Appreciating the feel of the cool air on her face, Rosa breathed deeply, aware that William was watching her.
‘H-how is Dhanu?’ she asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. ‘Has he got over what happened to him?’
‘Yes—which is surprising.’ His expression became grave. ‘Unfortunately the constables had to let Kapoor go.’
‘What? But—but why? I don’t understand.’
‘They had nothing on which to hold him. There’s not a scrap of evidence against him. He had done nothing to justify arrest. Kapoor said he and his friend were walking in the street on that night when they encountered you and Dhanu. He told them that when the barrels toppled over they went to offer their assistance, but their actions were misconstrued. Fearful of being arrested, his friend—always of a nervous disposition—ran from the scene. Apparently he hasn’t been seen since—although as a foreigner becoming lost in the murky underworld of St Giles, anything could have befallen him.’
‘I see. And—and now what? Do you think he will return to India?’
‘Not for one moment—not until his assignment has been accomplished.’
‘Don’t you know where he is?’
‘No. He’ll surface at some time, I suppose, and when he does I’ll be ready for him.’ William moved closer to Rosa, looking down into her dark eyes. ‘I am well aware that my behaviour of late must seem somewhat bizarre to you—coming to London and declaring my undying love for you. Since I cannot think of any excuses off the top of my head, I realise that nothing will do but the truth.’
‘I would appreciate that. Please don’t laugh at me...but—well, when Lady Willoughby called on you at Ashurst Park saying she had a proposition to put to you, I—I thought...’
‘What? What did you think, Rosa?’
‘That knowing you were in dire straits—she might have come to offer you the money to retain Ashurst Park?’
William’s eyes twinkled with humour. ‘I think what you would really like to know is did she ask me to marry her in return?’
‘Well—yes. That is what I thought had happened,’ she said, having decided not to divulge her own conversation she had had with Lady Willoughby. It had been a private conversation with an acquaintance, an acquaintance she was looking forward to becoming a friend if she returned to live in Berkshire.
‘Caroline Willoughby and I are friends, Rosa—good friends. Nothing more than that. She did offer to buy the estate that day, but I refused her offer. I have told you how I obtained the money.’
‘Yes, the gentleman who also came to inform you that your friend—Tipu, had died. The news must have come as a terrible shock and must be painful for you.’
‘Yes—more so when the messenger informed me that he had been poisoned by the Rajah’s wife.’ He shook his head slowly as fond memories of his friend entered his mind. ‘Poor Tipu. He did not deserve to die like that. His letter to me, written in the final moments of his life, was an emotive one. With not long to live and knowing of my struggle to save Ashurst Park, he bequeathed to me an astounding sum of money. Ahmet, the messenger, was Tipu’s most trusted servant. He is also here on behalf of the Rajah of Rajinda—Dhanu’s father.’
Moving closer to her, he stood, looking down into her expressionless face. ‘So you see, Rosa, I find I can now court you honourably, as you should be courted—on my terms, knowing that my feelings for you are not influenced by any mercenary motives.’
He pulled back slightly and took her face between his hands, staring passionately into her eyes. ‘Forget about Caroline Willoughby. Yes, she did offer to buy the estate, but I sold her a small parcel of land adjoining her own. Nothing more than that. You were the woman I wanted to marry. The more I saw you the more I wanted you. I’m not referring to your beauty,’ he added softly. ‘I’ve known many beautiful women, but not one of them was like you. You have given me a sense of belonging which, after India, I thought I would never feel again.’
She quivered at the intensity of his passionate gaze. ‘You told me you love me. Is it true?’
He nodded. ‘I do. Very much, as it happens. When you came to see me at Ashurst Park I felt there was a connection between us. And every time we’ve been together since, my certainty has grown stronger. I’m not one to wear my heart on my sleeve, but I’ve never experienced anything like what I feel for you.’ He sighed, brushing his hair from his brow with his hand. ‘In the beginning I tried telling myself ours was a practical match, for the sake of saving Ashurst Park. But that did not take into account my feelings. I wanted to court you as a lover. Your father’s money got in the way of that.’ He held her eyes with his. ‘Does that make sense to you?’
