His Blessed Epiphany (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 9) Read online

  “Ah, Fanny, you mustn’t be so fearful. You are perfectly safe with us,” Felix said, pulling her firmly against her side. She always felt safe with Felix but she couldn’t bear the thought of someone shooting him. She couldn’t become a widow so soon after being married. Her hand went to caress the diamonds necklace she wore. Why had she decided to wear her mother’s diamonds? She should have done herself up plainly. Instead, she had decided to wear the diamond parure that her mother had liked so much, even opting to wear the glittering tiara that now weighed heavily on her head.

  The carriage rumbled to a stop. “It hasn’t been long enough. We can’t have arrived yet,” she said breathlessly.

  “I don’t think we have,” Felix said. Shouts echoed outside of the carriage. Two male voices, if she heard correctly.

  “Sounds like two horses have drawn alongside our coach,” her father said.

  “Only two. Shame,” Felix said, pulling out two pistols from his coat. Her father had also brandished his.

  Seeing them both remain so calm, only made her anxiety increase. She heard their coachmen warning the blackguards who had stopped them, and heard their derisive laughter. The carriage door was whipped open.

  “Stand and deliver,” the man said, using the traditional phrase that highwaymen used when holding up people like them. He kept his gaze fixed on the road behind them instead of looking into the carriage. He held his pistol at the steady, pointed directly at them.

  “I don’t think we shall, but you could. I believe you probably have a few baubles that some unlucky lords and ladies are missing, so do be a good chap, and hand them over,” Felix’s voice held a hint of danger, and when she looked over at him, the threatening expression on his visage, made a shot of excitement course through her.

  She had never seen Felix like this before—and if she didn’t know better, she would have been afraid. At the sound of Felix’s voice, the highwayman finally turned his attention to them. The light of the carriage lanterns illuminated the dirty looking man in front of them. The man’s eyes widened, as he finally took stock of what awaited him.

  “It’s a bloody nightmare, it is,” he said, fear lacing his rough voice. “I ain’t in this to be murdered. Dicky, it’s time to run. Get your arse moving,” the man shouted, slamming the carriage door shut, and taking off like the very devil himself chased him.

  A few moments later, she heard Lord Prescott draw alongside their coach. Felix moved to step out into the chilly night air. “Is everything all right?” she heard Lord Prescott ask.

  “Oh, aye, everyone is fine. They ran off on me, Lucky,” Felix grumbled.

  “The highwaymen I saw? Well, what do you expect, Felix? It had to be your face. It does it every time,” Lord Prescott said, chuckling.

  “It does, doesn’t it?” he said, grinning from ear to ear.

  “What shall we do now?” Fanny asked, feeling quite fragile. Every single part of her wanted to go back to Blessing Hall, and yet, they had traveled a fair distance, and Lord and Lady Evesham were expecting them.

  “I…I don’t think I want to disappoint Clarence,” Felix said, bounding back up into the carriage with them.

  “Then, we shall forge ahead,” she said, her stomach rumbling with hunger. Lady Evesham would be a welcome sight, and Evesham Hall was a beautiful country house. There could be worse destinations. Still, Evesham Hall wasn’t Blessing Hall.

  She pressed herself to Felix’s side, and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, they would be back at Blessing Hall, preparing for the festivities of Epiphany Eve.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Lewis dropped his fork. Iris jumped, and so did everyone else at the table.

  “I got it wrong,” he said softly. Iris gave him a look of concern.

  “What did you get wrong, Doc?” Freddie asked, reaching for another slice of ham. It was breakfast time, and everyone looked a little sleepy. They were having a late breakfast as none of them had been able to rouse themselves before that. The dinner party from the previous evening had worn them all out.

  They were all preparing to travel the following day so they could arrive in time for the Grand Christmas Ball. The journey between Blessing Hall and Evesham Hall wasn’t far, but they would have to travel with their trunks this time around.

  They planned to take part in the orchard visiting Wassail to take place that night, where they would go and visit local orchards, and of course, the orchards that were on the Estate.

  “I made a royal muck up of the whole thing,” he said, sighing heavily.

  “Lewis, my love, stop speaking in riddles. None of us know what you are talking about,” Iris gave him one of her sweet smiles.

  “I…I had it all wrong about Colonel Blessing. I thought the danger had passed, but it hasn’t, and it is going to try and take him again. Tonight, I think. I see fire, and hear shots being fired, and I see death. I see Felix’s death.”

