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Warmth woke Spencer out of a deep sleep which had brought him relief from pain. The right side of his body was overheated and something was tickling his face and chest. Before he dared open his eyes, because the past few days brought him nothing but excruciating pain when he did, he reached for his face and came in contact with soft, silky hair.
His eyes popped open, and he saw his beautiful wife curled up against his side. The stabbing pain inside his skull eased.
He didn’t move, afraid to wake her because he wanted to enjoy this moment. He wanted to study and memorize every single part of her. It wasn’t easy as his heart throbbed inside his chest causing his whole body to vibrate. He so desperately wanted to touch her. Love her. But he didn’t want to be greedy.
After the ordeal she went through, she needed her rest. It took restraint not to wake her up so he could be reassure she went unharmed. Unviolated by that man. But the answers could wait. Meanwhile, he would close his eyes and revel in the knowledge he had Miranda back.
Nothing or no one would ever take her from him again.
“Are you awake?”
Her voice traveled inside his body and curled around his heart. “Yes. Welcome home.”
“I’m so sorry about what happened. If I hadn’t married you, you would not be in bed with a head injury.”
Fighting through the pain throbbing inside his skull, he turned onto his side and looked into her worried, soft green eyes. “I would do anything for you. Die for you. Fight for you. Because my life is nothing without you in it. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”
Tears leaked from her eyes and he gently wiped them away with his fingertips. “When I was locked inside that cell I thought I’d never see you again. That if I somehow managed to escape, you would be dead. I thought he killed you.”
“Oh, my dear, it takes more than the likes of Baker to put me in the ground.”
“He is dead.”
“Good.” And afraid to ask, but needing to know, he said, “Did he...”
“No. But it was horrible.” She buried her face into his neck. “He raped Aunt Violet right in front of me.” She inhaled deeply, and he could feel her heart pounding rapidly against his side. “He tied me up. There was nothing I could do. I feel so guilty that I made it out unscathed.”
“Thank God you did. How is Violet?”
Sobs caused her body to tremble from head to toe. “Ever since it happened she has stared at nothing, said nothing. Appears like a child. I’m afraid I’ve lost her for good.”
“I will hire the best doctors. We will not rest until she is recovered and herself again.”
“From experience, she will never be the same.”
“I realize that, but look at you? How far you have come. You will be her best advocate. She is a strong woman, I believe she will eventually recover. It may take days, perhaps months, but she will crawl out of her own internal nightmare and come back to us. What other choice do we have? Give up and let her wallow until death takes her?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For saying the words I needed to hear right now.” Her chest pushed against his side as she inhaled and exhaled. “The whole time it was happening, I relived my violation. I nearly descended into the darkness with her.”
“Never again sweetheart. The man is dead and can never hurt you or your aunt again. And as long as I’m alive no one else ever will. Now rest. It’s still early and to be honest, I need to close my eyes to ease the pain inside my head. Will you stay with me?”
“There is nowhere else I’d rather be. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
***
Later that day Smythe came to visit Spencer, and Spencer thought the Runner looked worse than he did. “What happened to you?”
“Never mind me. I’m sorry. I failed you.”
“Nonsense. It’s not your fault. All that matters is that Baker is dead. Miranda is fine and I’m convinced her aunt will be in time.”
“But still. Doesn’t sit well in my gut.”
“Your men found them. Rescued them and killed the bastard. Your men. Under your orders. You did your job and did it well. Sit, you look ready to collapse.”
“No. I must be getting home. Please express my gratitude to the earl.” Halfway out the door, he turned and exhaled. “I hope to hell I don’t see any of you anytime soon. Except in a social situation.”
***
Miranda was anxious to get home, but unfortunately, Spencer needed another day or two to recover. And as far as her aunt went, it probably wasn’t a good time to move her either. Even though she did nothing but sit in a lounge chair by the hearth in her room, she seemed content.
If only her aunt would look at her with something other than emotionless eyes. Seeing her that way was worse than terrible. Gone was the exuberant and happy aunt she knew and loved, and it tore at her insides.
When would she come back? The physician said her mind was protecting her from what she went through. When she was ready to face it, she would. But in the meantime, she was to be treated with care, but under no circumstances should she be ignored. Treat her normally and perhaps she would recover sooner rather than later.
So Miranda sat in a chair, next to her aunt, who reclined on a lounge chair, and told her about her day. And how tomorrow they hoped to move back home.
Perhaps if the weather fared well, they could ride in the park. On and on Miranda went, making small talk, hoping and praying to hear her aunt’s voice speak back. Her shoulders slumped when all that reached her ears was silence. She would not give up. In her heart she had to believe that eventually she would come around. Baker would not win.
***
It turned out to be two days later when Spencer, Miranda, and Aunt Violet moved home to a big welcome from Liz, Mary, Spencer’s mother and grandmother. Never had she felt so drained of energy. If it wasn’t for her husband giving her confidence about her aunt’s recovery she would give up.
After getting Violet settled inside the room she was staying in, she sought the comfort of her bed, planning to rest her weary mind and spirit. Claudia helped her undress down to her chemise and tucked her in. As tired as she was, she couldn’t manage to close off her mind long enough to allow sleep to come. Just when she decided to give up on napping, Spencer entered the room.
“Are you feeling unwell?” The caring in his voice turned her stomach to mush.
“No. Tired is all. How do you feel?”
“The pain in my head has finally dissipated, and I feel like a new man.”
He certainly did if the twinkle in his eyes was any indication.
“I thought I would join you, spend some time holding my wife.” As he undressed, her eyes were riveted on him. She never imagined a man’s body could be so beautiful. A contrast between soft and hard. Once, unabashedly naked, he pulled the covers back, climbed in the bed beside her and turned so they were face to face.
“Miranda. If you are not up to this, please let me know.” His eyes searched hers, his confidence from moments ago wavering. “I don’t care if for the rest of our lives all we do is hold one another close. Being with you in any capacity is better than not being with you at all. I have to tell you though, when I came to and found out Baker had you, part of me died inside at the thought of never seeing you again. Never being about to tell you how much I love you.”
“When I was locked in the cell, I was afraid you were dead. My heart tried to tell me you were alive, but my mind wouldn’t listen. My one regret was you. Not having had enough time with you to express my love and devotion. Never have I ever loved another. I’ve loved you for so long, you feel a part of me. You’re inside my heart, my body, my soul. And don’t believe for one moment I don’t want this. This joining of our bodies. Joining of two hearts into one.”
She reached out her hand and placed it on his cheek. “I love you so much. It used to hurt to love you when we were apart. But not anymore. Because loving you has healed my broken heart. Love me Spencer. Love me with your body and your heart.”
When he reached for her she breathed a deep sigh of relief, knowing their future looked bright. “Shall we try for your heir?”
“If you insist.”
“I do.”
As he brought his lips to hers, she forgot about being tired or stressed. Being in Spencer’s arms, being cherished and loved by him caused the rest of the world to vanish. Nothing mattered but the two of them and the love they shared and the future that was theirs.
The End
