Page 94 of The Lord who Seduced Me
The sobs burst free from her chest and while she did her best to quiet them, nothing helped.
And she cried into the dark carriage, her heart shattered in her chest.
When they pulled up in front of the townhouse, the lights blazed from every single window.
Cole ran out the front door when she stepped from the hack, and he pulled her into his arms.
He paid the hack driver handsomely, despite the man’s protests and then led her into the house.
Eden was pacing back and forth, and when they walked into the room, she let out a cry and ran to hug Rose.
The girls sobbed, just holding each other close while Rose tried hard to keep her sobs from overtaking her body and Cole led them up the stairs. “I called for a bath to be sent.”
Rose sobbed out, “Thank you,” and Cole looked down at her, putting his finger under her chin. “What happened? We have been searching for you for two days Rose.”
Rose was shocked, she had not realized she was gone for that long of time, and she could not relive it right now. It was too raw and painful, so she shook her head, “I will tell you all in the morning. I need time. Please.”
Cole scowled, and Eden put her hand on his arm. “All right. We shall let you rest. For tonight only. You have no idea how happy we are that you are safe. How scared we were when you went missing. First thing in the morning you will tell us everything, and I mean everything Rose. I will not be left out again. You have kept too many secrets from us all.”
Cole looked down at her stomach, and certainly enough the small swell of her stomach was on full display.
She gasped and pulled her robe over it. Cole stopped her, “Whose is it?”
Rose looked up at her brother, “You know the answer to that question Cole.”
Cole sighed, “Yes, I do. I am going to kill him for leaving you like this.”
Rose shook her head, “No, too much has happened. Leave it alone for the night. In the morning I will tell you all of it.”
Cole nodded, and helped her to her room. They left her alone and Rose collapsed onto the settee in front of the fire.
She pulled her knees to her chest the best she could and hugged them tightly.
Putting her head down, she cried quietly, wishing she had never come back here.
Wondering why she would punish herself that way. That evil man had taken Cabe from her.
He was simply gone. Just like that. So quickly. And she only had him for a small amount of time.
She pulled her robe and nightgown off and dropped them in a heap on the floor. She threw the fabric into the fire and watched it burn.
She stepped into the tub and scrubbed the smell of death, of the blood and gore and Lucius off and the taint of the night from her skin.
Then she dressed in a fresh nightgown and lay on her bed. Sleep eluded her, and she prayed for it to come.
It would not. No matter what she did, all she saw was Cabe getting shot in the chest and her knowing he was dead. She knew she should not have left, but she could face no more.
She hated it. All she wanted was to forget this night, but she did not think she would for the rest of her life.
As she finally drifted off to a troubled sleep, a commotion sounded downstairs. “Rose!!!” Was screamed up the stairs and she sat bolt upright in her bed.
Holding the coverlet to her body, she watched in shock as her door was thrown open so hard, it bounced off the opposite wall with a crash.
Cabe came storming into the room, and he walked straight to her bed. She gasped out, “Cabe! Oh my god! What are you doing here?”
He did not answer, just pulled her from her bed, he threw her over his shoulder and walked down the stairs.
When they hit the bottom, Rose had regained her wits, “What are you doing? Cabe! I thought you were dead! Put me down! Right this moment Cabe!”