Rosa looked at him silently, seeing in his eyes the naked strength of emotion that had unsettled her so deeply when he had held her in his embrace and kissed her. Gone was the awful feeling of loss, of lost opportunities. She did not glance away, or try to get away to quiet her own inner tumult.
‘Yes—yes it does. But I also believe your feelings for Lydia Mannering didn’t help.’
William swallowed audibly. ‘That I cannot deny.’ Taking hold of her shoulders he drew her close, needing to feel the nearness of her, the warmth of her. ‘But things have changed since then—much has happened. My remembrance of her has become diminished by the passage of time and meeting you. Only now am I able to see myself in a whole new different light. Now I have you. In degrees of love, I have to admit that my feelings for you transcend anything I have felt before. It seems impossible and yet I know it is true, for here I am, totally enamoured with you.’
Releasing her he looked down into her upturned face. ‘As my wife, I promise you that you will never want for anything. As for your wealth—put it to some good. I am sure that between you, you and your Aunt Clara with all her charities will work something out.’ His gaze caressed her face. ‘And you, Rosa? How do you feel about me?’
Her hand was captured and she found his eyes looking straight into hers. She was trembling. He tightened his grip on her fingers and almost pleaded, ‘Say it, Rosa. Say you love me. Admit it.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered, ‘I—I do love you.’
He smiled. ‘I knew it. It wasn’t so hard an admission to make after all.’
‘No, it wasn’t difficult because it is true. I love you. I believe I always will.’
‘I want you to share my life. Let me explain how it’s been for me, how leaving India affected me to the point where I did not think I would survive it. I want you to understand.’
They stood gazing at each other for a long moment, in a silent communication more eloquent than words.
‘Tell me,’ Rosa said at length.
‘I have a strong affection for India. India was my life, my work. It went way beyond the Company. I could think of no other way of living. Even after my parents died I still had India and my work. Yes, I was a soldier and I have known days when I struggled in battle to stay alive. I was as much a native as you were on Antigua. You, more than anyone, should understand how I feel. I felt it was my home. Like my father before me I loved India with a single-mindedness and passion. People have died, Rosa—Tipu, my dearest friend died—and I felt a deep sadness and regret that I was unable to help him. I felt the same when I learned of Charles’s death. I wasn’t there for him, either. Now I feel as if I have a second chance, and I intend to make Ashurst Park what it once was. For me, things changed all the time—some good, some not so good—but India was always there. It is in my blood. In my soul. It will always remain in my mind and never leave me.’
Rosa was moved by the intensity of his words, his manner. She looked at him in a new light, seeing a side to him she had never known existed. Why, she thought, he is grieving. Why hadn’t she seen that? He’d never spoken of the sacrifice he’d had to make when he’d had to leave India for ever. Despite the noise of the laughter and music drifting through the French windows, the night wrapped itself around them. For a long moment they stood together in silence at the balustrade, then Rosa said, ‘I do understand.’
‘I have told you this because I want you with me at Ashurst Park as my wife. I confess that at present I am finding all that has happened difficult to deal with. It is important that you know how I feel. Now your wealth is no longer an issue I can tell you that I have chosen you not only because I love you and that you are a lovely and desirable woman any man would be proud to have as his wife, but because I see in you all the qualities I want in the woman who will be my wife and companion.’
‘Aren’t you being a little presumptuous, my lord?’ she exclaimed, a smile quirking her lips.
His eyes danced with mischief and he grinned. ‘Where you are concerned, my dear Rosa, I have to be.’
‘As yet I have not said I will marry you.’
‘No. But I hope you will,’ he said quietly.
‘Then, yes, since you ask so nicely.’
‘Thank you. There is so much about you that I love. There is a fascinating quality about you. I see your goodness and honesty and sincerity. You are realistic and generous and temperamental—all admirable qualities—and I believe you were destined to be a countess. We are well matched, equal.’ His gaze settled on her mouth and he watched as her tongue passed over her full bottom lip in the most seductive manner that made him acutely aware that his body was stirring to life with alarming intensity. ‘Shall I go on?’
‘There is no need,’ she said softly.
