“Imay have tried to lose myself in the bottom of a bottle.”Hereturned the book to its original place on the shelf, and then his gaze returned to her face. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t tell when a lady is upset.How about you tell mewhat’s really bothering you?”
This time, it was her turn to scoff. “You can honestly ask me that after what happened today?”
He frowned.“I agree that it’s regrettableaboutMr. Hopper and Claudia, but theywere aware ofthe riskswhen I brought you here.TheyknewWistenberry might try to abduct you.”
Her jaw went slack. “Is thatsupposed to make me feel better?”
“No,” he returned firmly. “Just to make youstop berating yourself.I would think being tied to that miscreant for eternity is punishment enough.”
Isabellastilled. Until that point, shehad convinced herself she was strong, hadvowedthat she would keep the tears at bay, but with asingle sentence, adesperatesob escaped. She covered her mouth and spun around, intending tofleeto her room before the dam burst free.
Butapparently,hewasn’tallowing her to retreat.
He grabbed hershoulders, andalthoughshe fought against his hold, he held tight. “Let me go!” she cried, her breath comingoutin short bursts of emotion.
He turned her to him, his expressionsteady and calm. “You don’t need to be alone right now, Isabella.”He paused…then added, “And neither do I”
It was the vulnerability that she read in his eyes, the same one that was likely mirrored in her own,thatcaused her to break down.
Shecovered her face with her hands. And wept.
***
Ridge held Isabella tight against his chest, close enough that he could feel her heart beating in time to his own. He closed his eyes as he ran a hand down her long copper hair whileshecriedas if her very heart was breaking.
His own vision turned blurry, so he closed his eyes. He couldn’t allow emotion to overcome him, because he had to be strong for her. She needed to have a steady foundation to stand onasher worldfellapart.
But the sobs literally tore at hiscold soul, where another chunk of ice fell away.
Afterthe worst had passed, hereached into his pocket andofferedher a handkerchief. “Thank you,” she said, but she had trouble meeting his gaze, asif embarrassed by her watery outburst.
He took her hand and led her over to the settee. They sat downnext to each other whereheput an arm around her andpulled her back against him. She didn’t resist as she wiped at her eyes,releasinga deep sigh, as if the weight she’d been carryingaroundhadat long lastbeen lifted.
After a time, he asked, “Feelanybetter?”
She nodded. “A little. I suppose sometimes all we need is a good cry.”
“Indeed.” He smiled against the top of her head. If there was one thing he’d learned about growing up with a bunch of women,it wasthat they generally needed toshed a few tears now and again to face the dawning of a new day.
Isabellasat up and turnedher headto look at him. She wasfully composednow,even if hereyes werea bitred-rimmed. “Istillfeelas thoughall of this is my fault.”
He allowed his gaze to roam over her face, theurgeto kiss those soft, pliant lipsalmostoverpowering.However, he resisted theimpulse, hoping that his voice was convincing enough when he said,“You had nothing to do with what happened today.Iknewthat, at some point, Simon would appear.”
“But if I hadn’t insisted on going to the village, you would have been here to intercept him.”
He frowned. “True, but there was no way to know when he would attack. Now that he’s given away hiscards, we’ll be even more cautious when he decides to strike next.”
She glanced down at her hands. “Isuppose so.” She exhaled heavily. “Istill can’t believeI ran off and eloped withsuch a man. I wasso…desperate for love, forhislove, that I imagined I could change him, that in timehe would come to feel the same…”
As her words trailed off,Ridge reached out and grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Wistenberrywas a dolt that didn’t know a good thing when he had it in his possession.” He released her. “But hedoesn’t matter anymore.Soon, hewill no longer be your problem.”
Her lovely eyes widened. “Surely you don’t mean to…killhim?”
He clenched his jaw. “Itis either me or the noose.You forget he’s still atraitor to the Crown.”As she appeared to digestthis, he couldn’tstop himself from asking, “Does it bother you to think of his demise?”
“No.” She shook her head. “But it does when I think of yours.”
***
