Blessed Beginnings (Hunter's Ridge Book 4) (25 page)

Lucas was about to speak when the moon broke through the clouds enough to illuminate the crest on the door as the carriage drove through the break in the trees. It was exactly as Lucy had described.

Lucas was surprised to see that Drakemore himself was the driver. It was the advantage they needed, as it provided the one and only chance of surprising the man before he could pull any weapon he might have. As he climbed down from his seat and went to the carriage door, Lucas and Edward leapt from their hiding place. Walter evidently heard the sounds of their boots, as he whirled to face them. His hand reached into his pocket and he pulled a pistol from its depths, aiming it at the two men.

"No!" Lucy's scream had the gun wavering towards the new threat and even as Walter gasped at the sight of the woman he thought he'd kidnapped, Edward launched himself directly at him. Their bodies collided and the sound of the gun discharging had Lucy screaming again and again. Stefan tried to grab her as she raced past but she was too quick. Lucas grabbed the buggy whip from its holder and the sound that cracked through the air rivaled the one heard from the gun.

Walter howled like a wild animal as the lash caught him across his back. He arched backwards. It was enough for Edward to draw back his fist and send it flying into Walter's face. Bone crunched and the man screamed, dropping the pistol as his hands reached for his broken nose. Stefan grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms down as Edward grabbed the gun and aimed it at the man he hated with every cell in his body.

"One move and I swear to God, I'll send you to hell," Edward said, his tone one that not a soul could question. Lucy cautiously moved towards the carriage door as the other carriages pulled up.

"You… how… I… you are inside…" Walter sputtered, blood and mucus dripping as his eyes locked onto Lucy. "You bitch! You took Franny from me! You ruined my life!"

"Franny was never yours and you ruined your own life, you bastard," Lucas growled. He joined his wife, who didn't even seem to hear Walter as voices from inside the carriage called to her.

"We're here!"

Lucy was keening as she attempted to pull the carriage door open. "It won't open! Louisa! Franny!"

"Honey, let me," Lucas said. Seeing the door had been secured with a rope, he'd stepped into the cabin to get a knife but had to pick up his wife and set her aside to get to the rope.

An elegantly dressed man took a moment to convince Edward that he was indeed a constable. Edward surrendered the gun and pulled Lucy to him as Lucas began to saw through the rope. "Louisa, Franny, we're all here. You're safe now. We'll get you out." His voice was calm as he spoke to the women but was almost a growl when he urged Lucas to hurry up. At last the rope gave and Lucas tossed it aside.

Edward yanked open the door and leaned inside. The moment he stepped back, Lucy flung her arms around her twin, who was cradled in her husband's arms. Edward dropped one arm to include her in his hold, hugging both girls to him.

Lucas lifted Franny out and after assuring him that she was fine, he understood when she reached for Samuel, whose arms were already opened wide. Lucas watched as she flung herself into them and despite his horror of the last hour, had to smile to see the man wrap his arms around his sister and kiss her again and again, as if to reassure himself that she was really in his arms and unhurt.

He went to Edward, and Lucy, assured that her twin was safe, allowed herself to be pulled into his arms. It was only once she was also wrapped securely in arms of a man who loved her more than life itself that she burst into tears.

"Shh, kitten, you are safe. Everyone is safe," Lucas crooned against her hair. "You saved them, sweetheart."

Lord Westmoreland approached. "I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. The connection you have is truly a miracle," he said, looking between the twins. "Thank God everyone is unharmed."

A moan belied his statement and they saw Lawrence stepping away from Drakemore after applying a makeshift bandage to his flattened nose. Not a soul had a bit of sympathy for the man who had attempted to kidnap the two women. They watched as he was stuffed into his own carriage. "I'll come by tomorrow to take your statements," the constable said, "but I can assure you that with all the witnesses, the bastard won't see the light of day anytime soon."

Lucas thanked him as the constable climbed in with his prisoner and one of Martin's servants climbed up onto the driver's seat.

