Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Six months later

Richard couldn't keep the smile from his face as he watched Edward Willoughby dragged away by the iron chain that linked his hands. Gone was his expensive suit and perfectly groomed beard, replaced by rags and a haggard face.

Using his connections and his wealth, Richard had hurried along the trial, bringing the man to justice before he had a chance to escape England. And their success was all thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of Walter Rivers.

It was bittersweet watching him stumble down the steps. They'd won. They'd brought him to justice. But it felt like an empty win when he didn't have his love to share it with.

"Life imprisonment," Walter said, blinking as those in the courtroom began gathering their belongings, ready to go about their day. It was not quite so momentous for them as it was for him and Richard. "The result we were looking for."

"An excellent one indeed," Richard agreed, though his tone lacked the joy he should have felt at this moment. "It is only a shame that Celestina and Sylvia are not here to witness it."

At the mention of their names, Richard saw Walter wince. Neither of them had yet recovered from the pain of their departure, and they were both working hard to find them. It seemed they had disappeared from the face of the Earth. Richard had always known Celestina to be resourceful, but she had successfully changed their names and slipped into a new life without anyone noticing.

"Have you heard anything from the investigators?" Walter asked as the two men rose to leave.

Richard sighed. "Their likeness has been taken to every town and city in the whole of England, and not a single person has seen them. Every coachman, every tavern, every innkeeper."

"And the grand houses? I should imagine they needed to look for employment," Walter said.

Richard shook his head sadly. "I've put the word out across the ton , sent correspondence to every nobleman in the country. Nothing. It's like they never existed."

Walter sighed. "Then we need another plan."

They left the courthouse and began climbing down the steps towards the carriage. Walter had moved into Exeter House, his entire life focused on finding Sylvia, just as Richard's was about finding Celestina. Richard was neglecting the duchy, and he knew it, but Celestina was more important. He had men who could complete all the tasks of the duchy until the time when Richard could return.

"What about your mother?" Walter said. "Do you think she might know something?"

Richard shook his head. "I've interrogated her several times. She insists she knows nothing. As you know, she mostly stays in her room now, so I doubt she had spoken to anyone who might have heard something."

"Then we shall have to—"

"Your Grace! Your Grace!"

A man running towards them interrupted Walter, waving something in the air. Both men turned to face him. It was one of the investigators. His face glowed red with perspiration, and he panted to catch his breath. Richard's heart began to pound. Was this it? Had they found them?

"What is it, Lockwood?" Richard asked, his words tumbling out of him with urgency.

"We've found them, Your Grace," Lockwood said, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "We've finally found them."

***

"How was little Lydia today?" Sylvia asked as Celestina let herself into their small apartment above the bakery.

She had her legs curled beneath her as she pushed the needle through the fabric of yet another gown she was repairing.

"Tiresome," Celestina said, shrugging off her cloak and hanging it on the hook behind the door. "But she is as adorable as ever. Never have I seen such a mass of blonde curls. It is like a heavenly cloud around her pretty little face. You'd simply love her if you saw her, though she'd no doubt run you ragged."

She smiled as she sat on the couch, thinking of the adorable child. It had not taken them long to find employment, Celestina as a governess to a lord's daughter and Sylvia as a seamstress in the same household. They'd been offered accommodation within the house, but in a bid to hide their true identity, they had taken an apartment in town under entirely different names.

"And how was your day?" Celestina asked.

She relaxed into the softness of the couch, thinking how lucky they had been. Everything had worked out just as they'd hoped, though she missed Richard every day with all her heart.

A few of the maids in the house had asked if she had a sweetheart or if she looked to remarry, but Celestina always said no. She would never, could never, give herself to someone else. She had already ignored her heart once, and though she had loved David, it was nothing compared to what she felt for Richard.

"I believe I have mended more gowns in the last week than in my entire life. The tips of my fingers are sore."

Celestina pouted. "Poor thing. You need more thimbles."

"I need new fingers," Sylvia said, rolling her eyes. "I suspect the Belvoirs are not quite as wealthy as they seem, for otherwise, they would simply order new gowns."

"And you would be out of a job," Celestina reminded her.

Sylvia sighed. "True enough."

She weaved the needle into the fabric and then placed it on the side table. "Shall I prepare dinner?" she asked. "I managed to get a lovely piece of pork at a discounted price at the market today."

"I'll cook," Celestina said, getting to her feet. "You rest those fingers of yours."

She walked over to the small kitchen area and found the pork wrapped in wax paper. She was unwrapping it, wondering what vegetables she could put with it, when a knock came on the door. She dropped the pork onto the slab with a thump, her face turning pale. She spun around and, leaning against the worktop, stared wide-eyed at Sylvia.

"Who is it?" Sylvia asked in a whisper.

"No one knows we're here," Celestina said. "You don't think he's found us, do you?"

She began to shake, the fear she had almost forgotten rearing its head.

Sylvia glanced worriedly at the door, then looked back at Celestina. "But how could he?" she asked. "No. It must be something else. Maybe the landlord?"

Celestina chewed her lip, her concern building. "We can only hope."

"I'll go," Sylvia said.

Sylvia went slowly to the door, her own fear evident in her tentative steps. She pulled it open and gasped.

"It's you!"

***

"It's you!" Richard said in reply. "Is she here? Tell me. Is she here?"

Sylvia nodded and opened the door wider, glancing over into the distance. Richard stepped into the room and looked around. It was a small apartment, though seemingly well equipped. He could see evidence of a life lived, the two women together for months. He breathed in, taking it all in, teasing out the moment. He was desperate to see her, yet his body thrummed with anxiety, a fear he didn't understand.

Finally, it was too much to bear. He glanced up, and their eyes met. They said nothing for a long moment. Instead, Richard remained still, drinking in the sight of her. It was enough to make him break down, to overwhelm him. She was as beautiful as he remembered—more so, even—and it had been far too long.

"Celestina," he whispered.

"Richard."

The moment broken, he ran to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. He buried his face in her neck, breathing her in.

"God, I've missed you," he muttered. "So much."

She burst into tears, clutching onto him as if her life depended on it. He smoothed down the curls on the back of her head, tender, soft.

"Hush now," he whispered. "It's all right now."

He looked into her beautiful eyes when she finally broke away from him. "I've missed you," he said again. "I have not stopped looking for you."

"But it's not safe, Richard," she said, her voice weak with panic.

He raised his hand to her face, gently stroking her cheek with his fingers. "Everything is all right," he said again. "I promise. We'll tell you everything."

"We?" Celestina asked, her brow furrowed.

Richard stepped aside, revealing Sylvia and Walter in an embrace of their own. A half sob escaped Celestina's lips, though it had the texture of happiness.

"So that's who she was writing to," she said. "It all makes sense now."

"Walter knew everything except where you'd gone," Richard explained. "And he found evidence against Edward that has seen him imprisoned for life. He is no longer a threat, my love. And your inheritance has been returned from Edward's own estate. It has been put in safe holding until your return. You're safe now. It's over."