‘Then before your aunt comes looking for you, I think it’s time you kissed me. We haven’t much time left and I don’t want to waste a minute of it.’
Happy to do as he asked, Rosa leaned forward and placed her lips against his. Her eyes darkened with a love she wasn’t trying to conceal from him any more. ‘What do I have to do to please you?’
He smiled down at her. ‘I am open to suggestions. Show me.’
William’s lips were warm and then hot—a combination that was astonishingly delicious. Rosa’s own mouth opened beneath his willingly. Nothing in her imagination or her memory had prepared her for the intensity of his embrace, or the eagerness of her own response. It was as though it had never happened to her before, had never felt his arms about her, had never felt the touch of his kiss or his naked body pressed to hers. Neither wanted to let the other go.
When they finally drew apart he cupped her face in his hand and looked deep into her eyes.
‘Is this what you want, Rosa—to be my wife? I want you to be sure—without doubt.’
‘Yes, William. Without doubt I am very sure.’
‘We will discuss the matter of our future later, but now...’ Lowering his head, he captured her lips once more.
The only thing that marred the days before the wedding was the fact that Kamal Kapoor was still lurking on the streets of London somewhere. Knowing this and taking no chances, William made sure that Dhanu was watched at all times. Ahmet, determined that the Rajah would see his eldest son returned to his rightful place, was at his side all the time. He was impatient to return to India as soon as it could be arranged. William was in agreement and, despite the threat Kamal Kapoor still posed, he reserved comfortable quarters for Dhanu, Mishka and Ahmet on board a Company vessel that was to leave London just days after his marriage to Rosa. Previous to sailing, he would have the passenger and crew lists checked to make quite sure Kapoor was not on the vessel.
‘Try not to worry so much, William,’ Rosa said gently, knowing how concerned he was about the young boy, trying to maintain an air of calm. ‘With everyone watching Dhanu, nothing will happen. Hopefully he will be halfway to India before Kapoor realises he is no long in England.’
‘I hope you are right. Kapoor is a dangerous individual. There’s no telling what he will do.’ He sighed, taking her in his arms. ‘When we have seen Ahmet and Dhanu on the ship back to India, we’ll go directly to Berkshire. Does that appeal to you?’
‘Absolutely. I cannot understand why anyone would want to be in London all the time, surrounded as we are in Berkshire by the delights and pleasure of the countryside.’
‘I agree, but as young as you are, there will be times when you will hanker for the gay life of the London social scene—for the theatre and the balls where you can enjoy yourself. It will be an exciting diversion from the quietude of Ashurst Park where there are few distractions.’
Rosa looked at him with amused amazement, her lips quirking at the corners as she tried to suppress a smile. ‘I am able to enjoy myself perfectly well in the country.’
William gazed down into her eyes, unable to imagine a future without her by his side. She was smiling up at him, a smile that brightened the room and warmed his heart, and the closeness and sweet scent of her heated his blood. He was impatient for the wedding to take place, when he would make her his wife.
Rosa became the Countess of Ashurst. The wedding was a quiet affair, hardly the kind befitting an earl, but this was how they wanted it to be. Nevertheless, it was a day of great celebration.
Aunt Clara and Uncle Michael were delighted at the way things had turned out, but Aunt Clara wanted to make quite sure that marriage to the Earl of Ashurst was what Rosa wanted.
‘Will marriage to Lord Ashurst please you, Rosa? Are you quite certain that this is what you want?’
Ever since William had declared his love and asked her to be his wife, Rosa had gone through a great deal of deliberation and heart searching, before deciding that, for better or worse, she would become William’s wife. She could hardly believe how deep her feelings were running, and the joy coursing through her melted the very core of her heart. She loved William and that perfect certainty filled her heart and stilled any anxiety she might otherwise have had. The feeling was so strong there was no room for anything else.
Smiling, she hugged her aunt. ‘Yes, Aunt Clara, it pleases me very well. I love him—I think I have always loved him.’ Her whisper was soft and happy.
