Page 67 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
Drew grimaced. ‘I have had enough of this place.’
‘By the end of the day, you will be out of here.’
‘I wish I was sure.’
‘Iam sure. That is enough. Do you think Pembroke will mind if I call on you at his estate?’
‘I doubt he would turn you away.’
‘Good enough. I will call on you in a day or two.’
‘Enough!’
‘I am sick of that man’s voice ordering my day,’ Drew whispered bitterly.
‘It will be over soon.’ Peter slapped Drew’s shoulder.
‘Please God you are right.’
When the keys jangled for the fourth time that day, Drew did not get up. It would be the evening meal, and surely then too late for any word from the magistrate.
‘Stand up, Lord Framlington.’ It was not the guard who spoke.
Drew’s heart pounded as the door opened wider. Then he saw Richard behind the stranger.
‘You are cleared of the charge and free to go. Here.’ The stranger held out a roll of paper, which Drew presumed confirmed the magistrate’s verdict.
Drew grasped it, not that he needed a piece of paper to tell him he had done nothing wrong.
Wiltshire held out a hand and shook Drew’s firmly.
‘Thank you.’ Drew spoke before he could.
‘You are welcome,’ he answered. ‘Now, let us get you back to Mary.’
Drew jogged down the stone steps ahead of Wiltshire, eager to get out. A man opened the prison door.
The light blinded Drew for a moment. He had never felt so happy to see the sun.
‘You could stay with me tonight, so you can shave and such. I will run you out to Pembroke Place in the morning. Or we can leave now and we might make it before dusk.’
‘I want to go now, to see Mary.’
‘Then we leave now. The numbers have grown at Pembroke Place, though, the family are gathering.’
Drew’s heart pounded hard. He wanted to see Mary but he did not welcome the trial of meeting her entire family again.
They drove out of London during the fashionable, crowded hour, which made the journey slower and tedious. Some people sought to peer into the carriage, as if they thought Drew might be inside. He pulled down the blind.
Wiltshire laughed.
When the carriage stopped again, Drew’s natural impatience rose. He itched to leap from the carriage and run to Pembroke’s, not that that would get him to Mary any faster.
Wiltshire touched Drew’s arm. ‘We will get there, lad, however long it takes. Cool your temper and learn to consider the consequences before you let it rise.’
Drew moved his arm. ‘I am grateful for all you have done, Richard. But do not tell me what I should or should not do.’
‘Lord Framlington, I think that is something you have lacked. From what I have seen, you had no one to guide you appropriately. I cannot tell you what to do, no, but I can and will advise you. You may choose whether to listen.’
