Page 96 of Lord of Fortune
Chapter 18
Penn openedthe door slowly and only until it started to creak. Then he stopped and wedged himself through the space and stepped into the room Amelia and Forrest had just vacated. Anger and worry raged through him, and he had to stop himself from going after them upstairs. If Forrest laid a hand on her…
Hell, he already had. Penn had watched him kiss Amelia through the gap in the door. He’d nearly dashed into the room and thrown the blackguard to the floor. But they were so close.
And there it was—the book—sitting innocently on the table. Penn picked it up and flipped open the cover. A detailed illumination leapt from the page, making his heart race faster than it already was.
He glanced about and saw Amelia’s reticule on the desk. Why leave the heart with Forrest if they didn’t have to? He plucked that up and crept toward the hall, listening for any movement from the opposite corner of the house where the kitchen was located.
From his earlier reconnaissance, he’d ascertained there was a housekeeper and another retainer, perhaps her husband based on the way they’d spoken to each other. The man had left a while ago, but there were two other men who were of far greater concern. They were big, rough looking, and armed with pistols. Camelot henchmen, he guessed. Both had left on horseback shortly before Amelia and Gideon had arrived, but they could return at any moment.
Penn stepped into the hall and looked toward the stairs. He stood still as a statue, straining to hear the slightest thing, but only silence greeted his ears.
Perhaps he ought to go up. It wasn’t the plan, but the thought of leaving Amelia alone with Forrest was enough to make him shake with agitation.
The sound of a door closing and a singsong voice humming prompted him to dash for the front door and make his exit. He ran to the chaise and leapt inside, dropping the book and the heart on the seat.
Gideon, who’d been standing near the horse, came around to the side, his gaze falling on the White Book. “You got it.”
“Yes. But she’s upstairs with that snake. If she’s not down here in one minute, I’m going up. Give the damn signal.” His body thrummed with energy. He stared at the house, specifically the window in the gable. He’d no idea if that was where she was, but it was close enough.
Gideon’s birdcall rent the air.
They both watched the house, waiting. Images of Forrest kissing Amelia as he had downstairs filled Penn’s head. Along with Forrest touching her, undressing her…
Penn sprang out of the coach with a curse.
Gideon grabbed his arm. “Wait! Give her a moment. She’ll come.”
“What if she can’t?” Penn pulled his arm from Gideon’s grip.
Penn stared at his half brother, frenzied to make sure Amelia was safe. Gideon nodded. “Go.”
As he turned to go to the door, it opened, and Amelia stepped out, closing it carefully behind her. She rushed forward, her face a bit pale. “Let’s go! Mrs. Jones thinks I’m going back to town to fetch my things. That’s what she’ll tell Thaddeus when he wakes.”
Penn helped her into the chaise as Gideon mounted the horse. She picked up the book and her reticule and set them in her lap as Penn climbed in beside her.
“When he wakes? What happened?” he demanded.
“He’s been taking laudanum for his wound—the one I gave him,” she said with pride. “Then he drank quite a bit of gin. All it took was me pushing him over, and he lost consciousness. I’d forgotten how much I hated his snoring.” She shuddered and brushed at herself from shoulder to knee. “I’m sogladto be out of there.”
Gideon drove the chaise up the lane as fast as he dared, causing Penn and Amelia to lurch forward a bit. She nearly dropped the book, and he reached to catch it, his hand covering hers.
She turned her head, and their gazes connected. Relief and joy and love surged through him. Unable to stop himself, he leaned forward and kissed her. It was brief but wonderful, their lips clinging to each other for a delicious moment.
“I’m glad you’re out of there too.”
Amelia shot a glance back toward the cottage. “I don’t think he’ll follow us. He’s not capable.”
“There were a couple of Camelot henchmen hanging about earlier,” Penn said. “But I haven’t seen them return.”
“Do you think we can alter the plan and all go to the inn to retrieve our horses and things?” she asked. “We could look at the book there.”
Penn considered that. “We could, but I always find it best to keep moving in these kinds of situations. They may not follow us, but they’ll come looking, and I’d rather not be in Glastonbury when that happens.”
Gideon steered them to the copse of trees where Penn’s horse stood. When the chaise came to a stop, he turned to look at them. “I agree. We should continue as planned.”
Amelia looked to Penn. “Did you hear what he said about the dagger? We need it and Foliot has it.”
