Page 73 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
“Penelope, sit down,” he gestured, and though the suspicion grew in her chest, she did and folded her skirts around her.
The Earl placed his hands on the desk between them, “The fire this morning, as these good men have deciphered, was not an accident. They suspect arson.”
“From who?” She asked askance and then followed with, “And why? What would anyone burn down a stable?”
“Mr. Doone here saw Mr. Moore enter the stables before the fire began, and—”
She launched out of her seat with anger and disbelief flaring white hot. “Edward! Are you suggesting Heath set that fire? Are you insane?”
“Penelope!”
“I cannot believe you would even consider such a thing!” she spat. “He did not do anything of the sort. I would pledge my life on it!”
“Sit. Down.” Edward ordered tersely through grit teeth. “Mr. Moore is—”
“Innocent!” she overrode him. “He did not do it, Edward.”
He then stood and glared at her, “You cannot know that, Penelope. Russell was right when he suggested that—”
“Hillbrook said that!” she shot back. “Hillbrook? No wonder your head is twisted in knots, Edward. He is so in your head that I don’t think you have any of your own thoughts anymore! Heath Moore did not set the stables on fire. Why would he do that only to risk his life to save Bessie?”
“I do not know,” Edward said staunchly, “But until I know better, the magistrates will be taking him into custody.”
“The man is unconscious, Edward!” She said appalled.
“When he wakes up then,” the Earl replied. “The matter is closed, Penelope. He is under suspicion and until the investigation is fulfilled then will I take chances.”
She blinked, paling at his words. “You will destroy him for something he did not do.”
“It has to be done,” he said dismissively. “I just thought you should know and be prepared.”
“You’re taking away the only man I love over nonsense,” she said plainly, not caring that foreign ears were listening. “Because of dratted Hillbrook, who I must tell you hated Heath from the moment he laid eyes on him.”
Edward’s dark eyes went from shock to appalled and as he made to speak, she spun and left the room without a look to the two uniformed men. Her temples throbbed in anger, frustration and cold dismay. Edward was a fool, but no one could sway him from his witch-hunt.
Tears were building under her eyes and instead of going back to her rooms, she went directly back to Heath. Martha was not there, and she was glad for that. She needed privacy. Heath was still sleeping but had a tight furrow in the middle of his brow. Was he having a bad dream?
The tips of her fingertips pressed lightly to smooth the furrow out and from there, her hand slipped to his jaw. His face turned to her touch and she smiled even while heartbreak was making her chest throb.
“I’m so sorry,” she said softly.
She traced the curve of his lashes and smiled at the softness there. They were pretty long too. Longer than hers, she smiled. Flittering over his cheekbone she wondered if she could sneak Heath away and act innocent of it all.
That would make him look even more suspicious in my brother’s eyes. Perhaps the best way is to let them take him. They’ll find out everything is fine and let him go.
“What’s wrong?” Heath’s rough voice asked.
She tried to smile but knew he would see through it. “Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, Penelope,” he asked while bracing to sit up. “I think I have earned the truth from you.”
Pressing on his shoulders to stop him from rising she shook her head, “I am sorry Heath…some stable hand says he saw you going into the stables before the fire, and my idiot brother is agreeing with him all because dratted Hillbrook got into his head. There are constables here to take you away.”
The contemplative look on Heath’s face was not one she would have expected him to have after knowing that he was suspected of a crime. Anyone being falsely accused would have begun protesting immediately—he did not. Why?
“Heath?”
His eyes were dim, but his smile was soft, “Don’t worry Penelope, they cannot do anything to me.”
