"It's all right. It's over now. You're safe. We're safe, I promise," she said tearfully, before giving him a resounding kiss right in front of everyone.
Her brother cleared his throat after a time. "Good to see you again, Jason." Jonathan came forward with his hand out.
Alexander blinked. "Jonathan Deveril. The real one." He shook hands, before falling to his knees once more, clutching his temple.
"The captain hit him hard. We need to get him inside," Sarah said desperately, trying to support his now-dead weight as he collapsed. She flicked the rain-drenched hair out of his face and kissed him. "Oh, darling, please, stay with me-"
Henry Stone now stepped forward as well, and he and Malcolm Branson took him from the struggling Sarah and lifted him. She hurried into the inn now with Jonathan and demanded a couple of rooms post-haste.
The driver and Agnes, seeing Sarah with her brother, knew that the game was now up. They bolted from their tavern benches and ran for the front door.
Her brother began to run after them, but Sarah stayed him with one hand. "They can't get far. I unfastened the harnesses."
Jonathan waved Tim and Edgar over to apprehend them, and turned to Henry and Malcolm. They all gripped the unconscious man more tightly as they brought Alexander up the stairs to the first vacant chamber.
"Help me get these wet, filthy things off him and get him into bed," Sarah said, undoing his cravat and stock.
"Well, little sister, I can see I'm going to have a wedding to perform as soon as we get home," Jonathan said in a dry tone.
"As soon as possible," she said with a smile. "I love Alexanader. You are friends, aren't you? And you won't mind?"
Jonathan smiled, surprised but pleased. "Not at all. We are indeed friends. He's a good man. Very brave. He's risked a lot for both of the countries he loves. He lost his sons and wife as a result as well."
Alexander gasped, "Sarah! Sarah!"
"I'm here, love."
"God, it's so dark!"
"I know. But it will be all right, I promise. You being blind doesn't matter."
"I've been so blind. God, the pain! I remember. I can see it all now." His eyes rolled up into his head, and he passed out.
Sarah commanded, "A doctor, and some brown paper and vinegar, and some caraway and ginger."
"The doctor is on his way, for both of you," her brother told her. "I'll see about the rest of the things myself."
"Thank you, Jonathan. If you hadn't come-"
He patted her hand. "You were doing just fine without me, my love. Caleb told me everything. But glad to help. I'm just sorry I wasn't here sooner. Poor Jenny."
She smiled sadly. "But if you had been, we might never have had the chance to fall in love, and he might have ended up in even more danger."
Jonathan nodded pensively. "Aye, it's true. So the Lord really does work in mysterious ways."
She hugged her brother. "If I ever had any doubts, I now possess your complete conviction, Brother. And will thank Providence every day for the gift of a man and love so rare."
He kissed his sister on the brow. "Amen to that. And no less than you deserve, my dear. So, let me go for the doctor now, and I shall see you anon. I can't wait to hear more about how this miracle transpired."
Chapter Thirty-four
Much later, when Alexander was resting comfortably, Sarah managed to have a quick bath. She got a dry change of clothes from one of the stable boys, and hurriedly donned them, eager to return to her beloved's side.
"I've certainly worn more elegant garb," she tried to joke with Pamela, "but it will have to do."
Pamela waved them away. "Oh, piffle. What does it matter what you wear so long as you're safe, and happy. Besides, he can't see you anyway, poor lamb." She sniffed.
Sarah refrained from grinning ear to ear. Only a few weeks of marriage, but already her worldly sister-in-law had changed considerably. Just as she had, through Alexander's love, she reflected with a happy smile. She yanked on the shirt, fastened two buttons, and hurried down the hall, Pamela trailing along in her wake.
Her brother was sitting by Alexander's bedside when the two women returned.
"I am of course delighted to see you, Brother, and will hear all your news later. But I need to know. Who is Alexander? That's what I've been calling him all this time."
"It was a good guess. He's Jason Alexander Davenport, formerly D'Ambois. We always called him Alex at Oxford, but his code name in Spain was Jason, in honor of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece. He became a Rakehell, and a very good man, brilliant at languages, and with a superb business mind. He was ardently opposed to any form of tyranny, and determined that he would help by setting up a network of contacts throughout Portugal, Spain and France.