Page 72 of A Duke's Scandalous Obsession
“I will,” Reginald agreed.
Dominic could feel his heart pounding and adrenaline coursing through his veins as they neared the house. Their footsteps yearning to be quick and purposeful, but were instead slow and calculated. Dominic knew why that was so.
They couldn’t afford another attack. He was feeling slightly better now, but he couldn’t fight. He had no more strength left in him. He was barely standing on his feet. Even walking was a feat, but he knew that he wanted to watch Reginald unlock that cellar door and give his future wife and his daughter a hug.
As they reached the weathered doors of the neighboring house, Dominic’s hand trembled slightly as he pushed the door open. The metallic click of the mechanism allowed them in instantly.
“Well, that was easy,” Dominic said, trying to ease the tension.
With a silent prayer, he pushed the creaking door, revealing the yawning darkness that lay beyond. Dominic and Reginald exchanged a nervous glance. With each step they took, the shadows seemed to close in around them.
“I can’t see anything,” Reginald murmured.
Dominic looked around. He was right. The little light that floated in through the windows was not nearly enough. And there were no candles or lamps to light with the small tinderbox he had in his pocket. It served no purpose.
“Well, the cellar is downstairs somewhere,” Dominic thought about it logically. “I can ignite the tinder for a few momentswhen we reach what seems to be a door, and you can see where the keyhole is.”
He was angry that he didn’t think to bring a lamp and to at least leave it in front of the house before they entered. But now, it was too late. They moved about the house like two blind mice, until finally, Reginald seemed to find a stairwell that led downstairs.
“Slowly,” Dominic advised. “One wounded man is enough in this ordeal.”
“Yes, that’s because you like to take up all the spotlight,” Reginald hit him back with a retort Dominic wasn’t expecting. It made him chuckle so loudly that his sides burned in protest.
“That was very good, old boy,” Dominic said, patting him on the back in the dark, but instead he patted him on the side of the head. “Sorry about that. I can’t see my own finger before my nose in this pitch black.”
“Wait…” Reginald said a bit further away. “I think I feel a knob here. I need some light.”
Dominic followed the sound of Reginald’s voice, then he bumped into him. “Here,” Reginald said again. “Some light.”
Dominic fumbled in his pocket, extracting his tinderbox. He struck the steel against the flint to create sparks, which ignited the tinder, illuminating a door.
“That’s it!” Reginald exclaimed joyfully, his trembling fingers trying to pinpoint the keyhole. He managed after the second try, with still trembling fingers and with no familiarity of the lock. He relied on a sense of touch, guiding the key into the place, his movements slow and deliberate as he turned it with careful precision, listening for the subtle clock that signaled success.
Reginald pushed the door open suddenly, revealing nothing but darkness beyond. Dominic and Reginald exchanged a wary glance, their senses on high alert as they peered into the depths of the cellar. The faint glow of the moonlight barely penetrated the inky blackness, casting eerie shadows along the damp walls.
With a cautious step forward, Reginald called out. “Annie? Rosie?” His voice echoed faintly in the stillness of the cellar. “Is anyone there?” he called, his words hanging in the air like a whisper.
But there was no answer, only a silence akin to the one in a tomb as it enveloped them like a suffocating shroud. Reginald turned around to exchange another nervous glance with Dominic, who didn’t know what to say. His heart was pounding in his chest as he braced himself for whatever lay ahead. He couldn’t evenimagine how Reginald must have felt, standing there, wearing his heart on a sleeve, hoping that he did not come too late.
“Reggie?”
It was a soft whimper, but both men heard his name clearly. With a shared sense of trepidation, Dominic watched as Reginald delved deeper into the darkness, turning towards the source of the sound. A moment later, Reginald emerged out of the cellar with the girls. He was embracing them both, showering their faces with kisses, when Dominic gently nudged him.
“Let’s get out of this house,” he advised.
“Yes, please,” Annabel was the one who agreed first.
They found their way up the stairs and back into the open space of the night, but the moonlight seemed to shine even brighter, as if celebrating the tearful reunion.
Dominic could see the faces of the girls, pale and tear-streaked, their eyes wide with fear and relief as they stumbled into the light of the moon. With soft cry of disbelief, Reginald embraced them both again, his arms enveloping them in a tight embrace as tears streamed down his cheeks.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the family was reunited at last, their hearts overflowing with joy and gratitude amidst the darkness that had threatened to consume them. Dominic looked on, his own eyes misting with emotion as he witnessed the tearful reunion, a silent witness to the power of love and perseverance in the face of adversity.
With trembling hands, Reginald reached out to wipe away Annabel’s tears, his voice choked with emotion as he whispered to them both.
“Are you all right?” Reginald asked, holding Rosie in his arms, as her little arms wound around his neck like a precious necklace. “Did he hurt you?”
“No, no, we’re both all right,” Annabel assured him. “George brought us down here the first day, and he barely visited us. A man came to bring us food and water every day, but we were so frightened, Reggie.”