‘Then that is all I ask. I shall be glad to see you properly wed,’ she murmured, dabbing at her eyes. ‘My dear sister, your mother, would have been so happy for you—and your grandmother, also. I know you are still in mourning, but she would not have wanted you to wait. She would have told you to grasp the moment.’
And so it was that Rosa, holding a small posy of roses at her waist, her hand resting on her uncle’s arm, walked down the aisle of the candlelit church to marry William Barrington, the Earl of Ashurst. When she saw him, the few invited guests faded into the shadows beside him. Attired in an olive-green coat, dove-grey trousers hugging his long legs, overwhelming in stature, his dark hair smoothly brushed and gleaming, his presence was like a positive force.
William sensed her entrance and his glance swept the church until, drawn by her beauty, his eyes met hers, wide and direct. The vision of almost ethereal loveliness he beheld, her face serene, snatched his breath away. Something like terror moved through his heart. Dear Lord, he prayed, help me protect and cherish her all the days of my life.
He stepped out and took his place in front of the priest, waiting for her in watchful silence. There was a cool impertinence on his face when he looked at her, his eyes bold and with a twinkle of appraisal in their depths. His lips curved in a crooked smile.
Rosa caught her breath and for a brief moment experienced the same pleasurable feminine sensation she felt when he looked at her with his enigmatic gaze. Scarcely aware of her actions, she moved to stand beside him as he inclined his head to her.
Taking her hand, his long fingers closing firmly over hers, when she raised her eyes to his, he saw in their depths a gentle yielding that almost sent him to his knees. He smiled and she responded to that smile and, in that moment of complete accord, their marriage felt right.
Later, the celebrations over and the guests having left for their respective homes, William and Rosa were alone at last. The room was hushed and dimly lit around them. William met Rosa’s gaze beneath the long curving sweep of her lashes and admired the flush on the creamy skin of her cheeks, the slim, straight nose and the delicately formed lips, which seemed to beckon the touch of his own. He lifted his hand, his fingers gentle on her jaw, sliding his parted mouth along the smooth satin flesh on her slender neck. He pulled back and saw the yielding softness in her eyes and somewhere deep inside him he felt the stirrings of an emotion that made him reach out and draw her into his arms. She melted against him. The hot, sweet scent of her was intoxicating.
‘Happy?’
‘Ecstatic.’ She ached with the happiness she felt.
‘Your cheeks are pink. You look radiant.’
‘Because of you.’
‘I love you, Lady Ashurst, and now we are alone I will prove to you the ardour you have stirred in me.’
With his eyes holding hers like a magnet, with infinite care he unpinned her hair. When the last pin was out she gave her head a gentle shake and her hair tumbled down her back in a living, shining mass. William marvelled at its luxuriant, thick texture and colour, running it through his fingers, pausing now and then to kiss her lips, her cheek, her neck.
Rosa’s eyes drifted closed and her breath came out in a sigh as she kissed him softly and felt his lips answer, moving on hers. Drawing back, she looked at him, seeing how his eyes were beginning to smoulder.
‘Let’s go to bed,’ William murmured, his long fingers beginning to unfasten the buttons down the front of her dress.
‘Shall I ring for Dilys to come and undress me?’
‘Since I gave your maid permission to retire and there is no other lady’s maid on hand, allow me to oblige. Besides, I prefer to do the undressing myself. I would like to see what I missed on the night when my brain was fogged with the drug Kapoor fed me.’
The sight of Rosa’s naked body—a miracle of ripe curves and glowing flesh, every shade of pale gold in the wavering blur of the flickering light—made William’s heart slam against his ribs. Her legs were long and perfect, her breasts high and proud. Every nerve William possessed stilled as slowly his gaze traced the gentle swell of her thighs, over her taut stomach and minuscule waist.
Rosa’s throat dried. His gaze focused upon her body and the ardour in his eyes was like a flame to her senses. She was unable to free her rational mind from the overwhelming tide of desire that claimed her, fuelled by a whirlpool of emotions.
‘When you’ve looked your fill, William, kindly remember you are supposed to be a gentleman and take off your clothes, too—unless you intend to make love to me with them on.’
Nimble-fingered and driven by a sense of racing urgency, Rosa began fumbling with the fastenings at his throat. Desire a physical torment, he disposed of his clothes and, drawing her close, held her tight against him.
