Harry still looked wretched. His chin bore a bruise to rival Leath’s. At this rate, they’d all return to London looking very sorry. “Pen, I never should have embroiled you in this.”
Reluctantly she left Cam to offer Harry a gingerly hug. Every movement made her head throb. If Leath ever decided against becoming prime minister, she could recommend him as a boxer. “Be happy, brother.”
Carefully she hugged Sophie. “Welcome to the family.”
Sophie returned her embrace, then approached her brother. “James, I’m sorry I’ve caused all this trouble.” Her voice wobbled. “But I love you and I hope you can forgive me one day.”
Pen was sure that Leath would hate the way his expression betrayed every emotion. Anger. Frustration. Abiding affection. Guilt. Then reluctant acceptance. Up until now, Pen hadn’t been sure that she liked the marquess. She didn’t blame him for hitting her, but she couldn’t excuse his arrogance.
Now when he beheld his sister as though he’d sacrifice anything for her, Pen’s heart melted.
It was the old magic again. Love. Once more she faced the harsh truth that the magic would forever remain a mystery to her husband.
“I’ll think about forgiving you.” Leath’s tone said that he already had. He kissed Sophie on the forehead, then faced her toward Harry. “Look after her.”
Pen had never seen Harry so grave. “I will, sir. And thank you.”
Incredibly, they might yet emerge without bloodshed. When Leath left Rothermere House, she’d been sure that he’d kill Harry.
Pen sagged with exhaustion. Now that the tension ebbed, she felt like Leath had punched her over and over, instead of landing one glancing blow to the side of her head.
“I’ll take Sophie and Thorne to Alloway Chase,” Leath said. “They’ll be safe from curiosity there while we plan the wedding.”
Sophie and Harry collected their few possessions—they’d traveled very light—and left with Leath. Pen and Cam remained behind in the dingy room, his arm around her waist.
She felt giddy and sick and sore and woefully unprepared for this reckoning. But she couldn’t bear to wait any longer to decide her future. She’d reached a point where a short sharp cut seemed preferable to slow strangulation.
Cam’s
touch reminded her too painfully of all she’d lost. She broke away, fighting to keep her voice steady. “What happens now, Cam?”
He frowned. “I take you back to the Bear and Swan and summon a doctor.”
“I’m perfectly all right.”
He raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “Leath landed a hell of a blow.”
“It was an accident.”
To her surprise, a faint smile curved Cam’s lips. “It wasn’t an accident. It was your damned recklessness. You haven’t changed since you were six years old and jumping into the river to save a drowning puppy.”
Cam had rescued her that day. Cam always rescued her. What a crushing realization that he’d never rescue her again. This was like having a limb amputated. Slowly.
“He was going to kill Harry,” she mumbled.
“Undoubtedly.”
“I couldn’t let that happen.”
“So you put yourself in danger.”
She sighed. “I wasn’t hurt.”
A flash in his green eyes reminded her of his incandescent anger when Leath clipped her. “Yes, you were.”
“Not seriously.”
“Good luck only.”