The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) (165 page)

Out loud and her voice trembling she read,
‘just to let you know our mutual friend is safe and well…and rich. I enclose a small note and something she wanted to return to you.”
To Lando she said, ‘it’s unsigned.’ But they both knew whom the card and gift were from. Hennessey.

Lando felt his heart do a triple flip in his chest. His face darkened and his eyes flashed menacingly. He wanted to grab the chocolates and smash them to the floor. He wished he could tell the bastard what he would do to him if he came into their lives again.

Adela said, ‘how can I believe him?’ The question was half demanding, half pleading.

Land said, ‘look inside the box.’

She unfastened the ribbon and opened the box, inside there was an envelope. She looked up at Lando then picked up the letter and slowly opened it as though it might contain a bomb. She tipped up the envelope and something round and gold fell into her hand. She stared down at it in disbelief. Lando said, ‘why would he send you a watch?’

Still staring down at it she said very quietly, ‘it’s the watch I bought for Olivia to sell if she ran out of money.’

Lando looked at her in amazement. He said softly, ‘read the message, honey.’

She unfolded the paper and read aloud,
“I’m returning this watch to you because I no longer need it. Maybe you could give it to the next lucky person you help.’

Adela paused and looked up at Lando before continuing, “
I know you will find this hard to believe but I am not writing this because I’ve been coerced or threatened but because I want you to know that I’m safe, and although not yet at peace, I know that will come one day. And that will be because of you, Adela Faraday. Because one night you stopped to help a stranger in need and not only that but went that extra mile.’

Adela gave an embarrassed cough and cast her eyes up at Lando before continuing
, “It seems we have both found our knight in shining armour. I will never forget you, Adela. I return this gift to you in the hope that when you look at it you will remember me too. I recall what you once said to me, I will remember it always.

“Better a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”

Lando was completely pole axed. Those were the words Adela had told him she had quoted to Olivia. How would Hennessey know that, unless he had spoken to Olivia personally. And no amount of coercion or threats or torture could have gotten that exact quote out of her. So she must be safe, he must have kept his word and found and rewarded her.

Adela looked at her husband her eyes wide and very bright.
Then she smiled a huge joy filled smile. He leaned back stunned by the transformation.

He came round the table and knelt down in front of her and laid his head on her breast as she stroked his hair. They stayed that way for a while then he raised his head and said, ‘is that it, does she say anything else.’

She looked down at the note and nodded, ‘she says
, “Hennessey says to tell you, “Now all debts are paid.”

Lando’s frown deepened. He recalled what she had said to Hennessey in the gardens of Glissando’s home when she lay wounded. They were the same words Hennessey had used to him in the chapel.

He drew her to him and held her close. He almost felt the burden dropping from her

as she cried with happiness and relief.

She said, ‘he kept his word, it’s finally over. We’re free at last. Now all debts really
are
paid.’

He knew she meant not only the two of them but Olivia too, and maybe even Hennessey.

But his entire body tensed and went completely still as she said against his hair, ‘now our child can have both parents free of the past.’ At first he thought she meant when they eventually had kids until she took his hands and pressed them against her abdomen. He leaned her away from him and looked deep into her shining tear filled eyes and saw the truth there. His own eyes were filled with amazement soon to be replaced by a look of such satisfaction and happiness that she couldn’t help but laugh.

He took her face between his palms and kissed her lips, then with one swift movement she was in his arms and being carried to the bedroom where he lay her very gently down on the bed as though she was made of the most delicate china. He lay down beside her and his voice as gentle as she’d ever heard it said, ‘
this
is where love is, here with you, my wife, my love, my own English lady.’

THE END