‘You take my breath away,’ he whispered.
Winding her arms about his neck, she placed feather-light kisses on the solid wall of his chest and his sinewed shoulders. William’s heart constricted with an emotion so intense, so profound, that it made him ache. His hands glided restlessly, possessively, over her—her breasts, the small nipples quivering against his palms—sliding his hands down her back and over the gentle swell of her buttocks. Her breath was sweet against his throat. She was warm, womanly, long and slender, curving against his body, doing what she could to get even closer. William’s male body rejoiced in it.
To Rosa, the moment was one of poignant discovery as her fingers slid through the short, dark matting of hair on his chest. His jaw was set, his mouth firm yet sensual, his eyes hard and dark with passion—and she could not believe he was hers—her husband.
When he pulled her down onto the bed their restraint broke. As he held her tight against him, his kisses consumed her in the violent storm of his passion. His mouth moved to circle her breasts, kissing each in turn—his lips then travelled down to her stomach, caressing, teasing, until Rosa moaned with pleasure and soared with every long sweep of his hands on her flesh.
She was operating wholly on instinct since her wits had flown. Her neck craned back and her fingers laced through his thick hair as she abandoned herself to his lips, his hands, intimate and provocative, exploring the secrets of her body like a knowledgeable lover, savouring the exquisite tension, initiating new delights. Pleasure burned through her, expanding, mounting, until her body shuddered with the force of her passion. So lost was she in the desire he was so skilfully building inside her that she scarcely noticed when he shifted position and eased her body beneath his own. The warmth of him pressed fully against her as she wrapped her arms about him, opening up to him, her kisses driving him on, inciting his passion until he could no longer control the force that had claimed him and she gasped as the bold, fiery brand intruded into her delicate softness, penetrating deep within her. No holding back, she strained towards him with trembling need, each instinctive, demanding thrust pushing her closer to the edge and bringing exquisite pleasure.
William revelled in her eagerness, in her unfettered sensuality, a sensuality that spoke to his own as she responded to his passion, his desire. No moment had ever felt like this. He was filled with a sense of rightness, as if to possess her had been his goal ever since she had sought him out at Ashurst Park. They strained together, no longer two separate entities, but one being, swept away, hurtling and twisting, onwards and upwards in a frenzied wildness, striving to reach the same goal.
Afterwards, when their passion had finally exploded in a burst of extravagant pleasure, in languid exhaustion and bone-deep satisfaction, they lay close together, limbs entangled, facing each other, breathless from exertion, bodies aglow, limbs weighted with contentment, clinging to the fading euphoria. William listened to her contented sigh and watched her open her eyes. Smiling, she nestled closer. William placed a kiss on her forehead.
‘You are exquisite, my love. How do you feel?’
‘Wonderful,’ she whispered, firm in the belief that her husband was a man of extraordinary skill and prowess. He had taken her not just sexually, but with a deeper, infinitely more alluring need—something profound. ‘I have no doubt in my mind that you are the same man who made love to me before.’
Shuffling onto her stomach and raising herself up on her elbows, her hair falling over his chest, she gave him a slumberous smile. ‘What we did was very special to me.’ She placed a soft kiss on his lips. ‘Thank you.’
Rolling her onto her back, he swept the hair from her smooth cheek, his eyes warm and serious and very tender. ‘It was my pleasure, Countess.’
The words were so painfully exquisite that Rosa thought she would die of it. ‘I have to ask myself is this the man who once thought love had no place in his life, letting me believe that you had no love to give. What happened to change your mind, William?’
‘You, Rosa—and Dhanu. I have come to love that boy as if he were my own. Can you ever forgive me for what I did to you—when I broke off our wedding?’
‘There is nothing to forgive, William. I know why you did that. Until we met again in London I had not realised the full extent of how your leaving India, your cousin’s death followed so soon by your friend Tipu had damaged you emotionally. Now I fully understand. But things change, people change—you have changed. In fact I think you are rather wonderful and one day I will give you a son.’
