The Earl's Desire (38 page)

Christine came to sit next to him. “Merrick, I was so scared,” she cried. He pulled her to him. He hugged her hard and thanked the Lord for their safe escape.

“
This was one hell of a night!” Max sighed and then laughed. The timbre of his voice echoed into the night. He came to sit next to Merrick and slapped his friend’s shoulder. “Well, Merrick, since you have nine lives, I’m sure this small gunshot wound won’t kill you.”

“
Damn it, Max. You knew, didn’t you?” Merrick muttered.

“
What? About your cousin wanting you dead? I only had my suspicions, my friend. No solid facts until tonight,” he said seriously.

“
Thanks for sticking by me,” Merrick said.

“
Indeed, friend, I’m sure you would have done the same for me,” Max said.

Merrick nodded. Max turned to Christine and smiled. Merrick frowned, for his friend never smiled as though he really meant it to any female.

“
Well, my dear, you certainly guard him well,” Max said, and Christine blushed.

They watched the flames eat away at the barn and the people inside. They might have saved them, but there was no time. They needed to save their own lives first. The night was dark and quiet now. The smoke from the fire flew up high and disappeared into the air.

EPILOGUE

“So you two are engaged. I have been hoping for it for a long time, you know,” Mrs. Wilson said, smiling at her daughter.

Jane shrugged shyly and played with the diamond ring on her third finger.

“
I’m so happy for you, Jane and Alex,” Amelia cried. She rushed around to hug Jane. “Now that I have a sister, my life will be so much easier, I’m sure. Isn’t that right, Mama?” She nodded her head toward her mother, and Mrs. Vander smiled back and nodded in agreement.

“
Well, Alex, look after my daughter well, won’t you? When the time comes, of course,” Mr. Wilson said, coming around to shake the younger man’s hand.

Lord Queensbury smiled as he watched the two new couples. He was happy for them. He got up from his seat and walked to the window. Outside, he saw the golden brown, orange, red, and yellow leaves floating down from the trees. The wind swirled them about as it gusted around. He narrowed his eyes when he saw a gig draw up in front of the Hall. He saw Dr. Liam and his young apprentice coming out of the vehicle.

“
I see that the doctors have arrived,” he said.

“
Oh, have they?” Mrs. Smith said, standing up from the settee. “Perhaps I shall attend as well, with these things you never know; a lady present might help to ease her tension.”

“
Can I come, too?” Tyson asked, jumping off the seat he was occupying.

“
No, dear, you may not come. ’Tis not for children to see,” Mrs. Smith said and motioned for him to sit back down.

At the hallway, she saw Ross opening the door for the two doctors.

“
Ah, Mrs. Smith, good morning to you,” Dr. Liam said as he entered the hall. Ross took the hat Dr. Liam handed to him.

“
Good morning to you, too, Doctor, and you, too, Mr. Oliver.” Mrs. Smith nodded.

“
Good morning,” the young doctor responded.

“
I will show you the way. You go back to your other duties, Ross,” she said and led the two doctors toward the stairs.

The butler nodded and went into the kitchen.

As he came into the kitchen, he stared at the nine people sitting around the large table having tea. On one side of the table sat Mr. Sam, next was Mark, and Peter sat next to Emma and the cook. Andrew sat next to Betty, who was now sipping her tea.

“
Those were the doctors, I presume?” Mrs. Ross questioned her husband.

He took a seat next to her and nodded. “Well, it is about time, I’d say. She was very against the whole idea,” she said.

“
She is very stubborn sometimes,” Betty commented, though her tone showed no disapproval. In fact, she liked it that their countess was stubborn.

“
As if you aren’t,” Andrew said, his arms circling Betty about the waist and pulling her to him. He couldn’t wait until their wedding day to bed her. Betty frowned at this comment from him. Then her frown turned to surprise when she felt his hand creeping from her waist to her breast. She giggled.

“
Oh, get a room, will you,” Emma groaned at them. Then she said, looking at the cook, “I think it’s going to be a girl.”

“
How would you know that?” Mrs. Thompson asked.

“
Well, I just know,” Emma said folding her arms.

“
Really?” the cook folded her arms also.

“
Really, Mrs. Thompson. You want to bet on that?” Emma asked, raising her brows.

“
How much?” Mrs. Thompson narrowed her eyes.

“
They are betting again,” Andrew commented lamely.

“
What’s wrong with that?” Peter wondered aloud.

Mr. Sam chuckled and winked at Mrs. Ross, who smiled back at him.

* * *

“It has been a long time. I must say, my granddaughter does not approve of you being called, but the earl seems so concerned. He feels he must get her examined,” Mrs. Smith was saying as she led the doctors up the grand stairs.

“
Yes, I must say his lordship is perfectly correct to have these things checked. Very important, I’d say,” Dr. Liam said. “To be honest, Mrs. Smith, Dr. Oliver and I here have never seen your granddaughter before, although she is an older sister to young Master Chris,” the old man said, frowning as they walked along the first floor corridor toward the master bedroom.

