward the road. Although she was overjoyed to be leaving for Scarlett Hall, the thought of never seeing Edward again weighed heavy on her. How strange it was that her life had changed so much and yet it would return to be very much the same. She had no doubt her parents would insist she marry Lord Agar despite all that had happened to her, and despite her aunt’s objections to such a pairing.

She stopped at the end of the drive and glance back at the cottage that had been her home for the past few weeks. A house the size of her bedroom at Scarlett Hall had become a home to her in a very short time. A place filled with adventure and heartbreak. A place where she had matured all because of the man who had held her captive.

“Goodbye,” she whispered, wiping the last tear from her eye. She would not weep again, not if she could help it. “I, too, wish we would have met under different circumstances.”

Heaving a heavy sigh, she turned and walked toward the village. The bright sun had dried the road, which surprised her. She had expected to traipse through a great amount of mud, but that was not the case. The journey would take less than an hour, and she hoped finding a carriage to hire would not be difficult. She did not recall seeing any business that would provide such services, but she had enough money to see someone returned her home.

By tomorrow evening, she would be back at Scarlett Hall, informing her aunt about all that had transpired. Yet, when she came to speak of Edward, what would Annabel say? That the man she had feared was a man for whom she now had a fondness? That what had begun as an act of evil had turned his heart good? It was a fitting story, but Annabel wished it did not have to end.

The sound of someone speaking made her stop and glance around. Further down the road was the guard she had offered a kiss in exchange for his silence concerning her attempt to escape. Beside him walked a rather round woman with a strong voice and rosy cheeks.

It occurred to Annabel that Edward had not alerted the guards that she was leaving with his permission. She had no idea if the woman with the guard was employed by Edward; however, the guard most certainly was.

“Sir,” Annabel said as the couple approached and stopped before her, “I wanted to inform you that I am going into town today.”

The woman frowned as she placed a meaty hand on her hip.

Taking a deep breath, Annabel continued. “This time, I shall not be giving you a kiss for passage.”

“What’s this?” the woman roared, turning on the man with such a glare that he cowered. “Chargin’ ladies kisses for walkin’ on the road? May God have mercy on you, Timothy Woodson, for I surely won’t!”

“But, Martha, I can explain,” Timothy said, backing away as the woman made a fist and took a step closer to him. “I’m innocent!”

The woman narrowed her eyes at him. “Innocent, you say?” she said. “Innocent like when I caught you with Edwina’s cousin?”

He lifted his arms over his face, cowering further. “I was drunk, and she took advantage of me!”

With one swift motion, the woman struck Timothy a firm clip on the chin, and the man turned tail and ran. Annabel had to cover a giggle when the woman lifted her skirts and hurried after him, shouting all the while.

Then a realization came over Annabel. “Oh, Edward,” she said with a laugh. “There were never any guards!” She doubled over in laughter until her sides ached, the events of that first night in the cottage replaying in her mind. Poor Timothy Woodson! The man had been simply warning her that it was unsafe for a lady to be out at night alone. “I could have easily gone if I had known you were not a guard.” She shook her head.

Yes, she could have left, but now she was glad she had not, for since that night, she and Edward had grown closer in many ways. Now he would reside in her heart forever.

As the village grew closer, Annabel considered her heart and her feelings for Edward. She still worried as he lay ill, and she hoped no harm would come to him before his health improved. However, what if he became worse? Or what if someone who wished him harm appeared?

The thought caused her to pause in front of the hotel where the man Edward had known previously had called him a failure.

“Do ya need any ‘elp?” a young boy of perhaps ten asked. “Are ya lookin’ fer someone?”

Annabel smiled. “I am in need of a carriage to take me to Rumsbury. Do you know of anyone who has such services? I will need a driver, as well.”

“Me da’s got the best services around,” the boy said with a proud nod. “He jus’ got back last night, too. I’ll get him if ya want.”

“Yes, please.”

The boy ran off and Annabel glanced around. The village was not busy, but numerous couples strolled along the footpath talking and smiling, and Annabel felt a twinge in her heart. She and Edward had been happy when they visited the village, and now she had left that man behind.

Then the same worry washed over her as it had the night she left Scarlett Hall in order to meet Edward. If she did not follow her heart, would she miss out on something beautiful?