phantom knights 04 - deceit in delaware (39 page)

“I love you, Constance, and I will for the rest of our lives. You, and this one.” Leaning down, Jack pressed his lips against my expanding abdomen. He whispered words of encouragement as his hand spread across my middle, before making his way back up to claim my lips in a kiss that quickly became frenzied. We moved together, seeking, loving, and expressing our devotion to each other.

The beginning of my journey was one fraught with grief, terror, and a desire for revenge, but through all of the loss I have found that revenge is never as sweet as one believes. Revenge takes from you just as much as you gain. At the end of your battle you find that though you have avenged your wrongfully murdered parents, they are still gone. It would not be enough, if it were not for Jack. He has made me see that grieving was a natural part of life, but we cannot go on living in grief. We have done what had to be done, and now it was time for a new chapter.

If there was but one thing that I could take away from this journey, it was the belief that my ending would be a happy one.

EPILOGUE

JACK

S
ix years later…

“They have come! They have come!” shouted my children from just inside the open front doors of the palace.

Standing behind them, I placed a hand on the shoulder of my son and my daughter. Elisa was just turned six, and Willem was four.

A carriage had just appeared on the drive, and I felt a surge of excitement that matched those on display by my children.

Much had transpired over the past six years since last I saw my sister. The grief of losing our parents had lessened with time, but the ache was forever in my chest, an echo that surfaced from time to time. It was not, though, grief which brought my sister and her family to Lutania. It was a celebration.

The carriage door swung open before the servant reached it and down flew Bess, her bonnet falling from her head as she ran toward me. Moving around my children I met her, swinging her in my arms as my heart expanded with love.

“You have a beard,” was the first thing that Bess said.

I laughed heartily as I wrapped my arms around her in a strong hug.

As I placed Bess upon her feet, I smirked. “What can I say? I took inspiration from Sam.” I shook Sam’s hand, gripping his arm with my other hand. “It does me good to see you again, and to see how happy Bess looks. You have done well, Sam.”

“How could I not, Jack,” Sam quipped, “when you threatened me with bodily harm if I did not give her the utmost care.”

“What?” Bess exclaimed, looking between us. “You threatened my husband?”

“It was my parting gift to him when I left America,” I said before stepping back and looking past Sam to where two little dark haired boys stood, inspecting me from my boots to my hair.

Bess moved to kneel before them, straightening their attire.

“Why are you fussing, Mama? We look resplenda,” the one on the right said with flourish as he struck a pose.

“Resplendent, and indeed you do, my boys,” Bess said as she rose.

“They have spent too much time with Freddy,” Sam muttered to me.

“Jack, I would like to introduce to you Paul and Henry. Boys, this is your Uncle Jack.”

They each executed a bow before me. I returned the bow to them.

“I give you good afternoon, Uncle,” Henry said with a bow of his head.

“It is a pleasure to make your ‘twaintance, Uncle,” said Paul with a flourishing twirl of his hand.

They were perfect examples of both their mother and their father. They had Bess’s dark hair, but Sam’s gray eyes.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance as well,” I told them, and then stepped aside as my children came bouncing toward us. “Please allow me to introduce your cousins, Elisa and Willem.”

As the cousins became acquainted, I led everyone into the palace.

“It is even more glorious than I imagined,” Bess told me as she leaned her head back to take in everything. “This entry is the size of our home in New York.”

Leaning my head back to see the mural above us as I had done so many times, I smiled.

“Where is Levi?”

“He should be along soon, but we have been working on a surprise for the last seven days,” I told them.

“Bess!” came a squeak from the staircase. At the top of the stairs came Mary Edith and Levi.

Seeing Levi, Bess took a step back, surprise displayed upon her face. Mary Edith had her hand on Levi’s arm and it looked as if they were restraining each other from running down the stairs. Restraint from Levi was a work in process.

Hugging Mary Edith first, Bess’s eyes closed and so much peace was touching her face that I felt it. She was happy, and that increased my own joy.

