“Thank you,” she said, numb and still disbelieving, even though she’d thought she’d prepared herself well for this inevitable outcome. “I appreciate you coming out here to tell me.”
The constable nodded, looking uncomfortable.
“Yes, thank you,” Lucien told him, sounding every inch the earl. “I’ll be in touch to make all the arrangements. If you’ll excuse us.” As he turned to escort the man back toward his horse, the truth of what had happened crashed over Serenity, and the need to flee overwhelmed her. Luke would comfort her, she knew that, but right now all she wanted was to get away. To run so far and fast that no one would ever find her until the storm of grief inside her had abated.
Always fleet of foot, she dropped off the wall and took off into the woods.
Behind her, she heard Luke calling her name, but the tears had already started, blinding her, and she didn’t stop. She veered left off the path, deeper into the trees.
Her father was dead, and now she was all alone in the world.
* * *
LUKE FOLLOWED SERENITYthrough the forest, his heart pounding in his chest as he lost her time and again. She was surprisingly fast and knew these woods better than he did. Perhaps he should just let her go, let her grieve for her father the way she obviously wanted to, but she’d become very dear to him, and he couldn’t bear to let her go through this alone.
He wanted to protect her, to hold her in his arms and assure her that everything would be all right. He’d take care of her, make sure she never wanted for anything, if only she’d let him. Unfortunately, she’d proved remarkably stubborn on that front, wanting so desperately to remain self-sufficient. After a lifetime of fending off women who wanted him for his money and title, Serenity was so refreshing. Perhaps that was why she’d captured his heart and mind the way no one else ever had.
At last, he entered a small clearing and found her, collapsed against a tree, tears streaming helplessly down her lovely face. Her chest heaved with exhaustion, but she made no sound, and her silent grief struck him to the core.
Approaching quietly, he slid down beside her and pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair as she buried her face against his chest. He didn’t know how long they sat there, hours at least, but at last the storm within her subsided, and she lay quietly against him.
He pressed his lips hesitantly to her temple, not knowing what to say. Even though his own father had been gone for nearly a decade, the loss affected him to this day. He wasn’t hypocrite enough to tell her that she’d be all right.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “I’m sorry I ran off like that. You didn’t have to follow me... but I’m glad you did.”
“I didn’t want you to be alone.” The words seemed utterly inadequate.
She gave a shuddering sigh. “Iamalone now. My father was all I had.”
“No,” he said fiercely. “You have me, angel. Remember? You’ll always have me.”
“Will I?” she whispered, sounding doubtful. “You’ve been so good to me, Luke. I could never have even imagined having a friend like you. But I can’t stay here now that my father is truly gone. Already the gossips will be talking, realizing that he hasn’t been here in quite some time.”
“Who cares what they think?” he asked, furious on her behalf. He’d ruin anyone who said a single negative word about the lady in his arms. She did that to him. Made him want to slay dragons on her behalf.
“You have no idea,” she said, sudden anger filling her voice as she pulled away and stared up at him with tragic, tear-filled eyes. “You’re a bloody earl! You can bend the rules all you want, and no one will ever say a word against you. It’s not like that for me. I must find a job, a way to take care of myself. Even a hint of scandal will ruin me forever.”
He ran a hand through his hair, knowing he was going about this the wrong way. Her pride would never allow her to take his charity, and he wasn’t yet ready to consider his other options. Part of him wanted to throw caution to the wind, bind her to him with words and deeds, spend the rest of his life with her. But that seemed foolhardy, given that he’d only known her a handful of weeks. In any event, this certainly wasn’t the time to be discussing such things.
“What if I were to get you a companion?” he asked, a plan forming in his mind as he desperately tried to come up with a way for her to stay. “I’ll send for someone from my London house. I have a distant cousin who could come. Gemma Cross. She would give our situation the respectability you need.”
She shook her head, disbelief in her tear-filled eyes. “Why would you do that for me? It makes no sense. And I don’t think I should let you. I have nothing to offer you, no way to pay you for your kindness. My father left me with nothing except a mountain of debts.”
“I’m not asking for payment,” he muttered in frustration. “Wouldn’t you do this for me, if you could? Simply because we are friends? Because you care for me?”
A frown twisted her lips, but he knew he’d finally said the right thing. “You know I would.”
“Then please, just let me help you. At least for a while, until you can come up with another plan. Just give yourself a little time, angel. That’s all I’m asking.”
She suddenly nodded, relief flooding her features. “All right,” she said softly. “But only until I can decide what to do.”
