Page 33 of The Taming of a Wicked Rogue

“And then what?” Rebecca dreaded the answer, but she had to hear it somehow.

He twined his fingers together and stared sightlessly at them. “She returned home eventually and died of a broken heart.” He shrugged. “At least that’s what everyone reckoned.”

She glanced up at Leo, his grim expression matching the painful beat of her heart. “Mr. Bainbridge,” she said softly, waiting until he looked up at her. “I am truly sorry for what he did to you. What he did to your wife. But I am not my father.”

Tom’s gaze shot to hers and his eyes widened as though he were truly seeing her for the first time.

“He was an immoral man, to be certain, and although many feel he did not truly pay for his crimes, he is gone now.” She touched his arm again. “I would suggest you look back on the good memories as much as you can. I understand it is not easy, but I am trying to do the same. You see, I lost a father too, a man I am not sure ever really existed.”

The man glanced between her and Leo then back to her. “You really aren’t your father, are you?”

She shook her head. No, she was not. And she was no longer going to feel bad for what he did. If she could do nothing else, it was to try to live life without his shadow hanging over her. She saw now the toll it took on someone and she had no desire to be like Tom.

He put a hand to his mouth. “Good God, I nearly killed you.”

“Damn right you did,” Leo muttered.

“I should rather you did not try to hurt me again, but I do understand the hurt my father caused, if that helps.”

Tom held up both palms. “It was a moment of madness, I swear. I was just so angry—” He shook his head. “You’re just a young girl.”

Rebecca nodded, rose to her feet and offered him a hand.

Tom frowned. “I’ll hand myself in, never fear.”

“I should rather you did not. I think enough lives have been ruined thanks to my father’s actions.”

He wiped his hands down his dusty trousers and looked to Leo. “What of you, my lord? Would you not wish to punish me?”

Leo lifted a shoulder and looped an arm around Rebecca’s waist, drawing her close. “If Miss Fortescue says no then I must obey.”

The man’s lips quirked slightly. “I understand.”

Rebecca waited until the man had ambled off before turning to Leo. “Do not be angry at me.”

“I am not.” He pushed a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “Though I could wring your neck for not listening to me.”

“I thought he had shot you!” She swallowed hard, finally shifting the painful knot that had tangled in her throat since hearing the gunshot. “I thought you were dead, Leo, and I could not—” Her voice cracked, and she drew in a breath. “I could not stand it.” She pressed her forehead to his chest. “I love you, Leo. So much.”

“In truth?”

She lifted her head to peer up at him. “In truth,” she said solemnly.

“I love you too, Rebecca. Always have.” He gave a half-smile.

Rising on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his. There were still some things she needed to figure out, but she had not been lying when she told Tom she was no longer going to take the blame for her father’s misbehavior.

Chapter Thirteen

“We’re playing spades, Leo. Not hearts.”

Leo eyed the card on the table and took it back. “Sorry,” he muttered to Adam.

“Perhaps you should have gone with Alexander to wherever it is he has vanished to. Some fresh air might do you good.”

“Something to do with that Miss Evans, I think.” Leo shrugged and threw a card onto the gaming table.

Adam placed his next card, winning yet another hand. “Alexander is doing no better at avoiding women than you are.”

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