Page 61 of Persuasions of an Earl's Daughter

He rubbed a hand over his face. “You’re right.”

“Right about what?”

“I was behind it all along.”

Lilly felt as though she had been standing beside a huge firework or cannon as it fired. The words rang in her ears, deafening her. Everything trembled as though it had exploded the world beneath her feet. She longed to reach out for something for support but by some miracle, she fisted her hands at her side and remained steady.

“You stole Icarus?”

“I wanted the horse.” His tone grew icy. “It seemed a good way to get it.”

She absorbed the words and every moment they’d gone through together rolled through her mind like a picture book.

“No.”

Lilly wasn’t worldly or experienced with men. However, she was no fool. She’d seen how he looked at her and the pain that had scarred his face when he spoke of his upbringing.

“I’m a bastard, remember?” he murmured. “It’s in my blood.”

“It makes no sense.” She twisted away for a second to gather herself before rounding on him again. “Why keep up this pretense of trying to find him? Why pursue me when I was kidnapped?”

He lifted both shoulders, barely looking at her. “I couldn’t risk you finding Icarus alone.” His gaze lifted. “I figured I could distract you or persuade you to go home. I never expected you’d try to chase after horse thieves, for God’s sake.”

She nodded slowly, absorbing the words as they made their agonizing way through her and feeling strangely numb to it all. “I’m going to get a magistrate or a bailiff or—” She thrust an unsteady finger in his direction. “You won’t get to keep Icarus. I’ll—”

“Do what you must, Lilly.” August turned his back on her. It was the first time those wide shoulders had ever looked anything other than appealing. She swallowed the bitter taste in her mouth and fled the stables. Now wasn’t the time to think about her heart shattering in her chest or the tears making her throat close over. All she had to do was make sure he wouldn’t get away with this. Then she could worry about her broken heart.

∞∞∞

It took all August’s willpower not to chase Lilly. Or slam a fist across the smug face of the stablemaster.

“Women, eh?”

Glaring at him, August pressed the rest of the money into the man’s hand who wadded it up and slipped it inside his threadbare jacket.

“You used to be a good man, Fredericks,” August muttered.

“And you used to be a good boy but that’s what the years do to us.” He shrugged. “Looks like you broke that young lady’s heart with ease.” He smirked and nudged him with an elbow. “Cut from the same cloth you and I.”

He’d deny it but there was no point. The man wasn’t wrong. He’d seen the moment Lilly’s belief in him crumbled and while it was for the best, it was the same precise moment his heart shattered into pieces.

What a fool he’d been to think they could have something good and real. That he might have a normal life—hell, a happy one even. His past and his father’s decisions would always be hanging over his head and he couldn’t drag her into the shame that would come with if he was found out. His best bet was to take to travelling again, somewhere far, far away where he could forget Lilly for good.

As if that could ever happen.

Anyway, he’d give her Icarus once he was gone. That would keep her happy surely? She’d forget him soon enough.

He headed toward the entrance of the stables. A shadow flitted past the tiny window then a small figure appeared in the entrance way. If he’d ever doubted her strength and courage, he’d look a damned fool right now.

Hands to her hips, she stared him down with a lifted chin.

He’d never loved her more.

But she still needed to go. She deserved so much more than a life on the run or living with the shame of being married to a man put to death for fraud.

“I thought you were going to find someone to arrest me,” he said coolly, despite the steady throb of heat running through his veins.

“I was...but then I realized...” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “I realized something.”

---