Page 28 of The Taming of a Wicked Rogue

“I hardly think not reading a book is cowardice.”

No. But there was no denying her every move had been dictated by fear. Perhaps the one moment she had not been, had been when she went to bed with Leo, and Lord help her, she wanted another moment like that.

Chapter Eleven

“Iam not certain I want to look.”

Leo sank onto the sofa beside Rebecca after lighting a few more lamps. “Shall I read it?”

She shook her head and turned the pages. “I should do it.”

“If anyone can figure out where your father hid the diamond, it’s you. I do not know anyone cleverer than you, Rebecca.”

She scrunched up her nose. “I’m feeling mightily stupid at present.” Her throat bobbed and she ran her finger along the page before making a sound of disgust. “It is as though my father is some folk hero instead of the awful man he was.”

“He was not all bad.”

Her gaze shot up to his. “He married and deserted several women, not to mention defrauded just about half of England. If he had not been captured, I have no doubt he would have gone on to marry more women for their money and do goodness knows what else.”

“Yes,” Leo agreed, putting a hand to her chin and raising it slightly. “But he made you.” The temptation to kiss her dug deep into his gut. He moved back and nodded to the book. “Read on.”

He waited while she continued to read, her expression flitting from disgust to annoyance and back again. She pressed her lips together and he spied the portrait of her family, faithfully replicated in the book. He could not imagine the pain she must have suffered to know it hadn’t been real—that while she enjoyed a privileged life, her father had been living a lie. It seemed the worst of his behavior happened once he left Rebecca and her mother, but that did not discount the fact he defrauded many a person during her childhood and used funds that were not his to maintain their lifestyle.

And when it all came crashing down, he left them.

Leo curled a fist and rose from the chair, pacing past the fireplace, then back again while she read. If he could go back and punch the man, he would. Hanging almost felt too good for him. He wanted Roger Fortescue to have to face his daughter and see what he had done. Leo had to face the fact Rebecca had been just as hurt by the night she had left if not more. At least he had been able to move on with his life. Even if it had not been in the most productive of manners. Rebecca had been left with the true aftermath of it all and yet she still wished to atone for her father’s mistakes. The woman was damned selfless.

She gasped and he stilled. “Did you find something?”

“Fortescue, by all appearances, led the life of a country gentleman, spending time out of doors with his family.” She ran her finger along the page as she read. “Alas, few knew the truth, including his innocent first wife and daughter who were callously abandoned in Florence in 1801. Those wishing to follow in Fortescue’s footsteps might enjoy a walk along the West Shore, where he often took his daughter Rebecca.”

“You think it’s there?”

She furrowed her brows. “I’m not certain, I just have this feeling...” She shook her head. “We used to spend so much time there and it’s a wild walk.”

“I recall.”

“We rarely encountered anyone, and I used to adore it because I could spot rabbits.” She held up a finger. “And listen to this”—she flicked through a few more pages—“Fortescue was caught not far from the West Shore. Some may be surprised that the man remained in Langmere but many imagined the man so bold that he could not fathom being unable to talk his way out of his troubles.”

“He was going to the West Shore.”

“Yes! He must have been going to retrieve the diamond.” She snapped the book shut and rose from the chair. “We should leave. Now.”

“We?”

“Well, that is...” She blushed. “That is if you wish to accompany me.” Her chin lifted. “I can quite happily go by myself.”

“I hasten to point out it is rather dark.”

“Blast.” She dropped onto the chair.

“In the meantime, why do we not join my brothers for dinner once more? We did leave rather abruptly.”

She looked to the window and then to him. “I suppose I cannot go anywhere tonight.”

“You certainly cannot.”

“Will they think me rude?”

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