Collin folded his hands. “Let me finish this story for you. Now that the lord had a son, you were no longer in the running to get the estate. So then when you saw the opportunity to get closer to Lloyd by causing him and Adeline to get caught, you controlled every step of the way, hoping that one day Adeline would fall in love with you and allow you tothinkthe estate was yours.”
Simon nodded sharply. “Exactly.”
“However, you have overlooked one thing,” Collin continued. “You do not have noble blood, and therefore, willneverhave an estate of your own. Adeline, being a widow, would have had to live wherever the current Lord Kentwood assigned her to live.”
Simon’s glare turned darker as his steady hand raised the pistol toward Collin. “And, I would kill you, too.”
Collin shook his head. “What about the next one to inherit the title? That would be my brother, Adrian.”
“You don’t know me,my lord. I will do anything to take overmyestate. This place should have been mine!”
Bitterness coated Adeline’s tongue as bile rose in her throat. Simon had lost his mind completely. Collin couldn’t say anything to stop him, she just knew it.
Glancing around, she searched for something that might be used to stop Simon, or at least distract him so that Collin could get the pistol. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything she could use as a weapon. There was only one thing she could do to stop him. Simon had always seemed to know her thoughts and feelings. She prayed this time he wouldn’t be able to suspect that she was playacting.
“Indeed, it should.” She moved past Collin. His arm shot out to hold her back, but she gently pushed it away, keeping her focus on Simon. “What the first Lord Kentwood did to you was unforgivable.” She tried to keep her voice sweet even though disappointment for her family’s friend was breaking her heart. Thankfully, Simon allowed her to stand beside him and touch his arm.
“Yes, but do you know what will even be worse?” Simon asked.
“What?” She tried to look at him as if she loved him.
“If you fall forhisfalse charms.” Simon shook his head. “He doesn’t love you like I do, Adeline.”
She heard Collin’s angry breaths behind her, but she couldn’t look his way. By gazing into Collin’s eyes, Simon would be able to know how much she loved him. “You have always been there for me, Simon.”
Gradually, the arm holding the pistol lowered. “I have, and I always will.”
“That is the kind of man I want to call my husband. That is the kind of man I want sharing my life.”
Simon’s expression relaxed. “Then look no further. I’m right here.”
A loud growl rent through the air, followed by Collin’s fist flying toward Simon. Before he could do anything, Collin hit him in the nose. The sound of breaking bones echoed through the room before Simon crumbled to the ground. In a flash, Collin snatched the pistol out of Simon’s grasp.
“She has already found that man, you imbecile,” Collin snapped, glowering at Simon who held his bloody nose. “How can you make her a good husband when you go around killing people?”
Collin straightened and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his body. She sighed and leaned against him, closing her eyes. Warmth surrounded her, just as it had always done when Collin held her. “I was so scared.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’ve lost you once. I don’t plan on doing it ever again.”
She looked up. When their gazes met, his face relaxed and he smiled.
“I thank you for distracting him.” He winked. “We work well together, don’t you think?”
Happiness filled her and she smiled as she rested her hand on his strong chest. “I’ve always thought that, my love.”
“Then what do you say we make this a permanent arrangement?”
Nodding, she sighed. “There’s nothing in this world that I want more... except maybe to get myformerbutler arrested for murder and for ruining people’s lives.”
“Don’t worry, my sweet Addie. Your wish is my command.”
