Page 109 of Lord of Fortune
Bloody hell, what was she doing? Penn put his hands on her hips. “Amelia, don’t.”
Forrest looked momentarily surprised, then laughed. “An earl? No wonder you like him, sweetling. That would be quite a step up from me.” He exhaled with exaggerated regret. “Alas, we are still married.”
“Only as long as you live,” Penn growled.
“Yes, well, at present, that looks to be longer than you will.”
“You can’t kill him, please,” Amelia begged. “I’ll go with you. I’ll take you to the heart.”
Forrest blinked at her. “You know where it is?”
“It was on the paper,” she said.
Penn dug his fingertips into her hips and held her against his chest. He whispered against her ear. “Amelia, please don’t.”
“You’ll come with me willingly?” Forrest asked skeptically. “And not just to get the heart. We’ll get the heart, and we’ll go back to my cottage together, as husband and wife.”
Fury raged through Penn. He longed to pummel the blackguard. “Why do you want her now, Forrest? Is it because she’s only attractive to you when she wants someone else?” He nuzzled Amelia’s cheek to needle the man.
She elbowed Penn in the gut, shocking the hell out of him and nearly causing him to lose his balance. She stepped away and turned furious eyes on him. “I don’t want you either. I liked beingalone. However, if my choice is to get the heart and return with Thaddeus, so be it.”
Forrest’s laughter filled the gorge. “You’d choose me over an earl? Too bad for you, Bowen.” He reached out and took Amelia’s hand, pulling her to his side. “Keep an eye on him,” he shouted to his cohorts before turning his head to his wife. “How can I trust you? I suspect you’ve been whoring yourself with this…earl. Why would I want you back?”
“Because you do,” she said softly, sweetly.
Penn’s heart clenched under the stress. He watched, horrified, as she kissed him, her lips sliding over his. Penn could almost feel her doing the same to him, and he had to stifle an angry cry.
She pulled back and gave Forrest a brilliant smile. “Now, let us go and get the heart. It’s at the top of the Fall of the White Meadow, a magnificent fall—forty feet tall, he said.” She flicked a cold glance at Penn, but now he understood her ruse.
She was talking about the upper falls. Not where the heart was. God, she was amazing, and he’d never loved her more.
He masked his relief and managed to grit out, “You deserve each other.”
“Tie him up,” Forrest said, taking Amelia’s hand and turning to head back up the path.
“Wait.” She pulled away and turned back to Penn. She took his hand, and he realized she held his small knife. “I’m sorry it had to end this way. The heart is the most important thing to me. You’ve always known that.” She curled his hand around the knife, then went back to Forrest.
Amazing maybe didn’t adequately describe her.
He watched her walk past Forrest and continue up the path. He knew exactly where to find her—and he would, just as soon as possible.
The largest of the henchmen took a length of rope from his pack and approached Penn.
“Where would you like me?” Penn asked affably.
“Take his bag and tie him to a tree,” Forrest said. “A very rough one. Wouldn’t want him to be too comfortable. Then catch up with us.” He smirked at Penn. “I’m sure someone will come to find you, Bowen. Someday.” With a gleeful whistle, he turned and followed Amelia up the path.
The ruffian grabbed Penn by the arm and dragged him toward a tree. Penn carefully slipped the knife up his sleeve and prayed the villain wouldn’t find it.
“Nah, this one’s too smooth,” the man said, shoving Penn to the next tree. “This one’ll do.”
Penn winced as the rough bark bit into his back, and he nearly let the knife slip from his sleeve.
The ruffian pulled the pack over Penn’s head and dropped it to the side. Penn considered sticking his knife in the man’s gut, but if he wasn’t successful, his options would be limited. Better to use the knife to cut himself free and come up with a plan to dispatch the brigands and rescue Amelia.
Expelling a grunt, the man jerked Penn’s arms around the tree. Then he looped the rope around Penn and the trunk, binding him tightly so the rough bark pressed uncomfortably through his clothing. The rope went around his chest and arms but didn’t sit as low as his wrist. It was going to be the devil to contort his hands to get the rope cut. He hoped he didn’t drop the knife. Perhaps he should’ve stabbed the man.
Seizing the moment, Penn coaxed the knife into his hand, then shot his arm forward, slicing awkwardly at the villain’s chest as he pulled at the slack rope. Occupied with tying the rope, the man was taken completely off guard. He stumbled back with a cry. Eager to keep him from sounding the alarm, Penn dove toward him and knocked him to the ground. He rose over him with the knife, intent on killing him if necessary.