  This time everyone else dropped their forks and knives.

  “God Almighty,” his father-in-law, Edward Lovett said. “What can we do to stop it? Can it be stopped?”

  “I think so,” he said. Sweat slithered across his brow. He thought he had properly scared the person responsible for this. Apparently, he had been mistaken. He had frightened them off using magic to accomplish their foul deeds, but not it seemed, away from using other conventional means to get the job done.

  He didn’t have visions like this very often, and when he did, they had a very low success rate. He usually couldn’t save those that death had come calling for. To think that he might not be able to avert Felix’s death, made him feel physically ill.

  “Then, we ride, now,” Freddie said standing up. “Everyone else can follow us in the carriages tomorrow.”

  “No. We go with you today. Our luggage is ready to go. You can go by horseback if you wish, but I shall follow in a carriage,” Julia, Freddie’s wife said.

  “Indeed,” Rose said, while the rest of the women at the table nodded their agreement.

  “Well, then, what are we waiting for?” Freddie asked, standing up. “Felix needs our help.”

  “He does have Lucky,” Micah pointed out.

  “Do you think Lucky will see death coming? I mean, even our powder monkey isn’t that lucky, is he?”

  “He has slipped out of death’s grasp several times in his life,” Clarence mused.

  “We don’t take any chances. We cannot leave this to fate,” Lewis said grimly.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Felix sat dumbfounded in the Library.

  Fanny was still asleep in their bed, and he had been about to rejoin her when special courier had come delivering a matter of great importance to him from the king.

  The Colonel wandered into the Library, and looked at Felix where he sat at the ornate mahogany desk that dominated the large space. “Something amiss, Felix? You look rather peaky.”

  The entire household had been pitched into an uproar because of the Royal Courier that had arrived earlier that morning, and the fact that the Colonel wasn’t nonplussed, raised Felix’s suspicions.

  He shook his head. “No…well, yes, I mean no. I don’t know,” he muttered. He looked at the Colonel. He wore a smile that hid a secret, and Felix narrowed his eyes at him.

  The old fox was a sly one when he wanted to be.

  “I surmise you might already have an inkling about what has befogged me so.”

  “I do?” Colonel Blessing sighed, and walked closer. “I know nothing of the kind.”

  “I think you do, sir.”

  The Colonel’s eyes twinkled at him merrily but he remained mum. “Come now, Felix, don’t leave me in suspense forever. Tell all. Give me your good news.”

  “I…I have been created the Earl Blessing.”

  “Well, congratulations, my boy. The honour couldn’t have been bestowed upon a better person. I always did like Prinny. Ah, well,” the Colonel said, rubbing his hands together briskly, “It would seem we should celebrate this momento
us occasion with some of my finest champagne.”

  At his words, the butler walked into the Library holding a tray with two coupes and a bottle of champagne. The Colonel opened the champagne, and poured them two coupes.

  The Colonel took one coupe, and handed the other to him. “To the new Lord and Lady Blessing, and to my future grandchildren…of which, I hope I have many.”

  Felix sipped the bubbly liquid and sighed. “Well, Mrs. Lovett was an only child, and she didn’t have any issue producing issue. I heard her father, Mr. Somersby say once to one of his younger granddaughters, I know you belong to me, but which one are you?” he chuckled. “Lady Cary, Lady Cary being one of his granddaughters, said once that he also said that to her cousin, Lady Knightwick, who isn’t one of Somersby’s granddaughters, and it left her utterly speechless. It seems the man cannot keep track of how many granddaughters he has, and though Lady Knightwick doesn’t belong to him, he nonplussed her to no end when he made that remark to her once. Apparently, he puts Lady Knightwick into that state quite often.”

  Colonel Blessing sighed. “Would that I could be blessed with that large of a legacy. My heart is at peace now that I know you will safeguard that along with Fanny’s help, of course.”

  “Of course,” Felix said. “I never thought that I could find such a place in the world. It’s not the titles. It’s finding a family that has truly affected me. I had my mates and we shall always be family, those bonds can never be broken. However, knowing that I have your support…”

  “No, Felix. You have my love. I shan’t speak of it after this, but the bubbly is making me feel quite mawkish, and I must confess all to you,” he poured himself another coupe as if to fortify his courage for the coming confession, “You are the son I never had.” He grunted, “Now, let us talk about how you shall break the news to Fanny. She won’t know what to say. She never thought she would be a countess, I can assure you. Alas, it was always her right, if only those in power would pull their heads out of their arses and realize that. I know she would have taken you as you were, back when you served as my manservant.”

