Izzy opened her mouth to protest, but a hand slipped into hers and took the words from her mouth. Hale looked down at her and shook his head ever so slightly as he squeezed her hand.
He wanted her to let Carter give himself up for her.
She couldn’t do that. Shewouldn’t. She’d promised herself she would do everything she could to ensure his freedom. Hisand Henry’s and . . . Papa’s. The latter wasn’t possible, she knew that now. But Carter and Henry she could fight for.
Please, Carter mouthed the word when she looked at him.
And in that moment, she understood. He was doing for her what she’d wanted to do for him.
“Mrs. Darby, this meeting is about you, and no one else. You can take up an appeal with an attorney at law for your brother at another time. Mr. Sutcliffe, I appreciate your honesty, but I’m afraid I’ll be sending you to the hospital instead of the prison. Now please sit before you find yourself unconscious on my floor. Mr. Darby, your wife will need to remain here for one more night while I file the right paperwork to allow her release. Provided everything goes as it should, I am dismissing any charges against her, and you can take her home tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir,” Hale said, his hand tightening around Izzy’s. “Thank you.”
Izzy couldn’t form words. She wasn’t going to trial. She wasn’t going to prison. Hale had come here for her and . . . she looked up at him.
He leaned down and embraced her. “I’m taking you home as soon as I can.”
Izzy clung to him, closing her eyes. “I love you,” she whispered.
His breath hitched, and while he said nothing, he tightened his arms around her. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he finally said in a choked voice.
The judge had sent for the woman who had brought Izzy from the jail, and now she waited in the doorway. Izzy reluctantly let go of Hale and looked at the judge.
“May I say goodbye to my brother?”
The judge nodded, and Izzy hurried to the chair where Carter sat. His breathing was heavy, and she could see the pain in his eyes.
“I’ll be fine,” he said.
“You’d better be,” Izzy said as she leaned down to hug him. “I’ll find a lawyer as soon as I can, and I’ll get you and Henry out.”
“Izzy.” Carter’s usually teasing voice was serious, and she pulled back to look at him. “It’s all right if you can’t. Or if it doesn’t work out. I’ll tell Henry. He’ll understand.”
Izzy pressed her lips together, trying to keep from crying. “I’m going to do everything I can.”
“I know.” He grabbed her hand and held it. “You know I wished you were a boy when you were born. But I think you turned out all right.” He gave her the ghost of the lopsided grin she used to see all the time before looking up at Hale. “Take care of her.”
“I will,” Hale said as Izzy stood.
She flung her arms around Hale one last time. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He responded by pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Chapter Twenty-one
