Page 66 of A Raven Reformed

Michael didn’t think he’d be able to actually sleep, but he’d barely laid his head on the pillow when he was gently shaken awake by Jones.

“It’s been three hours, my lord.”

“Has it?” His voice was hoarse and scratchy. He slowly pushed his aching body into a sitting position on the side of the bed. Jones handed him a steaming towel. The warmth helped to rouse him as he wiped the sleep from his eyes and the dirt from his face and neck. He stood up and stretched. At least he was warm and no longer shaking.

By the time he entered the drawing room, Ash and Patrick were already there, each with a cup of coffee in hand.

“I have good news for you,” Ash said, raising his cup in greeting. “Isaac says the sun is slowly beginning to dispel the fog.”

“Well thank God for that, at least.”

Ash nodded. “It should help us to be able to spread out and search a wider area. I figure we’ll get started on that, and if there’s still no sign of her in a few hours, we’ll regroup, warm up, and send for more help.”

“Don’t start without me,” Giles said as he shuffled into the room and headed straight for the coffee.

Over the next few hours, the fog dissipated more and more, and as the sun came through, it began to gradually warm the air. Still, they found nothing. Not a single sign of her. Where the devil was she?

As they all made their way back inside to regroup and refresh, the atmosphere was thick with despondency. Michael didn’t want to admit it, but he could feel hope slipping away. It had been so cold through the night. As he sipped on his coffee, the sounds of Ash giving orders vaguely penetrated the uncertain numbness that was beginning to settle within him.

He sighed as he stepped through the front door, but then he froze. She was there. Walking down the tree lined drive with Isaac, his long coat wrapped around her and nearly dragging the ground. Was it really her? He blinked several times, and she didn’t disappear. Could it really be her?

“Ash!” he called over his shoulder. He dropped his coffee cup and sprinted toward her.

“Belle!” He urged his legs to move faster. Isaac bent down to her ear and then nudged her forward. She picked up her skirts and ran, a radiant smile stretched across her face.

She leapt into his arms and he clamped them around her. He couldn't hold her close enough.

“Belle, it’s really you. My God, it’s really you.” For a long moment, he just held her tightly against him, never wanting to let her go.

“It’s really me.” He could hear the tears in her voice.

He put her back on the ground. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, Michael. I’m fine. I’m sorry Michael. I’m so sorry.”

The words were all spilling out of her so quickly. “Sshhhh.” He didn’t want her apologies. He just needed to know she was well. Michael held her flushed face in his hands. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“Thank God.”

She was really here, in his arms and she was safe. He would never let anything like this happen again. He squeezed her in his embrace once more, relishing the feel of her there. Running footsteps approached behind him and he knew the others had arrived.

“I love you, Michael.” Her breath feathered over his ear as she said the words. He didn’t think his heart could grow anymore, but now it felt as if it might burst.

He set her on her feet and looked into her eyes. “I love you too, Belle. More than I ever knew was possible.”

He pressed a kiss to her lips before dropping to one knee before her. “Will you marry me, Belle?”

She giggled, her smile so incredibly beautiful. “Have you forgotten, husband, that we are in fact, already married?”

“I know.” He took her hands in his and pressed a kiss to them. “But you didn’t choose me before.”

“You didn’t really choose me either, Michael.”

“Well, I do now. I will choose you every day for the rest of our lives. I love you, Belle.”

She cupped her cold hands around his cheeks. “Of course I’ll marry you, Michael. I love you, and I choose you today, and will forevermore.”

ChapterTwenty-One

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