“And he will lose more when I take you from here. I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted you and if it will make Gideon wonder for the rest of his life where you disappeared to, then so be it!” He made a grab for her but Violet was ready for any violence coming from Dawkes. She turned and dashed toward the trees.
The clicks of the hammers being pulled back into place of several flintlocks sounded out as men came from the woods. Dawkes growled in outrage as he swirled around to see that he was completely surrounded. He began mumbling to himself about his plans being ruined as he pulled a knife from his boot.
Gideon stepped forward, pushing Violet behind him. “Did you never learn that you don’t bring a knife to a gun fight, Dawkes? Admit defeat. We’ve heard your confession and the constable here has all the evidence he needs to put you away for a very long time.”
The lawman stepped forward. “Drop the knife, Major Dawkes. You’re under arrest for crimes against Miss Barnet and also Captain Tyler.”
Dawkes brandished the weapon in front of him, waving the knife back and forth as if he had a chance of winning the altercation. “I’d rather die than spend even a second in jail.”
Before anyone could stop him, he swiped the knife along his own throat and dropped to the ground. The gurgling sound of his death had Violet covering her ears and closing her eyes until Gideon wrapped his arms around her to shield the dying man from her view.
It was finally over. A tragic event that resulted in her and Gideon now starting their lives together. She cried in relief that the threat to her life was at an end and they would never need to look over their shoulders again to see if Major Dawkes was attempting to do any more mischief. The coward had taken his own life. It was a fitting endto someone who had no morals.
And as Gideon escorted her away from the ghastly sight of Dawkes’s death, she now could look forward to a lifetime with her handsome knight at her side. Love had indeed found her and she would be forever grateful to the man next to her for coming into her life and making everything perfect.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Several days later,Gideon closed the door to the bedroom where he and Violet would be spending their first night together as man and wife. The arrangements Violet had made at the church and even their luncheon afterward had been perfect. In fact, the turnout had included most of the townspeople, who wanted to wish his wife every happiness. His mother had been silent but resolved, knowing that her son was in love with a woman who loved him in return. Violet’s family were only too pleased to have him as their son-in-law because Violet had reassured them that she was in love. He couldn’t ask for anything more than that.
He could remember leaning over the table and signing his name to the marriage contract, making their union official. And the smile his bride bestowed upon him as she, too, wrote her name next to his was a memory that would live long in his mind. He continued to be thankful that the man who had been feeding Dawkes information had also been taken into custody and luckily he wasn’t anyone local. With Dawkes taking his own life, Gideon was now fully aware that his enemy had been the one who had tried to kill him in France.
Old memories of his past altercations with Dawkes became freshin his mind, along with the final incident when he had lost his memory on the battlefield. He even remembered turning around after being hit in the back of the head before he passed out. Dawkes had been standing before him with a wicked grin and with blood dripping from the rock he had held. Everything now made sense and Gideon no longer needed to worry over the two years of missing memories he lost during his time of war in France. His future now lay ahead with his new wife.
If he had had any doubts as to the love this lady held for him, he no longer needed to dwell on them. The wedding that was initially meant to keep her safe had gone on as planned after he had reassured Violet that he only wanted a lifetime of happiness with her by his side. If he hadn’t professed his love for her before, he had made it clear that he was in love with her from the moment he saw her at the Lyon’s Den. It might have taken a while for him to accept the fact that it had been love at first sight but he now readily gave in to the notion that love had found him. Who would have thought such an outcome would be to have Violet as his wife from a chance encounter not too long ago… at a gambling establishment, no less. He chuckled how fate must have dealt him a winning hand that night when he first saw his lady upon that balcony.
As Violet moved across the room to stand before a vanity, he tossed his jacket on a nearby chair and smoothed down the fabric of the waistcoat she had embroidered for him. She began pulling pins from her hair as he marveled at the matching stitchery adorning her wedding gown. His fingers itched to begin undoing those tiny buttons that ran down the length of her back. He went to her and pulled her into his chest, his hands wrapping themselves around her waist and coming to rest on her stomach.
“I adore you, Mrs. Tyler,” he murmured huskily against her ear. He inhaled the scent of roses in her hair and knew he would never tire of being close to this woman.
She leaned her head back on his chest. “It took you long enough to admit it, dearest husband,” she teased before turning in his arms, “but I’m glad you finally came around.”
He couldn’t miss the mischievous sparkle in those blue eyes he had come to adore, especially when they shone with all the love she had for him. “You were worth the wait until I was ready to admit it,” he answered honestly. “I plan to never let you out of my sight again.”
She laughed gaily. “That might be a little difficult if I’m working with Dr. Thornberry upon our return to London. You did mention to me that he specifically asked if I could continue to offer my assistance. You don’t plan on going back on your word, do you?”
“Of course not, although I have more than enough money so that my wife doesn’t need to work,” he replied, as she began unbuttoning his waistcoat. He pulled the remainder of the pins from her hair and it fell in a cascade of golden curls down her back. “If it’s your desire to help the doctor, I won’t stand in your way.”
“That’s good or we might have our first argument before we’ve even slept together in that bed,” she remarked as she untied his cravat and pulled his shirt from the waistband of his trousers.
“Speaking of our wedding bed,” he began as he turned her around and undid the buttons of her gown, “I think we should hurry and get these clothes off so I can make you my wife in every way.”
“What’s the hurry,” she murmured looking up over her shoulder. “We have all night.”
“Call me crazy, but I’m at my wit’s end to view the treasure I’ve been envisioning beneath your gowns for weeks,” he said pulling down the fabric at her shoulder to bare the skin beneath. He placed a kiss there and heard her sigh.
“Ready to steal a certain treasure, Captain Tyler, like a pirate of old?” she once more teased as her gown slid to the floor.
“Shall I get my eye patch to make the outfit complete?” he said laughing as she turned in his arms to face him.
She wound one arm around his neck while she traced one finger over his scar from forehead to cheek. “Perhaps save that idea for another time. For now, make me yours, Gideon. We’ve waited long enough.”
Clothes began being tossed to the floor until Gideon lifted Violet up into his arms and carried her to bed. When he went to lay down next to her, she stared up into his face with a bright smile.
“I waited a lifetime to find you, Gideon. If I haven’t said the words today, I love you,” she whispered, caressing his hair.
“And I love you, Violet. For today, tomorrow, and into the next lifetime will I love only you.”
“Show me, Sir Knight,” she said as he leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek.