The client, George Maxwell, whom Edward had been speaking with before Lucy's scream, willingly gave up his spot in one carriage to mount the horse Edward had ridden, and Stefan and Martin would ride the remaining two horses back. Two men who worked for Westmoreland climbed into the driver's seats and waited for the others to climb into the carriages. Lucas and Edward and their wives went to the first carriage, while Samuel carried Franny to the other. Lawrence went with them, and while Samuel had no intention of releasing his fiancée, he did allow the doctor to examine the back of her head. Once satisfied that the small bump she'd received when hitting her head against the door wasn't bleeding or in need of medical attention, Lawrence gave Samuel an understanding look.

"I'm a good doctor but make a horrid chaperone," Lawrence said as he leaned back and closed his eyes. It was all the newly engaged couple needed. By the time the carriages were pulling away, their mouths were sealed against each other's.

The group left the cliffs and the pounding surf behind to return to the ball. Though they were already very close to home, Lucas didn't even consider asking to be driven to Hunter's Ridge. There were others left behind and until their pack was complete, he'd do what the alpha of the group should to make sure they were together again.

Once back, the group was greeted with applause as they entered the house. Miranda, their hostess, led them to the room where their family was pacing and waiting. Frank saw them first and then Bea, who began to cry and allowed her husband to lead her to a chair. Emmie ran to her husband, throwing her arms around him. It was only when Miranda called Ettie's name loudly that they looked to see the normally bouncy young woman standing frozen. Her cheeks had no color and she began to moan and sway. Before Lucas could react, Lawrence raced forward and caught her before she hit the ground.

"Ettie, sweetheart, it's okay. Everyone is safe, everyone is here."

"Y-you are hurt," she whispered, her hand moving to stroke his cheek, and when it came away smudged, Lawrence understood.

"No, no, my love. It's not my blood. I'm fine."

"Promise?"

"Yes, I promise," Lawrence said, giving her a hug.

"I'm so glad," Ettie whispered and then slapped at his arm. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

If anyone in the room had a doubt that Ettie had made her choice, it disappeared when she wrapped her arms around the doctor's neck and pulled him down. The kiss they shared was not the kind given to a friend—not even a very close friend.

While their wraps were brought by servants, several guests approached to express their pleasure that everyone was safe. Though they were encouraged by their host as well as a roomful of guests to stay, Lord Westmoreland understood that was impossible. He smiled as his wife spoke to a servant, who soon returned with a large basket

"Since you will miss the midnight feast, the least we can do is provide a picnic," she said with a smile.

Lucas thanked her and Lucy giggled when Ettie, recovered from her near faint, asked if some of the baskets included sweets.

"My darling girl, there are lots and lots of goodies," Miranda assured her before turning to Lucas. "Lord Huntington, I know you just want to go home, but please, don't strike us off your list of friends."

"I assure you that won't happen," Lucas answered. "I apologize for bringing such a horrible thing to your doorstep."

"Pshaw," Miranda said, waving her hand. "I don't doubt that this will be the most talked about ball of the century. After all, your sister became engaged to our barrister, your wife and her beautiful twin have proven that love can conquer distance, and all you men have proven that your love will be forever given to these women." She actually giggled and motioned to Lucas, Edward and Samuel, who hadn't allowed their wives to move out of their embraces. "You three remind me of the Three Musketeers—ah, so romantic!"

Turning towards Ettie, who was trying to convince Lawrence that a cupcake would certainly help her regain her strength, she smiled. "And, if I'm not mistaken, I believe there will be not one but two brides in your future."

"In the very near future, if this little minx will have me," Lawrence said, grinning as Ettie's mouth dropped open as he dropped to one knee. "Marry me, Ettie. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of your life." When she burst into tears while repeating the word 'yes' over and over again, he stood and gathered her into his arms and their earlier kiss was repeated. A ruby ring surrounded by diamonds was slid onto her finger and another round of hugs, kisses, giggles and congratulations were given. Though David Whitmore gave the couple a nod and a small bow of his head, Raymond stepped forward.

"I-I hope I didn't hurt you," Ettie said, "I never—"

"You have brought me nothing but happiness, Lady Huntington," Raymond said. "It is because of you and your love of life that I see that, while I have been existing, I have not been living. I wish you and Lawrence the very best and hope that one day I, too, shall find true love again."

