Page 87 of The Taste of Light
But he was done forcing his will on her. After he proved his innocence and Ulrich was no longer a threat to her, Pedro would allow her to choose. She deserved his honesty.
He pulled her close and brushed away her tears. "I will take Fernando's evidence to Lisbon and do what is right."
"I know you will." Anne gifted him with her wobbly smile.
James padded into the room, and Pedro bent to pet his little head. "If you take care of her until I return, brigadier, I will bring you a medal."
“I thought he was a corporal.”
“He was long due a promotion.” Pedro straightened and pulled Anne closer for a kiss, tasting her trust, her love, her light. Opening his palm, he revealed her locket once more. "You once leaped into the fire to save this."
"Pedro—"
He placed a fingertip above her lips. "Would you keep it longer?" When he secured the chain around her neck, the heart-shaped locket caught the light from the morning sun, but it didn’t rival Anne's luminous skin. "After I return, I will take you to your family. If you still believe I deserve this honor by then, you can remove it for good."
Chapter 37
Wanderingthroughtheorchard,Anne couldn't stop thinking about Pedro's revelation. She wished bringing Braganza's evidence to light would help diminish Pedro's guilt over Mozambique. Would it work? Or were his scars too deep? Too entrenched in Pedro's belief of himself to ever heal?
Pedro was a man of deep feeling but a harsh judge of his own actions. Witnessing his pain without being able to help had wrenched her heart.
Heavy clouds gathered atop the villa, and an unnatural stillness had turned the scenery into a painting. A storm brewed, and unwilling to get drenched, Anne took the trail back to the house.
When she entered the garden, a coach awaiting at the courtyard made her stumble. Her brother's brougham! Grinning, she collected her skirts and raced to the front door.
Griffin held James in his left arm and brandished his finger in Hilaria's face. "You will tell where my sister is this instant, or I will demolish this house."
The housekeeper glowered, her face a furious red. "Sir, you are stepping over his lordship's begonias—"
"I will step over much more if you don't give me an answer."
Anne laughed, breathless. "Griffin?"
Her brother stilled and then turned slowly. His clothes, always so impeccable, were wrinkled, and several days of beard shadowed his jaw. "Anne? Thank God."
Anne leaped into his arms. Griffin pulled her into a genuine embrace, not the customary taps she used to receive from him.
Pressed between them, James groaned.
Griffin passed her the dog and pushed her in the coach's direction. "Wait for me inside."
Anne planted her feet into the grass. "No, I—"
"Anne, not now." He dismissed her and turned to Hilaria. "I demand to speak with Almoster."
"Do you know this brute, Miss Anne? Will you tell him the master isn't here?"
"Pedro Daun will not leave this situation unscathed. This time he will pay for his crimes," her brother said, looking positively murderous.
There must be a mistake. Certainly, Griffin was right to feel out of sorts, even emotional, but why such hatred? A lot had happened since last they’d last seen each other, but she wasn't the child who had left Vesuvio, and Griffin would have to understand she would no longer take his orders. "Hilaria, can you please give us a minute?"
The housekeeper seemed about to club Griffin with her wooden spoon, but Anne smiled reassuringly. "This is my brother, and he usually has more manners than this." As soon as the housekeeper entered the kitchen, Anne turned to her brother. "I don't believe—"
"Is he watching? Is that why you act like a gracious guest and not a kidnapper's victim? I've traveled through this entire country after you, stopping at all his properties. In every bloody one, I expected to find you cowering, locked against your will in a dank room. Imagine my surprise to find you tanned and glowing as if—" His eyes widened. He pointed at her, and then he groaned. "By God, he seduced you, did he not?"
Her cheeks flamed, and she crossed her arms over her midriff. He had the right to be displeased that she had lost her virtue. Still, he would reconsider when he realized her feelings for Pedro. "Griffin, please, it is not what you think—"
"This is all my fault. When I learned Almoster was back in the Douro, I should have warned you away from him. I should have predicted the corrupt count would use you."
