Page 67 of The Miracle of Love
“In the meantime, those agents will still be after me?”
“Yes. Now, it may be that Wooton puts the word out right away. He hasn’t told me or either of my cousins what he will do. Even if he means to report it immediately, it may take several weeks for the interested parties to get word of its discovery and rescind their orders about taking you hostage. This is why I am thinking to keep you out of London until we are certain the crisis has passed.”
“I see. Was this your plan all along?”
“No, I truly considered getting you back in time for Christmas. But I’m having serious second thoughts about it, and not only because Wooton is furious with me at the moment.”
She nodded. “That was my doing, wasn’t it? You did not tell him you were running off with me.”
“I wasn’t going to risk his interference with our plans. You know he was not going to allow you to go to Bexhill.”
“I know. He meant to keep me close in order to turn me over to that foreign government if the crown was not recovered. You did this for me. It is all my fault.”
“No, Grace. The blame is squarely on me. I could have refused you, but I did not. Nor will I let anyone take you from me. Your idea is sensible, and bringing you to Bexhill is our best chance of success. And now I think keeping you away from London is our best chance of assuring you are not sent over to that foreign government along with their crown.”
“But why would they want me if they had the crown back?”
“They probably wouldn’t, but one never knows what can happen during these fragile negotiations. It is best to keep you out of everyone’s sight. Wooton cannot agree to turn over what he does not have.”
“Dear heaven.”
He tucked a finger under her chin, noting she looked forlorn. “Not happy to be spending Christmas alone with me?”
She cast him a gentle smile. “As between you and being shipped off to a foreign government? I think I can suffer through the Yuletide season with you. But it isn’t that, Deklan. I am worried about my mother and siblings.”
“One problem at a time, Grace. Much will fall into place once we find the crown, especially a solution to your family’s situation.”
“But in the meantime, they do not have enough to buy a Christmas goose. I was hoping to send them one as soon as we returned to London. It seems they’ll have to do without. It angers me because I know my father will not even think of pleading with Wooton to loosen the purse strings for this purpose. It saddens me, too. He has completely abandoned us.”
“Grace, I’m sorry. Let me talk to Donal and Lorcan. There must be something we can do.”
“I would be so grateful. I haven’t very much of my own left to sell, but I will pay them back for the goose. Do you think they can get one to our country estate in time? I will understand if they cannot. They have their own obligations. I would not want to ruin their Christmas plans just to deliver a goose to my family.”
He gave her cheek a light caress. “Do not agonize over a holiday meal. It is a small thing in comparison to the current threat you are facing. This threat is something we must talk about because we cannot leave things the way they are.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’ll be parting ways with Lorcan and Donal tomorrow. You and I will be on our own again for the next few days. I am assigned to protect you. It does not work the other way around. You have to toughen up and be ready to leave me behind if the situation requires it.”
She regarded him aghast. “After all you’ve done for me, I am to abandon you?”
“You are not abandoning me. What you are doing is saving England and your family. You can and must be prepared for this, Grace. If not for me, then think of your mother and siblings. They need you. They are the ones you cannot abandon. You need to find the crown with or without me.”
“Assuming it is with Vixen.”
“It has to be.”
He drew her onto his lap, grinning when she eyed him with suspicion. “Yes, I’ve taken you onto my lap again. But we are not in a carriage and this is not an improper advance. This is me taking you in my arms because…well, I don’t quite know what this is. Perhaps it is my way of telling you to dig into the well of strength I know exists inside of you.”
She placed her arms around his neck, but she was frowning at him. “Teach me to fight instead of run. Show me how I can protect you.”
“Absolutely not, you obstinate little baggage. First of all, you do not have the instincts of a fighter. Could you stab someone? Land a killing blow when they are already on the ground and bleeding?”
He did not await her response before continuing. “No, you could not. So I need you to do as I ask and keep out of my way. I am safest when working alone. The last thing I need is to worry about you because you’ve come out of hiding to attack agents who are ruthless and experienced. There is no negotiation on this. If they take me down, then you run to Bexhill like the devil is on your tail because they are devils. Dig up that crown and hand it off to Donal and Lorcan. One of them will stay behind to protect you while the other rides to London.”
He took her hand and wrapped it in his. “Promise me, Grace.”
He saw frustration, irritation, and then he saw the most heartbroken expression he had ever seen in anyone’s eyes.
