“No. I hit him over the head with an oillamp.”
He whispered into her ear, “And thebaby?”
“We’re both fine,” she smiled.
Fire had reached the upper balconies, smokeand flame now charging through the house, crackling andpopping.
“Let’s get out of here. The whole place willbe a tomb of embers,” Anthony said.
Duke Richard pushed past them and orderedhis men from the outside. “Go in and drag out these thugs. Tie themup. We might be able to get answers out of them about who Corneliussent to the Colonies to kill Joshua.”
Nicholas picked his wife up in his arms andcarried her to the Rutland coach. “When you disappeared, when youwere snatched in that madman’s grip, I thought I had lost the sun,the moon and all the stars. I despaired and feared of losing you,not two emotions I want to repeat.”
“In my heart, I knew you’d come. I love you,Nicholas.”
Nicholas gazed down at her, nestled upagainst him, her tousled head resting trustingly against his chest.“How I love you.”
Epilogue
Beneath the joyous pealing of church bells,Alexandra clutched Nicholas’s arm as they passed through a cheeringthrong of well-wishers. The new Lord and Lady Rutland made theirway to a white and gold open coach, decorated with hundreds ofroses, and drawn by four prancing white horses. Alexandra clutchedher bouquet of lilies and roses and was handed into the carriage byDuke Richard.
“I am very proud to have you in the family,Alexandra.”
Nicholas’s father touched her heart. “Thankyou,” she mouthed.
Did the proud duke wipe a tear from hiseye?
As the train to her gown of whiteembroidered satin and lace was tucked in behind her, she turned andwaved. Everyone she loved was present except for the King who madehis regrets. Aunt Margaret dabbed her eyes. Anthony and Rachelsmiled and waved. Samuel, who had given her away, beamed withpride. He had moved from Deconshire to oversee the Sutherlandestate with Bainey. The archbishop, Lady Dabney and her son, Johnwere there to cheer them on. Her heart clenched for Nicholas. Theyhad not been able to learn the name of the assassin the Duke ofWestbrook had hired and who treacherously sought Joshua in theColonies.
Vicar Thompson and his children surprisedher, traveling all the way from Deconshire. Of course, Nicholas hadkept that a secret. Jay, so fine-looking, had been bribed with caketo wear his new suit. Sylvia and Juliana, her flower girls, took totheir job with earnest, by throwing rose petals at them.
Nicholas whispered into her ear. “At leastit’s not apples they are throwing.”
Alexandra laughed and gazed at her weddingring. Nicholas had taken the black pearl he had given her on theisland and had it set in a nest of winking diamonds.
She looked at her new husband and her heartburst with pride. Nicholas, handsome in his black velvet frockcoatwith gold trim, black breeches and snowy white stockings lookedlike a prince.
He patted her hand when he caught heradmiring him. “Is this the fairytale wedding you dreamed of,Alexandra?”
“Yes, it is my fairytale wedding.”
The horses were tapped and the carriagemoved forward.
“I have a wedding gift for you. Open it up.”He presented her with a rolled parchment.
“You have given me too much.” She looked athim quizzically, and then untied a ribbon and unrolled the stifftranslucent parchment.”
Nicholas cleared his throat. “A specialdecree through the King. There is an island in the Caribbean named,‘Alexandra Island’ and it belongs to you.”
She dropped the parchment on her lap andclasped his face with her hands. “Thank you, Nicholas, but what Ireally want is…you…Only you.”
