It wasn’t long before the fire began to dwindle, and soon Thornhallow Hall crumbled into itself, the flames which only moments before had seemingly touched the sky now giving way to smoking embers and groaning timbers.
The bitter wind howled around them, fanning the seemingly endless destruction, while sweeping the ash and smoke far away into the horizon, a grim mist in the twilight. They all stood there in stunned, shocked silence, watching, waiting. For what, no one really knew.
Liam had told them all of Ford’s offer, and they had agreed to accept it. No one preferred the houses of gossips or the rooms at the local pub to the peace and tranquillity of the magistrate’s home.
Bradley had left at that news, promising to visit the following morning. They had all agreed to make their way to Heathfield, that there was nothing more to be done at Thornhallow, and yet no one had moved.
It was as if they needed to see the final end of the house, to see it through its last moments. Not until they had could they leave, could they even begin to think of asking the master what would become of them all.
All except for Rebecca.
After Liam had joined them again she’d slipped away, on the pretext of checking on the horses—not that anyone had paid her much attention. She hadn’t been able to bear to stand among them, she who had cost them everything.
Rebecca stroked Callie’s neck, and thought back to her first day here, to her first view of Thornhallow. She remembered the dread and foreboding she’d felt that day, and wondered if this devastation was what she’d been warned of.
All this had come to pass because of her. Liam and the others had nearly lost their lives, because of her. Because of her weakness, her inability to muster her strength when she’d had the chance to run from them all.
‘God forgive me,’ she whispered to the air, tears pricking her eyes again.
‘Don’t,’ Liam said fiercely, appearing beside her. ‘This isn’t your fault. You have nothing to be forgiven for.’
‘Of course I do,’ she croaked, shaking her head and moving away from Calliope. The last thing she needed was for the poor mare to get upset. ‘I brought this on you. On all of you. On Thornhallow.’
‘Rebecca, look at me. Please,’ he said, slipping his bandaged hand gently in hers and coming to stand before her. ‘You are not responsible for the wrath and ill-doings of that vermin. We are all alive and safe.’
‘And your home is nothing but ash!’
‘It’s not my home,’ he said softly.
He lifted his hand to cup her cheek, and for the life of her she couldn’t move away.
‘You know that. It was only ever a house. I dreamed for years of burning that pile of rocks to the ground, and now it is done. Even though you brought life back to it for a short while, it would never have been enough. Thornhallow held only sorrow, and pain. I’m glad it’s gone.’
‘You’re upset, Liam, you don’t know what you’re saying—’
‘I have never been more certain of anything in my life, Rebecca,’ he said with a ferocious smile, pulling her closer to him. ‘You are my home now.’
‘What? N-no, Liam,’ Rebecca stuttered, gently pushing away.
‘Yes,’ he promised, holding on to her as tightly as he dared. ‘I did not have the courage to admit it before, and I am sorry. I did not have the courage for many things,’ he admitted.
Rebecca sagged slightly. ‘Liam, what I said, I’m sorry—’
‘Why?’ He laughed softly. ‘You were right. Again. I was a fool, trying to convince myself abandoning the title would free me. Give me a chance at being the man I always longed to be. It wouldn’t have,’ he said quietly, stroking her cheek again, even though she still refused to meet his gaze. ‘It would’ve made me the man I always feared I was. The man I want to be, I am with you. I am free with you. I’m staying, Rebecca, and before you say it, not because of you, but thanks to you. And if you will have me—’
‘No, Liam, that is impossible.’
‘Why? Why is it so impossible?’
‘You know why. You are an earl, and I...I’m a servant. Some things, just cannot be.’
‘They can if you fight for them to be.’ He smiled, bending a little to catch her gaze. Finally he snared those eyes that saw so much, and in which he saw his own soul reflected. ‘You challenged me to build the world I wanted to see, and I intend to. That begins with having a partner by my side whom I love, and respect, and who is, in every way, my match.’
Rebecca opened her mouth, but words were not quickly forthcoming, so Liam forged on, determined to lay himself bare before her one last time.
If she refused him then, so be it. But he would not let her doubts, her fears, society’s expectations, make the decision for her.
‘It will not be easy,’ he warned, admitting that he was not so blind as to think it would be a simple happily-ever-after for them. ‘There will be talk, and scandal, that is for sure—particularly since I intend for Mellors’s trial to be very public indeed. Doors will close, and I doubt we shall ever be invited to the more respectable houses. But I have a title, and a fortune, and what good are they if I cannot do as I please? Besides, I am the Disappeared Earl, so who knows? It might just add to my renown.’
Rebecca let loose a half-sob, half-laugh, and Liam grinned.
‘I can, and will, weather anything so long as you are by my side, helping me build the life I dream of, for us, and for the world. I cannot see a future without you in it. You brought me back to life, Rebecca, with your stubbornness, and heart, and understanding, and relentlessness. Do not abandon me now.’
‘I... Liam, I,’ Rebecca stuttered, suddenly aware of their growing audience, the rest of the staff having slowly made their way over. ‘You don’t know what you’re saying.’
‘Look at me, not them,’ he ordered gruffly. ‘Do you love me?’
‘Oh, God,’ she sighed, the starkness and suddenness of the question flustering her. ‘I, that isn’t important—’
‘Like hell it isn’t. Do you love me—yes or no?’
‘Of course I do,’ she blurted out before she could censor herself. ‘With all my heart.’
‘Good. Because I love you, and that is the only important thing. Now, I know you’ve only just been given your life and freedom back. I know you said you did not see yourself settling, taking a husband, relinquishing your independence. But know I would never ask that. All I ask is that you be free with me. Let us rebuild this place, and build a life, together. However you wish, as my wife, as my companion, as my partner—I care not, so long as you’re with me.’
Fifteen years of running.
From everything. Family, home, love, connection.
And here, before the smouldering remains of Thornhallow Hall, the man she had inadvertently fallen in love with was declaring his love to her.
Everything about this was impossible. And yet, here he was, asking her to share a life, to be his. Offering her the world, a life of love.
Rebecca felt the stares of the staff, and turned to them, expecting to see disapproval, judgement and dismay. Instead, she found them all smiling—all save Mrs Murray, who was crying unmistakable tears of joy. Thomas nodded, and that was all the approval she needed to bless her and Liam’s unholy union.
‘Yes,’ she said, grinning like an overly excited schoolgirl as she leapt up, throwing her arms around his neck. ‘Yes.’
Smiling, Liam grabbed hold of her and twirled her around, raining kisses upon her cheeks, brows and lips. Both were dizzy by the time he finally stopped and set her once again upon the ground, entwining his hand with hers as they turned back to their family.
‘I suppose we should all make our way to Heathfield,’ Liam said. He, too, was unable to stop grinning. ‘We have much to discuss and much to decide.’
The bedraggled yet hopeful band of Thornhallow Hall’s staff nodded in unison, and with candles to light their way, and the horses in tow, they all began the long walk to Heathfield. Not one of them turned back to look at the glowing pile of ash.
Though Liam and Rebecca both said silent farewells to the ghost of Thornhallow Hall—the ghost that did not exist, but which they knew had dwelled there.
By the time they arrived at Heathfield, some two hours later, all their hearts were full of joy and hope as they celebrated a new day, sitting together at Ford’s table.