by Jenn LeBlanc
“Daniel made his choice.”
“More like it was made for him.”
“We are all better for it, though,” Lilly said quietly. “He will find someone more suited to him.”
Meggie smiled.
“Has he already?” Lilly asked. Meggie shrugged.
“Is it wrong? When you left he needed a friend, he came to me. I was the closest to you. I do not know if we will...we are yet mere friends.”
“He has always been part of the family Meggie.”
Meggie shrugged and looked to the barn. “I’m surprised Lord Trumbull allows Daniel to stay here.”
“He hasn’t a choice, it is not his home.”
“Well, no, but he is who he is and he could just ask Papa to send him away.”
“He wouldn’t! It’s not like that, it’s only that I was to marry someone else.”
“He really loves you, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, he does, Megs.”
“But he was a rake, Lilly! Don’t you worry?” They approached the paddock and Lilly stopped.
“He was a rake. Which is one of the reasons we ended up...where we are. But Meggie, he is so very different from what everyone thinks.”
“Truly? I don’t need to worry?”
“No. You really don’t need to worry. You really don’t. I love him.”
“Do you now?” The rumble of his baritone caught them off guard as he marched across the paddock toward them, sweeping his shirt off over his head as he came.
Meggie blushed and started to curtsey, but Lilly grabbed her arm. She whispered, “Don’t, Megs, he’s your brother—or will be, hopefully, and he doesn’t want that here.”
“I don’t know how you can deal with this. He is still who he is,” she whispered back, casting her eyes down.
Perry flung his shirt—he’d decided with a great deal of gusto was appropriate—across the paddock rail, then jumped on the lower rung and leaned toward them, taking a glass of the cool lemonade. He stood tall, holding the rail with one hand as he downed the glass. It was quite a show, and it caused Lilly’s mouth to go dry. She looked at her sister, whose wide eyes were on his boots.
Lilly shook her head, then saw Daniel walk out from the stable behind him. She waved then nudged her sister. Meggie took the tray and walked over to Daniel to offer him a glass.
Perry’s throat stopped moving. He lowered the glass and swiped his bare forearm across his mouth as he looked at Lilly. She lifted the hem of her skirts and grabbed the rail, lifting herself to meet his eyes. He took her about the waist and drew her toward him. Their precarious balance forced him to chase her mouth a bit before he caught her and kissed her within an inch of salvation.
She grabbed him hard about the waist to steady herself and he threw a leg over the top rail, pulling her to sit across his lap.
“This is beautiful country.”
“Is it?” she asked quietly as she looked up at him.
“Yes, I begin to understand what Gideon loves about this land. I always found something to do, but I was much too restless to simply enjoy it all.”
She settled her cheek against his chest, tucking a hand into his waistband to hold onto him.
“I could stay here forever.”
“If you like.”
She looked up as he looked down to her, then shook her head. “No, my mother needs a respite. She would never survive were we to live nearby.”
He grinned. “No, I don’t think she would. I feel terrible about that, by the way. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Just continue to be your wonderful charming self. I have no doubt you’ll win her over eventually.” He laughed, and her whole body shook against him, causing a delightful friction.
“There’s something I would like to show you. I’m going to saddle a horse—does it matter which?”
“The grey is ours, the rest are boarded. Will you be gone long?”
“As long as you wish it, as you are coming with me.”
Hepplewort followed Morgan and his mother into the inn at Kelso. He ordered three rooms and asked that his borrowed team be seen to. The innkeeper gave him a wary glance, then handed off three keys and turned the register for him to sign.
“Supper is served at seven.”
Hepplewort grunted and turned for the stairs.
Perry turned their mount into the wooded area. He loved turning the horse because it gave him the opportunity to graze her breasts with his forearms. He had started a slow burn way back at the edge of her father’s property and he just knew Lilly was going to bubble over if they didn’t get to their destination soon.
She kept shifting in the saddle as though to rub against the pommel in front of her, the side effect of which was the cockstand now resting at her backside.
