The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(213)

Will took Elizabeth's arm and they went up to the cream and gold room next to their own.



They both kissed Vevina, and Will sat on the bed beside her and took his sister's other hand.



Stewart clung onto her for dear life, as if he couldn't bear to let her go, and his cheeks were damp with tears.



The four of them looked at each other, and Stewart sighed. "I understand it all now."



"Thank you, Vevina, for the sacrifice. Thank you both," Will said, almost sobbing.



Vevina squeezed her brother's hand and nodded. "You told me to look after him and keep him safe. I kept my promise."



"Thank you."



"I love him too. Love you all."



Elizabeth reached out to touch her hand, and Vevina immediately began to improve in appearance, a light flush appearing on her deathly pale cheeks.



Stewart pulled up Elizabeth's sleeve and stared.



The bracelets blinked and nodded, and whispered a promise to he and his wife. One day soon….



He kissed Vevina, and at last she slept peacefully.





The first day of winter had begun, and with it came a season of peace instead of war. The oak trees whispered together of freedom, but now was not the time. In another century the golden age would arrive. For now, the gods had a different destiny for the guardians of the land.



Will and Elizabeth had fallen into bed exhausted, clinging to each other, and slept like the dead for hours, heedless of the comings and goings of their guests, who were up and down everywhere bringing the yule into every room in the house. They would need all the luck they could get in the coming year.



Of course they would celebrate the birth of Jesus with Church services and presents, such as the wise men had brought to mark the occasion so many hundreds of years before. But it would do no harm to propitiate the older gods of the ageless land who they felt sure had also given them so much to be thankful for.



At last Will lifted his head and dragged himself from the bed and ran the bath. He was soaking numbly when his wife entered and began to scrub his back.



"Thank you," he said, reaching around for one hand to kiss.



"You can return the favour in a moment. I feel like I can barely lift my arms."



"I know. I can't remember the last time I was so tired."



Once they were clean, however, and had breakfasted in their room on toast and tea, she patted her stomach contentedly. "Mmm, we're feeling much better."



"You're sure?" he asked worriedly.



She stroked his cheek. "I haven't seen that anguished expression since the times before I agreed to become your wife. I hope never to see it again. I'm fine. We're fine, I promise."



"And that man, he didn't-"



She shook her head. "No, Fitzsimmons never did. All is well, truly."



He gathered her close, with his head pressed against her belly. She held him and stroked his hair. "Trust me, dearest, I'm fine. I would tell you if aught were amiss."



He trembled with barely suppressed emotion. "I just can't stop thinking about how close I came to losing you yesterday."



"But you didn't. Or Parks either."



"Only because you saved him. Saved us all."



She hugged him hard. "We saved each other. And Vevina was very brave-"



He shook his head. "I can't believe she made such a sacrifice."



"We're bound together. Everything in balance, the wheel coming full circle. Parks is probably already drafting his dispatch to Horse Guards to clear your family of all charges in the past, and for a commendation for your service last night. He will even try to get you some compensation for Joyce Hall now that everything is gone, I'm sure."



"Nothing I care about, believe me." He stroked down her back and stomach. "I have everything I need right here."



"I'm glad to hear it, my love. Because you know what we're going to have to do."



He raised his head to stare at her and then shook his head. "Oh, no. I'm married now. We have a baby on the way."



"Vevina had the twins on the battlefield at Salamanca, for Heaven's sake. The least I can do is--"



"No. Out of the question," he maintained, shaking his head.



"It won't be forever," she said, stroking his shoulder soothingly. "Just until we're sure it's all over."



"Will it ever be, love?" he asked in an agonized whisper.



She considered his question for a moment. "Not yet. Not for any of us. But it will be soon. For us and for our generation. Perhaps for another century. There will be other madmen and tyrants in the future, but the flame of freedom burns too brightly to ever let their darkness last for long."