‘Suddenly that no longer seems important. I have come to realise that as much as I want a son, I want you more, so feel free to fill the nursery at Ashurst Park with as many daughters as you wish.’
Nothing touched Rosa more than this, which was all the proof of his love that she needed. Nestling closer to him, Rosa closed her eyes, letting the warmth deepen inside her, driving out everything else. ‘Then what are we waiting for?’ she breathed. ‘I don’t want this to stop—ever.’
Touching her cheek with his fingertips, and then wrapping his long fingers around her chin, he tilted her head back, his eyes smiling into hers. ‘Anything to oblige.’
Again his mouth covered hers, and so the night went on.
The East India Dock was a scene of great variety and activity. The Company was rich and powerful and well organised, owning the largest ships that used the port of London. The smell of coffee beans, tar, timber and hemp, permeated the air. The vessel in the fleet that was to return Dhanu to India was boarding.
Dhanu was eager to return to India and yet he was upset because he was leaving William and Rosa. All the way to the docks he tried to be brave and not cry, but when he saw the huge Company vessel that was to take him home, his face was alight with excitement. For William and Rosa it was a time of sadness. Dhanu had come to mean a great deal to them both, yet as much as they hated the prospect of parting from him, they were hopeful for his future with his father.
They were wrapped warmly in winter clothes, for the weather was extremely cold with a thin layer of ice on outer reaches of the still water in the dock. William was uneasy as he made arrangements for the baggage to be taken on board.
‘I’ll go on board and make sure everything is in order.’ William’s unease had transmitted itself to Rosa and she wanted to make sure the quarters he had reserved were adequate for their journey to Bombay.
All of them went on board. Mishka and Dhanu settled happily into the cabins allotted to them and, after saying farewell, William and Rosa left the ship, pausing when they stood on the dock to take a last look at the mighty vessel.
William observed the sadness of Rosa’s expression. ‘What are you thinking?’ he asked, tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.
She shrugged. ‘I was just thinking of Dhanu going back to India. It’s right that he should go back to his father but I can’t help wondering what the future holds for him—heir to a rajah. It seems such a heavy burden for such young shoulders.’
William nodded. ‘My regret is that Tipu will not be there to watch over him, to guide him through the years. But the Rajah loves his son and I know Dhanu will make him proud.’
The man standing on the dock as silent as a shadow watched William Barrington leave the ship. His features became ugly, contorted with anger and a wild hatred. If what Barrington had told him was true and his sister had been banished, then nothing remained of the prestige that had marked his existence at the court of the Rajah of Rajinda.
Raw emotion and immense disappointment that he had failed in his mission to rid his sister of Dhanu had robbed him of any kind of reason, any kind of judgement. He blamed William Barrington for having made it impossible for him to get at the boy and he wanted to make him suffer with his bare hands, until he was too helpless to ask for mercy. His eyes narrowed and gleamed with a murderous light. This time he would not drug him, which had been his only means of punishing him when they had met at the children’s institute, he was going to kill him.
His eyes were intent on William.
Sensing he was being watched, William turned his head and scanned the crowd of people milling around him. Kapoor was standing openly on the edge of the dock, making no attempt to hide himself. He bore no resemblance to the man who had once enjoyed his elevated status as the Rani’s much-favoured brother, lavishly dressed in colourful silken robes and glittering with exquisite jewels. Now he was dirty and unkempt—his time spent in London had not been kind to him. William felt tension coiling in the air around him. The shock of seeing Kapoor had worn off and he appraised the situation. Kapoor’s eyes were wild and darker than blood, but the ferocious rage and hatred contorting his face told William that he was very much alive.
‘Damn you, Kapoor. I might have known you’d be waiting.’
William moved slowly, his eyes fixed firmly on him. Kapoor confronted him, then, with a roar of rage, flung himself at William. The two men scuffled, becoming a twisting, writhing mass. Condemned by his struggle for power in a faraway court, Kapoor must have known in his heart that it was too late for him. Finding himself released from his adversary’s grip, he stepped back. For a moment he looked at William, his eyes red from exhaustion and tortured by a sense of failure.
