Page 59 of The Fighter who Needed Me
Persephone
London, England March 1813
When they got to Cole’s townhouse, she put the hood up on a cloak that Brooks had pulled out of the carriage for her.
It had gotten colder, and he didn’t want anyone to recognize her.
It was sweet and exactly what she knew he would do.
They walked up the stairs to their townhouse and Brooks briskly knocked on the door.
It was opened moments later, and their butler smiled at them.
“Oh, my lady! Welcome home. Brooks, Burk, please come inside. The Lord and Lady of the house are in the sitting room.”
He took their coats and was surprised to see Persephone.
She smiled warmly up at him and kissed his cheek.
His cheeks went pink and he smiled at her, “This way.”
He led them to the sitting room and announced their arrival.
Cole was standing behind Eden, who was seated next to a large fireplace.
When they both looked over, Eden stood with a gasp and hurried to her side as quickly as she could.
Her stomach was round and full, and Persephone was so jealous to see it.
She was pulled into a tight hug; from the first friend she had ever made, and it was so wonderful.
“Oh Persephone. I am so relieved to see you. Are you all right? Have you been all right?”
Cole chuckled from behind his wife, “Let her sit, sweetheart. She has probably not had an easy time.”
Eden finally released her from her hug and Persephone smiled at her friend.
Eden led her to the chairs and hugged Lily as well. Cole kissed her cheek and kissed his sister’s cheek.
Then he shook hands with Burk and Brooks.
Persephone sat in a chair next to Lily and Eden perched on the edge of hers.
“Please tell me you are all right. We have been so worried for months. It’s been hard to see Brooks so depressed.”
Persephone looked up at the man she loved, “I know. You cannot imagine the hurt and anger it has caused me knowing he was in pain. That all he wanted was to protect me, and to love me. And I was so afraid of my parents that I didn’t let him.”
She put her head down and looked at her hands. “That was my biggest mistake and my worst regret. When I was taken, I barely ate, barely slept and was once again forced to live the life that they chose for me. Not the one I so desperately wanted.”
She looked up at Eden, “I was hurt over and over again, my heart was broken, and bleeding and I could barely stand it. Knowing that he was in pain because of me.”
She kissed Brooks hand that had curled around her shoulder in a show of support and then told them everything.
What she found out about her parents, the man they wanted her to marry, how they never wanted her and about her real parents.
Then she told them about Bruce’s threats against their lives and how afraid she was to even step a toe out of line because she did not want any harm to befall them.
She saw Cole’s eyebrows raise when she mentioned that, but she pushed on and finally told them about the ball and meeting Lily.
