Authors: Saralynn Hoyt
Ford walked in a few minutes later. "O’Neill and the
vicar will meet us back at Park lane. We owe my friend a great deal for all his
help. He’ll make certain the authorities don’t let Gerald go free. It appears
rank does have its privileges after all."
"I owe you both so much," Sabrina said, wondering
how she would ever repay either man. "I would have married Gerald willingly,
to save Alice."
"You won’t be marrying any man except me," Ford
said firmly. "If you’ll have me," he added with less certainty.
"Of course she’ll take you," Madame Lou said,
entering the room from the back of the shop. "It’s destiny. The stars have
said it must be so and the spirits have worked very hard to ensure you comply."
"I—I don’t know," Sabrina stammered. "It all
seems so unnatural."
"Ha!" Madame Lou scoffed. "Sit down and we’ll
clear up all of your concerns. First you, Mr. Northcliffe. Since you left me
earlier today, I’ve had a very long conversation with your mother. She’s
apologized for interfering with your matrimonial prospects during her time on
earth. Unfortunately, she felt, as most mothers do, that she knew what was best
for you. Of course you proved her quite wrong, and for that she is very
remorseful. Luella, although a dear girl, would have made you quite miserable
as a wife. Your choice is undeniably more suitable."
"Well, I knew that, of course." Ford reached out
and took Sabrina’s hand in his, gazing into her eyes with such adoration that
she had to look away.
"And you, Mrs. Tremaine, who would have thought you
would turn out to be the stubborn one in all this?" Madame Lou continued
as if she hadn’t been interrupted. "We all thought Ford wouldn’t budge
from his so-called deathbed vow and you would be the one longing for marriage
with him. Oh well, the spirits can’t always be right. Anyway, Edward wants Ford
to take over as Alice’s father just as soon as possible. He has to move on, you
know."
"I don’t understand." Sabrina bit her lip, torn by
her own reticence.
"Oh, dear, here he comes again—" Madame Lou went
into a trance. "Edward has something to say to you. Ah yes, of course."
"What, what does he want?" Sabrina asked, her
voice cracking under the pressure. "I mean how is Edward?"
"Papa?" Alice came bounding over to the table. "I
don’t hear anything."
"No dear, your father is moving on to his reward now.
But he wanted to let you know that you won’t be needing him anymore because if
your Mama does the right thing, you’ll have a new father very soon."
Madame Lou gave both Ford and Sabrina a meaningful look. "Edward
wants you to know that he left additional evidence against Gerald in a locked
box at the Royal Bank. Number 357, and the key is hidden in the rim of your
blue hatbox? How odd. Well, that’s what he claims anyway. You’ll have to go
look for yourself."
"Oh, I brought that with me when Alice and I left,"
Sabrina said with excitement. "But everything is at the Savoy."
"I had your things transferred back to my house,"
Ford said looking embarrassed. "I hope you don’t mind my presumption. I
just didn’t want you and Alice to be on your own with Gerald out there on the
loose."
"I should be mad at you," Sabrina said trying to
muster some annoyance with the man. "But I’m just so grateful for all
you’ve done. And even though the way you deceived me was very wrong, I can’t
help myself—I—I do love you."
Ford smiled disarmingly before becoming serious. "I am
so extremely sorry," he said, getting down on his knee in front of Sabrina
and grasping her hand in both of his. "I was a walking dead man for years,
never making any of my own decisions. I just barely made it through each day,
tinkering with my experiments and submerging myself in my research. When mother
had me make that promise it seemed like an easy way to make her happy.
"Then you came into my life. You and Alice, and
suddenly, it was as if I came awake. There was a reason to come out of my laboratory
and see what else the world had to offer." Ford kissed each of her
fingertips before continuing, sending a tingling thrill through her body. "You
and Alice are my life now. Please don’t leave me. I love you both and want for
you to stay with me forever."
Sabrina was trying not to cry and throw herself into his
arms. But she still needed some clarification before she could trust Ford
completely.
"What about the pledge you made to your mother?"
she asked, pushing him back into his chair. "How can I trust you if you
broke your word to her? And Luella? And you misled me too. Ford, I want to
trust you, but you haven’t given me reason to."
