Authors: Nichole Matthews
A finger under her chin raised her face. His eyes were full of understanding, compassion, and love. She felt cherished and taken care of. She knew that he would never make decisions that would be harmful to her or Tillie. She knew that she would always be safe wherever he was and that is where she wanted to be. Her lips curved into a faint smile.
“
Yes, I believe we are ready to return
home
.”
“I’m staying behind until the
authorities arrive to take Granville
into custody.” Peyton cupped the back of his neck and twisted his head from side to side.
Fatigue
finally set
ting
in
as his adrenaline rush came to a dead halt
. “Then I’ll be right behind you.”
“
I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone.
Just chain him in the dungeon,” Parker countered
.
He stared at his brother
a moment
. “It’s far better than he deserves.”
Peyton raised his brow. “No.” He stared at his brother. “I will see this through to the end.”
Parker
didn’t like the look in his brother’s eyes, but he
nodded,
acknowledging Peyton’s decision. He
stood
with Persephone still in his arms, then he lowered her until her feet touched
the floor. As soon as she gained her bearings, h
e reached for her hand and led
her towards the door. He stopped next to his brother and squeezed his right shoulder. “Thank you.”
Peyton’s gut tightened at his
brother’s
words. “
You’re welcome.” He knew he owed Parker a full explanation, but not today.
“
Hawksley
has
Granville’s carriage readied to carry you
both
home.”
Peyton stiffened in surprise when Persephone wrapped
her arms around his waist and hugging him tightly for a brief moment. Looking up she whispered
where only he could hear
, “I will never forget what you did for me.”
He gave her a sad smile
, swallowing hard at her words
. “I only wish I could have done more.”
His voice thick with emotion he would rather not name.
Peyton knew he
would never be able to rid his mind of the horrifying scenes he had witnessed. The thought sickened him even as it took root in his mind.
H
e watched as they left the room, then filled a glass to the brim of some of Granville’s finest brandy and swallowed half in one gulp
to still his shaking
.
He was done.
His senses shattered.
He
practically fell
in
to
the deep leather chair by the fire, propped his booted feet up
on the low footstool and scrubbed at the wetness on his face with the back of his hand surprised and annoyed by the
scalding
tears
that trailed
down his cheeks
. I
f it was anyone else he would say they were weak, but he could still hear their screams and the pain etched on their faces would be imprinted in his memory for the rest of his life
.
Fuck
he was tired.
Horsey, horsey don’t you stop
Just let your feet go
clippety
clop,
The tail goes swish
And the wheels go round,
Giddy up, we’re homeward bound
T
hey spent two
days at
Rosebriar
before piling into three rocking carriages
and
mounting massive four-legged beast
s
in a joyous caravan
to
A
llingham
Park.
A
feeling of easy camaraderie surrounded the men
as they rode side-by-side
,
laughter filtered
through the cracked carriage window from the ladies, Mrs. Collins and the cooing Tillie in the second carriage, followed by the
many servants piled in the
last
.
Persephone leaned across
, moved the curtain and
grinned
when she encountered Parker’s smiling eyes
. Her heart thrummed behind her ribs, his expression intent, watchful. She was finding it hard to believe that they had met
only a little more than
a month ago. Her smile
widened and his brow cocked, displaying
his dimple in
his right cheek. She watched R
ockwell nudge
his shoulder and Parker
briefly turned h
is attention in his direction, rubbing his should
er
as if he’d been mortally wounded.
Rockwell’s amber eyes glinted humorously when he turned towar
ds the carriage,
touch
ing
the brim of his hat in acknowledgement and
Persephone
nodded.
“Your husband is a dangerous man, Piper.” Persephone sat back against the thick velvety squabs and smiled at her new friend
before re
turning her gaze back out the window. No matter where she was she was drawn to him and she was unable to resist the pu
ll.
They
all
were a family. Not just acquaintances. Family.
That sounded wonderful.
Piper reache
d across the carriage to hold Persephone’s
hands tightly in hers.
It took her another moment before she
pulled
her eyes from the scene playing outside the carriage window.
“I
am so
glad you stumbled upon
Ros
ebriar
in your adventures.” Piper’s
mouth tipped up in a sad smile. “We
will
call them adventures and then we needn’t talk of them
anymore.”
“I will be eternally grateful to you
r
brother and to your aunt
for taking care of us
.
”
“I believe you’ve paid him back in full by agreeing to become his wife.” Piper grinned at her, then her eyes turned serious. “He’s always been such a kind man, but he has always put everyone else’s needs above his own.”