When she moved toward Levi, she held him at arm’s length, admiring his attire.

“How smart you do look, Levi,” Bess said once she had found her voice. “A military man?”

“Captain,” Levi said proudly. He leaned forward and kissed Bess’s cheek. His green eyes were calm, relaxed. Hades was gone and what was left made us all so very proud. Our little brother had grown into a man.

“Tell her about the title,” I said, elbowing his arm.

Levi turned bashful. Wild, strong, adventurous Levi was showing traits of modesty. It was a first that I had seen, that was certain.

“Levi was knighted,” Mary Edith added helpfully.

“A knight!”

Sam shook Levi’s hand as Bess ushered her sons over so they could meet their uncle.

Levi hunkered down to greet his nephews. “Henry and Paul. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last.”

“Are you truly a knight?” asked Henry.

“Where’s your sword?” asked Paul.

Just like that, the boys won over my brother. He began speaking to them about swords, and fighting, and horses.

Linking arms with Mary Edith, she led Bess into the formal parlor that always reminded me of my mother’s in Philadelphia. When first I had entered this room I knew from where she had gained her vision. Bess was noticing the same, for she quietly took in every facet of the room.

Mary Edith was in the midst of telling Bess about the approaching wedding when she suddenly broke off, with her gaze focused on the door and a smile on her lips.

Constance was standing upon the threshold, looking exquisite and glowing with happiness. Her brown hair was piled artfully atop her head, her purple-blue eyes were sparkling, and she had that amused smile upon her lips that I had seen many times when she was playing the role of white phantom.

Bess hurried forward, wrapping her arms around as much of my wife’s round-with-child body as she could reach.

Once we were all seated, Bess and Sam told us about everyone back in America as the children played with toys upon the carpet.

Much had changed for Bess and Sam after they returned to Charleston. After their warehouse was burnt a second time, Sam and Bess decided for the good of their family it was best that they moved on. They knew that dangerous things were coming and Sam wanted Bess well away. He wanted to make a change, so they sold the plantation, and moved to New York City where Sam became a congressman. Life was different, but in a good way.

James and Betsy also lived in New York, and were continuing their work with their freedmen’s group. Bess and I never spoke about who had shot the arrow that ended Luther’s life, but we both knew. We would never speak of it because that could have gained Betsy a death sentence if anyone had discovered that she was the one to shoot the arrow into Luther. Jericho and Mariah had both been outside with us, and Betsy was the only other one who carried a bow.

Jericho and Mariah had moved to Williamsburg in Virginia, which surprised me more than anything else they had said. I still remembered when we tracked the people who had murdered his parents to Williamsburg, and solved the mystery surrounding who had burned the governor’s palace years before.

As for Dudley and Hannah, well, one never knew where they were from one moment to the next. They had moved to Boston the last that Bess had heard from them, but she had her suspicions that they had never given up spying. Bess had extended an invitation for them to accompany Bess and Sam to Lutania, but as Dudley put it, he could never look back. Always look forward was his motto.

After Arnaud’s death, Pierre and Jeanne had moved to France and that was the last that they heard from them.

Freddy and Charlotte now lived in Philadelphia where they thrived as leaders in society. Bess had offered for them to accompany Sam and Bess as well, but with Freddy’s father being the reason that the princesses had to flee their home, Freddy thought it best if he not return. Especially since Bess’s family was staying in Lutania for a full year.

When Sam spoke to President Monroe about their plan to visit Lutania, he made Sam a diplomat so that Sam’s position in the government would still be intact when we returned home.

President James Monroe had been elected for a second term and after the war, and our own battles, America was experiencing an era of peace. Bess admitted that she was almost hesitant to leave, but she had a great motivation to sail for Lutania. Levi’s wedding.

Bess shed a few tears when she spoke with Elisa and Willem. She later told me that she was amazed at how much they looked like me and Constance. Willem had Constance’s unique eye color and brown hair while Elisa reminded her so much of me that it was startling for her. Elisa had my black hair and blue eyes, and the dimple in her cheek when she smiled.

