“Sorry,” Vinnie said, sniffing vigorously.
She had yet to stop crying and Aubrey felt a beast for having given her such a scare. That Alfie had given him the fright of his life, he was still coming to terms with. His hands were still a touch unsteady, and he felt cold to the marrow of his bones. Seeing Alfie standing there, with that vile man holding a pistol, the determined to kill written in every line of his face—Aubrey was certain it had taken years off his life.
“Give the boy a brandy, Hawk,” his grandmother said, her face drawn with anxiety.
“But I don’t understand. Why would a smuggler attack you, Aubrey?” Della asked, her arms clasped tightly around herself, for the events of the evening had set everyone’s nerves on edge.
“He wasn’t a smuggler.”
Everyone turned to look at Alfie, who had been uncharacteristically silent until now.
Hawkney’s lips thinned. “I thought not.” He gazed at Alfie and Aubrey, braced himself to intervene. “I hope the events ofthis evening have made you rethink certain aspects of your life, Mr Marwick. The company you keep, for example.”
Alfie, pale and trembling, nodded. He looked the very picture of repentance, devil take him. “It has, your grace. I was actually on my way here this evening to assure you that… that I won’t ever cause any trouble for you or your family. Now that Alice is secure, I can look to my future, and I promise you, it will be an honourable one.”
Hawkney gazed at Alfie for a long moment before giving a taut nod. “No matter that it was your actions that brought Aubrey into the orbit of such a criminal, you saved his life. I shan’t forget that.”
“Then you’ll not raise any objections to my marrying Alice?” Aubrey demanded, thinking it best to strike while the iron was hot.
“Would it make the slightest difference if I did?” Hawkney drawled, handing Aubrey a generous glass of brandy.
Aubrey shook his head, relieved his hand was steady as his fingers curled around the cool crystal. “Not a bit. But I should like your blessing all the same.”
“Then you have it. I wish you happy, cousin. If you can believe nothing better of me, believe that.”
Aubrey watched as the duke took a seat, noting his stiff demeanour, his stern features, and wondering if Hawkney really supposed they all thought him an ogre. “Oh, I believe it, Hawkney. I know you only ever do what you think is right.”
“Tiresome as that is,” Sheringham said with a sigh.
His lordship was watching Alfie with interest. Too much interest.
Vinnie had finished bandaging his arm, so Aubrey swallowed his brandy in three large gulps and set the glass down. “Come, Alfie, we’d best get you home. Poor Alice will be beside herself if she hears about all the excitement up at the hall.”
Alfie did not need telling twice and leapt to his feet.
“I’ll escort you.”
Aubrey looked at his cousin in shock and dismay. “There’s really no need, Hawk.”
“You were almost killed tonight, Aubrey. You will do me the kindness of allowing me to see you to and from the village.”
There was not much that they could say to that, so Aubrey and Alfie endured the tense carriage ride back to Ocean View Villa, bade each other a cordial good night, and shook hands.
There was so much Aubrey wanted to say, to do, but for the moment he bottled it all up inside, knowing Alfie was doing the same thing. It would have to wait. For now.
Chapter 17
From Fear to Forever.
Ocean View Villa, Little Valentine, 21stJanuary 1816
Alice could not stop shaking. Lill had taken one look at her and bundled her out of Alfie’s clothes, dressed her in her warmest nightgown and wrapped her up in a thick blanket. Now, sitting before the kitchen range with a cup of chocolate heavily laced with brandy held in her hands, Alice was still cold.
Lill sat on a stool before her, rubbing Alice’s feet with a soft towel to warm them. The room was silent save for the crackle of the fire. Everything was familiar, cosy and safe, and she had come so very close to losing it all. Alice lifted the cup of chocolate, but her hands trembled so hard she almost spilled it. Silently Lill reached out, steadying her hands while Alice took a sip. She sighed, relishing the warmth uncoiling in her belly. Alice glanced at her friend. Lill’s blue eyes were red from crying.
“I thought I was going to die.” She looked away from Lill and stared at the fire but only saw a dead man’s eyes burning in the flames.
“I’m so glad I didn’t know what was happening. It’s bad enough now, knowing you’re h-here, safe and sound,” Lill said, her voice unsteady. She returned to rubbing Alice’s feet, but glanced up, her eyes full of fear. “He’s really dead?”
