Page 104 of Lord of Fortune
Gideon’s lips spread into a fast smile. “I don’t care anymore. Ihavea birthright. I’m a descendant of Gareth. The Thirteen Treasures aremyresponsibility—not the Order’s,mine. I will ensure they’re found and protected.”
“What if you aren’t the only descendant of Gareth?” Penn asked. “Someone in the Order may challenge you on that.”
“Let them try.” Gideon turned and stalked toward the door. “I have to go. Wait a bit before you leave so that I can lure them away.”
“Them? It’s more than one?”
Gideon shrugged. “I’m not sure. Be wary when you go, just in case someone lingers and catches your scent.”
Penn went to his half brother and clasped his hand. “Be safe. And come to Hollyhaven when you can. I’ll have good news for you.”
“You’re such a bloody optimist.”
“My father taught me to be.” Penn winced as he realized his father was really Gideon’s father.
“And mine taught me the opposite.” The disgust in Gideon’s tone sliced into Penn as surely as that rock had carved into his hand the day he’d found the dagger. The day his life had irrevocably changed. His gaze strayed to Amelia, who stood quietly near the table.
“Be well, Penn. And find a way to marry her.” He inclined his head toward Amelia. “Whatever you do, don’t subject her to what Septon did to my mother. No woman deserves that.”
What he really meant was that no child deserved to lose their mother in such a way. Penn agreed. At least in this instance, there wasn’t a child.
As far as he knew… He hadn’t been particularly thoughtful tonight, nor had he been the other day in the lean-to.
With a final nod, Gideon turned and left the chamber, closing the door firmly behind him.
“I wonder what happened with Foliot,” Amelia said, echoing what was rooted in Penn’s mind.
“I don’t know, but Gideon seems to have a new purpose.”
“It sounds like a good one,” she said softly.
Penn agreed. And he’d do everything he could to help him, including finding the heart. He went to the window and looked out into the predawn. It would be light in the next hour. “We can leave soon.” He turned from the window to see her staring at him with a sad expression.
He moved toward her, asking quietly, “What is it?”
“You know.” She shook her head. “Let’s not speak of it. We’ll find the heart, and then we’ll return to Hollyhaven.”
“Where Egg will be waiting with the proof that I’m the earl. Then you’ll help me burn it.”
She smiled, but it was tinged with regret. “And then I’ll go back to my grandfather’s house, and you’ll return to Oxford.”
“Or you could come with me,” he said. “If I’m not an earl, no one will care if we’re together. It’s not as if your husband is a notorious earl. You can be a widow. In fact, we could marry—”
“Penn!” Her eyes were wide, and her lips parted briefly before she clamped them shut. “What would happen to your reputation if people learned I had a living husband? You’re a respected scholar, and I won’t endanger that.” Her gaze softened, and she gave him a pleading look. “Can we please not discuss it? There’s no point, and I’d rather enjoy the time wedohave together.”
An aching despair rooted in Penn’s gut and spread, leaving him feeling hopeless and angry. “I may murder him yet,” he muttered as he pulled on his waistcoat.
“You won’t,” she said with certainty. “And that’s why you’re better than him.”
Being better wouldn’t make him happy. No, that was the woman standing in front of him. Maybe, just maybe, he’d find a way to change their fortunes.
* * *
The weather hadn’t cooperated, and so it was that they found themselves finally approaching the village of Pontneddfechan on the third day after leaving Wells. Amelia hadn’t minded because that had meant two more nights with Penn instead of one.
He’d stopped trying to talk about the future, for which she was grateful. It was painful enough knowing their parting was coming. She preferred to bask in the joy of their union while it lasted.
There’d also been no talk of love, but she felt it between them. She longed to tell him so, but couldn’t form the words for fear she would fall to pieces and never recover.
