Chapter Thirty
After all the excitement had died down, and Hecate had recovered enough to make her way downstairs on Finn’s arm, it was decided they’d gather in Letitia’s parlour.
The door to the library was closed tightly and even now, a couple of footmen were inside nailing boards over the shattered window. The distant banging was a reminder of the events of this night. Nobody wanted to look out onto the terrace.
The authorities had been summoned, informed of the accident that had sadly taken the life of Lord Aubrey Faversill, and had removed his mortal remains.
It had taken almost two hours to reach this point, and everyone was feeling the after-effects of their experiences.
“What now, d’you think?” asked Kitty, leaning against Max.
Perry took a healthy swallow of his favourite Scotch whiskey. “If I’m any judge of people, and I like to think that I am, this story will be all over town by this time tomorrow. Not the death of Faversill, but the confession he made beforehand.”
“Agreed,” nodded James. “Our guests have seen death before, in many guises. But the notion that a commanding officer could shoot one of his men in the back…well, that is untenable. And we didn’t even have to suggest a reason for it. They were immediately aware of why he’d done it. Apparently he’d made a lot of fuss about his accession to the title.” Perry sighed. “He really was the most appalling man, wasn’t he?”
“I can’t help feeling I drove him to his death,” murmured Hecate. “I swore never to use my gifts for anything other than good. Truly. And yet tonight…what have I done?” She reached for Finn’s hand, knowing his warmth would comfort her.
“You did not drive him to his death, Miss Hecate.” Perry gave her a stern gaze. “You helped show him evidence of his wrongdoing. It was his conscience that drove him to his death.” He frowned. “Well, that and the large amount of port he must have consumed to develop such a paunch.”
Max’s lips twitched. “So we blame liquor and gravity?”
“I prefer to blame the weather,” said James thoughtfully. “After all, the snow did make the balcony rather slippery…”
“And when someone with a more than a passing resemblance to a cannonball hit that slick stone…”
“Oh stop, gentlemen, please.” Kitty held her hands over her ears, trying desperately not to laugh. “This is terribly unseemly.”
“You’re absolutely right, darling.” James nodded.
“Quite so, Letitia.” Max agreed.
“Absolutely, my dear.” Perry swallowed.
“Well I think it’s bloody terrific,” grinned Finn.
And everyone burst into inappropriate but genuine laughter.
It was a release, thought Hecate as she joined them. They’d been strung so tightly, unsure if her plan would work, and even if it did, what might it lead to… Now it was all done, tied up with an effective, if rather unpleasant, bow.
All that remained was for the authorities to make sure the Faversill estate reverted to the Marchville family, as it had been intended all along, and that would be out of their hands.
*~~*~~*
Hecate and Finn decided to take advantage of James’s offer of a ride down to Ridlington. He and Letitia were heading to FitzArden House for a month or two, where they could relax, spend time with the family and if they were lucky, get a visit from Paul and Harriet.
Hecate was pleased to learn that they were also doing well, even though Paul chafed a little at his new title of Viscount Purlieu.
It seemed as though the entire family had successfully turned a very large corner after the old Baron’s death. They were all now headed onto a road that led to happiness, fulfilment and many of the other things that indicated a life well-lived.
Passing time in the carriage with James and Letitia was no problem at all, since James and Finn shared a liking for very bad jests, long, drawn-stories that were completely fictitious and outdoing each other at their knowledge of useless bits of information.
The ladies rolled their eyes, but laughed anyway, and Hecate was almost sad to see Ridlington Chase, since she’d laughed so hard she’d given herself a stitch.
Once indoors, they had to recount the adventure once again for Edmund and Rosaline, and then for a final time when Tabby and Simon joined them for dinner.
It was a joyous interlude, and when Hecate and Finn finally retired for the night, closing themselves away in the tower chamber, they were still smiling.
She groaned as she leaned over to unfasten her shoes.
“Let me, sweetheart.” Finn was there, fingers adroitly taking care of the annoying buttons.
“You spoil me, Finn.”
“I certainly hope so.” He grinned up at her.
“Come here.” She kicked the offending shoes away and pulled him close, collapsing backward and tugging him down on top of her. “Mmm,” she murmured. “This is how I like us.”
“Me too,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her quickly. “But with less clothing.”
“That can be arranged,” she answered, helping him out of his jacket. “See?”
“Hmm.” He lifted himself up on one arm and shoved her dress down over her shoulder with his free hand.
