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Boxing Day arrived and was full of the usual activities and traditional things. Since she was the lady of the manor, she attended as many of the festivities as she could, but then her aches and injuries had gotten the better of her, and once more, the housekeeper sent her to bed and ordered her to rest. The coroner had arrived as well. He’d taken a look at Philip’s body and pronounced him officially dead. There would be no inquiry or formal investigation, for he and the constable agreed it was a private, family matter, brought on by the desperation of a man deep in debt.
Philip had been buried later that evening in the small cemetery on Ravenscroft land next to his brother, without fanfare and without guests, for he hadn’t been a well-liked man.
Though she’d seen Hawk in passing, he didn’t visit her rooms, nor did he ask for a quick meeting. She spent the bulk of that day sleeping, regardless, and when she awoke that night, it was to the news he’d been summoned to London immediately. He’d gone without a word—with the treasure as well—and had left her heartsick and once more in mourning for things not realized.
This was why she should never have given away her heart again, and to a spy! She’d known better than that, of course she had, but she’d fallen in love with him anyway. Alone, Belle had cried herself to sleep that night.
Over the next five days, she kept to her bed and rested. Much correspondence arrived at the house, and the breezy news from friends across England had kept her occupied and her mind off the captain’s defection. Mathieu was her constant companion, and if the cat seemed a tad maudlin from Hawk’s abrupt absence, she couldn’t blame him. No matter how many times she explained to the cat it wasn’t her fault the captain had left, Mathieu didn’t agree.
On the last evening of the year, her maid flew into her bedchamber with round eyes and a sense of excitement.
“What is it, Anna? Dinner time again?” The days had bled into each other, and though her appetite had long since fled, the staff never failed to make certain she kept up her strength by eating at regular intervals.
“Well, dinner is being held, yes, but you promised the servants we could go into the village and take part in Old Year festivities.” Uncertainty lined the younger woman’s face. “Is that no longer true?”
Drat. I’d forgotten it was another holiday.
“No, it’s still true.” She waved a hand at the maid. “Go ahead. I don’t have much of an appetite in any event and will go down to the kitchens if I’m feeling peckish later.”
“Thank you, my lady, but that isn’t the reason I’m here.”
“Oh?” Belle plumped the pillows behind her back. Though her muscles ached slightly, the bruising would take longer to heal.
Anna crept closer to the bed. Excitement danced in her eyes. “My lady, you have a visitor.”
“Tell whoever is here I am not seeing anyone just now.” She didn’t think she could converse with friends or acquaintances without becoming a watering pot in their presence.
“You don’t understand, my lady. It’s Captain Hawkins.He’sback, and he’s got the devil’s own glint in his eye. Mr. Bearing put him into the drawing room, but the man has that determined air about him. He’ll grow impatient before too long.”
Belle’s heartbeat accelerated. Hawk was here? “Oh? And he wishes to speak with me?”
“What do you think?” Anna snorted with laughter. She peeled back the bedclothes. “Quickly now. Let’s get you dressed and pretty for him.” The maid fairly dragged Belle from the bed. “Mark my words, my lady, he won’t go away again without your promise, I’m thinking.”
Oh dear.“Is that really his purpose?”
“A man doesn’t look like that if he doesn’t have a proposal on his mind. Arealone.”
Almost an hour later, Belle came into the drawing room. The rustle of her silver taffeta skirting gave her confidence even as knots of worry pulled in her belly. A few candles had been lit and gave the room a cozy, otherworldly feel. The Ravenscroft staff had gone on to enjoy the festivities in the village and no doubt watch the traditional fireworks launched over the river, but she could only think about the man standing at the darkened windows.
“Hawk?” The soft, one-word inquiry was eaten up by the pressing silence. She cleared her throat, and he turned around. “What are you doing here?” Was he merely giving her notice that he would depart for yet another mission for the Home Office? Or perhaps he had only arrived to tell her he’d donated some of the treasure to the British Museum.
“Ah, Belle. Lovely as ever.” Pleasure reflected in his eyes as he raked his gaze up and down her person. “Damn, I’d had this whole speech planned out. Even memorized it on the way over, but the second I laid eyes on you, all those words flew right out of my head.”
Well, at least that was something. “Please do not overtax yourself for me.” Oh, he was as handsome as ever in dark evening clothes and a tailcoat. His hair had been recently cut and styled, and those chestnut locks were so elegant, he looked just like every other man in theton. Except for the fabric sling that held his left arm immobile. She swallowed to encourage moisture into her suddenly dry throat. “Why are you here?”
“To see you; I’ve missed you terribly.” There was no teasing in his expression, only honesty and another emotion she couldn’t dare to name for fear she was wrong.
“Where have you been?” It was only logical she keep him at arm’s length even though every instinct she had told her to run to him and kiss him soundly.
“I rather do owe you an explanation, don’t I?” Finally, he closed the distance between them, but only to escort her to a low sofa. Once she sat upon it, he settled next to her, and oh! It was such temptation to be so close to him and yet so far. The sandalwood and orange scent of him teased her nose, and she wanted nothing more than to trace her fingertips along the bruising on his face.
“You do.” Then she couldn’t maintain her composure any longer. Tears welled in her eyes despite her hope to keep them at bay. “You left me, Montague. Left without a word of explanation, as if I didn’t matter.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“Perhaps not, but that was what I felt.” Belle glanced at him. “I don’t understand why you went away so abruptly without telling me.”
“I was wrong in that, but everything happened so quickly…” Sadness crept into his expression. “Once the Home Office summoned me to bring the treasure directly to London, I didn’t have much of a choice.”
