‘Again, thank you, Ford. Your kindness is very much appreciated. Until later, then.’
‘Until later, my lord.’
With that, Ford marched away, mounted his horse and made his way down the drive, followed by the cart bearing a still-unconscious Mellors and his restrained associates.
Liam turned to his little army of staff, all gathered now to watch the continued destruction of their home and livelihood. Their faces bore more sadness and regret at the loss of Thornhallow than he himself could ever feel. For now, he finally felt that he could look towards the future, and hope for happiness.
And there is no more time to waste...
Chapter Twenty-Six
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. ‘Youare 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,thatis impossible.’