  “I couldn’t have had her, then. I wouldn’t have wished that upon her. She is used to a far different life than the one I grew up with, and yet, I don’t wish those years away. They made me who I am today, sir.”

  “You always were a bright young man, full of promise. You had wit, and a keen intelligence that only needed to be nurtured, and I do think you are nurturing it. You always have your nose stuck in a book nowadays.”

  “I picked that habit up from Micah. He loves the ruddy things.”

  “And so do you. Don’t deny it. You have this whole Library at your fingertips and you have been making good use of the dusty old tomes that line the shelves. We shall announce your new title tonight, after the Wassailers arrive, and if we are lucky, my nephew shall be among them,” he chuckled. “I know he shall look as if he has sucked on a sour lemon.”

  “He probably isn’t that bad a sort, sir. After all, he is your blood.”

  “Oh, aye. I know. Tis true, he isn’t that bad, only spoiled. Perhaps, he can find his way after all. I wanted to discuss this with you and Fanny but I have had second thoughts concerning my nephew. I don’t think I can leave Peter an empty title. I cannot do that to sort of a disservice to him. I know my father wouldn’t approve. So, I put this to you, and I shall put it to Fanny as well. I am well set, probably more so than most of the lords nowadays.

  “Fanny is an heiress, there is no disputing that. I would like to leave Peter the sum of thirty thousand pounds, and I would also like to give him Painswick Park. It isn’t much, really, and I daresay you and Fanny shan’t miss it. It never reached the heights of grandeur that the Earl who built it envisioned, and the fire didn’t help it at all, but once the renovations are finished, it shall be a stately little country house, and it shall suit Peter quite nicely, and I think he would be happy with it.”

  “If he isn’t, he is a fool. It’s more than you have to do.”

  “Aye. But it is what I should do. I feel partially responsible for the way Peter turned out. I should have guided him more. I should have given him more care after his father and mother passed on, instead of leaving that to my sisters. He never would have made Fanny a proper husband, I know that, and I also know in my heart of hearts that he isn’t a bad egg, deep down. He was a fine boy. Not malicious or heavy handed back then. He and Fanny used to play well together. I can still see them chasing each other over the grounds, and giggling as they tore across the landscape. Ah, the laughter. There is nothing quite like it, Felix. He can find his way once more, if I set him on the right path.”

  “I think you are right, sir. If he and Fanny were close like brother and sister as children, maybe they can be close once again. I think you are right to do what you want to do. We all deserve the chance to secure our own happiness, even little prigs like Peter Blessing.”

  “I am glad you feel that way, Felix. I knew you were the right man for Fanny. You have a sensibility that so many lack, and a kind heart that most men do not possess. You also have the gift of forgiveness. I admire that. Your presence in our lives has made us all better people.”

  “I don’t think that, sir. I would say it is you and Fanny who have turned me into a better man.”

  “Ah, now, soldiers the likes of us cannot become lost in sentimentality. I have had my mawkish moment and now, it has passed. I haven’t been this content since my wife died. I miss her so much but during the last few weeks I have felt her presence urging me on, telling me I was doing what had to be done to make certain that Fanny would have a good and full life.”

  “Your Lordship, there is a woman here seeking to call on you,” the butler walked in and extended the tray that had her calling card on it.

  The Colonel took it, and perused the card. “Send in Mrs. Hislop, Davies, but do give us a moment to compose ourselves.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mr. Davies said, walking out of the room, in his proud manner.

  “I wonder why Mrs. Hislop is calling. I wonder if she wants to see Fanny. If she does, she shall be disappointed. I never thought Dr. Hislop would marry, but he did three years past. Mrs. Hislop never put me in the mind of a country doctor’s wife. She leaves him for months on end, to take up residence in London, as she prefers Town life to the Country and tells everyone that she cannot bear to be away from the glittering soirees of the Season. It’s an odd arrangement, if I ever saw one. She brought a lot of blunt into the marriage, so it was beneficial for the poor doctor who always had the urge to live high. Only my patronage keeps him living as he does. He could retire from the life entirely now and live on her money but I suppose he has pride. Ah, listen to my prattling away, I should not cast judgement on others.”

  “Indeed? Three years, eh?” The hairs on the nape of Felix’s neck prickled. He rubbed his neck, and placed his coupe down on the desk. Something bad was on its way. He knew he shouldn’t feel that way and yet he did. Standing up, he walked over to stand by the Colonel who had made his way to the Library doors to receive Mrs. Hislop.