“It fastens in front darling,” she cooed, pointing out the buttons at either side of the band beneath her breasts.
“Well, fancy that,” he grinned. The buttons were undone in a trice, and her breasts bared seconds later.
“Shirt,” she ordered.
He obeyed, sliding back on top of her, abrading her sensitive nipples with his skin. “God, that’s the most amazing sensation, love,”
Choking back a gasp of pleasure, Hecate nodded. Then swallowed and closed her eyes. “Breeches, Finn. Now.”
“If you insist.” He had to get off her for that, so he took the opportunity to rid himself of every item of clothing and then tug her dress and stockings off at the same time. Her chemise vanished promptly and she was left bared to his gaze.
“Finn,” she whispered. “I’m afraid.”
“Of what, sweetheart?” He slipped back on top of her, and this time, with his cock already hard and tucked into the notch at the top of her thighs, they fit perfectly.
She took a breath, which had the side effect of giving her breasts some additional attention. “I’m afraid of what we have between us. It’s so powerful. What if it’s only temporary? What if it dies out and you don’t want me anymore?”
“Impossible.” He shifted, moving down, his tongue finding her nipples and teasing them, making her moan.
“I’ll never tire of you, Hecate. Ever.”
He continued to lave attention on her breasts, then moved lower, teasing her navel, and nipping his way even further south.
When he found her with his mouth, sucking, nuzzling, teasing, seeking her pleasure centres with his talented tongue, she cried out, writhed, bucked beneath him until he pushed her up and over the top.
He returned to his previous spot, above her, watching her face as she returned to earth. Then he kissed her, hard, his tongue in her mouth, his hands anywhere he could find.
She tasted herself, blended with him, a kiss that was so erotic she felt the heat billowing again. Parting her thighs in mute invitation, she rubbed her wet sex against his rock hard arousal.
“In me, now, Finn, now…”
He raised himself, found her opening—and thrust.
They both cried out at the fire that ignited within them, she fighting him for every inch, he pushing into her so deep he swore he left his soul inside her.
Their pace accelerated, their bodies slapped together; a sound that orchestrated the rising tide of ecstasy and desire that fuelled them.
“God, Finn…” She clutched at his buttocks, trying to pull him even closer, despite the fact that she could feel his balls slapping against her with every thrust.
“Yes, oh Hecate, yesss…”
A final shattering collision of bodies and the world exploded around them. Hecate hung on to Finn for dear life, her legs wrapped around him, her fingers clawing at his shoulders.
The hot jets of his seed filled her even as her own body milked him dry.
It was wondrous, monumental…and for Hecate it was an explosion of colours and stars so brilliant she could barely see for a few moments. An unusual sensation tickled at her, somewhere deep within her body and for a few moments her emotions rose up in her throat and almost choked her.
She finally got her breath back. “You are mine for always, Finn,” she murmured as they slid apart.
“As you are mine.” He breathed the words on a soft kiss.
It wasn’t long before they were both tucked up in bed, snuggled together in Hecate’s favourite spooning position.
Finn slept; the rhythmic breathing told her he was tired, and she wasn’t surprised he’d fallen asleep so quickly.
It took longer for her, since she still had much to think about, and her senses seemed to be extra alert after the experiences of the evening.
Would they head home immediately, or perhaps wait for Max and Kitty? How was everything going at Doireann Vale? Had Cressida given birth to her twins yet?
So many questions ran willy-nilly through her mind.
Hecate sighed and closed her eyes.
And saw a field full of flowers, and a sky of blue with fluffy clouds scudding along on a swift breeze. She sat on the headland, just outside Doireann Vale, on a cheerfully coloured blanket. She couldn’t see Finn or anyone else, but she knew they were well. She was so happy she wanted to laugh and sing and dance with it.
And so was the fair-haired, teal-eyed babe that lay beside her.
My child.
She gasped and opened her eyes, finding herself still cuddled into Finn’s warmth. Then she let her energies take her to that place in her mind…and did a quick mental survey of her body.
There. There it was…the tiniest shimmer of something…
She turned over and shook the sleeping man next to her. “Finn, wake up. Please wake up.”
“Mmmpfff…” He muttered and mumbled, then opened one eye. “What is it? You all right?”
“Marry me tomorrow.”
The other eye opened. “What?”
“Tomorrow. You have to marry me tomorrow.”
“Why?”
She took his hand and laid it on her naked belly. “Because of what we made this night.”