“Perry, please.”
He pushed the horse a little faster, smoothing out his gait as he leaned into her, pushing her gently into the pommel on each landing.
“Oh, God, Perry.”
He pulled her skirt up and inched his hand between her and the pommel, sliding his fingers through her slick folds as his other arm held tight to her waist and the rein.
“God, you’re wet, Lilly,” he breathed against her ear.
Her hands clasped his forearms, her fingers digging into his flesh as the horse jumped some branches. She broke around him, coming apart as they flew into the clearing, and she screamed. The sound was like a hawk taking flight in search of something and he stopped the horse, holding her tightly against him as she came down, collapsing into him.
He turned the horse, spinning him as she relaxed further against him. The horse’s hooves crushed the blooming heather in the clearing and created a cloud of musky scent around them sending his senses soaring, his memories reeling.
“Oh, Perry, that was...that was amazing,”
“I’m not quite done.” He lifted one leg over the horse’s neck, pulling her along, and jumped to the ground. She watched as he undressed her; she was a flag caught in the breeze of him, her trappings falling away as he worked efficiently, then turned those hands on himself.
“No, let me.” She paused at his waistband and looked up with a smile. “You see, the tables have quite turned, for it is I that stands naked in the outdoors and you with all your clothes on.”
He shook his head and smiled. “Be done with this or I will.” Her eyes widened at his tone and her fingers moved swiftly, divesting him of his clothing as easily as he had hers.
He took her wrist and pulled her to the crystal clear pond. “Can you swim?”
“Yes, I—”
He lifted her as he walked across the big flat rock then tossed her in, diving in next to her. He grabbed her underwater and kissed her, hard, the bubbles of their breath mingling as they surfaced together.
“You horrible, evil, awful—”
He kissed her again to quiet her rant and pulled her toward the center of the pond.
“Have you been here before?” he asked.
“No. We used to go to a pond on my father’s land. I really never came this direction—toward Eildon, I mean. We knew it was the duke’s land, so we steered clear.”
“Well, this is one of the places where he and I spent a great deal of time as children. Mostly naked, swimming all summer. I only asked because perhaps you spied on us, here in our private swimming hole.”
Her jaw dropped and she smacked his shoulder when they stopped. “That’s horrible! I would never!”
“No, I don’t think you would have. Then.”
“I do remember you younger. I have ridden with you before, you know, not quite like this, but...”
She blushed and it was beautiful. He took her in his arms, amazed he had been so lucky to meet her.
“I came to visit my father when he was in charge of the stable, and you—”
“I remember you— You were naught but a little thing. That was you?” He smiled against her mouth. “Oh dear, I thought you were the prettiest girl.”
> “You did not.”
“I did! All that hair. It was past your waist! The sun made it glow, and when we cantered through the meadow it soared around my face like the waves in the ocean. It was incredible.”
“Stop.”
“I won’t. I’ve thought of that girl since then, but the minute I met you she was no longer in my thoughts. I suppose I’ve been looking for you all along. I didn’t even remember your name. But I remembered your hair, and that the heather was in bloom then as well. I have always loved the smell of crushed heather.”
“It is a rather heady fragrance. And why wouldn’t you remember my name?” She pulled back and looked at him, wrapping her legs around his waist under the water.
He shook his head. “I didn’t need you back then.”
She gasped and he delved into her mouth, deeper than she thought possible, shifting her hips against him, and though the pond was fairly cold, and he thought it not possible, his cock twitched and rose to meet her.
Meggie opened the door expecting to see Perry and Lilly, but instead was met with a carriage and four pulling through the far gate.
“Papa, there’s someone here.” She turned to find him coming from the kitchen, where he’d been trying to convince her mother that everything would work itself out. He stood at the front door and watched the team approach, then turned to Meggie. “Get Daniel, go to town, tell the men to come, and if you see Lord Trumbull and Lilly tell them to stay away.”
