Page 47 of How the Belle Stole Christmas
The footman turned ruffian dragged Fiona down the corridor toward the study, his grip on her arm firm and painful.
The study door slammed shut behind them, cutting off her view of her husband's desperate face. Inside, two other bandits frantically emptied the contents of Lord Thornbury's broken safe into canvas sacks.
"Magnificent collection," one of the men commented, holding up a sapphire necklace to catch the lamplight. "This alone will keep us comfortable for years."
"Focus," Harry snapped. "Admire yer prizes later. We 'ave a schedule to keep."
The minutes crawled by with agonizing slowness. Finally, Harry nodded to his companions. "Time to leave."
They positioned themselves around her. Harry stood behind her, his pistol pressed to the base of her skull, while the other two flanked them with weapons drawn. The canvas sacks were distributed among them, clinking softly with each step.
Just as promised, the entire house was empty. It was silent, as though no one was inside, although she knew that the house-party-guests-turned-captives and the servants were all hiding somewhere.
They made their way outdoors, and there he was—Edward, her husband—standing alone in the snow exactly as ordered, still barefoot, blood staining the snow around his feet.
When their eyes met across the courtyard, she tried to communicate everything she couldn't say aloud. I love you. I trust you. Please, don't be a hero.
His slight nod told her he understood.
He held three horses by the reins, and they huffed impatiently.
"Lovely animals," Harry observed conversationally.
“Best I could find,” Edward replied tersely.
"Ye've been most cooperative, Yer Grace," Harry continued. "Almost disappointingly so. I was 'oping for some last-minute 'eroics." He gestured toward the black stallion with his free hand. "Ye first, my dear. Mount up."
Fiona moved toward the horse, aware of the pistol still trained on her. Edward stepped forward to help her mount, but Harry immediately tsked.
“Do. Not. Move.”
One of the other bandits assisted her onto the stallion. She gathered her skirts, settling astride and reaching for the saddle horn.
Harry holstered his weapon to swing himself up, but before he could reach for the horse, Edward released his grip on the horses and brought his palm down hard on Fiona’s mount’s rump.
"Go! GO!" he roared.
The stallion exploded into motion, thundering across the snowy courtyard toward the gates. Fiona bent low over the horse's neck.
Behind her, she could hear the sounds of a scuffle.
No shots had been fired yet. Good.
She would circle around and—
The sound of galloping hooves from beyond the gates made her heart leap with hope.
Reinforcements. Finally.
Where were they coming from?
A dozen riders burst through the entrance—villagers armed with hunting rifles and farm implements.
By the time she completed her circuit and returned to the front of the manor, the fight was over. All three bandits lay on the ground, disarmed and bound.
She slid from the stallion's back and ran toward Edward, her heart singing with relief.
"Edward!" She threw herself into his arms with enough force to nearly topple them both. "We’re safe! We’re safe!"
Before rational thought could intervene, she kissed him with desperate intensity, pouring all her terror and relief and overwhelming love into it. He tasted of fresh winter air, leather, and smoke, and when his arms closed around her, she finally felt safe.
She felt home.
"Did someone call for a doctor?"
A new voice cut through her haze. Edward broke the kiss but still held her by the waist, not letting go.
She looked up to see a rickety chaise pulling up to the entrance.
"Yes," Edward called back. "Inside. We have wounded."
"And yer feet!” Fiona exclaimed. “Good Lord, yer bleeding everywhere!"
"That can wait," Edward said with a shrug. "The others need attention first."
Impossible man. Still trying to take care of everyone else before himself.
"Thank you," an unwelcome voice came from behind. "Thank you for saving my possessions."
Fiona turned to see Lord Thornbury approaching, his arms full of jewelry that had spilled from the abandoned sacks. His face glowed with satisfaction as he clutched his recovered treasures, apparently oblivious to the incredulous stares around him.
"I shall have to purchase a new safe, of course," Thornbury continued, "but my collection is intact thanks to your efforts."
The rage that had been building in Fiona's chest throughout the entire ordeal suddenly found its target. Without conscious thought, her fist connected with Thornbury's nose in a satisfying crack.
The man staggered backward, blood streaming from his nostrils. "What—why—"
"Ye idiot," she muttered. "Ye could have saved us all hours of terror by simply giving them yer precious baubles at the start. Instead, ye chose to risk everyone's lives for the sake of yer jewels."
"Fiona..." Edward's voice carried a note of admiration that warmed her more than any compliment. He was staring at her with something approaching awe.
She shrugged at his incredulous expression. "He deserved it."
"Your Grace?" A young man with a weathered face appeared at Edward's elbow, slightly out of breath. "Will you be needing transportation back to the inn?"
"Argyll!” Edward’s face lit up. Was this the chaise driver he’d told her about? “How would you feel about a change of employment?"
Fiona raised a brow, and Edward just smiled at her.
“Employment?”
“I’ll pay you more for less work, that I promise,” he said. “And you can bring your whole family with you.”
The young man nearly leapt in joy. “I can start right after I return this old thing to the inn.”
"No need to hurry. You can rest for the holidays," Edward added. "I believe we'll be visiting my wife's family for an extended stay."
Fiona blinked in surprise. "Scotland? Ye want to come to Scotland? I thought ye despised traveling in winter weather."
Edward pulled her closer. Around them, the chaos of rescue and recovery continued, but for Fiona, the only thing that mattered was the solid warmth of her husband's arms and the joy in his eyes.
"It's growing on me," he said with a smile. "Besides… It’s Christmas.”