With her heart in her mouth, Rosa watched in horror as the scene began to unfold before her eyes. She watched William reach for him, but Kapoor slipped out of his grasp and fell backwards. Teetering, he took a step back, but finding only air, losing his balance, he fell over the edge of the dock. The ice cracked beneath his weight and he disappeared into the dark watery depths beneath.
With her heart beating heavily, running to the edge of the dock she stopped and looked down. Kapoor had disappeared. There was nothing but a black hole in the thin layer of ice.
‘The ice! He’s gone through the ice! What can we do?’
They waited a moment, hoping Kapoor would surface, but there was no sign of him. What had happened had drawn a large crowd. Acting swiftly, William thrust Rosa away from him. After removing his jacket, grim-faced, he moved to the edge of the dock. Aware of what he intended, Rosa stepped forward, horror written all over her face.
‘William—no. You cannot go into the water. It’s freezing. Kapoor may be dead by now.’
‘She is right.’ Having accompanied them off the ship, Ahmet stepped forward, concerned by William’s decision to go into the icy water. ‘It will be impossible to withstand the cold beneath the ice for long.’
‘I have to. I have to do this. I have to see if I can find him. Until I see for myself if he is alive or dead, this will never be over.’ Tying a rope around his waist, he handed it to a stevedore. ‘Haul me out if I’m down there too long.’ His face was closed when he looked at Rosa for a moment, then he turned and plunged into the water. A gasp went up from those gathered around and people struggled with one another to see what was happening in the water.
With silent horror, Rosa fixed her eyes on the spot where William had disappeared, unaware that she was holding her breath while she willed him to reappear. Ahmet came up beside her and took her hand in a firm grip in an attempt to allay her fears.
‘He’ll be all right. He’ll come out. Wait and see.’
Rosa couldn’t bear the waiting. William was in great danger. He had been under the water a long time. Why didn’t he come back up? And then the sight of his dark head surfacing revived her spirits.
Shaking his head and gulping in air, he disappeared once more. The longer he remained under the water the more Rosa felt as if she were dying. Her soul, her very life, was concentrated in her eyes, fixed on the place where he had gone under. A boat had pulled up alongside and then, miraculously, William surfaced, his hand clasping Kapoor’s coat. Immediately they were both hauled into the boat and rowed to the edge of the dock. It was plain that Kapoor was dead. Having hit his head on something sharp when he had fallen, Kapoor had a deep gash that marred his forehead. William climbed up, his body shivering with cold. Their driver appeared with a travelling rug and draped it about him. Gratefully he wrapped it around his body.
‘Best get you home, sir, before a chill sets in.’
William looked at Rosa. Her face was drawn and ashen. He went to her, water dripping from his wet hair.
‘I’m all right, Rosa. Don’t worry.’
‘What will happen to Kapoor?’ she asked, looking at the Indian’s lifeless body being lifted out of the boat.
‘The constables will take him away. There will be questions asked, which I will deal with. Come, let’s see Ahmet back onto the ship. There’s nothing else we can do and I must get out of these wet clothes.’ He turned to Ahmet. ‘Now you can return Dhanu to his father without the threat Kapoor posed hanging over you. He would have known that you would be leaving some time and must have been watching the dock for some time.’
‘Yes—and now it is over. Thank you, Lord Ashurst, for what you have done and for the kind hospitality you have shown me. The Rajah owes you a great debt.’
‘The Rajah has already given me a great deal, Ahmet. I am in his debt.’
With nothing else to be said, Ahmet bowed his head and, turning from them, boarded the ship.
One week after Dhanu had departed for India and after Rosa and William had spent an enjoyable evening at the theatre with Aunt Clara and Uncle Michael, later, sated and content, in the huge four-poster bed, William drew Rosa towards him.
‘Ever since we returned from the theatre you have been preoccupied, my love. I know you have something on your mind. Would you like to tell me about it?’
Sighing, Rosa rolled onto her stomach, resting her arms on his chest and looking down at his face. ‘I’ve been doing some thinking.’
‘Oh? What about?’
‘My wealth. Since you don’t want it—’
‘And I no longer need it.’
