Page 33

S hay couldn’t believe his life had turned out like this. Even months since that day when his wife somehow forgave him for all his faults, he still couldn’t believe his luck. To have someone like her love him meant he couldn’t have been all that bad.

“I have a gift for you,” she said after dinner and nodded to one of the footmen to bring it in.

Shay took the bound package and tugged the twine loose so to unwrap it. The cool embossed leather in his palm, brought a smile to his face as he read proudly.

“The Case of the Golden Feather by Theodore Stonecliff.” He tapped the cover. “I’ve heard he’s quite good.” This earned a roll of the eyes from his wife.

He’d read the whole thing already. Page by page as it had been written. The words in this book had brought them together. But he opened it to the first page anyway, excited to see it in print.

But the opening lines were different than they’d been when he’d read it so many months ago.

“Ellis Ballantyne Hayes stepped out of the carriage in Cheapside and frowned,” he read. “It seems the hero has a name.” It was his name. The name only she called him when they were alone. “Am I conceited to think this means I am your hero?”

Thea glanced around the room at the servants but her lips pulled up on one side.

“Please give us the room,” he said loudly and at his command everyone scattered for the door, leaving him alone with his wife.

“I would think it’s safe to say you are my hero.”

“As well as your biggest admirer,” he added leaning closer to kiss her neck just below her ear.

“I did feel rather admired last night.” Her cheeks turned the prettiest shade of pink. Even after all they’d done in bed, she still blushed and it amused him.

In truth, he’d been admiring her with great thoroughness since the day she’d told him she loved him. He simply could not get enough of her, and she had not complained.

It had delayed the completion of the book but another week at least.

“Thank you for the kind gesture, Thea.”

“Well, I did think Ellis Hayes should have his moment to shine after all this time. And now he can never be forgotten.”

He was touched by her thoughtfulness. It was sad to know that no one had ever noticed or cared that Ellis Hayes just stopped existing all those years ago. If he’d not been found by Harrington and given this new name and new life, he wouldn’t have mattered at all. For that reason he always tried to make the world a better place for Sheamus Buchanan having been here.

“Thank you, Thea. I am truly touched.”

And since he’d already sent everyone out of the room he took advantage of the privacy and thanked her right there on the table.

*

Thea had been nervous the whole day. More excited than nervous. She only wanted to wait until the right time to tell Shay her news. Their news. She thought he would be pleased to be a father. But she also knew there would be some guilt to traverse.

He’d told her how much it had bothered him to have to give her a name that was not his own. And she guessed that concern would be the same with their child as well. Especially if she bore them a son. An heir to a title Shay didn’t feel he owned.

But truly she thought he had to be the best man who ever held the Flemming name, noble blood or not.

After the sale of his business, and the increased sales of her books, she’d asked him to help her do what he’d done. To use the funds from her books to help the children who lived on the streets. Thanks to the proceeds, they were even able to purchase a home for these children. A place where they could be fed and have a safe place to sleep as well as where they might learn a skill that could help them obtain work when they were old enough.

He’d not liked the name she’d picked, but she’d insisted on Ellis House. For her husband deserved to be noted for who he really was, even if no one else understood.

The following month another home would be opening in Inverness for children there. It may have been her emotions with her condition but any time she thought of how Sheamus Buchanan had died, her eyes welled with tears because it could have been her husband who had been lost.

“I have news,” she said when the meal had been cleared away and they were walking to his study where he would read to her.

“Is it good news?”

“I think so. No. I’m sure it is.” She was ready to blurt it out right there in the hallway, but the butler stepped up, interrupting her.

“Excuse me, but Mr. Robert MacLain is here to see you. He says it is urgent.”

Thea felt unease twist in her stomach as they changed course for the drawing room instead of the study. Robert stood and bowed in greeting.

“Pardon for the late visit.”

“What is it, Robert. Is something wrong with my new contract?”

She had just signed on for a new book that would be due next year. Giving her plenty of time with the other changes that would be coming in her life.

“No. The contract was finalized this afternoon. Your copies will be coming in the next day or so. This is another matter.” He shook his head. “Someone came to my office an hour ago and said it was imperative that they speak to the author of The Golden Feather . I told him it was not possible, but any letters of appreciation could be sent to the publisher and would be forwarded to the author as is our arrangement.”

Thea did so love hearing from readers about her books. She often wondered if they would be so enamored with her work if they found out she was a woman. Fortunately, there was no reason anyone would ever need to find out. She trusted Robert and now her husband also served as another barrier between Thea and the world.

“But the man said it was urgent that he speak to the author themself. A matter of life and death, he said. I will surely tell him to write if that is what you wish, but I wanted to convey his insistence. I did not feel it was a ruse.”

“Life or death? What could make my book so important? It’s a work of fiction. Nothing more.”

“How do you wish to proceed?” Robert asked.

Thea turned to Shay who was simply waiting for her to decide. She appreciated that he allowed her to run her business on her own in the way she saw fit, except for times such as these when she wished someone else would make the more difficult decisions.

“They asked that I have the author sent to Glenlivet House immediately. That time was of the essence.”

“The Duke of Glenlivet,” Shay explained. “I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard nothing of his reputation that would offer any clues as to why he might want to see you.”

“Well, I can’t very well ignore something that is life or death, can I?”

Shay grinned. “The curiosity would surely wear away at you.”

He knew her too well.

“Let’s go. We will not tell them I am the author. We’ll let them think it is you,” she said to Shay.

“I am honored, wife. So long as I’m not called on to use any complex vocabulary, for we be found out immediately.”

She appreciated his jest but as they bumped about the street on the way to Glenlivet House, Thea became nervous again.

“While we have a moment to ourselves, did you want to tell me your news?”

“My news?” she said, forgetting for a moment how their evening had intended to go.

“Yes. I believe you were going to tell me we were going to be parents in a matter of months.”

She smacked his arm. “You are awful. You’ve ruined the whole thing.”

He laughed and she joined him.

“Are you happy?” she asked.

“I am thrilled, Thea. So long as you and our child are safe and happy I will be beyond joyous. How do you feel?”

“At the moment I feel nervous, but it has nothing to do with being with child.”

“If you don’t want to speak to the duke, we don’t have to. You have only to say the word and we’ll return home and spend the evening celebrating properly.”

She shook her head. “I must see it through. I feel ‘a matter of life and death’ must be dramatic, but what if it truly is that dire and I ignore something so important?”

“Well, you don’t have long to wait. We have arrived.”

Shay jumped out of the carriage himself and reached up to help her down. She noticed he took extra care to make sure she didn’t feel the slightest impact. No doubt this would be the way of things until their child was born.

Shay cared for the people he loved. She surely wouldn’t begrudge him that.

Glenlivet House was outdated and gloomy, but they were shown to a drawing room which was comfortable despite the lack of cheer. After a quarter of an hour had passed, Shay stood.

“They call us here and then make us wait?”

She might have offered words of deflection except she was growing impatient as well. Some people had happy news to celebrate with their husband and wanted to get on with it.

A few minutes later as Shay was suggesting they leave, when a man stepped into the room. Not the duke, but a servant.

“I apologize for the wait, but there’s been some confu—oh, my.” He stopped and stared at Shay.

“I would argue there is much confusion rather than some. Why have we been summoned here and kept waiting?” Shay asked.

The man could only blink and continue staring.

Shay snapped his fingers at the man to get his attention back.

“Apologies. There is much to discuss.” He looked around the room and then turned for the door. “Would you please follow me. I think I know how best to explain.”

“Are you certain you don’t want to return home?” Shay asked.

“Let us not turn back now. Our heroes must see the adventure through.”