Page 47 of Lord of Fortune
He flicked her a smile as he finished up, then went to a trunk in the corner. Opening it, he pulled a blanket from the interior. “We’ll wrap it in this.”
He’d mentioned using it to persuade Kersey to help them. “Do you really think we need it? I worry about losing it again.”
He came back to the desk, carrying the blanket. “No one knows I have it.”
“Septon does.”
After laying the blanket out, he picked up the sword and set it on top of the wool. He turned his head to look at her. “You really don’t trust him, do you?”
“I’ve no reason to.”
He nodded and was quiet a moment before wrapping the sword with the blanket. “He won’t try to take it. I may be skeptical about his honesty and whether he’s told us everything he knows about the Order and their potential involvement with your grandfather, but in this, I trust him.”
She touched his arm briefly, drawing him to straighten and turn toward her. “I don’t want you to give up the sword. You said your sister spent her life looking for it, and you both believe it belongs here.”
“And yet, how can I deny it also belongs to Kersey?” He gave her a small smile. “Anyway, I hope I won’t have to. But if I do, I’d rather it go to him.”
“I’m confused about Kersey. Is he a friend or foe?”
Penn blew out a breath. “That’s a bit complicated. Until a month or so ago, I would’ve said friend. We grew up together—he’s just a few years younger than me—because our fathers are second cousins. My father liked for us to spend time with him because his father is such an ass.”
“That would be the Earl of Stratton?” she asked.
Penn nodded. “A worse excuse for a father doesn’t exist. In a way, I understand how Kersey took a wrong step here and there. Especially since he lost his wife not so long ago. She died shortly after they married. He was devastated.”
Amelia’s chest tightened. “How tragic.”
“Looking back, Kersey suffered a host of tragedies. His mother left him when he was nine or ten.”
To be with another man—she chose Septon over her son. Yes, that qualified as a tragedy in Amelia’s opinion. “Around the same age when your own mother died.”
His gaze flickered with a bit of surprise and something else, maybe gratitude. “Yes, but I had my parents after that. Whereas Kersey had his father, such as he is.” Penn shook his head. “My father made sure Kersey came to visit every summer, but Stratton put a stop to that when Kersey was about fourteen. We kept up a correspondence, however, and when he came to Oxford, I took him under my wing. I thought we were friends—in addition to being cousins, of course—but when I learned he stole the sword from my sister, I had to question the man I thought I knew. Iwanthim to be a friend, but I don’t know.”
She moved a half step closer to him. “Maybe you’ll determine that when we find him.”
“I’m not sure I want to take you with me on that leg of the journey.”
She squared her shoulders. “We’re in this together. All this is a gamble.”
“It is.” He also moved closer, until they nearly touched. “Life is full of risk. That’s what makes it worth living.” He lifted his hand, and going very slowly, gently traced his finger along her jaw from cheek to chin.
Her belly tightened. They’d traveled this path before, coming very close to a kiss… Only to be interrupted by Septon. Would someone or something else come between them this time? She hoped not.
She did?
Yes, life was full of risk—and joy and wonder—and thatwaswhat made it worth living.
“Are you going to kiss me now?” she asked, sounding breathless to her own ears.
“If you’ll permit me.”
“Yes, please.”
His eyes slitted but didn’t fully close as he leaned forward. “Since you asked so prettily, how can I refuse? The truth is I can’t. I’ve been longing for this moment for quite some time.”
His words abruptly ended as his lips captured hers. His arms clasped her waist, and he pulled her against him.
She twined her arms around his neck, bringing her body flush to his. His mouth moved over hers, coaxing her—not that it took much effort—to kiss him back. She angled her head, sinking into him as heat raced through her body.