Meggie panicked and looked back at the carriage.
“Go now! Take your mother, go out the back, Meggie. Go! Now!” He turned her and pushed her toward the kitchens and she ran.
He strode swiftly to the closet and pulled out his shotgun, then walked out to his front stoop and looked up at the giant on the box seat. “If that’s who I think it is in that carriage, you should turn and leave this land now.”
Morgan pulled the brake on the carriage and stopped the horses just shy of the house.
Hepplewort kicked the stairs down and descended.
“I told your man, and now I’m telling you, get off of my land.”
“You’ve no right to talk to me that way! I am Hepplewort.”
“I know who you are. You attacked my girl Lilly. You left her for dead. You’ve murdered others. You are not welcome here and if you wish to live, you will leave—for make no mistake, I will end you.”
He heard the pounding of hoofbeats and turned again toward the far gate to see two men on horseback coming up his drive. Hepplewort turned to look as well, and Mr. Steele cocked his weapon, firing at the ground in front of the earl and startling the horses. Hepplewort shrieked and stepped back.
“I told you to get off my property and I expect you to do so. Immediately.” Mr. Steele cocked the second barrel on his pinfire shotgun and pointed it at him.
“Stop! Papa, no!” Lilly and Perry came running around the house.
“I told Meggie to send you away.”
“Papa don’t, please, they’ll take you from us.”
“Sir, please give me the weapon,” Perry said quietly as they walked toward him. Mr. Steele sighted the weapon at Hepplewort’s head, his hands shaking violently. Long moments passed, then he relaxed, handing the gun to Perry.
Calder and Warrick jumped from their mounts, letting them continue their run toward the stable and paddock as Morgan fought with the team. The two cousins flanked Perry as Hepplewort looked on in astonishment.
“You, sir, are not welcome here,” Calder said. “That has been made quite clear. We do, however, happen to know a place where you are welcome. Newgate.” .
“You are much too cordial,” Warrick grumbled.
“No need to be rude. Hepplewort is going to cooperate…aren’t you?” Calder said as he held his gaze.
Perry looked to Morgan, who was still wrestling with the startled team, then back to Hepplewort. His eyes narrowed and Lilly turned. She could tell from Perry’s reaction that this wasn’t good. He reached for her, tucking her safely behind him on the front steps. “Why are you here?” he asked.
“You’ve ruined me.”
“You’ve ruined yourself. Everything you’ve done, the women you have abused and murdered, that was all your doing. No one else helped with that.”
Hepplewort looked to Morgan, drawing everyone’s gaze, and Morgan ducked his head, avoiding Perry’s glance as he held the reins and pressed harder on the carriage brake.
“Hepplewort, we are taking you back to London to face the charges brought against you concerning the murder of a Miss Anna Cole. If you do not cooperate with us, we will take you however we can get you, breathing or not,” Warrick said.
Anna Cole. Lilly squeezed Perry’s hand, and he returned the pressure.
Hepplewort’s eyes looked as though they would pop right form his head. “You can’t be serious. I’m an earl, she was nothing.”
“You are mistaken, actually, she wasn’t nothing. She was the daughter of Sir Davis Cole, and you, sir, left enough proof behind that they are merely waiting for your return.”
“Why was she alone? Why would a lady be—”
“It. Matters. Not!” Calder railed, and everyone turned to look at him. He straightened his waistcoat, then his hat, and tightened his gloves as his composure returned. “It matters not what she was doing. In fact, it matters not who she was. You are a murdering bastard and we are here to see that you face the charges brought against you.”
They watched as Hepplewort panicked, his feet shuffling, his brain obviously working out what he should do next. Perry’s grip tightened on the barrel of the shotgun, and he glanced down to see that the second barrel was, in fact, loaded, the striker cocked.