  The woman walked in, wearing a black pelisse, bordered with the finest fur, and carrying a muff. She looked briefly at Felix and then moved her attention to the Colonel. Dipping into a curtsy, she came up slowly, looking at Colonel Blessing in a way that made Felix uncomfortable. The Colonel nodded his head at her. “I don’t think you and Lord Blessing are acquainted, Mrs. Hislop. Mrs. Hislop, this is my son-in-law, Felix Grey-Blessing, 1st Earl Blessing.”

  “My lord,” she said, curtsying again. Felix bowed. He wondered why she still held her muff. It seemed odd, and the weather wasn’t particularly cold. The snow had melted away right after New Year’s, and the way the hills were green now, one could barely tell that it had snowed to being with.

  “If you have come to call on Fanny, Mrs. Hislop, she hasn’t roused herself yet. She had a rather late night last night preparing for the upcoming festivities for Epiphany. Indeed, you are a little late for callin
g hours, aren’t you?”

  Felix still felt uneasy. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Something was off. Something wasn’t quite right. The woman standing in front of them seemed an odd bird. She had a desperate reek to her. Her eyes were wild. Which, seemed quite strange.

  “You don’t remember me, do you, Lord Painswick?” she asked coldly, her voice barely more than a whisper. She remained steadfast, not budging an inch from where she stood.

  “Of course, I do. You are Mrs. Hislop. I haven’t gotten that far into my dotage yet,” he chuckled, and chanced to glance Felix’s way. The Colonel was just as perplexed by Mrs. Hislop’s appearance as Felix was.

  “I thought as much. You don’t remember who I was before I returned to this parish and married Mr. Hislop. But why would you? We only met once on a few occasions the last being at the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball in Brussels. I thought you were that sort of man. The sort who rarely pays attention to anyone around him, thinking they are beneath his association.”

  “I don’t seem to follow, madam. I am quite at a loss. Perhaps, you should refresh my memory.”

  “I used to be known as Mrs. Hay, and I had a son. One blessed child that was the world to me. And you took my precious boy to his death. He died at Waterloo, and he thought the sun rose and set on you, Colonel. He sang your praises. He said you were one of the greatest military minds next to Wellington.”

  Felix darted his eyes back and forth between Mrs. Hislop and the Colonel. He slowly edged closer to his father-in-law. He had a feeling everything was about to blow up in their faces. This woman had a glint in her eyes that he suddenly recognized. She had murder in her eyes.

  She was here for revenge.

  Felix wasn’t at all surprised to watch her pull a small pistol out of her muff. Her arm was shaking, as she leveled her pistol at the Colonel. The Colonel for his part, remained calm. But that was just the way he was. Always stalwart in the face of danger.

  “I have tried other ways to remove you from this world, Lord Painswick. I thought I had you gone. In my search to enact my revenge, I went through old ancient tomes left to me by an aunt. Some were written in Latin, Gaelic and some in French. It would seem she was a rather wicked woman. She had a spell in one of her books telling the person how to cast a curse on the one they wanted to suffer. It was a curse that was supposed to result in that person’s death. It was the perfect plan. No would know it was murder. No one could trace it back to me, and my darling David would be avenged. The spell said it would lead the subject to their deliverance. I took an ordinary beeswax candle and I said the incantation that would turn it into an instrument of death—your instrument of death. It turned the candle a pitch black, and it said that every time I lit it—it would take a little bit of your life away. I could only leave it lit for ten minutes out of every day. It seemed a stupid rule to me, but I decided to follow what was written in the book. It made you terribly ill, and how glad I was to see it—and then, you fool—you decided to go to London—and that was when my little plan went terribly awry. One day while you were gone, I was burning my candle, and the damn thing was extinguished, it scared the hell out of me, I have to say. The whole room went dark. Then the candle lit on its own accord, I screamed, and I felt terribly weakened all of a sudden, it was as if part of my life was being sucked from me, and the death candle went back to its original colour. I was shaking with fear, and a tremendous rush of air went through the tiny room I used to do my spells. After which, I heard a powerful voice echo around the area. It told me that I was an amateur, and that my evil deeds had come to an end. The man then said that if I tried to remake the candle, and lit it, I would doom myself as he had put a protective charm on you, Lord Painswick that would shield against any of my evil energy and send it right back to me. It was such a terrible voice.