They spent some time becoming acquainted before Levi wanted to give them the surprises that we had been planning. The first one was for Sam.

As I led them down a corridor in the east wing, I told them that I could not claim to have made this myself, but that it was truly from me for it was my big heart that led me to even consider sharing my pride and joy with Sam.

We reached a pair of doors at the end of the wing and I pushed them open. We entered into a dome that was at least four stories, and every wall was full of books. Sam gasped, and I turned toward him quickly, for I had never heard Sam make that sound.

“It is the greatest gift that anyone could give, Jack,” Sam said, and Bess smacked his arm.

He smiled and kissed her cheek before moving forward.

“You know that it will be difficult to pull him from this room,” Bess said to me.

“How do you think Constance feels?” Levi quipped from behind us.

Levi then took Henry and Paul with him to the large stable yard where two ponies were waiting.

The boys were speechless when Levi told them that they were gifts for them.

It was not until we entered the grand, massive dining parlor that Bess had a chance to see Arabella, and her appearance startled my sister.

We had not told them about Arabella’s secret, wanting to surprise them, and we had.

Bess moved forward with a hand covering her mouth. When she reached Arabella, she curtseyed low, and then rose and gushed over the small bundle tucked snug into the corner of Arabella’s arm. Leo hovered over her chair, a smile covering his face. I did not believe that the man had stopped smiling since the day that he and Arabella married.

After dinner, Levi announced that there was another surprise so we all made our way onto the terrace that overlooked the gardens.

Colors began bursting in the sky, and Bess’s sons and my children exclaimed joyfully. They loved fireworks. After the display ended, Bess, Levi and I had some time alone to talk.

“Why did you never tell me that Arabella married Leo, and that they had a child?” Bess demanded as she sat between us upon the sofa.

“The council tried for some time to find a match for her,” Levi said quietly as he watched the dancing flames of fire in the large white marble fireplace. “They did not force the issue of marriage before they allowed her to become queen because of what had happened in America, but gave her until she turned five and twenty, which is in a few months’ time. They found her a match and brought him here, for a time.”

“Where was he from?” Bess asked.

“Austria. A count or some such title. He didn’t speak a lick of English or Danish so I was not certain what he said,” Levi told her.

“It was a beneficial union,” I said thoughtfully. I had been made a member of the council and so I had a say in the choosing.

“You met him then?”

“Oh, yes,” Levi said with a chuckle. “He came on a visit for Christmastide and quite exciting it was.”

“What happened?” Bess questioned.

Levi and I shared an amused glance.

“Levi and Constance decided to introduce him to the Phantoms. The poor fellow now believes the palace is haunted,” I said before laughing.

“Tried to stab me he did,” Levi exclaimed.

“Can you blame the man when he woke to see your frightful face,” I retorted.

Levi stroked a finger down his face. “This handsome physique, frightful? No such thing. Why, if you do not believe me, ask the maids,” Levi said roguishly.

I barked out a laugh. “Yes, we all know what they think of you, rogue.”

Levi placed a hand over his heart and gave me an expression of outraged indignation. “I am the soul of devotion to my darling bride to be.”

“That is right enough,” I agreed. “But you are a flirt, Levi Martin.”

Levi grinned impishly, Bess laughed heartily, and I knew that our year together was going to be one of the best of my life.

****

The wedding of Levi and Mary Edith was as grand as a princess could ask for, with the cathedral, where both Mary Edith’s parents and my own were married, swathed in flowers, satin, and candlelight.

The road that ran from the cathedral to the palace was lined on both sides by the tenants, palace servants, and people who lived in Lutania. My brother wore his regimentals, but it was the soft expression on his face as he committed himself to Mary that made me proud. I would not say that the wild boy was tamed, but rather that he had found the piece of himself that evened him out. Made him whole.