“Penn-Leith—”
“What will it take?” Ethan asked.
“Pardon?” Kendall reared back.
“What will it take to set Lady Allegra free? I ken that ye want tae use her as a puppet in your play for power in Her Majesty’s government. But as we both know, everything has a price. So I am asking ye, Duke . . . what is the price for her freedom?”
“So she may marry you?” Kendall sneered.
“Aye, if that is her choice. However, I love Lady Allegra enough tae want her freedom. To take possession of her dowry now, with or without a husband attached to it.”
“Have you gone mad, Penn-Leith?”
“Perhaps.” A small smile touched Ethan’s lips. “Love has a way of doing that, I am finding. So what is your price, Duke? Do ye wish for more money? If so, I will sign over the rights tae my poetry. Is it power? Let me play Virgil to your Augustus. I shall use my ‘witty pen,’ as ye called it, to laud your fame. Tell me and if it is within my power, I will do it. Just grant Lady Allegra her freedom in exchange. Let her choose her own path.”
“Ethan,” Allie began, “I cannot permit you to—”
“Hush, lass.” He pressed another kiss to the back of her hand. “I will not see ye leg-shackled tae suit your brother’s whims. Not if I can prevent it. I love ye enough tae want your happiness over anything else. Even myself.”
Allie leaned toward him, lost in the sincerity brimming in his eyes, reveling in the grounding weight of his hand in hers. For the briefest moment, she glanced back at her brother, noting the disdain and fury in his eyes.
Andjustlikethat—
She made her choice.
Allie could not give up Ethan Penn-Leith.
It flooded her in an instant, wave after wave of love and adoration. The same overwhelming emotions that had scoured her hours earlier as Ethan cuddled his wee nephew.
Only this time . . . she welcomed them.
Mentally, she spread her arms wide and allowed the powerful surge ofdevotionyearningdesireloveto wash over and through her, cleansing all doubt and fear.
Ethan was right.
He had been right all along.
She wanted to belong to him. She wanted to place her trust in him—to love and be loved in return. To choose a life together.
She yearned for the future he envisioned for them.
She was his.
Just as he would be hers.
She merely needed to join him in the fight.
If they united, together they would find a way to—
“As touching as this is, you are delusional, Penn-Leith,” Kendall snarled. “My sister is not a horse to be sold off to the highest bidder!”
Allie couldn’t stop her incredulous gasp of laughter. “That ispreciselywhat I am to you, Kendall! Do not pretend otherwise!”
“I will not stand here and be so slandered by—”
Crack.
The sound of a gun cocking reverberated through the room, fracturing their argument.
