Page 28 of Undoubtedly Reckless (Rebel by Night #2)

June, 1781 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

“Did he call you a nappie?”

Roland asked, staring after the vagrant who had called out the word as he staggered past them.

“Knapperd. It means beautiful,”

Sabina told her husband. She kept the name she had used for so many years. It was her, not an identity to hide behind. “Mind, he could have been referring to you.”

They stood in front of her childhood home in the Netherlands.

June in Amsterdam was nothing short of intoxicating.

Even the salty brine of the sea was refreshing, not covered with the refuse and polluted smell of the London harbor.

Sabina didn’t even mind the smell.

This was heaven, with the fresh smell of the ocean cleaning the air and flowers in bloom all around.

They had been married six months and nothing compared to returning to the place a person grew up.

Sabina spent so much time making sure she was perfect as the Viscountess Schofield that she had grown increasingly exhausted.

She had put off returning to her childhood home, using duty as an excuse.

Roland, being Roland, noticed and suggested they take their long-delayed honeymoon trip.

Cressida, Roland’s sister, had returned from her adventures, pregnant and exacting even as she waddled about the Percival Shipping offices, so Roland was comfortable leaving the operation with its original overseer.

Cress had wasted no time forcing both Tristan and Aria to come with her and her husband to every single meeting.

When Roland and Sabina had left, Cress had been overseeing Tristan as he helped load cargo.

The younger man had seen the sense in not complaining to his brother and the sister-in-law he had negligently lost to kidnappers.

Aria had no complaints and proved already adept at the running of a growing shipping operation so she and Sage had started the annual review of the Schofield estates.

With the Schofield estates and shipping operations running under such sure hands, Roland had left the honeymoon destination up to Sabina, and she had chosen Amsterdam.

They would still settle some issues with Van Dellen Shipping, namely meeting with the board to decide if the current operating structure was still viable.

Sabina had no interest in shipping.

The business had given her nothing but grief and the death of her family.

She had given Roland the complete run of the company shares.

It had not been until Sabina had set foot in Amsterdam again after fifteen years that she had realized how much weight she had been carrying.

It felt real to her now.

She was no longer hiding, no longer waiting for the magical birthday to give her power over her own future.

She was Sabina Darewood, loved by Roland and Viscountess of Schofield.

She would never run scared ever again.

Sabina had asked to go to her childhood home right away and Roland had sent their effects to the hotel as they took the carriage to the house by the docks that Sabina remembered from dreams and hazy memories.

They stood in front of the grey and blue house that had haunted her for so long. Her parents were gone. Her uncle was gone. Her nurse and tutor, dear Aunt Idonia and uncle were gone.

She was the last Van Dellen. There was so much sadness in that.

She was not ready. Sabina was about to ask Roland to take her away when the door opened and she saw Mrs. Kappel. A hundred memories of soft hugs and the smell of bread came rushing back to her.

“Audrika?”

the old housekeeper gasped. And then Sabina was wrapped in the arms of someone who loved her, who knew her from when she was born.

In a stream of Dutch, Sabina wept as she tried to introduce her husband. The housekeeper was having none of it and they were swept into the house.

“Can we stay a while?”

Sabina asked Roland. Roland caught up her hand and kissed it.

“You saved my life three years ago, remember? This is the first holiday we have ever had. We can stay as long as you wish,”

Roland assured her. She beamed at him through her tears.

“This is your home, Audrika poeppet. Where are your bags? Your rooms have been readied since we learned you were coming home. Cook has all your favorite voedsel cooling in the kitchen.”

The housekeeper gently herded them into the enormous family room.

“I’ll have the bags sent over from the hotel,”

Roland said. The housekeeper looked outraged. “A misunderstanding, madame. Of course we shall stay here, if you would have us.”

“Thank you,”

Sabina said, afraid to start crying again.

“Nothing doing,”

Roland said. “There is no hurry, there is no schedule. Sabina fair, you are home now. You are safe. And we have all the time in the world. Safe and free.”

Finally. Finally, she believed it.

The End