Earl of Gold (Lords of Scandal 7)

He heard her intake of breath as the carriage began to slow and then rolled to a stop.

He made to open the door, but she reached out a hand to stop him. “The world was hard on me.”

He clasped her hand in his. “I know that.”

“I had parents that loved me and taught me how to love in return.” She leaned closer. “But Natty and Fran, they’ve never been taught. That’s my job and it’s one I take very seriously.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

“You don’t.” She reached up and touched his face. “You can’t enter their lives and change your mind later, Logan. They need consistency and unwavering belief. If you’re not here to stay then you shouldn’t be here at all. They’re too fragile and I won’t allow you to make their lives worse.”

And then she snapped the door open herself and climbed out of the carriage on her own.

Logan sat there for a moment, her words echoing in his thoughts.

But he’d already made his choice. He’d given up the club for Penny and for the girls too. He was helping them, damn it. And he’d make their lives better if it killed him.

And so, he snapped the door open once again and began to follow.

He caught sight of three men standing down the street, watching, but they didn’t approach, and so Logan paid them no mind. He had enough on his plate with one very angry woman.

Penny had reached the top of the steps and he took them two at a time to catch up to her. “Wait,” he called as she pulled the knocker on the door. “There is more that I need to tell you.” He had to find the words. Because she needed them and this was not about his fears but her needs. He drew in a deep breath. He could tell her he’d given up the club without spilling his entire heart on the floor, couldn’t he?

She spun about. “I think I’ve heard enough for one evening.”

The door lock clicked, and the door swung open.

“You’re here,” Clarissa breathed a sigh of relief, holding a crying Natty in her arms. “I didn’t expect you so early and yet I am incredibly grateful.”

“What’s wrong?” Penny asked, stepping into the room.

“She’s had another nightmare. Woke up screaming at full volume.” Clarissa passed the crying child into Penny’s arms.

Penny shushed Natty as Logan closed and bolted the door behind him. He was here to help. He just had to convince Penny of that fact.

Penny held Natty, glad for the distraction.

She wanted to focus on anything but the man behind her.

Natty sobbed, burying her little face into Penny’s shoulder. “You’re all right,” Penny soothed. “It was just a dream.”

“She was there,” Natty’s voice trembled.

She was the innkeeper’s wife who had been merciless with the small child. “She can never hurt you again.”

“You won’t let her, will you?” Natty said as she lifted her head.

And that was when Penny realized that Natty wasn’t speaking to her. Penny looked over her shoulder to see Natty looking, with a fixed gaze, directly at Logan.

“Of course I won’t,” he answered.

And to Penny’s shock, the little girl reached out her arms to Logan.

Without hesitation, he took the child from her arms, his hands brushing Penny’s torso. Her body shivered in response to his touch and she could have cursed her treacherous skin. After what she’d learned how could her body respond to his touch?

Her treacherous body still wanted this man despite knowing that he didn’t actually care about her.

He held Natty close and she snuggled her face into his neck, her tiny hand fitting into his.