10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

The sun rose sleepily over the horizon, casting warm golden rays over the quiet village of Belle Haven. Theresa stood at the gates of the estate, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Richard had just spoken to the local vicar, finalising their plans to call the banns for their wedding. It was all happening so quickly, yet Theresa felt as though her life had been leading up to this moment.

"Theresa, my dear," Richard said softly, his eyes brimming with affection. "I must leave for Sandhurst now to deliver these horses. I shall return before you know it, and we shall be married." He looked at the magnificent steeds patiently waiting for him, their breaths visible in the crisp morning air. Their well-groomed coats glistened in the sunlight, showcasing the care and dedication Richard put into his work.

"Of course, Richard," she replied with a tremulous smile, trying to steady her racing thoughts. She knew that Richard's passion for horses was what brought them together, but the thought of being apart from him during such a crucial time made her apprehensive. What if something were to happen while he was away?

"Promise me you'll take care of yourself?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"Theresa, you have my word," he assured her, his blue eyes locking onto hers with conviction. "You take care of my girls. You are the most incredible woman I have ever known, and I trust you implicitly."

With a gentle touch of his hand against her cheek, Richard turned and swung himself onto his horse.

"Goodbye, my love," he called over his shoulder, and Theresa's heart swelled with affection as she watched him disappear into the distance.

She stood there for a moment longer, taking in the beauty of the morning and the promise it held. Richard had given her a new life, one filled with love and purpose. As she turned to walk back towards the manor, Theresa couldn't help but marvel at the incredible journey that had led her here. From a simple orphan girl with a love for horses, to the soon-to-be wife of the kind and compassionate Sir Richard Bell, mistress of this magnificent estate – it was a story she could scarcely believe.

"Miss Theresa!" Clara called out as she came bounding across the lawn, her sisters Anna and Eliza in tow. "Come and see what we've found!"

"All right, my darlings," Theresa replied, her spirits lifting as she brushed away her lingering doubts. She knew that Richard would be back before long, and their life together would truly begin. In the meantime, she resolved to cherish every moment spent with the children who had come to mean so much to her.

"Show me what you've discovered," she said with determination, following the girls toward their latest adventure. And as they ran through the dew-kissed grass, Theresa knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, the love they shared would carry them through.

In the following days, Theresa's life became a whirlwind of activity. She found herself with barely a moment to miss Richard as she busied herself with preparations for their rapidly approaching wedding. One morning, her determination led her to the doorstep of the local seamstress, accompanied by Clara, Anna, and Eliza.

"Good day, Mrs. Brown," Theresa greeted the kindly seamstress as they stepped inside the small but charming shop. A medley of fabrics in varying hues and patterns adorned the walls, creating a cosy atmosphere that Theresa found soothing.

"Ah, Miss Wilkes!" Mrs. Brown exclaimed with a warm smile. "What can I do for you and the young ladies today?" The woman's eager expression told Theresa she was already well aware of the rapidly-approaching wedding date.

Theresa couldn't help but smile at the excited expressions on the girls' faces. "We're here to have new dresses made for the upcoming wedding," she explained, her cheeks flushing at the thought. "One for each of us, please. And would it be possible to make one each for Molly Tate and Helen Milnes as well? They are dear friends of mine."

"Of course, my dear," Mrs. Brown replied, bustling about the shop as she began gathering materials. "Now, let's see what we can find for you all."

As the seamstress worked, Theresa exchanged glances with the girls, her heart filled with affection for them. The shared excitement between them was palpable, and she felt certain that these moments would be treasured memories in the years to come.

"Miss Theresa," Anna whispered, tugging at her sleeve, "I think this one would look lovely on you." She showed her a bolt of soft lilac fabric, her eyes shining.

"Thank you, Anna," Theresa responded, touched by the girl's thoughtfulness. "It is a beautiful choice, but I think perhaps very expensive… that's silk."

"As to that, Miss Wilkes," Mrs. Brown interrupted, "Sir Richard did call in to my shop before he departed. He paid a deposit towards making gowns for you and the girls to wear at the wedding, which I can assure you, will more than cover the cost of making a dress from that silk."

"Oh." Theresa had been about to put the bolt of silk back on the shelf, but now she paused and looked at it. "It is very lovely."

"And look what I have here." Mrs. Brown beamed, pulling out a bolt of sprigged muslin with tiny flowers embroidered on it in the exact same lilac colour. "We could make dresses for you three out of this and you will match with your new mother, what do you think?"

All three girls clapped their hands and jumped up and down, their faces shining.

"Very well," Theresa acquiesced, laughing. "I hope you have some ribbons in a similar colour, to thread through their hair?"

"I'm sure we can find something, Miss Wilkes! Now let's get you all measured up so we can get to work stitching."

With only a few days remaining before the wedding, Theresa was tending to the flower arrangements in the manor when she smelled something acrid in the air. Frowning, she glanced out the window and saw a plume of smoke billowing from the direction of the storage barn where hay was kept to feed the horses through the winter.

"Fire!" she cried, her heart pounding as she raced towards the door. Panic surged through her veins as she considered the potential devastation that awaited them.

"Theresa, what's happening?" Clara asked, her voice trembling with fear.

"Stay inside, girls," Theresa instructed, her voice firm despite her terror. "I must go and see what can be done." She sprinted towards the barn, her mind racing with fear for the precious lives that depended on her. Flames had already engulfed the storage barn's thatch, and Theresa realised to her horror that the neighbouring small stable, where the girls' ponies were kept, was likely to go up too.

"Miss Theresa!" Eliza's frightened cry reached her ears as the girl burst from the manor, flanked by Clara and Anna, their eyes wide with terror.

"Girls, stay back!" Theresa commanded, her voice strained as her eyes flicked between the children and the approaching flames.

