The Royal Secret

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Scarlet held Donny close in his secret pouch while James walked a few steps ahead of her. She smiled as she thought of all the children they would have, the brothers and sisters they would give Donny.

“Come on, Scarlet,” James said. “We have to find that tree you wanted.”

“We didn't have a tree,” she said.

“What?” he asked as he took her hand.

“In the cottage,” she said. “Mama said a tree and presents weren't needed to celebrate the holiday. That first Christmas with your family I was so frightened. You had told me that if I had been bad at any time that year, I wouldn't get a present. I believed you.”

“Mother and Father had no idea what to get you, so they didn't get you anything,” he said.

“I was really sad and upset because I thought you had been right,” she said. “I must have been bad. I blamed you, as I thought you were to blame. I cried myself to sleep that night.”

“And when you woke in the morning?” he asked, hugging her close to him.

“The curtains in my room had been changed,” she said. “They were a dark green. I was frightened at first because I thought your mother and father had decided to move my room. It was when I got out of bed that I saw the presents. And you were sleeping among them. I think that was when I fell in love with you.”

“Instead of waking me up, you cuddled up next to me and went to sleep,” he said. “When I woke you up, I explained that my parents didn't known what to get you.”

“Then you told me to open the presents while you sat on the bed and watched, There were dresses and candles and jewelry. That's when I gold the silver and fools gold.”

James pointed at a tree and asked, “How about that one?”

“It looks perfect,” she said.

“It does,” he agreed.

“Why don't we give John and Merg tomorrow and Christmas off?” she asked. “I'll make dinner.”

“Of course,” he said.

James saw something move in the trees. He then heard a shot. Scarlet’s gasped had him turning to face her.

“Sweetie?” he asked.

“Take Donny,” she said,

“What? Why?” he asked.

“Just do it!” she said.

He took Donny out of the pouch and held him close. He looked at her once more. She had a hand pressed to her shoulder.

“What is it?” he asked.

“My shoulder,” she whispered. She let out a gasp of pain. “I've been shot! We have to get home!”

“I agree,” he said. “As soon as we get home I'll look at it and see if we need to send for the doctor.”

She nodded as they turned back towards the house. James kept his arm around her waist as they walked back to the house.

Once at the house, he had her sit on the settee while he put Donny in his cradle. He then looked over at her. She had taken her and had set it next to her. She no longer had a hand pressed to her shoulder.

“How does it look?” she asked when she saw him staring at her.

He moved over to her and lightly touched it.

“You needed to remove your dress,” he said.

She stood and, with his help, removed, the dress. After she sat back down, he touched her shoulder and sighed.

“It just grazed your shoulder,” he said, relieved. He sat down next to her. “It just needs a couple of stitches. I can mange them.”

“Alright,” she said.

James had just finished stitching the wound when the door opened and Smith entered. He was frowning.

“James,” Smith said. He looked at James and then Scarlet. “What has happened?”

“Scarlet was shot at while we were looking for a Christmas tree,” James said. Luckily, she was just grazed.”

“And Donny?” Smith asked. “Where is he?”

“He is sleeping in his cradle,” Scarlet said.

“Are you alright, James?” Smith asked.

“Yes.” James said. “Whoever wants me dead is now taking shots at Scarlet as well.”

“I came here,” Smith said, “To tell you that I think I know the reason behind all of this.”

“You do?” James asked.

“I do,” Smith said. “You see, your mother has told me a secret that she's kept from me for over thirty- three years.”

Scarlet had wrapped the blanket from the back of the couch around herself and leaned against James.

“What is, Father?” James asked.

“Your mother just told me that a few months before we were married a man named Arnold Cox went to see her,” Smith said. “He was, and still is, in love with her. Your mother also told me that he had threatened to abduct her and force her to marry him. When your mother left her parents and went to leave with her grandparents, she had told me it was because she wanted to spend time with them before we were married. I believed her, but the real reason was that her uncles lived at her grandparents home. She was an only sibling and knew that this man would not come near her at her grandparents.”

Smith looked at James before he continued. “When your mother and I were first married, we lived in London. After the revaluation, we moved to America. We go back every few years to check on Hunter and see friends that still live there.” Smith sighed. “Your mother told me, a few hours ago, that Arnold Cox came up to her on the street a few months ago and told her he would still take her as his lover. Your mother laughed at him and went home.”

“Why didn't Mother tell you any of this before?” James asked.

“Your mother didn't want me to worry,” Smith said. “After you were attacked, she realized who might be behind it.”

“Why would he want James dead?” Scarlet asked.

“With James dead I figure he thinks that Beth will turn to him for comfort,” Smith said. “Only, most people don't know that we've already lost one child.” He sighed. “We had a child a little younger then James. James was three and Hunter was seven when our other boy was taken from us. You probably don't remember him, James, or the day he was taken.

“Your mother was the one that told me what happened as I was at work. She said that you, Hunter and Sam, your other brother, were plating in the yard. It was gated and we never worried about any of you getting out. Your mother sat on the front porch sewing a blanket. The three of you were running around. Sam ran to the side of the house and the two of you chased after him. Your mother heard a scream and then you and Hunter came around the side of the house without Sam. Your mother followed Hunter to where you and him had last seen Sam. Sam was no where to be found.”

Smith looked at the floor as he continued. “I was called from work and your mother told me what happened. We searched, but never found Sam. For years, you asked after Sam. When you were eleven Bellie was born and you stopped asking. I think it was then that Sam became a secret. When asked how many children we had, we lied about Sam.”

“Why didn't you want any of us to remember him?” James asked.

“It made it so hard on your mother to talk about him,” Smith said. “She still cries whenever she hears the name Sam.”

At that moment Donnie started to cry.

“I'll talk him upstairs,” Scarlet said.

James nodded.

Later that night, Scarlet turned over in James' arms and put her head on his shoulder. He smiled as he stroked her back. He was so glad that nothing had happened to her.

“Is something wrong?” Scarlet asked.

“No,” he said. “I was just thinking about what Father said. I thought I had made Sam up all those years ago.”

“Now you know that you didn't,” she said. “I love you, James.”

 “I love you too, Scarlet,” he said.