Page 96 of The Rogue's Runaway Bride
“They are safe outside the house. Mrs. Johnstone is with them,” Logan said. “Thanks be to God the child was spared this sight.”
“Indeed.” Jon pulled Belle close and kissed her with all the feeling in his heart. “Ah, my sweet Arabelle. Tell me you’ll always be mine.”
“Always, Jon.” She stared up at him, her eyes glimmering with emotion. “Always.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Not quite forty-eighthours after Gideon and his hired thugs had invaded Jon’s home, Belle joined Ellie and Mrs. Gilroy on the garden terrace for tea and biscuits. All in all, she and the housekeeper were in remarkably good spirits. The ordeal had seemed a testament to their inner strength. They had met danger head-on. They had survived. And they had triumphed.
While taking tea and enjoying a bit of pleasantly bland conversation, they welcomed Mrs. Johnstone upon her arrival. As she settled in with a cup of piping hot oolong, Belle uttered the question that had been weighing on her mind. “Have you any word on Mr. Northcutt—the true Mr. Northcutt, that is?”
“The physicians are confident he will make a full recovery,” Mrs. Johnstone replied, stirring sugar into her tea.
“It’s distressing to think the poor man suffered an assault at the hands of Gideon’s horrible lackeys.” Belle stared down at her hands, gathering her thoughts. “I would never have imagined Gideon was capable of such ruthlessness.”
“The man is a viper who possesses a false charm,” Ellie said.
“He is a skilled deceiver.” Mrs. Johnstone met Belle’s gaze. “From what I’ve unearthed, the man has left a trail of heartache. Thank God ye realized he was a fraud before it was too late.”
Belle drew in a calming breath. “Indeed, I regret ever making his acquaintance.”
“Ye could not have known the man was a snake in disguise,” Mrs. Gilroy said. “He put ye through a nightmare. But I mustsay, if I may be so bold, I do believe something good has come of it.”
“And what might that be?” Mrs. Johnstone said lightly.
“Ye know full well what I’m getting at,” Mrs. Gilroy replied and took a bite of a scone with jam.
“Of course I do,” Mrs. Johnstone replied. “Belle, ye’ve been good for Jon. I can see it in his eyes.”
“Indeed. As a matter of fact, his sister is of the same mind on the subject,” Ellie said as Cleo slinked past the small sofa where Belle and Ellie sat. The midnight-black feline eyed the saucers on the table with mischief in her golden eyes.
“Macie?” Belle sat up a bit straighter. “She’s back in London?”
Ellie smiled. “She arrived last night. Macie is quite excited at the prospect of meeting the woman who finally took the starch out of her brother’s collar.”
“How delightful. I’ve been looking forward to making her acquaintance,” Belle said. “Though I certainly do not see that I’ve taken any starch out of Jonathan Mason. I do know if it is even possible.”
Mrs. Gilroy chuckled, a hearty, happy sound. “Ye cannot see it, lass. But we can, and believe me, there’s a change in him. And in my opinion, it’s for the better.”
“I must agree,” Mrs. Johnstone said. “I’m quite positive Macie will as well.”
“She and Finn are planning to stop by shortly after supper,” Ellie went on. “She’s excited to see Carrie again. And, of course, she wants to retrieve Cleo. She truly misses that minx of a cat.”
“Carrie is taking her afternoon nap, so she’ll be refreshed when they arrive,” Belle said. “You know she gets a little cranky when she’s tired.”
“Don’t we all?” Ellie said with a light laugh. “I don’t believe Macie has seen Carrie since she was a babe in arms.”
After Miss Macie and her husband return from their travels, they’ll take the child into their home.
Mrs. Gilroy had explained the plan for Carrie’s guardianship soon after Belle had arrived. Belle had known all along that she wouldn’t have much time to watch over the girl. Yet now, the housekeeper’s no-nonsense explanation felt like a fist in her belly.
Taking a sip of tea, she steeled herself against the inevitable sadness. It was for the best, wasn’t it? If she remained in London—if she and Jon were indeed on a path toward a future together—she would still be able to spend nurturing time with the child.
But in truth, she didn’t really know what the future held. Oh, she knew what was in her heart, and she didn’t doubt that Jon cared deeply for her. He’d risked his life to protect her from Gideon’s vile scheme. But since Gideon’s arrest, she and Jon had scarcely carved out a moment alone. Between interviews with the Metropolitan police detectives, tearful moments of reflection she’d shared with Mrs. Gilroy, quiet hours with Carrie to return a bit of calmness to the child’s life after what she’d experienced, and well-meaning visitors who wished to offer their support, she’d had little time with Jon to discuss anything beyond the day’s events. No moments alone when they might look ahead to the path they would follow together. Or, perhaps, travel on their own.
She took another sip and plastered on a smile. It wouldn’t do to let the twinges of sadness show through. This was supposed to be a time of happiness. She certainly should not dim the pleasant moments.
Mrs. Johnstone met Belle’s gaze, seeming to study her. Had the keen-eyed woman read the conflicting emotions playing in her thoughts?
