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Chapter Thirty
Dinah’s head rolled forward, and she snapped it back up. Good heavens, she was falling asleep where she sat.
Henry, who sat behind the large desk in his office talking with Mr. Harding, glanced her way. She smiled at him to let him know she was fine. Their trip back from the coast had been blessedly uneventful, and that afternoon, they had finally arrived at Angleside Court. It was amazing to be home once more.
Amazing, too, how much this place felt like home.
“Come, dear,” Uncle Jeffrey said, taking her hand. “Your father and Lady Blackmore just left, and I think you ought to retire. I’ll see you to your chambers.”
“Thank you.” Dinah stood, stifling a yawn. She was exhausted. Even though she and Henry had swum free of that cave yesterday, Dinah felt she was still recovering. Walking beside Uncle Jeffrey, she left Henry’s office, glancing back to smile at him once more.
He looked so handsome sitting there, in full command of the room.
And that kiss they’d shared in the cave.
Good heavens.
It was enough to make every other aspect of life pale in comparison. They’d hardly spoken with one another since. They’d spent plenty of time in one another’s company, but there had always been one of the other men with them. So, while Henry wasn’t shy about taking her hand, or sitting close to her, he hadn’t truly held her and there hadn’t been any more earth-shaking kisses.
But Dinah didn’t mind. They would come. She was sure of it now.
She turned the corner with Uncle Jeffrey, and they started up the stairs.
“Did I ever tell you about the time,” he said suddenly, “when I stopped a group of smugglers trying to escape justice?”
Dinah lifted a brow. “You mean...yesterday?”
He laughed but didn’t hesitate. “There I was, hiding behind the smallest bramble bushes a man has ever seen, when what do I hear but the sound of oars hitting the water? I looked down, and there was a man matching the description of the infamous Spade.” He said the man’s name with awe and trembling, quite as though Dinah didn’t know exactly who he was talking about. “Then a gunshot went off. The men aboard the boat all crouched low and lifted their guns, aiming for the beach. Several more rounds went off, some aimed at my associates, some aimed at them. But no one, it seemed, had seen me. So I crawled toward the edge of the cliff and waited...and waited...until, as luck would have it, they rowed directly beneath me.”
They reached the door to Dinah’s bedchamber, and she turned, silently allowing him to finish.
“Then,” he said, his voice growing suddenly in volume and speed, “I took one giant leap off the edge”—he acted it out as he spoke—“and landed directly in the middle of their boat. Scared the living daylights out of them, I did. I put an elbow in one man’s face. Kicked a second out of the boat completely. Yanked a rifle from a third and used the butt of it on the fourth. Needless to say, they were all incapacitated before they could yellJack Robinson.”
“Thank you for the delightful tale, Uncle.” Dinah laughed softly, but it morphed into a yawn. “Now, if you will excuse me, I think I’d best lay down as you suggested.”
Uncle nodded and turned to leave, then he turned back and pulled her quickly into a hug.
Surprised, Dinah took a moment before returning the embrace.
“I thank the heavens every day for your part in our lives,” he said. “Henry’s needed a woman like you for a long time.”
Dinah teared up and hugged him all the harder. “I’m thankful to be here too.” And not just here instead of still tied up in that cave. But here, where she’d found a home and more people to call family.
Uncle Jeffrey pulled back with a cough. He stuck his hands in his pockets, suddenly appearing shy at his outburst. “Sleep well, Dinah.”
“Sleep well, Uncle.”
He walked down the hall, and she placed a hand on the doorknob. She hesitated. She glanced over her shoulder and confirmed that Uncle was out of sight. She left her own door and instead opened the door that led to the sitting room she and Henry shared.
The fire in the hearth was low, as always for this time of night. It cast a bit of light, but not much. She didn’t need more, though, as she’d memorized this room long ago. She slowly weaved her way through, letting her fingertips brush against chairs and tables as she moved.
Nothing would ever compare to the feeling she’d had of hugging her father after swimming out of that cave. Well, that and the feeling of seeing Spade and all his men tied up and on the beach. Her brow dropped; she wasn’t sure if she believed Uncle’s retelling of events. Whatever had actually happened, she was happy that Mr. Jacobsen’s killer would finally face justice.
Dinah reached the courting bench. Such a small little bench that held so very many memories. Circling around it, she took the seat facing the hearth. Her sight blurred over, and she smiled. It was good to be home.
The door opened, and Henry moved into the room. She didn’t have to turn around to know it was him—she just knew.
“Is everything finally settled?” she asked.