Calder nodded to Warrick, and they stepped forward, blocking Perry’s view as they approached Hepplewort. Perry pulled Lilly to his side, his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her temple. He closed his eyes and she felt his mouth move against her, maybe a silent prayer offered for the girl, for Anna Cole. She leaned into him.
Hepplewort had his hands up and was backing away from the men. Lilly watched him carefully, couldn’t take her eyes from him, this man who had dragged her through the forest near her home, raped her, then raped her with a bottle and God knows what else. Left her for dead, didn’t even give her a second thought, all because she wasn’t touched by the hand of God, all because she hadn’t been chosen to be born into the peerage. Her eyes narrowed on his face, and then time seemed to stand still.
His arm jerked forward, and he had a gun pointed at Warrick, then Calder, because he was that sort of vacillating weakling. Perry was still holding her, his eyes closed, and she pulled her father’s shotgun up in his hand and positioned it against her hip as Perry’s arm tightened on her shoulder and he started to shift.
Hepplewort finally took aim, at her, and pulled the trigger. Warrick lunged to block her, and as he fell, Lilly pulled, the shotgun knocking her off her feet as it bucked into her hip.
Lilly opened her eyes to see Perry’s terrified face hovering over her. She let go of the shotgun and pulled herself up to sit with his help. Morgan was fighting the horses and losing, and Hepplewort was on the ground. Calder tossed aside the gun he took from Hepplewort, then bent over Warrick, rolling him. Morgan stood in the box, attempting to control his team, his full weight on the brake, his arms straining his jacket.
Calder yelled at Perry, motioning to the startled team on Hepplewort’s carriage. Perry let go of Lilly and he and her father ran to Warrick, helping Calder pull him up the steps to where Lilly sat. Hepplewort’s mother descended the carriage then, her eyes falling to Hepplewort as he writhed on the ground.
“My son!” she screamed, and the startled horses reared. She paid no heed as she threw herself upon Hepplewort. The violent movement of the horses broke the shaft and the front of the carriage lurched, throwing Morgan to the ground between the team, releasing the brake and the only thing holding them back. They jumped against their harnesses, coming down on Hepplewort and his mo
ther before they careened toward the meadow, leaving death in their path.
Perry pulled Lilly into his embrace, blocking the gruesome view.
“Oh, God. Perry, did they— Was that? Oh, God help them!”
Perry glanced over his shoulder. “God is truly the only one who can help them now. Warrick?”
“Fine, I’m— I seem to be fine.” Warrick shook off his coat and inspected the growing red stain on his shoulder. Calder descended the steps and walked to the mother, turning away suddenly when he got close. Then he glanced at Morgan, apparently determining he didn’t even need to approach to find out whether he had survived.
Lilly watched the red stain as it saturated Warrick’s sleeve, then pushed Perry away, lifting her skirt and tearing her petticoat. She folded a thick pad, then pressed it to the wound and tied another piece of her petticoat around it, apologizing when he winced.
When she was finished he put one hand on her shoulder, waiting until she looked him in the eye. “This outcome, while disagreeable, could not have been easily avoided. I would much prefer that my cousin be standing beside you, rather than that man. Remember that, above all else,” he said gruffly.
Lilly nodded. Perry’s arms came around her as he checked the pressure on Warrick’s wound.
Warrick pushed him off then stood, as did Perry, the two of them pulling Lilly up with them. Perry saw the trembling in her arms subsiding. He smoothed the long curls back from her face and turned her to look at him.
“Believe Warrick, if no other, for he will tell you true like no other. There is nothing more you could have done here.”
“I killed him.”
“No, he was still alive—” He stopped and considered what he’d nearly said. “No, Lilly, you did not kill him.”
She turned back to Warrick. “Why did you—” He shrugged, then winced, and she reached for him, but he raised his hand to stay her.
Perry crushed her to him. “God, Lilly, I love you.”
“And I love you, milord,” she replied on a breath.
“Must I warn you again?” he asked with a smile, trying to break the mood.
“No, milord, not at all. I know exactly what it is I’m asking for.”