Page 40 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
Swanville was Hillbrook’s dear friend and any accusation of the Lord could mean he was dragging Hillbrook into it also. Knowing how protective Lord Allerton was of his friends, he could bet his last shilling that lobbying such accusations would get him a swift dismissal.
Swallowing over his cold awareness, Heath sighed and ran a hand over his damp face. He had sworn to guard this family and knowing that he had to sit on his hands with this revelation and only hope the Lord would really investigate this shooting felt like acid to his bones.
The coldness of the board behind his back was as cool as the fear running through his veins. If Lady Penelope was to marry Hillbrook, she would be thrown directly into Swanville’s path and that pained him. She would never rest easy with her core believes being rubbed raw against by radicalism.
He stood and went to the window to drink in the cool air and cool down his body. Resting his head against the sill, he sighed deeply. It was sweet of Lady Penelope to feel obligated enough that she thought she owed telling him how she had been after her mother had died.
The lady needed a spouse who would see and understand who she was and not stifle the light she had inside her. As charming as Lord Hillbrook was he did not see the man as being fit. Hopefully, she would meet another suitor at another engagement her brother would take her to.
Anyone but Hillbrook.
The venom that thought came out with had the teeth of a rearing snake. Heath was not one to deny his emotions, and this was no different. Lady Penelope needed a man who was not as slyly perfect as the young Baron.
Hillbrook did not like him, and Heath shared the sentiment. The man was too smarmy for his liking, and to make it worse, the company he kept was an execution in the making. He stayed there expecting the exertion to prod him to sleep, but no tiredness came.
Shaking his head, Heath dressed in his old clothes and decided to take a walk. It was nearly ten o’clock and the house was silent with sleep. So, with soft footsteps he went through a servant’s door and left the house into the moonlit night.
The yard was another existence under the moonlight. Every tree swayed with the night breeze and the blades of dew-covered grass were tinged with ethereal silver. The soft perfume from the night-blooming flowers was light enough to be pleasant enough but could get strong enough to be heady.
He cut through the gardens with the aim of going to the stables and see Duke. He neared it, but as he was coming upon the long field near the stable, he spotted a figure in the middle of the field and stopped mid-stride.
The slender figure in the middle of the paddock, sitting atop a golden-brown horse in breeches and a loose shirt sat like a Queen—it was Lady Penelope. One hand held the reins while her knees gripped the horse’s midsection. Her hair was in a braid this time and it trailed over her shoulder. Bessie turned toward the length of the paddock, and Lady Penelope sat forward. Heath knew exactly what was going to happen and in the next moment, he was proven right.
Bessie took off like a shot and his eyes went wide when she stood up in her stirrups and galloped like a seasoned jockey. Her braid was whipping behind her in a long rope, and Bessie’s hind hooves were a blur under the Lady.
Now he knew what Brady had meant when he said that sooner or later, he would see for himself. He surely saw it now. It was frankly…spectacular. He edged up to the nearest post and rested his hand on the wet wood and watched keenly as she rode and then reeled Bessie in to canter to a pause.
Lady Penelope handled the horse effortlessly like part of her soul had merged with Bessie, but then, considering what she had told him about using Bessie as the only company she had preferred after her mother had died, she probably had. She turned the horse with a mere nudge of her knees and leaned over to rub Bessie’s head.
As they turned, Heath sank to the shadows of the stables, knowing that she would probably be mortified that he had seen her. Cloaked in the darkness, he watched as she lightly came off the horse and took the horse’s head in her hands to fondle her muzzle.
Bessie’s head reared up and her nostrils flared—scenting him most likely—but thank god, the animal could not speak. Lady Penelope reeled the animal back into her control and led her to the stable’s door. With her inside, Heath took the opportunity to return to his room, mind filled with Lady Penelope, and a heart bursting with affection for her defiance of the rules that controlled a lady’s life.
Later that night…perhaps his dreams were full of her too. But the mystic images disappeared when he rose to get his duties done and he remembered none of them.
After a bath and getting dressed, he attended to breakfast and kept his composure when Lady Penelope came in. Her rosy cheeks had a color that did not come from sleep and the brightness in her honey eyes did not come from the prospects of her favorite tea or scones. She was beaming.
Lord Allerton, however, came in with dark circles under his eyes and a scowl. He took one look to his sister and scowled harder, “For God’s sake Penelope, it is too early for you to look so happy.”
Her eyes narrowed, “And you are sour enough to curdle my milk, Eddie.”
He groaned. “Coffee, Mr. Moore, please.”
As he went to fill the cup with the heady brew, Mr. Gastrell came in with a silver tray in hand and atop it was a card. He greeted the Earl and the Lady Penelope and Heath before offering the card to the Lady. Heath was busy pouring out the piping hot coffee.
“Oh…” Lady Penelope’s voice was part shocked and part reserved. “Lord Hillbrook would like to take me on a ride to the town center.”
Nonplussed, he took the cup over to Lord Allerton but was not prepared for the Earl saying, “I cannot go, so take Miss Bell and Mr. Moore.”
Heath jostled the cup so hard the liquid splashed over his wrist. Apologizing, he went to redo the cup. Being in close contact with Lord Hillbrook was going to test his mettle. He groaned internally—this was not going to turn out well.
Chapter 16
Penelope was valiantly trying to focus on what Lord Hillbrook was saying but her mind was stuck on Mr. Moore who was accompanying the driver on top of the carriage.
Her brother might not have seen it, but she had. The moment Edward had told the footman to accompany her and Lord Hillbrook, the man had gone stiff like someone had rammed a rod of iron down his spine. He was not going to like his assignment, at all. However, being the professional that he was, he only nodded and told her he would be delighted to assist her.
Now, seven hours after breakfast at the three o’clock hour of the afternoon, she was driving with the charming Baron and could not recall a word he said, even if God gave her a miracle.
