“Oh, Simon, you are a fool! You think justice will save you? The world does not punish men for their sins, and it will not punish me for mine!” Grace laughed as she struggled against the constables’ grip.
Rachel stepped forward.
“You are wrong, Grace.”
Grace whipped her head toward her. “And what makes you so certain, you foolish girl?”
“Because this time, it is not a man who will be delivering your punishment. The law will deal with you,” Rachel said.
Grace’s expression froze, as though she had finally realized that she could not talk herself out of the mess that she had created.
“You will regret this,” she warned.
“Sure, tell that to the constables.” Simon gave her one last glance as they dragged her away, her shouts fading in the distance.
Finally, it was over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“You never have to worry about her again.”
Simon’s words were like a soothing salve. They were on the way back home to the estate in the carriage. It had been a whirlwind of events, one after the other.
But now that they were with each other, there was finally some peace restored in their life.
Rachel tried to wrap her head around all that had happened. She had never experienced such a thrilling, yet frightening day before. She looked at Simon, who was her calming guide in the midst of this all.
“I cannot believe it still,” she said.
“You and I both,” Simon sighed. Clearly, he was still reeling from the events as well.
“It is really astounding how well she was able to keep up with appearances,” Rachel shook her head. “One could never have guessed that she was involved in nefarious activities like this by looking at her.”
“Appearances can always be deceiving, sweetheart.” Simon pointed to her heart. “It is inside here that matters truly.”
If someone had told her that Simon Linwood would be speaking so sweetly to her a few weeks ago, she would not have believed them. For she would have said that she did not think he was even capable of being this sweet. But he had really come out of his shell and had begun to show his real personality to her. It was something that she appreciated more than anything.
“I know,” she agreed. “Like you. You have a ferocious reputation, but your heart is pure gold.”
“That is very high praise, darling. Do you think I deserve it?” Simon questioned.
“Oh, I mean it,” she pressed. “I have seen enough of the world now to know. And I knowyou.”
Simon wrapped a hand around her shoulders, squeezing her softly. “Always happy to know that the wife is happy with me.”
“I am,” she conceded. “Just as long as you don’t decide to leave me overnight again.”
“Oh, you are not getting rid of me now,” he assured her. Their relationship had changed for the better, and Rachel no longer felt the insecurities she had before.
She knew that he was there for her. She was sure of it.
“For a moment there,” she started, biting down on her lip, “I really thought that you were going to finish her off yourself. Considering her history, it would have been justified.”
“Would you have looked at me differently if I had?”
Rachel pondered over his question for a moment. The idea that Simon was capable of ending someone’s life was a macabre one, but watching his parents get murdered was equally dreadful.
“I suppose not,” she replied finally.
