Page 624 of From Rakes to Riches

Where the blazes was Gemma?

His feet were moving without him telling them to do so, making their way to the stables. Liam would eventually end up there with Good Sir Longshanks.

Half an hour later, Liam was at the mounting block and sliding off the horse. Once he’d finished conversing with the trainer and taking a few instructions, Rake stepped into his path. As Liam’s feet stumbled to a stop, it was the widening of his eyes that gave him away. He knew Rake on sight.

Rake jutted his chin toward an area where they could speak without the intrusion of prying onlookers. In a low voice that wouldn’t carry farther than Liam’s ears, he cut straight to it. “Aren’t you supposed to be in New York?”

Liam planted his feet wide and crossed his arms over his chest, eyes of the same gold-flecked green hue as his sister’s staring out at Rake. The same look in those eyes, as well.Stubborn… willful…The man was digging his heels in. His head cocked. “What’s it to you?”

“You know who I am?”

Liam was assessing Rake, that was for certain, and like his sister, he wasn’t too impressed by the title of duke. “Aye.”

Both men knew what Rake wasn’t saying. He only had everything to lose by not asking… “And Gemma?”

“She isn’t here.”

Unaccountable anger surged through Rake. “You let her sail to New York without you?” He asked…demanded. “A youngwoman on her own in a place she doesn’t know? This is how you repay everything she’s done for you?” The words just kept pouring out. Perhaps they weren’t meant for Liam at all, but rather for himself. “What sort of brother are you, anyway?”

Liam watched Rake with a curious expression on his face, letting Rake’s accusations wash right over him, not particularly bothered. “All finished?”

The question caught Rake on the backfoot. These Cassidy twins… They weren’t like anyone Rake had ever known. “I’m not sure yet.”

“What I said,” began Liam, enunciating every word clearly, “was that Gemma wasn’there, at Epsom. I didn’t say she was on the other side of the Atlantic.”

A feeling began to expand within Rake—one he needed to tamp down…

Hope.

If she wasn’t on the other side of the Atlantic, then…

Where was she?

Liam wasn’t quite done. “Of course, I didn’t abandon my sister. What sort of man do you take me for?”

Rake understood what he needed to say next, particularly if he wanted any useful information out of this man, who happened to be the brother of the love of his life. “My apologies,” he said, sincere.

Liam took his measure before he gave a curt nod, reluctantly mollified.

“Where is she?” asked Rake with a telling rasp of emotion. “She knows she doesn’t need to be in hiding anymore.”

“Aye, she knows.” Liam shifted on his feet. “And I’d like to thank you for that.”

“Thank me?” Rake was at a loss. “For what?”

“For getting Bolton off our backs,” said Liam. “For a chance at living the lives we want.”

Rake saw his sincerity. “That’s all I’m asking for, Liam.” He wasn’t sure he’d ever made himself so humble to another living soul. “A chance.”

With Gemma, he didn’t need to say.

They both heard it.

At last, Liam relented. “A lady made her an offer to work up in Yorkshire.”

“And you let her?”

“Lether?” That got a good, long laugh. “You’ve met my sister. There’s nolettingher do anything. She doesn’t wait for permission.”

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