Page 71 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
Miles felt a surge of relief flood through his veins. It was so overwhelming that he almost staggered.
It was done. Edward Stalk was dealt with, once and for all. He could no longer hurt anyone. He could no longer hurt Ara.
And now, all that was left was to return to her. To make that long journey back to Rudwick House, and finally make her his own, once and for all.
***
The sun was climbing in the sky, when he finally saw Rudwick House in the distance. It loomed grey, standing on the hillside. His eyes travelled over it avidly, noticing every detail. He didn’t think that he had ever been so happy to see a house in his life.
He had been eager to start off immediately, after the men had returned with their good news that Stalk was safely in custody, but Bryson had vetoed the plan, claiming that Miles was still too weak to ride a long distance.
He had argued with the man, but Bryson was adamant, and eventually he had been forced to admit that the man was right. The poultice on his wound was working, but he was still very weak, and so desperately weary that he knew he would probably slide clean off the saddle if he attempted to ride that night.
They had made camp by the stream. He had fallen into a deep slumber, barely moving a muscle the whole night. When he had next opened his eyes, the sun was just rising, and he knew that the fever had left him entirely. The wound was cool, and any last vestiges of redness and swelling were gone.
He felt well again. And ready – more than ready – to start the journey back to Dorset.
His heart started to beat furiously. He was almost there. He was almost back to her, at long last.
***
They were all gathered in the drawing room, when he finally entered.
Mr. Nott was standing beside the window, gazing out. Mrs. Nott was sitting in an armchair, next to the fireplace, doing embroidery. Ruth was also embroidering, in the seat opposite her aunt.
He noticed them all, but his eyes slid from them quickly. There was only one he wanted to behold, in this moment. Where was she? Eagerly, he searched for her.
She was sitting in a window seat, at the far end of the room. He saw that she, too, had been embroidering, by the discarded thread, needle and cloth lying next to her. Her hands were clasped in her lap, her dark eyes huge in her face. They lit up as they beheld him.
His heart seized. He wanted to rush to her, bury his head in her lap, and stay like that forever. With difficulty, he restrained himself.
That could happen later. Now there was another, pressing matter, on his mind. Something that he just had to deal with, once and for all.
He took a deep breath, turning to her father.
“Mr. Nott,” he said slowly. “May I request a private audience, immediately?”
***
He rushed through the house, unable to wipe the grin off his face. He felt like he was about to burst with happiness. The only thing that he needed to do was find her and tell her.
Mr. Nott had already told him that she was in the garden. Apparently, she always went for a short stroll within it at this time of day, if the weather was good.
He saw her as soon as he exited the house. She was standing beside a rose bush, staring down at the pale pink flowers blooming within it.
He stopped for a moment, lost in contemplation of her. She was wearing a gown of pale lavender, which swayed softly around her as she moved, her dark blonde hair coiled around her head. A white, embroidered shawl rested on her shoulders.
He took a deep breath. He would remember, forever, what she was wearing in this moment. He would remember forever, what she looked like. It would be etched in his mind for eternity.
His woman. His lady. His love.
She turned. He knew that she had seen him. A wide smile broke out across her face, and she hitched the hem of her gown, running towards him.
He didn’t hesitate. He ran towards her. It seemed to take forever to reach her, as if time had looped and was working strangely, in slow motion.
At last. He picked her up, twirling her around in his arms. She laughed, throwing her head back, radiant with joy.
Gently, he placed her down, so that her feet were on the ground. She gazed up at him, her dark eyes luminous.
