Page 122 of Rakes & Reticules
CHAPTERTEN
Cecelia stood with wide eyes filled with terror, as she looked from Fitz to Mr. Reeves, who was rising off the ground with a bloody nose.
For Patience, there was something satisfying in seeing the man who had tormented her for years, hurt and bleeding in front of the man she loved.
Love.
She loved Fitz, of that she was absolutely certain. Could Patience give up her hopes and dreams for him?
“What are you doing, Cecelia!” Mr. Reeves railed at the maid who was frozen in place. “I told you to wait for me at Fitzherbert’s.” He took a step toward Cecelia but was stopped by Fitz.
“I can’t do it. Mrs. Fitzherbert was so ill, after I gave her the Antimony.” Cecelia began crying, her body quaking. “She has been kind to me and so have you, Miss. Grant,” she said, shaking her head.
“You, poisoned Mrs. Fitzherbert? Patience asked in shock.
“I-I didn’t know. Walter said that it would only make her ill,” Cecelia stuttered, as she continued to cry.
“Be quiet!” Mr. Reeves shouted, trying to walk past Fitz but was stopped.
“Don’t you dare move, or I’ll knock you down again,” Fitz threatened, his hand flat on the other man’s chest.
Patience couldn’t believe that Mr. Reeves was connected to Cecelia, and suddenly she knew why. “What can’t you do, Cecelia?” Patience asked gently. She didn’t want to frighten the woman, but she needed those papers.
She had no idea what she was going to do once she had them back in her possession. There was a part of her that would always want Fitz, but she also wanted to educate other women like her.
Could she have both, a husband and a school of her own?
“Walter promised that he’d marry me once the papers were sold,” Cecelia said tears suddenly falling down her face, a hand on her abdomen.
Patience gasped in horror, wanting to punch Mr. Reeves herself. He had attempted to do the same thing with her five years earlier, but unlike Cecelia, Patience had refused him. So he preyed on Cecelia and used her to get the papers.
“Reeves is a liar and a thief. Hand over the papers and you have my word we will not mention this to either Mrs. Fitzherbert or the Regent,” Fitz assured her. “But you must leave her employ. She could’ve been gravely ill from the poison.”
Patience stepped forward, putting her hand on Cecelia’s shoulder. A small crowd was gathering, whispering around them. She ignored them all, looking into the watery eyes of the woman she thought was a friend. “Give me the papers, and I promise no harm will come to you or your child.”
Cecelia removed the papers from inside her cape, passing them to Patience. Once they were in her hands, Patience sighed in relief.
She could leave Brighton and Fitz could pay off his debts. Her body deflated as he safely tucked the papers into the reticule around her wrist.
“No, those papers belong to me!” Mr. Reeves hit his chest trying to push past Fitz. “I’ve done nothing but endured this simpleton for months. I was never going to marry you,” he spat at Cecelia causing the woman to cry.
“What about our child?” Cecelia asked her tears now falling freely.
Mr. Reeves laughed at the woman’s question as if she had made a jest. “As if I would care about a bastard with a ma—”
Patience let out a loud yelp of surprise as Fitz hit Mr. Reeves again. He fell to the ground unceremoniously. His coachman tried to help him up.
Fitz approached Patience and Cecelia, walking them past the growing crowd. “We will escort you to Mrs. Fitzherbert’s. I suggest you do not inform her of the poison.”
Cecelia clung to Patience, crying hysterically. Patience’s heart went out to the other woman, and she could only imagine how alone she felt in that moment. It could’ve been her, itwouldhave been her if she had listened to her grandmother.
“We will not inform Mrs. Fitzherbert of the poisoning, but you must agree to leave Cecelia.” Patience did not want the other woman to be punished for believing Mr. Reeves’ lies.
Cecelia had endured enough, and she should be spared, so that she could raise her child without the cloud of Mr. Reeves surrounding her.
A chill ran down her spine as they approached the duke’s carriage, ignoring everyone. Once they were safely ensconced inside, Patience sagged in relief. They had the papers, she could leave tomorrow and go to Yorkshire, never to see Fitz again.
She knew quite well what her life was without Fitz. But now she wanted to know what it would be like with him by her side.