"I have them!" Helen called, running out and grabbing the girls close to her, keeping them from following Theresa. "No, Molly, stay with me – help me hold onto them!"

Confident Helen would keep the girls safe, Theresa steeled herself and approached the stable where the ponies were kept, the heat growing more intense with each step. The fire had already begun to lick at the wooden walls, and she knew it wouldn't be long before the stable was engulfed.

"Come on, my darlings," she whispered, choking on the acrid smoke as she flung open the stable door and charged inside. The panicked neighs of the trapped ponies pierced the air, driving her forward.

"Easy, easy," she murmured, trying to calm them as she fumbled with the latch on the first stall. As soon as she managed to release one pony, she moved onto the next, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Please, Lord, protect them," she prayed silently, tears streaming down her smoke-stained face as the fire roared ever closer.

Riding home at last after a dull three weeks spent at Sandhurst, Richard was eager for what awaited him; the warmth of his home, with the beloved faces of Theresa and his daughters a balm for his weary heart.

"Soon," he murmured to his horse, who had caught scent of his home and tried to speed up. "Easy, boy, don't tire yourself now. We're almost there."

As he crested the last hill, Richard's breath caught in his throat at the sight that greeted him. A red glow painted the horizon, the dark tendrils of smoke weaving their way into the deepening twilight sky. Panic swelled within him, and he dug his heels into his horse's sides, sending it galloping towards Belle Haven.

As he drew closer, the chaos became apparent. A water brigade formed of grooms and household servants was working tirelessly, throwing bucket after bucket onto the hungry flames that greedily consumed the storage barn. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning hay, and Richard's eyes watered from the assault on his senses.

"Papa!" Clara called to him, her eyes wide with terror. She stood beside Helen, Molly, and her sisters; all of them visibly shaken but safe, and well away from the fire. Relief flooded through him, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of panic when he realised that Theresa was not with them.

"Where is she?" he demanded, his voice shaking with fear. "Where is Theresa?"

"Papa," Anna choked out, tears streaming down her face, "she went into the stable to save the ponies."

"Theresa told us to stay here with Helen and Molly," Eliza added, her small hands trembling as she clutched at Helen's skirt.

Richard's heart felt as if it had been ripped from his chest. He knew how much Theresa loved horses, but the thought of her risking her life for them sent waves of terror crashing through him. He could not bear the thought of losing her – not now, not ever.

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice cracking with emotion. "Do not move from this spot."

Richard's heart pounded in his ears as he sprinted towards the burning stable, the heat and smoke choking him with each laboured breath. The crackle of the flames and the frantic squeals of the trapped ponies filled the air, drowning out the sounds of the water brigade's desperate attempts to quell the fire. He prayed that Theresa would emerge unscathed, but with every passing second, his hope waned.

"Theresa!" he shouted, his voice hoarse from the smoke. "Where are you?"

As if in answer to his plea, the burning stable door suddenly burst open, and there she was – Theresa, riding bareback and astride on shaggy little Duck, her skirts hitched to her knees and his mane singed and smoking. Behind her, Anna's and Clara's ponies galloped out, their eyes wide with terror.

"Richard!" she gasped, choking on the acrid air.

"Theresa!" Relief coursed through him like a river, washing away the fear that had clenched his heart like a vice. In that moment, he knew he could never let her go again.

He reached for her, nearly dragging her off the trembling pony. Their lips met in a fierce, desperate kiss that seemed to convey all the love and longing they had kept hidden for so long. As they broke apart, Richard's gaze bore into hers, his blue eyes ablaze with emotion.

"Theresa, what were you thinking?" he demanded, his voice shaking with barely suppressed anger. "You could have been killed! How could you risk your life for those horses?"

A hint of defiance flashed in her brown eyes, despite the tears that welled up as she choked on the smoke. "I couldn't just stand by while they were trapped," she answered, her voice trembling with exhaustion. "I had to do something."

"Damn it, Theresa," Richard growled, pulling her close and burying his face in her mousy brown hair. "You could have died. I can't bear the thought of losing you."

"Richard," she whispered, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Scare me?" he murmured against her ear, his voice thick with emotion. "You terrified me. But I have to admit... I would have done the same thing. You are a kindred spirit, Theresa. Your love for these animals is one of the many reasons I've fallen in love with you."

"Really?" she asked, pulling back to look into his eyes, searching for the truth in his words.

"Theresa," he said, his voice hoarse from shouting over the roaring flames, "I don't know what my girls and I would do without you. You've become the heart of Belle Haven."

The words washed over her like a balm, soothing the raw edges of her fear. She looked around, taking in the scene before her: the stable hands working tirelessly to douse the fire; Helen, Molly, and Richard's daughters huddled together, their faces tear-streaked but relieved.

"Richard, I..." she hesitated, not knowing how to express the depth of her gratitude for his words, for his love – and for the family they had created together.

"Shh," he whispered, pressing a finger to her lips. "There will be time to talk later. Right now, we need to make sure everyone is safe."

Theresa nodded, understanding the urgency in his voice. As she turned to help, her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotion. It was true that she had saved the ponies, but hadn't Richard saved her in turn? He had taken her in when she had nowhere else to go, provided her with a home, and gave her a sense of belonging that she had never known before.

"Richard," she called out as he began to stride away, his tall figure commanding amidst the chaos. He paused, glancing back at her, and Theresa saw the tender devotion in his eyes.

"Promise me one thing," she implored, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Anything," he replied, his gaze steady and unwavering.

"Promise that we'll always face these challenges together – as a family."

Richard's eyes softened, and he crossed the distance between them in a few long strides. Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers in a gentle, yet fierce, promise.

"Always, my love. Always."