His Bewitching Jewel (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 7) (19 page)

A bright light swept through the room, and the spirit form of Isolde appeared. She wore a white dress, and smiled at Ruby.

“Come, Garnet, it is time for us to leave,” Isolde said, sounding eerily like Miranda and Cordelia. “I thank you for taking care of my family, Ruby. I leave them now in your tender care,” she said, waving a farewell, and turning to leave.

“You don’t have to worry about him anymore, dear daughter. I am not needed here any longer. I shan’t have to sit on the end of your bed from here on in,” her father said. “And now…now as midnight approaches, I must away. Goodbye, my darling Ruby. Farewell, my beloved daughter. You have a blessed future, Ruby. You will be happy, I only wish I could stay, alas I cannot.”

“Goodbye, Papa,” she said, wishing she could hug him. He winked at her, blew a kiss and then, he and Isolde faded into sparkles of light that bounced around the room, and then vanished.

“And now, Ruby, I must also take my leave. Somehow, I think you will have a life touched by magic, as you are certainly one bewitching jewel.” Queen Joan winked at her, and disappeared in a sheen of light.

Sighing, she ran over to Finn, and dropped to her knees. She heard Finn calling to her distantly.

How could that be?

With a start, Ruby woke up. “What…what happened?” she asked groggily, as pain throbbed at her temple.

“You must have fallen, and hit your head,” Finn said, kneeling by her side. He helped her to sit up. “Do I need to send for the doctor?”

She winced. “I…was it all a dream?” she asked aloud.

“I don’t follow, Ruby. What happened to you, my love?” he asked.

“Help me up,” she said, “And hold me close.”

Smiling, he did as she asked. They stood that way for a few minutes, and the sound of Finn’s heartbeat soothed her.

“I dreamt of my father, and your sister…and I dreamt of Queen Joan…and of the Earl…I dreamt that he had been judged, and they found him lacking.”

“I hope that bloody bastard is rotting in hell,” Finn growled.

“I think…I think he might be…unless all of it was just a dream.”

The voices of the servants and the other locals who had come for the bonfire filled the house. Miranda and Cordelia ran toward them, with her uncle following them.

“This has been one of my best birthdays, Uncle. I only wish that Mama had been here with us today. I am sorry to see it come to an end—but I shan’t forget this day for as long as I live. Thank you ever so much for all of the gifts, Uncle Phineas,” she said, giving him a hug. “We are going to bed now, so we can put our apples under our pillows and dream of the men we are destined to marry, and Uncle Thomas promised to tell us a bedtime story, though I can’t see how his stories can be any better than yours, Uncle Phineas.”

Finn smiled at her, and kissed the top of her head before releasing her. “I am glad that you had a good day, Miranda. Turning ten is a momentous occasion, before I know it, you will have grown into a fine young lady, just don’t do it too quickly,” he said, tilting her chin up, so he could look into her beautiful blue eyes that were so like her mother’s. How he would have given anything to have Isolde back with them to share in on the merriment of the day. They had all had such a wonderful time. “Well, Miss Massey and I will be up shortly, and I shall tell you another story, if you find Mr. Somersby’s story to be lacking.”

“Thank you for the confidence, Camblesforth,” Thomas said. “Come on, girls, it is well past your bedtime.”

Ruby watched them go. “It is funny…my head doesn’t hurt anymore,” she mused.

“And I can’t see a bump or anything,” he said, inspecting her head. “We should go upstairs and say goodnight to them,” Finn said. Hand in hand, they walked toward the steps.

“Where is my Oswald?” Mrs. Chegwin muttered, walking into the house. “Ah, Miss Massey,” Mrs. Chegwin said.

She turned to face her. “Yes?” she asked.

“I…I just wanted to bid you goodnight, and give you many happy returns for your wedding tomorrow. Oswald and I look forward to attending, and then, I shall hasten back to watch over the Wedding Feast being served.”

“Joan…Joan, where are you?” Mr. Chegwin called, walking toward them. Ruby smiled as he put his arm around his wife. She was so short, and he was so tall, he looked like a giant next to Mrs. Chegwin. No, it couldn’t be? Could it?

“Thank you,” Ruby stuttered.

Mrs. Chegwin smiled at her. “You and the Duke shall have a life touched by magic, for love is the greatest magic of all.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Chegwin,” Finn said, as they turned back to walk up the staircase. Reaching the top, they headed to walk up the next flight of steps to the nursery, and Ruby stopped, as Mrs. Chegwin’s wise words echoed through her brain. She looked down at her hand, which was bunched into a fist, and opened it.

There sat a sparkling purple gemstone.

She swallowed thickly. “Where did you find that?” Finn asked.

“I…I don’t know,” she whispered.

“I suppose, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Maybe it is the pixies giving you an early wedding gift. I love you, Ruby,” Finn said softly.

“I love you, too, Finn,” she murmured.

And there in the middle of the Picture Gallery, Finn took her into his arms, and gave her a passionate kiss.

Ruby wanted to remain this way forever. She had her Cornish Prince. She had everything her heart had ever desired—and then some.

She was home—and she would never run again.

The End

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Other Regency Romances by Marly Mathews