“
Oh, don’t worry about that. You both will meet her soon enough,” she said and opened the door. “Ah, do come in.” Both men followed her into the sitting room.

“
No! Merrick, why? I don’t need to be examined. I’m not a mule to be examined.”

They heard a feminine voice shouting. It was quite loud, though her honey-toned voice was still sweet. Dr. Liam knew she must be beautiful for the earl to have married her in such haste.

“
No, my love, you needed to be examined. These things are very important,” they heard a masculine voice say calmly.

“
Well, I must say, her ladyship does not agree with this idea of herself being examined. But the earl insisted, if you must know,” Mrs. Smith told them nervously. She didn’t like to hear them arguing while the doctors were here. “Do come in,” she said and knocked at the door.

Instantly, it was flung open. Merrick stood there, his huge frame blocking the doorway. He was smiling at them.

“
Good morning, doctors. Do come in.” He ushered them inside. They all filed in, and Merrick shut the door behind them.

“
Now, Christine, do cooperate. The doctors are here,” he calmly told his wife, his eyes laughing.

Christine turned then, her hands folded across her chest. Her eyes brightened when she saw Dr. Liam and Mr. Oliver standing near the doorway. Her heart lightened a bit, though she still dreaded what the doctor was going to do to her. She never liked people looking at her because it made her feel nervous and uncomfortable. And examining her was definitely looking at her. Her cheeks blushed a becoming pink when she saw both doctors just stood there staring at her. They were definitely looking at her now.
Why?
She wondered if they recognized her. That made her feel even worse for she had deceived them too.

Dr. Liam frowned. Something nagged at his mind. She was beautiful, this wife of the earl’s, but she seemed awfully a lot like Master Chris, as if they were one and the same person. He shook his head.

Mr. Oliver saw her smiling at him. She was beautiful, he thought. Her glorious brown curls fell almost to her waist.

Merrick frowned at the way the doctors were staring at his wife. He didn’t like it before, and he didn’t like it now. “Dr. Liam, perhaps you should get started,” he boomed out to get their attention.

Christine glared up at him. Really, he was being very inappropriate. “No, Merrick, I don’t want to be examined. I’m fine,” she said, coming to him and tucking her hand under his arm.

“
My love, you needed to be examined; ’tis important for the continued good health of you and our heir,” he said and patted her hand.

“
But, Merrick—” She stared up at him. “I’m shy. I don’t want to be examined,” she told him, her eyes pleading.

“
You don’t need to be shy, love. I’m here. But perhaps we can make things better for you,” he said and stared at the young doctor. “Mr. Oliver and Mrs. Smith, perhaps both of you could leave. My wife is very shy, you see.”

“
Well, Christine, what do you say?” Mrs. Smith asked. “It is, after all, important for the good health of you and your child.”

“
You think it’s a good idea, Grandmamma?” Christine asked.

“
Indeed I think so, love,” Mrs. Smith responded, smiling at her granddaughter.

“
All right then. I’ll have myself examined, but everyone must leave. You’ll stay with me, won’t you, Merrick?” she asked, her eye large and shining, looking up at him.

“
Of course, love. I will be with you.” He smiled.

“
Very well then, if that is what you want,” Mrs. Smith said and turned toward the door. “Well there, Mr. Oliver, it’s best we get going now.” She nodded and opened the door.

Mr. Oliver did not turn to see Mrs. Smith as he nodded but stared at Christine. He smiled at her, nodded, and left the room. He caught up with her down at the corridor.

“
Mrs. Smith, wait,” he called to her. She turned and smiled at him as he came toward where she stood.

“
Perhaps you would join us in the drawing room?” she asked him.

“
That would be very nice,” he replied. They walked down the stairs, and then he said, “I must say, her ladyship looks a lot like Master Chris, as though they are one and the same.”

Mrs. Smith choked on her next breath. She cleared her throat and composed herself. “Oh well, after all, they are siblings,” she said and shrugged as though it was nothing of importance.

“
I suppose you are right there,” Mr. Oliver said and nodded. They both reached the ground floor and went into the drawing room.

Half an hour later, both doctors left. Merrick came back to their bedroom after he had shown the doctors out. He went to kneel on the floor beside his wife, who was lying on the bed.

“
Well, that wasn’t so bad, was it, love?” he said and kissed her hand.

“
No, that wasn’t really that bad at all.” She smiled at him. He came up to sit beside her then, pulling her closer to him.

“
I do love you,” he said as his hands slid down to her slightly swollen belly.

“
And our baby, too?” she teased.

He laughed. “Of course our baby, too,” he said. He nuzzled the nape of her neck. “You smell nice, just like lavender,” he mumbled and ran his tongue over her sensitive skin. She giggled at the pure pleasure he was giving her.

“
That’s because I used lavender soap.” She shifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. His mouth scorched her skin with his kisses.

“
You are my guardian angel, you are my life, and you are my soul,” he moaned and caught her mouth. She opened her lips for him.

Yes, he was her lover, her protector, and he was her life and soul, too.

THE END

* * * * *

FALLING FOR SAKURA TRILOGY