A wry smile curved her lips.
“I fear that in the past I took advantage of his good heart, but he deserves to have a happiness that is all his own.” She leaned forward, gripping Persephone’s hand.
“I believe you and Tillie have given him that.”
Persephone felt herself blush.
“I believe all I’ve done is saddled
him
with
two more whose needs he
must put
above his
own;
besides, I’ve not agreed to marry him yet.”
Adele chuckled from her corner. “Playing hard to get, my dear
?
”
“No,”
Persephone
said, pausing for
a moment. “I cannot believe he would want all that comes with me. It is too much to ask of anyone.”
“You’ll understand once you have a husband, Persephone.”
Piper said with all the wisdom of her almost twenty-one years.
“That’s what husbands
do, but now you will be his and his alone and he will desire above all else to make sure you
a
re taken care of. That your needs are met. That you are happy, and then in turn he is happy.”
Persephone looked thoughtful.
“That is hard for me to accept
.
It seems too much to comprehend.
”
“That’s because your most recent interactions with men have been
dreadful
.” Piper’s
eyes were full of sympathy. “But they were not true men. A true man would n
ever harm someone who is perceived weaker and gain pleasure from it
,
at that.
Especially someone unwilling.
”
Persephone leaned back against the deep red velvet squabs unable to keep the smile from her eyes. “You seem so wise.”
She turned towards Adele to see her lips curved up in a smile.
Piper tapped
her gently on the knee
with her gloved hand
, rolling her eyes. “I
am
a married woman.”
“Heaven help us,” Adele murmured, amusement apparent in her tone.
Persephone laughed. Genuine, heartfelt
,
and
until recently,
rare. “You
are
silly.”
“I know it is bad form to repeat myself,” Piper added. “But I am very glad that you found Parker to take care of you and Tillie.”
Persephone smiled at Piper’s words. “I am more than able to take care of the both of us on my own.”
“Of course you are, dear,” Adele cut in.
Piper nodded her assent, but her eyes narrowed at the impish gleam in Persephone’s eyes. “What are you not saying, Persephone?”
“I am worth a
bloody
fortune.” Persephone’s
eyebrows rose high and she pursed her lips to still the grin that wanted to spread over her face.
“Fortune?” Piper asked on a cough.
“My mother left me quite well off when she passed. I was unable to retrieve my funds without drawing attention to myself
, so I was forced to live meagerly for some time
.”
Piper cleared her throat. “Just what do you mean quite well off?”
“It would be vulgar to say
,” Persephone answered
.
Piper crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.
Adele laughed loudly, before adding, “Behave, Piper.”
“Eight thousand a year,” Persephone answered anyway, knowing the Pere
grine’s had no need for her money
.
Piper’s brow furrowed. “
Is Parker aware of your circumstances
?”
Persephone shook her head, her nose wrinkling
.
“It never came up in the topic of conversation.”
“Oh, dear,” Adele sank back against the red velvet squabs.
Persephone looked at both ladies with a frown. “Will he be upset when he finds out?”
Piper shook her head, grinning at her aunt. “This is going to be delightful.”
She pressed her hand to her mouth to stifle her uncontrollable giggles.
Adele nodded. “Quite.”
Persephone bit her bottom lip, her brow furrowed with worry.
Adele patted her hand. “It will be humorous. That is all, dear.”
Piper
took that moment to release the catch on the window and
lean out
in anticipation of
Allingham
Park coming into view
, gesturing to Persephone to do the same. Persephone scooted across the seat and
stuck her head out the window and
her mouth dropped open.
Situated on a hilltop,
the Duke of
Hawksley’s
family home
came into view
little by little
as they rounded the bend
.
“Isn’t it beautiful.”
Piper sighed.
“Quite,”
Persephone agreed her laughter carrying on the wind.
She was a little nervous to meet more of Parker’s family and friends. She lowered her hands to her lap so no one would see how bad they shook.
“I’m completely envious of Miss Harris,” Piper sighed. “She’s been able to hold Gabriel in her arms for days and days.”
“Miss Harris?” Persephone questioned.
“Oh dear,” Piper’s mouth made a perfect O. “Have w
e never talked of Miss Harris?
She glanced toward her aunt. “Firstly, she was our governess, then she remained on as our chaperone and a companion for Auntie.”
“So she is currently residing at
Allingham
Park?”
“She joined Poppy as soon as we heard she was
enceinte
.” Piper giggled. “Poor
Hawksley
. Poppy thought he was going to pull out all of his hair with worry.”