Page 74 of The Rise of a Forsaken Lady
“Because they will find out that you are innocent, right,” she said.
“Something like that,” Heath said enigmatically. “I am not afraid of them and if it gets your brother some peace of mind, I’ll go willingly.”
She was stunned. “But you did not do anything, Heath! This is madness!”
“As I said,” he did sit up this time to rest on the headboard. “If it gives your brother some peace of mind, I will go. I will come back, Penelope.”
Worriedly, she wondered what was wrong with the men in her life. Her brother had lost all sense, and Heath was allowing his madness to reign free. His hand clasped hers. “It will be fine, sweetheart, I promise.”
Looking around he asked, “Were you nursing me?”
“I would not let anyone else,” she replied. “After you risked your life to save a part of mine.”
His hand reached up to skim over her arm, up past her shoulder and then to her face. His thumb caressed her cheek before his hand slipped under her braid to her neck. “I will be fine, love.”
His effort to comfort her did not do its job but she pretended it had. Leaning in she kissed him softly. “Get home to me soon.”
Nodding to the door, Heath said, “They’re probably out there now. Let me up and give me a shirt. I’ll go with them.”
Reluctantly, she did as she was told and fished a shirt from his drawer. He did not help to dress himself and while the shirt was over his eyes, Penelope’s eyes dipped to Heath’s chest and toned stomach. There was no question in her mind how Heath could lift her up so easily. The man had muscles. She blushed, but tried to hide it.
His knowing smirk to her averted eyes told him he knew what she was embarrassed about but, mercifully, he did not say a word. She swallowed tightly over her throat while her eyes were on the floor. His green eyes monopolized her attention and drawing her close, he kissed her softly. “I will be back, Penelope.”
Still, she was not comforted and sighed, “You’d better.”
Opening the door, she realized Heath’s suspicion about the constables’ presence was there, and she stood, helplessly as they greeted him and told him about his arrest.
“I have nothing to hide,” Heath said evenly. “I will cooperate.”
They greeted her with polite words and took Heath away. One grasped his arms and she saw him flinch. “Stop! He’s injured!”
Instantly, the man dropped his hand and looked at her apologetically. She followed them like a waif in the night as they came upon the foyer and at the doorway, she stood as they helped him into a carriage. As they drove away, she felt a brimming need to grab a tight hold on him because like water he might slip through her fingers and be lost forever.
* * *
Whites Gentleman Club, London
He had barely entered the room with a smug grin when a man, not his usual party, stood and glared at him. “You shot the son of a Duke? Have you lost your senses?”
“Good evening to you too,” the young man said uncaringly as he took his seat.
“Why?” he was asked. “Do you not know the wrath that will fall upon you after such a direct attack?”
Filling a glass with scotch and sitting, the reply was, “Oh, calm down. The man is not dead, and he was the third son, he is ignored at most and expendable at the least. Besides, he should be thanking me. If there is any fallout, God forbid, an attack on his family should turn suspicion from him for being the ringleader of our merry band of traitors and focus on someone else.”
“Duke Stratham has more leverage at his fingertips then you could muster up in a decade,” was his refrain. “The man is untouchable.”
We’ll see about that. If he dares double-cross me, a pile of easily-decodable letters in my home will say differently.
“Then there is nothing to worry about, is there?”
An uncivilized grunt was his answer, “When are you going to get him into the direct eyes of the magistrates?”
“The gun is lying in wait only to be discovered,” the younger man smirked cruelly. “My scapegoat, pardon me, our scapegoat, will be the prime suspect soon and even convicted if the plans go my way.”
“And about the…what was it…insect?”
Long fingers curled around the glass. “That certain insect has been moved away. He was getting annoying and I needed him gone. A few pounds in a man’s pocket did the trick.”
