Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

T he door opened a fraction and Augustus Von Hautt's heart began to speed up. Sometimes lately his heart beat so hard that it hurt his chest, and he had to put his hand over it, to hold it in. This was one of those moments.

"There you are," the familiar voice said, and the door closed again. "I was worried."

"You told me to come here when I needed to."

"Of course I did. Are you hurt?"

He shook his head, shivering a little. He'd lit the fire but the chimney was full of soot and wouldn't draw properly.

"Look. I have some food for you. Eat up and you'll feel better. You always feel better when you've eaten."

It was true, he did feel better on a full stomach.

"Why did you frighten Lady Longhurst?"

He met those familiar eyes and looked away. "She deserved it. My mother . . ."

"Augustus, you can't go about punishing people because they remind you of your mother. You loved your mother, you know you did."

"I hardly knew her."

"Well, she loved you ."

He finished the food and pushed back his chair with a sigh. He did feel better now. But so weary; his eyelids were drooping.

"You're the only one who has ever loved me, Bo-bo," he murmured, using the old childhood name, the sound of it comforting him.

He could hear the fire being stoked, the warmth spreading through him as he dozed. He knew there were things to do, important things. He had to find the rose, but that could wait until tomorrow, when Valentine set off after the final name on his list.

Beauchamp.

Was it fate? Or just luck? Well, whatever it was, Augustus was pleased things had worked out this way. The end was coming.

Soon he would have completed his life's work and he would finally be able to rest.