Free To Have and to Hold by Rebecca King Page B

Mrs
Holcombe,” Dominic murmured certain he would not be able to manage
anything.   “Get yourself some rest now
and thank you.”   He shot the woman a
grateful smile as she left and quietly took his place beside Isobel upon the
bed.   Gathering her into his arms he
settled into a careful slumber.   Whatever
the day before them held in store, he would not be parted from her again.

 
 
    Isobel became
aware of a strange murmuring around her. It seemed faint and hazy, but it
sounded vaguely like someone talking.   If
only she could make out what they were saying.   She wondered if it was one of ‘those’ dreams again where Dominic came to
her but there was no swirling mist.   She
took a deep breath, wincing a little at the tightening band across her
chest.  
    Feeling more
comfortable and at peace than she had been for some considerable time, she lay
there for several moments and simply enjoyed the luxurious softness of the
pillow behind her and the resplendent comfort of the sheets surrounding her.   She was lovely and warm, something she had
not felt in such a long time.   Frowning
slightly she was aware of a sense of darkness pervading her contentment and
began to feel uncomfortable.   Vague
snatches of darkness, shadows and strange faces began to filter through her
thoughts until she felt quite panicked.   Where was she?   How long had she
been there?   Had she really been with
Dominic?
    Quickly, she
opened her eyes, wincing at the bright daylight that permeated the room.
    “Isobel?”   His achingly familiar voice was husky and so
very close.   Turning her head sideways
her gaze met and held his green gaze.   Softly, she smiled at him.  
    “Thank
God!”   She frowned at his heartfelt
epithet and watched as he lowered his forehead to rest briefly upon the back of
her hand.  
    “Dominic?”   She murmured aware her voice was hoarse and
dry.  
    “We nearly lost
you.”   Dominic murmured.   His voice quivered with suppressed emotion as
he fought to control the delight coursing through him.       
    “Lost me?”   Isobel queried in confusion.   “But I am right here!”   She frowned as she considered his words.   Glancing around the room, she was aware of
the familiar comfort that met her interested gaze.   “Where am I by the way?”   She murmured taking in the graceful opulence
of the room before her.
    “Home,
my darling.   Where you belong.”   Dominic murmured placing a tender kiss upon
the back of her hand.   “ Tavistock Hall.”  
    Isobel frowned
as events flitted through her mind. She couldn’t be sure what she could
remember was fact or something her fuddled mind had created.   Warily, she glanced down at her plain cotton
night rail.
    “How long have I
been at Tavistock Hall?”   Isobel murmured biting her lip warily.  
    “Three weeks
now.”   Dominic replied , his face breaking out into a smile as her eyebrows shot up incredulously.   God she was beautiful.
    “T-three
weeks?”   Her voice was as weak as her eyes were wide
and incredulous.  
    Dominic nodded
not wanting to remind her how desperate her situation had been.    The memory of the last few days was too raw
and painful at the moment.   “Your
situation was poor.”   He murmured and
allowed the conversation to lapse between them briefly.
    Isobel felt her
energies start to wane and fought to stop her eyelids from drooping.   “I feel so very tired, yet I cannot remember
anything.   Why is that?”   She frowned at him in consternation.
    “You have been
seriously ill my darling.   You have had
us all worried.”   Easing himself to sit
beside her he tenderly tucked an errant curl behind her ear before placing his
lips there.   “I am so very glad you are
to be well again.”   He murmured softly
before kissing a tender kiss upon the soft skin at the temple.   Closing his eyes for a few moments he simply
rejoiced in being able to absorb the essence of her.  
    “You kept