Page 70 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
“Lady Penelope, I meant no harm,” the Baron said placatingly.
“Yes, you did,” she said simply. “You might be here for my brother, but please leave, Lord Hillbrook.”
“My Lady—”
“Please,” she said while stepping aside.
Hillbrook looked to her then to Heath and shook his head, “My apologies, My Lady. Have a good evening.”
She pivoted on her heel to watch him walk away and when his back disappeared, she turned to Heath. “He had no right to abuse you like that.”
“Unfortunately,” Heath replied mirthlessly while looking in the same direction. “I have been subjected to similar treatments before. Some much more…uncouth.”
“You shouldn’t have,” she said tightly in agitation. Reached out, she took his hand, loving her feel of his calluses against her softer skin. “No one deserves condescension and disdain from anyone, no matter their status in life.”
“Sadly,” Heath said quietly. “It will never stop. The ugly truth is that servants are disposable, Penelope. We can be gotten rid without a solid reason.”
The mere thought of Heath being sent away cut her deeply, too deeply that her feeling of affection and even infatuation would warrant. Why did her chest burn so badly? Did she love him then?
Heath squeezed her hand before dropping it. “You’re troubled.”
“Of course, I’m troubled,” she grimaced. “I don’t want you to go…anywhere.”
“Why?”
His eyes were shimmering gemstones under the hood of his brows while his quiet question settled on her heart.
Why? Why…because I think my heart might be shattered if you do go.
Her smile was wan, “Because I’m selfish and you…speak to horses.”
That was no real reason at all, and they both knew it. “I think it’s time for you to have dinner. Will you allow me to escort you to the dining room?”
“I’d like nothing more,” she admitted.
That evening, Heath attended to his duties and went off to bed with a low hollowness in his stomach. Sleep did not come to him again, but the pressure from that night when Penelope had injured herself was not there. However, Penelope was the subject of his thoughts.
Nearly ten o’clock he gave up trying to sleep, dressed and found himself in the stables. Duke shifted in his stall, and Heath slid his hand down the stallion’s neck. “How are you, old boy?”
Again, he wished the animal could answer, but Duke only shook his head, tossing his mane a little. “I have a problem, my friend…I am…in love.” He laughed darkly, “It's either that or I am hosting a brain parasite or…well, possessed. I am in love with Penelope…and I should not be.”
His acute ears heard quiet footsteps behind him and knew who was there but did not turn. His heartbeat did increase. Perhaps, this was the best way of confessing his emotions, to Duke instead of her.
“She’s everything any man would want and more than some deserve,” Heath said while pointedly ignoring the soft breaths behind him. “You should have seen her today, defending me. I have seen lionesses before defending their young, but I don’t think any of them were as fiercely wonderful as she was today. I nearly kissed her…”
He smiled to Duke at the soft gasp behind him, “but I remembered where I was and didn’t.”
“I wish I had the means to court her, Duke…have the freedom to be with her how I would like to. To give her the life and comfort she needs. She deserves the unique treasures of the earth, gifts as rare and precious as she is. I cannot give her what I would like to give her, and it pains me.”
Slender arms wrapped around his waist, clasping both hands around his stomach. “You give me enough.”
He stilled as the feel of her body behind his. “Do I?”
Dropping his hands from Duke, he covered her hands with his and looked down on the contrast. He stroked her skin and let out a breath, “I should not be in love with you, Penelope.”
“Why?”
Now, he felt the hesitancy she had before when he had asked the question to her. Her arms did not slacken, but he turned and placed knuckles under her chin.Because I am not who you think I am…
