Chapters (50)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- The Pengarron Sagas
- The Harvey Family Sagas
Oliver looked down the length of the table, at the abandoned glasses of wine and uneaten food. Everyone had deserted him. If not for Kane and his beloved Shelley, he would find it hard to be strong.
Thirty-Four
Alicia fought off consciousness.
In her dream, she and Alex were safe in each other’s arms, high in spirits after moving into the house in St James’s Street. Alex, never thinking beyond the moment, frivolous, innocently trusting. Twenty-three years old, with animated eyes, a perfectly formed countenance and an effortless smile. To awaken now she would be thrust back into the reality of him being dead.
Wakefulness, however, would have her. She groaned in despair as her eyes, heavy and aching, opened against her will.
A hand holding hers pressed a little round her fingers. ‘Jack?’ She knew it would be him.
He leaned forward and his face appeared between the bed and the ornate ceiling. Candlelight offset the gloom. ‘You’ve been sleeping for hours. Can I get you something?’
Her mouth was dry and sore. ‘Yes, a drink please.’
He brought a glass of water to her lips and she took a few sips. ‘Is that monster still in the house?’
‘’Fraid so. There’s nothing me or Luke can do about that. Tomorrow we’ll return to Polgissey and we’ll never have to see him again.’
‘If I had the strength I’d kill him!’
‘I could kill him myself for what he did to Lord Alex and to you. It’s hard to believe what he’s become – tainted and evil. He may go on about being loyal to Sir Oliver, but his lordship didn’t give him a home and opportunities to see him turn into a treacherous murderer.’
‘Do you trust Bartholomew Drannock to keep his word and not tell Sir Decimus I’m alive?’
‘He’ll have to, or he’ll pay the Society’s price himself, for lying in his letter. We must forget him, Alicia. We must try, for the baby’s sake.’
‘You’re such a good man, Jack. Allowing me to turn to you after the way I’ve treated you. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to know you still want to be a father to the baby. I’ll never forget Alex, but I’ll try hard to make it work between us.’
Jack nodded. ‘We could have a good life together, Alicia, and I’m making a promise to you in return. I have a duty to Luke, but I’ll never let his demands override my cares for you. Me and you used to talk for hours up in London, but we’ve never talked frankly as husband and wife. I’m devoted to you, Alicia.’