"Katherine would want that," Ettie said softly, lifting onto her tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek. "Whoever the woman is, she will be a very lucky woman."

Lucas gave his baby sister a smile as Lawrence again tucked her hands into her muff. Ettie suddenly pulled her hand out and looked at the jewel on her finger. "Wait. Exactly how long have had that ring in your pocket?"

Lawrence laughed, took her hand and slid it back into her muff. "Since the day I decided that I loved you and wanted to be prepared at any moment to claim your heart."

After he kissed her cheek, Ettie looked at her brother and smiled, silently thanking him for helping her understand that her heart did indeed know the proper choice for her.

The ride home was made by four carriages instead of two. Lucas and Edward held their wives on their laps as their carriage took the lead. Stefan and Emmie shared the second with Bea and Frank, while the third held Samuel and Franny and the final held Ettie and Lawrence.

Edward kissed his wife again and then grinned. "The last time we left a ball, it was with one newly engaged couple. Who would have thought the next would see two?"

Lucas grinned back. "I remember you stating it was hard to let them go but, I have to admit, Franny and Ettie are with the right men. I have no doubt that they will be just as happy as the four of us." The group all nodded, hearts that had threatened to stop while they were apart now full of love and the knowledge that their family was truly a blessed one.

Once home, the group did not gather around the dining room table. Instead, they enjoyed their midnight feast sitting on the floor of the library; the fire blazing in the hearth, the tree they'd decorated together standing in the corner, and the contents of the baskets spread out before them. Mr. and Mrs. Mayes, Edith and her husband, Bertha, Joseph and Molly all joined them. The typical separation of staff and family was discarded, as most had known these girls their entire lives and all had known how Drakemore had threatened Franny's happiness before. Once plates were filled, the story was told.

Louisa and Franny had followed Lucy to the retiring room but before they reached the door, a man had sprung out from another room and yanked them inside. In doing so, he'd hit Franny's head against the side of the door, knocking her unconscious. When Louisa tried to flee, he'd told her that if she made a sound, he'd kill Franny. When he'd called her Lucy, she had pretended to be her twin. He'd flung Franny over his shoulder and pulled Louisa down a flight of stairs at the back of the house.

"I wanted to scream but with Franny unconscious, I couldn't. All I could do was scream in my head and keep calling for Lucy."

"I heard you," Lucy said, reaching for her sister's hand. "I was terrified that you'd be knocked out as well, and not be able to talk to me."

Lucas bent to kiss the top of her head and then leaned over and kissed Louisa as well. "All I can say is thank God that you two have such a strong connection. I have never seen anything like it."

"I'm just glad you believed me, Papa," Lucy said. "You never doubted me even when I started to doubt myself."

Edward fed Louisa a bite of tart and chuckled. "Well, I can't say that I'm surprised Drakemore thought you were Lucy. I wish you could have seen his face when he realized there were two of you."

The group ate and talked until eyes began to drift closed. Lucas nodded at Molly, who stood to help him with Lucy who was battling hard to stay awake. Standing, Lucas turned to address his two guests who would soon become family.

"I just want to thank you both again," Lucas said, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"There's no need to thank us," Samuel said, his arms around Franny.

"That's just what packs do," Lawrence finished the statement as he pulled Ettie to him.

"I'm guessing you'll both be back in the morning?" Lucas said and then chuckled. "Hell, it's already morning. Come for brunch."

"Try to keep us away," Samuel said, shaking his hand before bending to kiss his fiancée. Lawrence gave his thanks for the invitation and kissed Ettie. Once the men had left, Bertha and Molly led the two young women upstairs as the men carried their wives towards the other wing.

"There is only one thing that has me still a little angry," Lucas said as the friends climbed the stairs.

"What is that?" Edward asked, bending to kiss the top of his wife's golden head.

"I wanted to punch the bastard but you beat me to it."

Edward shook his head, grinning just the slightest. "Well, that's only because you whipped him first."