Page 139 of From Rakes to Riches

After dinner, I wanted to see the new horse. Hearing my father describe the stallion made me curious, but when I approached the stables, I heard a whip crack and a horse’s frightened snort. Thinking back, I shouldn’t have gone inside.But I did. I stayed in the shadows with my heart in my throat, however I’ll never forget what I saw. His Grace whipped the stallion without cause. The horse was tied and couldn’t escape. To callously injure a captive animal was one of the most brutal things I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t help but wonder how many times the duke had done the same with no one the wiser, All that suffering…”

She’d long ago dropped her gaze to her hands where they were wrapped tight in the bedsheets, but she looked at Theodore now. At some point during her story, he’d turned to watch her, his expression unreadable.

“Eventually the duke grew tired or bored. I don’t know. He left and I went to the horse to wash him down and soothe him. After he was fed, I led him outside. I took my mount and rode out with the stallion as far as the Gipping River. He’d only just arrived in Ipswich and didn’t have the familiarity to return to the duke’s home. I set him free and he ran for the hills.”

She saw Theodore swallow whatever he was going to say. When he nodded, she continued, wanting to get it all out now.

“The next morning His Grace went to the stables earlier than usual and discovered the stallion missing. He became incensed and blamed my father for the horse’s escape. When my father noticed the bloody whip in the stall, he questioned the duke and then everything became madness. His Grace accused my father of negligence and liability. Having paid an exorbitant price for the horse, he was enraged about the situation. He went to the magistrate with his claims and my father was taken into custody. No one believed my father and since he’d gone out riding, his confession sounded incriminating instead of exonerating. Nobleman have far too much power at their disposal.”

She said the last sentence with quiet vehemence.

“Many of them do,” Theodore commented, his expression solemn. “Then what happened?”

His body had relaxed from when she’d first begun and he stared at her now with what she hoped was understanding in his eyes.

“I couldn’t allow my father to be punished for what I’d done,” she explained, emotion clogging her throat. “I went to the duke and told him I was responsible, and he flew into a rage. That same morning, he cut ties with my father, evicted my family from his property and notified the authorities. I was to be brought before the magistrate the following day, but I ran away and left Ipswich that night. I didn’t tell my parents I was leaving. They were understanding and loving about what I’d done and they already worried on my behalf. I thought by my leaving, at least I wouldn’t cause them further shame. With me gone, the gossip would die down and things could return to normal. So, I came to London, took a new name and found my way to Vauxhall.”

The room was so quiet, every crackle in the hearth sounded like a thunderbolt. She looked at Theodore, his handsome profile outlined by the firelight, knowing this would be the end. He wouldn’t associate with a criminal. He couldn’t possibly want to continue seeing her, knowing what she’d done. A crime against anyone was awful, but against a duke, one of the most revered noblemen in England, was unthinkable. But whether he believed she’d acted foolishly or not was a question she needed answered because his opinion mattered so much her heart ached. Swallowing emotion, she went on.

“I’m aware the world is often an ugly, unfair place, and I acted selfishly when I released that horse. He didn’t belong to me and I had no right to set him free. But I cannot apologize for it, because I would do the same thing again.” She took a deep breath and began to wrap the sheets around her. “You must think the worst of me, now that you’ve heard the truth, but you should know I took no pleasure in deceiving you. I’m sorry I lied.I had no other choice.” She sat up, preparing to get dressed and leave.

“What you did was very brave,” he said at last, his words causing her to pause. “I thought I understood your daring when I watched you balance on that narrow rope suspended over the grandstand, but I realize now you’re far more courageous than I ever imagined.”

When he didn’t say more, she scooted toward the edge of the bed, anxious to dress and leave before her tears fell. She had no one to blame for her pain except herself, yet she’d rather Theodore didn’t witness her crying. She gathered the sheets closer and made to stand, but he caught her arm and stopped her.

“What are you doing?” he said, his voice firm.

“I need to dress. I can’t leave until I’ve put myself back together.” When she didn’t turn toward him, his grip on her arm tightened.

“You’re not leaving,” he said, his tone giving nothing away.

She looked at him over her shoulder. Did he mean to call the authorities immediately? Her eyes welled full of tears. She hadn’t expected him to act so swiftly. She knew telling him the truth was a risk, but she’d thought he would at least allow her the chance to run. He’d said he wanted to help but that was before she’d confessed the magnitude of her crime.

“Please,” she said, feeling all the more vulnerable for that one word. “I need to get dressed.”

“For what reason?” he replied, his voice softer now. “I’ll only have to undress you again when you come back to bed.”

“What?” She couldn’t stop her tears from blurring her vision.

“You’re not going anywhere, at least not without me, and definitely not at this time of night.” He gently hauled her across the mattress and back into his arms, tucking her against his bare chest. She instinctively nestled into his warmth.

“You’re not summoning the authorities?” Her question whispered out in a mixture of worry and hope.

“To insist they arrest the Duke of Leinster?” Theodore asked, his voice hard as steel. “That would probably be a waste of time.”

“Aren’t you angry?” she asked, recovering her composure as she breathed in the scent of his skin against her cheek.

“I’m furious,” he said, his body tensed. “Leinster should be whipped for the way he treated that horse and no doubt, countless other animals. Then he should be whipped a second time for how he treated your family. Friendship and loyalty meant nothing to him when he chose to protect his reputation above all else. Does anyone else know about this, Lola?” He stroked his fingers through her hair and she let out a deep breath, relief rushing through her.

“Only Marco and Sofia,” she said, “I wish I never told him, but I trust Sofia completely.”

“That explains a few of Marco’s comments now that I think about it.”

“I’m sorry, Theodore.” She pulled away from him and sat up, the sheets still bundled around her. “I never meant to bring trouble to your doorstep.”

He smiled, and it was like the first time she’d ever seen him grin, her heart beat so hard.

“You’re a bit of troublesome baggage, that much is true,” he said, affection in his voice. “I still wish you had told me, but I realize why you didn’t.”

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