Heirs and Graces Page 25

  He shook his head. ‘You will be the death of me.’

  ‘It seems to me that you are very capable of engineering your own downfall. It was the height of folly to go into the glassworks so unprepared.’

  ‘We are both of us governed by our emotions at times.’

  ‘But I am a grown woman, while you are just an overgrown schoolboy spoiling for a fight.’

  ‘You are every bit as thirsty for adventure.’

  ‘I don’t deliberately seek it out, Jake, but I will not be told how to behave. You have to understand that.’

  ‘And you have to understand that I want to keep you safe. You matter to me more than anyone else in the world. What sort of man would I be if I allowed you to put yourself in danger and did nothing to try and prevent it?’

  ‘Well, since you are no longer planning to work for Thorndike, we are both less likely to be confronted by danger.’

  ‘I shall accept no further assignments from him. I intend to see him tomorrow and make that abundantly clear. However, there are still my enemies to be concerned about.’

  Olivia sighed. ‘I might be run over by a carriage tomorrow. We none of us know what is around the corner so let us enjoy what we have and let the future take care of itself.’

  ‘You are a wise woman, Mrs Grantley,’ he said, wincing as he hoisted himself onto one elbow to kiss her brow.

  ‘And you would do well to remember it,’ she replied with a serene smile.

  ‘I am sure you will not permit me to forget it.’

  ‘Certainly I shall not.’ Olivia finished tending to his bruises and lay with her head resting cautiously on his shoulder. ‘Anyway, I am glad it all turned out for the best. Young Henry Armitage has come into his own and, unless I mistake the matter, Fergus is on the point of offering for Amelia. We shall have a lot of weddings to look forward to, given that Eva and Isaac will soon be able to wed as well.’

  ‘Is that what you want, Olivia?’ He pushed a lock of hair away from her eyes and sent her an intent look. ‘Would like for us to marry?’

  ‘Good heavens, no! If you though I was hinting you are quite wrong. My views in that regard have not changed. I could not tolerate your tyranny. We are much better off the way we are.’

  He was quiet for a long time. ‘Very well,’ he said eventually. ‘But you must promise me that you and Tom will join me in Torbay for the summer.’

  ‘Good heavens, Lord Torbay, whatever will the neighbours say?’

  ‘Hang the neighbours!’ he said, looming over her as he bent his head and made a thorough job of kissing her.

  The End

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  Thank you for reading Heirs and Graces. If you enjoyed the novel check out the other titles in the Victorian Vigilantes series, listed below along with all my other offerings.

  I was brought up on the Isle of Wight in southern England, surrounded by castles, stately homes and history at every turn. I must have unwittingly absorbed the vibes like osmosis and so write mostly about bygone days, living vicariously alongside my heroes with heart and independently-minded heroines.

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