Of Beauties And Beasts

Chapter Twelve

"M'lady! Are ye alright?!" Ginny heard Kitty call out.

Ginny spun from Stephen's warm arms to find her friend. The maid rushed towards her, gathering her in a hug, "Yer alright!  Alfred and Oi couldn't get up the stair well to alert ye and....me goodness Oi was scared outta me wits."

"I'm glad you are all alright." Ginny smiled tearfully, staring at the burning house.

Kitty looked to Stephen, "What shall we do now m'lord?"

Stephen shook his head in wonder at the burning building, "Have Alfred and Cook prepare a coach. We will have to go to my home closer to the city. It's small but it will do until this mess is repaired."

"Yes, m'lord." Kitty ran off to relay the instructions.

Stephen wrapped his shaking wife in a heavy blanket taken from the coach and helped her into the prepared coach. Just as he told Kitty, they would have to move to one of his smaller homes that he owned in the city until this one was repaired. It wasn't safe to live in there with all of the ash and dust in the air. The plan was to get it cleaned up within a month or two. For now, they would just have to live elsewhere.

Kitty crammed into the right coach with them and Cook and Alfred sat outside, steering the horses.

"Where are we going?" Ginny asked him, curling up in the blanket.

"My home in London." He explained, taking a seat next to her.

She swiped at her ash colored face, "I don't care where I live, I guess. All I want is a bath to wash off all of this ash."

"Oi'll make sure that's the first thing ye get, m'lady." Kitty offered.

"Thank you, Kitty." Ginny smiled at her.

"We also need to go to one of the stores around here and purchase new clothing." Stephen said thoughtfully, already making a list in his head.

"You don't have to buy me anything," Ginny said quickly.

"I can't let my wife walk around in her ash covered nightgown, now can I?" Stephen chuckled. "It's all right. You need the new clothing. I'm sure yours got destroyed in the fire."

"We'll head to awl the best shops in London." Kitty added optimistically.

Ginny silently agreed, knowing that she didn't have a choice in the matter. Besides, Kitty seemed so excited about the idea of going shopping. Ginny couldn't crush her spirits.

They all sat silently during the rest of the ride to the city. The coach pulled to a stop in front of a smaller building resting against a hotel. Stephen helped Ginny down and led her inside of the house. It was damp and dark inside. He hadn't used this home for ages. Luckily, he kept extra blankets, food, and clothing stored inside.

Ginny pulled her blanket closer and shivered, "Its cold in here."

"I know." Stephen went over to the fireplace. He kindled a small fire and waved his wife over. "Come and sit here. Miss Kitty, will you make the tea?"

Ginny curled up close to the fire while Kitty went to stoke the coals in the kitchen stove to life. Stephen glanced over at his wife, who was still shivering despite the fire. Hopefully the tea would warm her up. Kitty finally brought out a hot tea kettle, "Give it a moment to steep. Oi'll help Alfred unload the coach."

Stephen nodded, letting Kitty go. When the tea was done steeping, he poured a cup and brought it over to Ginny. She looked up and smiled, accepting the cup. Her brown eyes twinkled in firelight. Even though she was covered in ashes and grime, she was still beautiful.

"Thank you, Stephen." Ginny said quietly. He sat down next to her, stretching out his long legs. Ginny glanced at him, a blush rising to her cheeks. "And thank you for getting me out of the house safely."

"Of course." He said nonchalantly.

"But you don't realize how terrified I was," Ginny turned, suddenly grasping his hand. "I didn't think I would jump. But then you were there helping me overcome my fears."

Stephen felt his heart melt slightly at that. He studied his wife's face for a long moment. His eyes fell to her luscious looking lips and felt a longing to kiss them. He felt drawn to her. Stephen snatched his hands away and shoved down his feelings. They were starting to overwhelm him. He hadn't married for those kinds of things with Ginny, despite how much he had wanted something more. He didn't want Ginny thinking he was taking advantage of her kindness. He glanced at her again and shrugged, "As I said, it was nothing. I would have done the same for anyone else."

He sounded so cold and closed off, and Ginny caught on to his change in mood. Her gaze dropped, "Of course you would. You...you were in the military weren't you?"

"Yes."

"It would explain your bravery." Ginny complimented.

Stephen brushed it off and stood up. He nodded to her, "I will have Miss Kitty draw a bath for you before you head back to bed."

He left the room before she could say another word.

Copyright © 2016 by Rosanna Parker

All Rights Reserved