Page 79 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
Martha was strangely absent, but it did not matter to her much. She openedDon Quixoteand examined the thin metal rods. Again, she wondered what they were. A shuffling from outside had her snapping the book closed and dropped it between her and the arm on chaise lounge. Propping her legs up, she placed the best contemplative look on her face.
“Good morning, My Lady,” Martha said sleepily. “What would you like this morning?”
To see Heath.
“A warm bath,” Penelope replied. “This cold is seeping under my skin. I fear my bones are freezing.”
“I’ll send for the water,” Martha said while leaving the room. When she was gone, Penelope took the book and opened it one last time before putting in the bookshelf.
An hour later, she was ensconced in the library with a book on her lap and the remains of her breakfast on the coffee table. She was trying to distract herself from worrying about Heath so much, but her valiant efforts were wavering. Heath never failed to run across her mind with increasing frequency.
Martha came and collected the tray and Penelope gifted her with a smile. She read until her eyes began to burn and she rubbed her eyes. Her stomach was rumbling again, and she reluctantly unfolded her legs.
She left the book and went to the dining room, hoping the sideboard still held treats. It was bare, so she went directly to the kitchens. A maid gave a plate of toast slathered with preserves, and a cup of hot chocolate, balancing both to go to back to the library. A tray would have been sensible, but she believed she could have managed it while going back to the room.
“Do you want help with that, My Lady?”
She yelped and nearly upended the plate, but Heath’s quick reflexes saved her snack. Turning fully, she could not help but smile widely. The man was smiling softly, and her heart began to hammer.
“He—Mr. Moore! You’re back!”
Heath reached over and took the cup from her. His hands were still bandaged, but he did not flinch with the heat seeping from the ceramic into his skin. “Where to, My Lady?”
“Er…” she faltered, forsaking words in favor of letting the delight of seeing Heath run through her. “Um…the library.”
“Lead the way,” he said smiling.
She wanted to drop the food and drag him somewhere where she could hug him tight, but propriety rang loud. Penelope stifled her impulse while making her way to the stairs only to shuffle to a stop. Edward was standing there, face bloodless like snow, while two constables were there too, both grim-faced.
“Edward…” she said, anxiety as heavy as lead in her stomach. “What had happened?”
“It is Mr. Doone…” Edward swallowed thickly.
Mr. Doone? “The stable hand?”
“Yes…he’s dead by suicide,” Edward said, forcing every word through his mouth. “He was on the run the day after he told me about Mr. Moore and the fire. He’s been found this morning in St. Giles. The constables are telling me…he was a paid hand for Lord Swanville.”
“Paid hand?” the dots began to form a picture for her—a very bleak picture. “As in assassin? Did he kill the Vis—”
A body burst into the room wildly looking around. It was Hillbrook. “Dawson, there you are. God! have you heard about Swanville?”
“What now?”
“They have taken him to Newgate yesterday!” the man blurted. “He might be executed!”
Chapter 29
The news came like bullets, one after the other, slamming into Heath’s mind. He should have expected the Crown to react quickly, but this was tremendous.
Lord Allerton turned to him, “Mr. Moore, please take Lady Penelope to her rooms or wherever she might want. We will sort our business out later. Thank you.”
The dismissal was clear, and Heath nodded, angling his body toward the stairs. “My Lady?”
Penelope shot a look over to her brother, Hillbrook and the two constables before looking at Heath and sighing. They took the stairs to the library while she took swift glimpses over her shoulder. They stepped onto the landing and into the corridor to the library. Settling her food on the table, he did not react to her closing the door.
He turned, and she rushed in his arms and nestled her face into his neck. His wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She nuzzled closer, while he stroked her back. He then became aware of her slight trembling.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