"I know," Alice chimed in. Sabrina had forgotten
her little girl was listening. "Mrs. Northcliffe told me she tricked my
new Papa into agreeing to marry Luella. She regretted it the minute she passed
to the other side though because she knew they would be miserable together."
"I don’t understand," Sabrina said, sounding
doubtful. "How did she trick him?"
"I don’t remember being manipulated," Ford added.
"Oh, your Mama is really good at it," Alice
insisted. "She told you something like—Oh, I can’t remember!"
"Catherine Northcliffe has been a thorn in my side,"
Madame Lou interjected. "She told you that Luella had a cousin who had
studied with Pasteur. And if you married her, you would be able to pick his
brain for the answers you needed to find your cure. Can you believe the nerve
of the old girl?"
"You’re right!" Ford suddenly stood up and paced
between the small tables. "I recall it now. She tempted me with the one
thing that would make me agree. Mother, you crafty fox."
"She’s flattered, but regrets it. You are released from
the vow." Madame Lou waved her hands in a flourish for emphasis.
"I released myself," Ford insisted. "Sabrina
means too much to me to allow anyone or anything to interfere."
"Yes, well, Catherine can now finally rest in peace
knowing that her son will live a happy life. That is, if Mrs. Tremaine will
accept you."
"Will you," Ford asked, coming back to Sabrina and
getting back on his knee. "Will you make me the happiest man in the world
and marry me?"
"Yes, Mummy, will you? Please?" Alice begged as
she came and kneeled next to Ford for emphasis.
Sabrina burst into laughter. "How can I refuse two of
the most dear people in my life? Yes, Ford Northcliffe, I will marry you, and
make you Alice’s new father. What do you both think of that?"
"Yeah!" Alice shouted, throwing herself into her mother’s
arms.
Ford hugged them both and managed to steal a kiss from
Sabrina. Gazing into his golden eyes, she knew for certain that this was the
right choice. Even though she had her own fortune and could easily manage by
herself, the truth was she didn’t want to. Spending her life as an independent
widow sounded glamorous, but the reality was that spending it with this man was
so much more appealing.
"I’m the happiest man in the world," Ford murmured
in Sabrina’s ear, sending a thrill through her right to her toes. "Let’s
go home, all of us."
"Yes, home," Alice agreed. "I can’t wait to
see Roland and Delores and Mrs. Fitzsimmons, and Freddy, and—"
"Okay, okay," Sabrina laughed, setting Alice back
down. "I can’t wait to see everyone either."
"Madame Lou," Ford said turning back to the
mystic. "Do you have any more messages for us before we leave?"
"Only that your mother and sister love you and are
doing well. And Edward wishes you both happiness and he reminds Alice that he
will love her forever." Then Madame Lou pulled Alice close and whispered
in her ear. "Only for a daughter’s ears," she told the adults after
she was finished. "I’m done, they’re gone."
"Thank you," Ford said. "We owe you a lot,
Madame psychic extraordinaire. And I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before."
"I’m used to it," Madame Lou sighed. "Off
with you now, I have other clients." She shooed them out of her establishment
like children from of a sweet shop.
"You’re welcome to come to the house," Ford said
at the door. "We’re having a bit of a celebration, I believe."
"No, no," Madame Lou muttered. "But I’ll send
Cassie over as soon as she returns."
"Yes, that would be very jolly!" Ford said. "Goodbye,
and thank you."
Madame Lou muttered some more unintelligible words as she
locked the door behind them.
****
By the time they arrived back at Park Lane, a celebration
was already underway. O’Neill and the vicar had been filling everyone in with
the details of the kidnapping and rescue. Roland was pouring champagne while
Mrs. Dixon was putting together a cold supper. Alice ran about the house
kissing and hugging all the servants and Sabrina followed more sedately, but
with equal happiness at finally being home again.
"Oh Mrs. Tremaine, it’s such a pleasure to have you
back where you belong." Mrs. Dixon hugged Sabrina hard. "And soon I
expect to be calling you Mrs. Northcliffe?"
"Yes, Delores. Ford, Mr. Northcliffe and I are getting
married as soon as possible." Sabrina couldn’t help but blush as she tried
to explain the need for the rush. "We really shouldn’t be living under the
same roof without the sanctity of matrimony, for Alice’s sake, of course."
"Of course," Delores said with a conspiring wink. "For
Alice. Gracious it’s good to have you both home."
