Page 10 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“Then we need to write to your father straightaway so he knows you are safe and not to pay it. If they were planning to go to Inverness before sending off their letter, ours will surely get there first.”

She had not thought that far, but she nodded and moved to get up from the bed. She forgot her blasted ankle yet again and winced.

“Please. Stay there. I will take care of it.”

“They may not believe you if it is not in my own hand. Even then I must write something personal so they will know it’s only me that could be writing.” She bit her lip as she thought on which of her brothers’ many secrets to reveal to prove her authenticity.

“Stay where you are. I will bring the writing implements so you can write a missive while staying abed.”

“I’m well enough to get up.” She hated being treated like a dainty ninny. And it was true she could get up. Walking, however, seemed beyond her at the moment.

“I trust you to know your own reserves, but I would ask you to give it the night, in case you are mistaken. I’d rather not have to carry you about again.”

His cheeks turned the slightest shade of pink and she didn’t wish to think on what he might be remembering. She’d jumped in the ocean in only her shift. Wet as she was, she imagined the garment was not fit for providing much in the way of protection from his gaze.

Her own cheeks heated and she pushed the thought away. Whatever he may have seen is far better than what future she was sure to have faced by staying on that ship. The time for coyness was past. She needed to focus on survival and justice.

Justice, she found, ran close to the border of revenge. For the more she thought of her uncle’s betrayal, the angrier she became.

He must pay for what he’d done. All these years her brothers had told her how unacceptable all the men of the ton were for marriage. But they had not realized the most dangerous viper lived under their very roof.

She’d trusted her brothers to steer her away from rogues and scoundrels, but she’d fallen victim to Uncle Edgar’s duplicity. How naïve she’d been. But no more.

She wouldn’t trust anyone. She let out a sigh as Reese turned to leave. It seemed she was willing enough to trust the earl.

He had moved for the door and even in the dim light of the room she noted what a striking figure he made. He was taller than even the tallest of her brothers and wider across the shoulders than them as well. His hair was golden as if he was better suited walking about in white robes carrying a harp like so many angels she’d seen painted in a gallery.

But his eyes were not blue, they were dark as night. Nearly the same color as the pupils. And while his lips were full and presented a perfect bow, there was nothing cherubic about them at all. Instead they looked like they were made for sin.

She cleared her throat though no one was in the room any longer but her and the dog. Belle. She rubbed the beast behind the ears and Belle nuzzled closer to Harlow’s leg. It seemed she had made a friend in the animal. And perhaps with the earl as well. He certainly seemed set on helping her with this mess. She would trust him so far as to get off a letter to her father. She didn’t have much of a choice.

This was all her uncle’s fault. Her heart turned cold as she realized it would not be enough to just keep him from getting his hands on the ransom. No. The man needed to pay dearly for such a hideous betrayal.

*

When Reese returned to the room he found the woman glaring at him as if she might be able to strike him dead with just her gaze.

“I hurried as fast as I was able,” he said in his defense.

She shook her head, not as if to tell him no, but as if she were shaking herself from some horrible memory.

“No. I’m sorry. I was thinking of Uncle Edgar. How does a man lure his own flesh and blood into such a trap and then not have even the slightest intention to have me returned safely to my family? He’d just given me to them so they might do whatever they wished with me. I may not be worldly in that way, but even a maiden such as I could tell what kinds of things they intended had I not escaped.”

Her lip quivered and she bit it, likely to keep from showing any weakness. He’d never met a more formidable woman than Harlow Haverston.

She’d said she was the Duke of Ardmere’s daughter. Reese recalled the man being a stern, older gentleman, but reasonable, as he’d voted with a level head in the House of Lords. He had five sons. The oldest, the Earl of Fletcher, had married and had a few young sons of his own. With plenty of spares, her other brothers were raucous, but not without honor as far as Reese remembered. Much like himself.

He’d not realized the duke had a daughter, but then why would he have since his goal in recent seasons was to avoid anyone’s daughter.

As he looked at her he was certain this wasn’t her first Season. Or even her second. She was no blushing debutante, but a strong woman.

“I’m surprised I’ve not met ye in a ballroom,” he said curiously.

She cast her glance away. “I’ve not been in a ballroom in the last two years. My come out… Well, it was certainly active.”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

“I garnered a reputation for refusing a few offers of marriage.”