(Mystery)

She ran through the woods as quietly as she could for holding two infant children. The one held in her right arm cried out as she stumbled on a hidden stump. The misty air made it difficult to breath let alone see. Oh how she wished she had left on a more clearer and warmer night. The woman laughed at herself, she's like the characters in her stories, finding the most difficult path just to help move the story along. Unfortunately she has no clue as to if this story will have a happy ending.

A wolf howled in the distance, disturbing the children. The fleeing woman slowed to a gentle trot as she tried to calm the wailing babes. She'd dare not to place them on the cold damp ground in for fear of holding sick babies, but the fear she had for getting caught was a prayer toward heaven that the trip will go unburdened. She placed the now cooing infants on the first dry spot she could find and remove the pack from her bag, giving the cold boys a small morsel of food to quiet them and tide them over to the next inn.

She sat down beside them and took them into her arms. They stole a few moments of rest before there was a loud snap of someone approaching. She looked down at the children and pressed them closer to her body as she pushed her back into the tree, hoping with all her faith that they would not be found.

Suddenly a voice quietly echoed throughout the woods, making her slightly jump,"Hello? I heard the cry of a baby, is everything alright?" It was a man, but it wasn't him, so she relaxed, but still kept the children close to her. "Please, I mean no harm. I was passing when I saw a figure, you, running. Can I help you?"

The frightened woman closed her eyes and sent a prayer of weary thanks heavenword as she stood up and stepped from behind the tree. She turned around to face her fonder and about fell with joy. It was the very man she was running to find. His tall build and kind face was illuminated by the rising moon, almost making him seem angelic with his golden hair shining, slightly moving in the cold breeze. Suddenly she started to weep. The man quickly ran forward and grabbed her shoulders in hopes to stop her from any falling. He looked down at the two children she held in her arms, the signs of an early birth showed on their small faces. He took both the children so that the woman could cry on his chest, she deserved to rest from her obvious escape. Her long red hair was littered with twigs and leaves, her coat was on inside out and she missed a button on the top. Whether she shivered from the sobbing or the cold, he did not know, only that he had the most overwhelming feeling of wanting to help her. She pulled back and wiped her tears. Now that her face was no longer hidden in his coat he got a good look at the children's savior and he was surprised at who it was; she was who he was riding to see. He had only ever seen a portrait of her but he could never forget those green eyes.

"I am so sorry sir. You probably don't remember who I am but I need your help." She hoped she looked presentable, she wanted him to recognize her, not see a weeping school girl. Though being at the age of 23 she still had childish tendencies, such crying when beautiful men come to her rescue.

"I could never forget your face, Miss Rosalynd Mandoza." She looked stunned but relieved that he remembered her name. He laughed, shifting the children enough to take her into his arms while still keeping them all warm. "Infact, I was just on my way to relieve you of that "Horrid dank prison of the weak minded" as you put it. Though I must admit, I did not think you would be one to run away and with two infants! You truly are a marvel."

"Thank you sir. That warms me more than you could ever know, but we must take haste. His Lordship was right on my heels just hours ago, I do not wish to go back, let alone have the children grow up there. Please sir, did you happen to bring a carriage?" Rosalynd rubbed her hands together in hopes of keeping the tips of her fingers alive. She couldn't look away from his face, couldn't fathom that he was here for her and the children. Sir Dane Ambry, the Duke of Westburrow, was standing right in front of her. After just one meeting and several months of secret messaging she was seeing him with her own eyes, can feel him, be near him, hear his voice. Alas he was betrothed and has been since birth to a lady of a foreign land. Sometimes she wonders if she is his beloved betrothed but she knows his intended is from Russia, not Spain.

Dane looked down at Rosalynd, wishing more than appropriately, that he was not holding the infants but the woman herself. She had been locked up in the workhouse out here in Garison for over a year, forced to labor like no lady should. But the landowner, his Lordship Cotterill, was her only family connection and a horrid man. The only reason he himself could not get rid of the Lordship was because of just that, he is a Duke and the enemy a Lord. Since the first time he and Miss Mandoza met he knew she was the type, of not the, person he wanted to be paired with for the rest of his days. His large home needed a woman's touch and the happy sounds of children. If only he was not in a blasted betrothal.

The wee ones cried out startling the quiet pair as they were brought back to reality. Rosa took the littlest of the two and opened her coat and pulled it around him, hoping to keep the chill out. Dane did the same with the one in his arms, glad to be free of one of them so he could bring Rosalynd in from the cold. Her body shivered severely no doubt do to her being grossly thin. Now that he truly thought about it, her face was sunken in more than the last they met. That frightened him. He kicked himself for being so slow in saving her. the paperwork took longer than he thought but that didn't mean he could not have gotten there sooner. The carriage was a welcome sight after holding the infants and standing in the cold for so long. He brought one small crib for that was all that could fit in the picnic carriage but the boys were so small they both fit in it perfectly. Rosalynd breathed a true breath of relief once they were all in the carriage and were driving away from that living purgatory. She wondered, like so many times before, how a man like Lord Cotterill could be left to his own to act as he wished, unhindered and unchecked.

"Rosa?" Dane's voice was soft as to not scare her or wake the children. She jumped and blinked, she had zoned out, missing whatever it was he was meaning to say to her.

"Yes?" She answered in a small voice.

Dane smiled his oh so sweet smile and laid his head back. He looked at her under laiden eyes. "I was just asking how you are. I should have came earlier." His forehead creased with worry.

"Oh no, do not concern yourself with not having come earlier, the little ones would not have been fit for travel. No, now was a perfect time, hence my hasty departure. I must apologize for not informing you about my plan but had I stayed there would not have been anyone there for you to pick up I'm afraid. And about how I am feeling, well, lets just say I have never felt more tired or safe in one place since my home in Spain. And that's saying something. You are a good man Sir Ambry, you have saved me and the little boys from a fate worse than death. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." Rosalynd promised herself that she would not cry anymore but her gratitude toward the man was overwhelming her.

She buried her face in her hands and silently wept. She heard the rustle of movement and the indention of a person beside her. Dane placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. there was so resistance from her side as she leaned in and cried, terribly cried. Her body shook and her tears soaked through his shirt as he held her tighter. No woman should ever cry like Rosa was; crying for her pain, for the pain of others, for the boys, for all of her fear, for her relief of being found and for the knowledge she has about such mean men as Lord Cotterill. Dane wished with all his heart that he could take away her pain, to save her the trouble of remembering all that she went through in the past year or so. She had been so strong, now it is time for her to rest and be happy.

"My dear Rosalynd. You have been through so much, cry all you want. I am here. the little ones are safe and healthy and you are in one piece." The Duke rubbed her back and stroked her hair as he rocked her softly from side to side.

At this moment Dane forced himself to forget about his duty and honor to his beloved and held Rosalynd closer, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head. Tears pricked his eyes as he suddenly came to the realization that he loved her. He loved Rosalynd but it was all for not. He blinked the unwanted emotion from his eyes as he thought of all the possible things he could do to loosen himself from his band to a mystery woman. He may be a Duke but he was still a man, a gentleman. If only Rosalynd was his foreign flower.
Rosa's sobs turned into quite hiccups until she fell asleep in his arms. Dane made himself more comfortable and glanced at the babies before he too fell asleep. How could the world be so cruel to give him this moment of bliss.