Uncomfortable, and knowing she looked horrendous in her drenched raincoat and hat, she gulped hard before turning back to Felipe. He wasn’t much taller than her, but his mid-section was thick and bulky. His black hair was longer than that of the other men in the room. Thankfully, he had kind eyes, and she hoped she could trust him since her father had.
“Can we speak in private?” she asked.
Felipe said something to the others in their language, and they grouped together in the corner. Felipe then led her to another part of the room.
“What has happened?” he implored softly.
“I discovered that Robert has been poisoning my father.” As she explained what she’d found in Robert’s hidden room, Felipe’s eyes grew misty, and his frown deepened. She continued, “I don’t know if we can save my father from dying, but we must try. That is why he sent me to find you and Davi. You are the only men he can trust right now.”
“I worry it might be too late to save Henry, but this cannot continue. Robert must be stopped.”
Sadness filled her, and her heart grew heavy again. “I agree. He had the maid try to give me the poisonous tea, but thankfully,” she wiped a tear off her cheek, “I refused.”
“These men,” he pointed to the others, “are men we can trust. That is why they are here in my cabin today. We want to stop Robert. We did not know he was killing Henry. Now we must move quickly.”
“I want to help.”
“Come. Let me make the introductions.”
After Felipe had introduced each man, she shook their hands, greeting them by name. In the depths of their eyes, she could see the love and devotion they held for her father. They were also hurt knowing Robert had been slowly killing Henry. Soon their expressions were replaced with determination. She knew these men would do anything to stop Robert.
She met Davi who was slightly taller than Felipe, but just as wide. He also had caring eyes. He took her wet raincoat and hat, placing them by the small fire to dry. He led her to a cushioned chair and urged her to sit. It felt nice to get off her feet, but she was still eager to start helping the others plan Robert’s capture.
Most of the time the men spoke in their language, which aggravated her because she couldn’t join in the conversation. Thankfully, Felipe tried to translate for her, but sometimes he would forget. During these times, exhaustion wanted to take over her mind and put her to sleep. The steady rhythm of the pounding rain on the roof and the warm fire was definitely making matters worse.
Suddenly, a pounding came upon the door, and she jumped in her chair. She clutched the armrests and stared at the entrance—expecting Robert to come crashing through at any moment. After all, her vision forewarned her that Robert would discover what she’d done, and he would try to kill her.
Felipe stood. His worried gaze moved from one person to another in hesitation. “Miss Landon,” he said in a quiet voice, “perhaps you should go in the back room... just as a precaution.”
Felipe didn’t need to say the words for Katrina to know what he was thinking. He must think it was Robert, as well. It comforted her to know that these men would protect her.
Nodding, she rose from her chair. Felipe pointed in the direction he wanted her to go, and she hurried into the room. She closed the door behind her. Pressing her back against the wall, her body shook as worry flowed through her. She wrapped her arms around her middle, mainly to hold herself together. Was this where Robert would try to kill her? But as she recalled the vision, she didn’t remember being wet.
Male voices came through the other room, and she strained to listen closer. She’d know Robert’s irritating, commanding voice anywhere. But so far, she hadn’t detected it. Instead, the words being spoken didn’t make sense... as if it was another language entirely.
One of the deep voices speaking this odd language lifted in eagerness. Footsteps boomed on the wooden floor, getting closer to the room where she hid. Her heartbeat knocked frantically. She held her breath, afraid of who might be coming.
The door cracked open and a head poked in. She saw black, wavy hair first, then a freshly shaven face, until finally she could look into the most amazing pair of blue eyes she’d ever beheld. Not believing who was before her, she closed her eyes and shook her head.It can’t be...Only in her dreams had she seen Felix lately. He was on his way to England, so why would he be here?
Hesitantly she opened her eyes, afraid that the dream would be gone. Instead, Felix stood in front of her, a smile stretched across his face from ear to ear.
“Good afternoon, my lovely Katrina.”
A shriek of joy escaped her throat as tears filled her eyes. “Felix?”
He held out his arm, inviting her to come. “Who else would it be?”
Sobbing with happiness, she jumped into his embrace and threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her tightly around the waist before lifting her off the floor.
“What... how... when?” Her mind searched frantically for words, but really, what she wanted to tell him didn’t require words. She pressed her mouth to his and kissed him. Immediately, his mouth melded with hers and the kiss turned passionate, and welcoming.
He pressed her back against the wall, as he continued to rain kisses all over her face and mouth. He stroked her arms, before moving his free hand to her throat, and then to her face and hair. She burned with excitement. Happiness spread over her, making her warm and giddy.
His mouth moved away from hers and traveled down her neck. “Oh, Katrina, I love you so much, and I have missed you terribly.”
She cupped his face and lifted it up as she stared into his dreamy eyes. “Why didn’t you go to England?”
“I couldn’t.”
