Page 48 of One Night of Temptation
Findon took her hand and curled it around his arm. It was thin and weak, and as they made their way outside, he actually leaned on her for support. She worried about their descent into the garden. What if he fell? Would she be able to untangle herself from him before she tumbled along with him?
It seemed a metaphor for the life stretching before her: shackled to this man who would take her down along with him.
Somehow, they made it down the steps into the garden. Lanterns flickered near the house, but the outer corners were quite dark.
“We should go over there,” Findon said with a leer as he pointed toward the back of the garden.
“We can’t be gone long,” Penelope said.
“Of course we can. We’re as good as wed.” Findon pulled her along the path into the shadows.
Penelope tried to snatch her hand away and go back to the house. “But we aren’t yet.”
The earl gripped her hand tightly, displaying a strength she didn’t realize he possessed. His dark eyes glimmered in the scant pale light that managed to make its way this far from the house. “No one’s going to care if I take what’s mine out here. I can kiss you or touch you or toss up your skirts and bend you over a shrubbery if I want.” He laughed.
“You’re not going to do any of that.” Hugh had stepped from the darkness behind Findon, and now gripped the back of the earl’s neck. He tugged the man away from Penelope. “Apologize to her for speaking in that manner. And for threatening her.” Hugh’s voice was a low growl.
Findon glared up at Hugh. “I’ll do no such thing. What are you about, Tarleton? This is none of your affair. The whore’s to be my wife—” Further speech was stopped by Hugh’s fist as he drove it into Findon’s gut.
“Don’t speak of her like that.” Hugh held Findon up by the back of his coat as he crumpled.
“For Christ’s sake.” A new voice broke through the darkness, and in a whir of bodies, someone hit Findon over the head. The earl slumped to the ground.
Penelope blinked as she tried to make out the new arrivals. It was Joseph and a pair of companions. Rather, accomplices. Whatever they were, she was most grateful to see them.
“This is not what I’d intended,” Hugh said, frowning. He looked toward the house. “We don’t have much time.” He moved in front of her and took her hand. “Penelope, will you marry me?”
She could scarcely believe what had just happened, let alone what was happening now. Had he asked her to marry him? “You want me to be your wife?”
His lips spread in a bone-melting smile. “More than anything.”
Happiness rushed through her and made her knees weak. She clutched at his arm. “Yes.” She shook her head. “I can’t. I’d never be allowed.” She glanced down at the earl. “Is there a chance he’s dead?”
Joseph leaned down and pushed at Findon. “Doesn’t look like it. Do ye want me to kill ’im?”
“No,” she and Hugh answered in unison. Findon was a horrid ass, but she didn’t wish him dead.
“We didn’t come here to commit murder,” Hugh said darkly.
Joseph brushed his hands together and looked toward Hugh and Penelope. “I suppose. We did come here to kidnap her. Finally.” He sounded rather gleeful. “Let us be on our way, then.”
Penelope looked up at Hugh in shock. “You came here to kidnap me?”
“If it became necessary.” He flattened his lips together. “I do believe it’s now necessary—if you want to marry me. We’ll leave right now, and tomorrow, we’ll wed.”
“Tomorrow?” Oh, how she wanted that! She felt as if she’d entered a dream. It couldn’t be real.
“You are of age, aren’t you?” Hugh asked with a thread of anxiety since he’d already procured the license and had attested to her being of age.
“Yes,” she assured him, touching his arm. “I celebrated my twenty-first birthday in April.”
Findon groaned.
“We should tie ’im up and hide ’im somewhere,” one of Joseph’s companions suggested.
“I wish we could,” Hugh said, frowning. “But I don’t want to take the time. Someone could come from the house at any moment.” He looked to Penelope. “Ready?”
If she stayed, she’d be forced to marry the earl. Her parents would never allow her to wed Hugh, no matter how much she loved him. Oh, how she loved him. There was only one choice to make.
