Another sip of tea kept her attention away from the flames.Heat was needed despite summer’s approach, especially at night, but watching the fire made her feel like she was back on the roof of her house.
She wondered if she would ever be able to light a flint again.
“It happened so fast.”There had been no time to call for assistance, even if Edward would have allowed his wife to do her part.Which Samantha was certain he wouldn’t have.“Adrian says it was Finn O’Leary’s doing, which means a propellant was probably used.”
Poor Susie.Samantha closed her eyes briefly, anger mingling with grief.She would visit the young woman’s family herself first thing in the morning and deliver the tragic news.
“That bastard needs to be done away with,” Melody said, eyes glowing.
“I couldn’t agree with you more.The problem, of course, is locating him.Adrian has tried.It’s my understanding Kendrick has too, but neither of them has had any luck with it yet.”
Her greatest fear now was what happened next.O’Leary wanted Adrian dead.Her too, most likely.And that put Alexandra at increased risk.Good lord, the Irish devil hadn’t spared her a thought when he’d set Croft House on fire.
She glanced down at her daughter, who slept in a make-shift crib on the floor — a high sided wooden crate filled with blankets.Endless love spread through her heart, filling it to the point of bursting.More so when Alexandra made a soft snoring sound in her sleep.
“Let me know if you learn something,” Melody said.“I’ve still got my daggers.Wouldn’t mind putting them to good use one last time.”
Samantha responded with the closest thing to a smile she could manage.It was nearing three in the morning and she was exhausted.The only reason she’d not yet retired was because she waited for Adrian, who was having a drink with Edward in the study.The two men had been busy finding beds for the Croft House staff, many of whom were now spread across several inns.
“Let’s discuss something else,” Samantha said.She was honestly sick of replaying what had occurred – how wrong it had gone – whether or not she might have saved Susie in some other way.If only she’d acted differently.
“How are you finding married life these days?”
A soft smile crept into place on Melody’s lips.“Wonderful.”
“Then you and Edward have worked through your differences?”A relief that made Samantha extraordinarily happy.
“We talked while you were in the hospital giving birth to Alexandra.Afterward, actually.”She produced a small shrug.A wistful laugh followed.“Our emotions were raw that day.We were both so afraid for you, and I think that put our own disagreement into perspective.Edward realized how distraught he would be had I been the one fighting for my life.I, on the other hand, deeply regretted not overcoming my pride and just telling him that I love him.
“Somehow, the skills Harlowe taught me made me feel invincible.No matter the danger, I always believed I’d survive.But then you nearly died and… Well, it occurred to me how important it is to say what matters to those we care about while we still have the chance.”
“It certainly is,” Samantha agreed.She set aside her teacup and extended her bandaged hand to Melody, who instantly took it.“I trust this means you’re happy?”
“Yes.I still have work to do, in terms of earning Edward’s trust, so I tell him everything now at the end of each day.No more secrets or reasons for him to wonder if I might be keeping any.”
Samantha nodded.She’d taken the same approach with Adrian after everything fell apart between them.It had taken time for him to trust her again, but her decision to be completely transparent had accelerated the process.He knew the risk she’d taken in sharing confidential information about the Nightingale Project with him.And then of course, it helped that she’d had the chance to save his life.
Meeting Melody’s gaze she said, “If the opportunity presents itself, go through hell for him.”
“As you did for Adrian, when you helped him escape the gallows?”
“Exactly.”The endeavor could easily have landed her in prison or gotten her killed.At the time, success had seemed like a distant dream, yet she’d persevered, rallied his men and done the impossible.Out of love.
Adrian knew this.While making him privy to every secret she’d ever harbored had already helped mend the rift between them, it was her willingness to do everything she could in order to save him that truly won back his heart.
* * *
Considering the late hour at which he’d retired, Adrian was surprised to wake before seven the following day.Four hours of sleep was all he’d managed, if that.
Allowing himself a moment to come more fully awake, he rolled onto his side and looked at Samantha.Her features were still slightly muted in the early morning light.His chest expanded to allow for a deep breath of air.
Thank God she was here, lying beside him.
Reaching over, he gently brushed aside a few strands of her hair, simply to touch her.A painful knot formed in his throat.It could easily have ended differently last night.Had the wall on which she’d been running collapsed any sooner than it did, he would now be alone in this bed.
His heart contracted on that thought, and he shoved himself out from under the sheets.Time to move — to not think of what-ifs and dreadful alternate scenarios.
As expected, he was the first to enter the dining room.Breakfast wasn’t even ready quite yet, though the coffee he ordered was quickly produced.The paper arrived about ten minutes later, the headline bearing no mention of the fire.
