Page 80 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
She pulled away and took his closest hand. She shook her head and the freckles across her nose looked a bit more pronounced on her pale skin. “Nothing…just silly me thinking they would hold you forever.”
“I did say I’d be back,” Heath smiled. “I honor my word, Penelope.”
“They have pardoned you then?” She asked while going to sit and take her chocolate.
Producing the letter from his coat, Heath said, “Yes, after grilling me, twisting my story in tangles and making me untangle it and receiving a report from an investigating constable, I am clear.”
She sighed into the tea, “Thank God.”
She heard a raucous noise outside and jerked her head toward the door; Heath was on his feet in an instant. She followed him and they stopped on the landing. A fuming Edward stood surrounded by a group of constables.
“Oh god,” Penelope grimaced. “What is it now? Has there not been enough shock today?”
Heath’s eyes were focused on the circle where a constable was holding one of Lord Allerton’s air guns.
“Are you mad!” Edward said stiffly. “I did not bloody shoot Sir Stratham.”
“The bullet taken from him was from one of these,” the constable accused. “No one in the hunting party has one of these, My Lord. The only conclusion is that you paid someone to do it for you.”
“And have you found that someone?” Edward snapped. “I. Did. Not. Do. It.”
Every word was emphasized with strident honestly, but the constables were unfazed. “Is it a coincidence that Mr. Doone committed suicide after running from his post?”
“He might have felt his conscience for killing the Viscount, and if he knew about his master being taken to prison, he might have seen the walls closing on him,” Edward said firmly.
“Regardless, My Lord,” the constable said tightly. “You are still suspect, and we cannot take any chances when it comes to an almost assassination of a knight of the realm.”
Heath looked at Penelope who now turned a deathly pale and before he could reach out, she was down the stairs in a blur of blue. She pushed her way through the constables and hugged her brother. Heath was too far to hear what she said, but when the Lord spoke in her ear, she nodded and stepped back.
“Well, gentlemen,” Lord Allerton tugged at his waistcoat. “Let us go to my study.”
While three of the constables followed the Earl, Penelope drifted back up the stairs and passed by Heath with a mere flick of her eyes. Silently, he followed her back to the library where she sank to the seat a little woodenly and framed her head in her hands. Sitting beside her, Heath pulled her to rest on his shoulder.
“Why is this happening so fast?” her whisper was a tortured breath.
Heath grimaced. He had hoped to confess before all this raincloud of devastating revelations. His, he knew, might bring on the storm.
“I don’t know, sweetheart,” he said softly, trying to wrap her in a blanket of tenderness.
“At least you’re here,” she laughed softly and felt despicable knowing he was going to leave her too.
Pressing his lips to the top of her head he tried to banish the pain inside him, the pain she would feel when he told her who he was.
Not now…she is too raw to feel another blow to her heart.
So, he stayed there, holding her until she began to drift to sleep on his shoulder. He cherished this closeness of her body against his, so innocent and lovely. He did not startle when footsteps came in and Lord Allerton’s dark eyes scanned over them with muted shock. He would have preferred to not have the Lord find them like this, but he did not want to disturb Penelope.
He moved to wake her, but Lord Allerton shook his head, “Don’t. Don’t wake her.” He then swallowed. “I know how she sees you, Mr. Moore. She told me that she loves you, and though I am not fully agreeable, I cannot force her affections to anyone I might choose. I am heading to London now, but I expect to be back soon after they rubbish this accusation. Take care of her for me.”
Nodding he said, “I will do my best.”
The Earl shot a look to them again and then squared his jaw. “Good evening, Mr. Moore.”
Watching him leave felt wrong. He should have woken Penelope to see her brother off, but he had been ordered not to. Twisting back to the lady breathing softly on his chest, he tried to do away with the world outside for as long as he could.
As the moon was rising and the sweet toast was attracting a fierce army of ants to it, Heath ignored the pests and woke Penelope, trying to convince her it was best for her to go to bed.
She rubbed her eyes, “Where’s Eddie?”