‘Quite. Well, you know how I want to put it to good use—to use for the good of others. I would like to know more about the work of abolitionists of the slave trade. I know there are numerous committees working hard. There are tracts and petitions to organise and it all costs money. I would like to make a considerable contribution. Tell me what you think?’
‘I commend your actions, Rosa. Since coming to London and taking my seat at Westminster, I have listened to and spoken to leading activists and given them my full support. I intend to do my best to campaign for abolition. The work has been ongoing for decades—gathering pace all the time, and it will not stop until there is emancipation of all slaves.’
‘It will be a great day when it comes—I hope in my lifetime. There is also something else I would like to do. It’s something I’ve given careful consideration to for some time now and I hope you will approve.’
Liking the feel of his wife’s naked body pressed to his own, settling himself into a more comfortable position William wrapped an arm about her slender waist. ‘Pray continue. I am all ears.’
‘I would like to have a large fund made available to Aunt Clara so she can open an orphanage for all the children in her care. The institutes are by no means adequate, although they are better than nothing at all, but I know it is her dream to one day open an orphanage and even a school where the children can be educated and properly taken care of. Along with her associates she works hard to raise funds, but it is never enough.’ She fell silent, looking at her husband, waiting for his reaction. When he was not forthcoming, she prompted, ‘Well, tell me what you think—and please understand that this is important to me.’
‘I can see it is—and I am not surprised, knowing how much you enjoy working with your aunt. I have no objections. The money is yours to do with as you please and I cannot think of a more useful or deserving cause. I will help in any way I can—and,’ he murmured, his slumberous gaze becoming fixated on her lips, ‘you might also find ways to coax some of my own newfound wealth out of me. I’m open to persuasion.’
Rosa laughed, lightly placing a kiss on his lips. ‘I’m sure you are, but please behave and keep your lascivious thoughts to yourself and be serious for a moment. Before we leave for Berkshire I would like you to accompany me to my lawyer to set things in motion. Perhaps he will oversee the proper distribution of the funds. Aunt Clara has been so good me and I know she will be so happy to see her dream achieve fruition.’
Laughing softly, William rolled her onto her back. ‘I, too, would be happy to see my wishes achieve fruition,’ he said, cupping her face in his hands and proceeding to plant tantalising kisses on her cheeks, her lips, ‘if I can just stop you talking for long enough.’
‘But you will come with me—to see the lawyer,’ Rosa murmured, almost losing the will to think clearly as his fiery tongue began to play havoc with her ear.
‘Anything you ask, my love,’ he murmured, claiming her lips at last.
Approaching Ashurst Park for the first time as the Countess of Ashurst, Rosa could not believe her good fortune. Today it was blanketed in snow, the sky an unbroken blue above, whereas in summer it would be surrounded by a riot of flowers, the lawns mown, and beyond the surrounding trees, well-tilled fields stretched time out of mind into the distance.
When she had first set eyes on the house with its eye-catching façade, she had fallen in love with it and had dreamed of one day entering as its mistress. And then she had found a way when she knew Lord Ashurst was in need of a rich wife. When he had agreed to her terms she had thought all her hopes were about to come true—his rejection had been a bitter blow.
But now, she thought, her eyes straying from the approaching house to the man by her side, how things had changed. And how very lucky she was. As he surveyed his ancestral home his eyes held a sadness as he reflected on the past. His sadness transmitted itself to Rosa and she took his hand.
‘What is it, William? Why the sadness?’
‘When I arrived from India and entered the house, knowing what had befallen my cousin—his death—I felt that the house had lost its soul. It was full of ghosts—of old sins—of grief. Remembering the happy times when I came here as a youth—the house was always filled with laughter—I wondered if it was possible for those times to come again. Could I bring it back?’
‘Oh, William, I am sure you can. We will do it together. It will be a long climb back, but it will come. The children we have in the future will bring happiness—and never forget that we have each other.’
He looked down at her, loving her. Already he could hear the children’s laughter coming to him over the snow from the house. He glanced ahead and felt the tension ease. His face relaxed and he smiled.
If you enjoyed this story
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Keep reading for an excerpt from The Uncompromising Lord Flint by Virginia Heath.
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