Loving a Fearless Duchess: A Historical Regency Romance Book(83)

“Penelope, where are you?”

Nash grinned. She put an axe in Henry’s chest. Good for her. I better be on my best behaviour, he thought.

“Penelope,” he yelled.

Well, this is better than locking him in the dower house for twenty years, he thought.

“Penelope,” he yelled.

“I’m here,” she said, her voice far away.

“Where are you?”

“Over here, to your left,” she said.

Nash looked ahead to his left and saw her sitting on a rock, the horse grazing nearby. He got off his horse and ran to her, taking her into his arms.

“What are you doing in the middle of the woods sitting on a rock?” he said quietly.

She looked up at him. “I killed Henry.”

He smiled. “I know. And I love the way you did it. An axe. Nice touch. Edward says I better be nice to you, or I’m going to end up with an axe to the heart.”

Penelope laughed. “I think you should listen to Edward.”

She rode with him, leading her horse behind them, leaning against his chest, the fear coursing through her body settling down.

*****

Nash helped Penelope down from his horse and took her by the hand. When they entered Edgewood, Cecilia was standing in the foyer.

“Oh, Penelope. Thank God you are alright.” She hugged her hard.

“I’m bringing her upstairs for a while.” He turned to Thomas. “Order a bath and some food to be brought upstairs.”

He tugged Penelope’s hand, and she followed him. When he shut the door to his bedchamber behind him, Nash took Penelope in his arms and hugged her.

“Stop, Nash. It’s too tight.”

Nash took a step back. “I’m sorry. I was so afraid I would be too late. I didn’t know my heart could pound so hard. Did you hear it inside the lodge?”

Penelope laughed. “No. My heart was pounding too. I knew Edward would come after me, but I wanted you, and you weren’t due back yet.”

“I caught up with them on the trail.”

There was a knock on the door, and servants brought in a tub, hot water and a tray of bread, cheeses, and ale. Penelope didn’t realize how hungry she was until she sat in front of the trencher. They ate in companionable silence, punctuated by sighs.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” she said. “Just remembering parts of the day. It occurred to me that we don’t have to live with Henry next door for the next ten or twenty years. What a relief. I’m not used to the thought that he can never hurt me again.”

“I know. That occurred to me too. I felt like the anvil that was on my chest every time I lay down was gone. Like I could breathe more than a shallow breath again.

“Come. I’ll help you out of that night-rail and into the tub. I’ll get Helen. Don’t worry; I’ll only be gone a minute.”

Nash went downstairs hoping Edward was back from the lodge. He was in the parlour, forearms on his thighs, head down.

“Edward,” Nash said. “I’m glad you’re back. Do you feel up to talking?”

Nash’s gaze looked at Cecilia. “Now that you won’t be alone, Edward. I think I’ll check on Penelope.”

Nash nodded as Cecilia left then turned to Edward.

“You don’t seem to be doing well. You can’t blame yourself for what happened.”

Edward looked up. “Sure I can. That little worm outsmarted me. As I was sending every man in the house down to the dower house to help with the fire, I left the house unattended. While I thought I was so smart putting a guard at Mother and Penelope’s doors, he had already taken her.” Edward shook his head.

“What are you talking about? You saved her. Your quick action in securing the tunnels and figuring out where she went saved her life.

“Don’t carry this weight, Edward. You saved my wife, and I am forever grateful to you.”

Edward shook his head. “I didn’t protect her.”

Nash sat next to Edward and made him look in his eyes. “You saved my wife. Anything that happened or didn’t happen until that point is inconsequential. No, I take that back. Everything you did before that point brought you to her. Brought her to me.”

Edward nodded.

“You need a drink.” Nash brought him a whisky.

“To saving Penelope,” Nash said, then clinked Edward’s glass.

“Doesn’t it feel good that little worm is dead?”

“You can say that again.”

*****

Penelope bathed and rested until it was time to dress for dinner. Once dressed, she stood in front of the mirror, looking at her scar, thinking of Henry. She breathed a sigh of relief.

When Penelope walked into the parlour before dinner, she looked refreshed and beautiful with Helen having taken extra care on her hair. The only thing showing she had been through an ordeal had been a few scrapes on her face and cuts on her hands as well as the rope burns on her wrists.

Nash’s blood boiled when he looked at them. He kept quiet, not wanting to upset her.

All eyes were on her, and there was almost no conversation among them. Penelope knew they wanted to hear what happened but were trying not to pry. Penelope knew all eyes would be on her until they knew what happened, so she sighed and began.