Page 93 of The Gift of Patience
“I believe, in fact, it was quite the opposite.”
He smiled with devastating effect. “There’s my girl.”
“I want to go home.”
“I know.” He took her into his arms with a gentle kiss to her head. Somehow, her subconscious allowed all self-control to let loose along with bodily control. Her teeth started to chatter and she cursed. Warm arms came around her body as it began to shake and she couldn’t stop the cascade that fell from her eyes, hating the weakness and seeming dependence on another.
Ashley simply held her until the well had run dry. “The first time is the hardest. Not that killing a person ever becomes easy.”
“What will happen to me?”
He sighed, then seemed to settle in for a lengthy talk.
“You mean will you be punished?”
A nod of acknowledgement was all she could muster.
“I suppose it’s time to explain things to you.”
Patience remained quiet, lest he change his mind.
“You may have noticed that my troop does not exactly perform normal duties.”
She nodded.
“The duties we performed during the war did not precisely fit in with that of the Household Guards. When delicate matters arose, especially with Renforth’s connections, we were asked tolook into some sensitive matters, then one thing led to another. We have been doing it ever since. Our specialty is making situations disappear.”
“Such as this one. Who do you officially work for?”
“That is a fine question and one I’m not sure I can or could answer.”
She squeezed his hand and let him continue.
“This matter will go away with minimum fuss. When arms were stolen from the government, it quickly became apparent that information had been leaked from high channels.”
“So Cholmely’s brother will not be publicly branded a traitor?”
“Only if there’s no other way to prevent it. It would be an embarrassment for our government as well as Lord Ormond and Chum. There is still the matter of discovering where Singleton obtained the information, but I have little doubt it will prove that Layton and Beckett were involved. They were likely desperate to find a way to pay Rupert’s scheme, as it were.”
“And what of Rupert’s death?”
“It will be death by misadventure attributed to the attack by highwaymen.”
“And my part will be swept under the rug.”
“It will not be mentioned. While your actions were most admirable and heroic, Singleton’s death will also be attributed to unfortunate events in no way linked to the stolen arms.”
“That is harder for me to understand.”
“Since he’s already dead, the innocent involved would suffer more. Think of Chum. His family’s title would most likely be stripped and they would lose all of their lands and estates.”
“Oh, I see.” A wave of emotion hit her again and she held back tears. “I thought I would lose you,” she said softly. “I could bear almost anything but that.”
“It will take a lot more than that to get rid of me, Patience. If you think you can put up with me, that is.”
Was he saying what she thought he was? She looked up into his eyes, the deep blue watching her, vulnerable.
Before she could assimilate an answer, he pulled back the tarp, and directed the ferryman to take them back across the river. Slowly. Then he pulled the tarp back over them and adjusted her comfortably back into his arms. She wished they could stay like that forever, ridiculous though it may seem.