"There you are, Mrs. Tremaine," Roland said,
looking smug and pleased with himself. "Didn’t I tell you they’d be back,
Mrs. Dixon?"
"You did indeed, Mr. Roland," Delores cackled
happily and headed back to the kitchen.
"Mr. Northcliffe was looking for you. I say, Ma’am, he
seemed rather anxious." Roland bowed and indicated with his outstretched
arm which direction Ford had gone.
She found him in the library with O’Neill, Vicar Edmonds,
George, Freddy and Mrs. Fitzsimmons toasting the safe return of her and Alice
and the upcoming nuptials.
"There she is," Mrs. Fitzsimmons said, grinning. "You
have a few day’s work to catch up with, Mrs. Tremaine. But I reckon under the
circumstances, I can manage without you for a day or two."
"Thank you, Mrs. Fitzsimmons. I do so appreciate it."
Sabrina had to keep careful control and not laugh at the woman. "And Lord
Suffolk, I haven’t had a chance to thank you for removing my daughter from the
danger."
"My pleasure, Sabrina," O’Neill said with a
gallant bow. "May I call you Sabrina?"
"I think we’re quite past formalities," she said,
letting him kiss her hand.
"Mummy, look who’s here!" Alice shouted, pulling
Cassie into the throng.
"What did I miss?" Miss Blakemore asked
breathless.
"I want to tell Cassie everything," Alice
insisted.
"Okay, darling, you tell her while I run down to the
kitchen to help Mrs. Dixon with the food." Sabrina allowed Ford to pull
her close for a quick kiss before leaving.
"Hurry back," he said, reluctantly letting her go.
"I have something very important to say, but I can’t do it if you aren’t
present."
"Cassie, do you know O’Neill?" Alice asked her new
guest.
"Yes, I believe we were introduced just today."
She curtsied. "Lord Suffolk."
"Ah, the mysterious Miss Blakemore. My pleasure,"
O’Neill said, kissing her hand a little longer than was polite.
"Excuse me," Cassie said with a lift of her chin,
pulling away abruptly. "I believe Alice and I have some catching up to do."
Alice took Cassie out of the library and dragged her up to
her bedroom.
"Alice, I don’t think we should leave the party. You
mother will be back soon and we don’t want to miss Ford’s announcement."
"We won’t," Alice said confidently. "I just
don’t want anyone to overhear us."
"Why ever not?" Cassie asked completely confused.
"Because I know your secret."
"My, what?"
"I know who you are," Alice said, sitting on the divan
and swinging her legs back and forth. "I’ve known since the beginning."
"I don’t understand what you mean," Cassie said,
but she was starting to panic.
"How do you change so fast?" Alice asked with
genuine curiosity. "And I don’t know what you use to get the kohl off
with, but it works wonderfully."
"How?" Cassie asked. Then she sat down next to
Alice and grabbed the little girl’s shoulders. "Who else knows?!"
"Oh, just me and Papa, of course. But don’t worry, I
won’t ever tell anyone that you’re Madame Lou. Not even Mummy."
"You darling girl," Cassie laughed, hugging Alice
close. "I should have known I wouldn’t be able to fool you. The smartest
one of the bunch. But I do have some bad news." Cassie pushed away from
the little girl and looked into her eyes. "Ah, I see you’ve already
figured it out then."
Alice nodded as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Papa is
gone. He said goodbye and told me I had to stop asking for him. But he also
promised that I won’t miss him much, because Papa Ford will want to spend lots
of time with me."
"That’s right," Cassie agreed. "And just
because you can’t talk to your father anymore doesn’t mean he won’t be watching
you and listening to your prayers."
"I know." Alice sniffed one last time, then jumped
up off the sofa. "Come on, Cassie, we should go back to the party. I think
Papa Ford and Mummy are going to tell us when they’re getting married."
"Oh dear, you are my little psychic aren’t you?"
When they joined everyone a few minutes later in the
library, Ford asked them all to raise a glass of the champagne that Roland had
brought out.
"I’m happy to announce that the most beautiful,
wonderful woman in the world has agreed to marry me," Ford said, rousing a
few here here’s from the room. "And if no one minds, we’d like to have you
all present for the ceremony tomorrow. The vicar is helping me to get a special
license."