Page 17 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

He smiled with the pleasure of having guessed correctly, though it was a silly thing.

He hoped he would be correct in the reason for his visit that morning. She may not be able to get around very well with her injury, but he knew how they might pass the time.

“The Case of the Rook’s Tower?” She said as he held up the book as he stepped closer. “I’ve not heard of it.”

“That’s because it only comes out next month. I have an early copy from the author herself.”

He chuckled again when Harlow narrowed her eyes in disbelief. My, but her brothers must have deviled her something fierce to have caused such an inherent doubt about everything. He wished he could have been there to protect her from them. Ironically, they would likely wish to be here to protect her from him as well.

“Shall I read it to you?” he offered.

“We should take turns,” she countered. “It’s only fair.”

“Very well, let us begin.”

They spent the rest of the day reading to each other. As he listened to her, he found the low, almost raspy quality of her voice alluring in a way he shouldn’t feel about an injured maiden in his care. He piled that onto the growing list of infractions he was guilty of since she’d arrived.

She was lovely despite her long, dark hair hanging in a simple braid over her shoulder, and the much-too-large dressing gown engulfing her luscious form. She was not so thin as the debutantes he’d encountered in the ballrooms this year.

She was muscled from physical activities the ton likely wouldn’t approve of. But he preferred it. It was clear to him she did not spend all her time indoors reading Stonecliff novels.

Twenty-six proposals in her first season.

It was no wonder. Had he been looking for a wife, he might have been in line as well. And then it would have been twenty-seven refusals.

Thinking of rejected proposals stung the small wound still healing from Miss Sheridan. While he knew the two of them would not have made a happy match, he couldn’t help but consider how the only women eager to marry him were those whose families were desperate for funds.

None of them truly liked him. Or had even spent more than a few moments to get to know him. Was that all he offered of value? Money?

No. He knew well enough it wasn’t just the money. His title was in high demand as well. The rank of countess attracted the wealthy but lower ranking merchants’ daughters.

He blamed Finn and Shay for his sudden desire to find more than just a marriage. He now wanted a happy match as they had. And if he was not expecting love as his friends found, he wanted friendship and respect. And if not those, at least someone willing to sit and read with him.

He looked at the woman whose eyes were growing heavy as she read and thought he understood why she had not accepted anyone’s proposal. She was hunted for the same reasons. Not for herself, but for the money her dowry afforded or the thrill of securing a duke’s daughter.

They were alike in that way. Both avoiding interest, while feeling as if no one really wanted them.

When her words drifted off, he again watched her sleeping for longer than he’d ever admit. He stood and slipped the book from her hands to set it on the stand next to the bed. Then picked up the candle and left the room, leaving her in darkness so she might have a restful sleep.

In his own room, however, sleep did not come so easily. There were many things to think about.

If he were to go to Inverness, he might have the chance to face the man that nearly killed him. The scoundrel who had forced Reese to relive the horror in his dreams was only a day’s ride away. Up until he’d been shot, Reese had lived in the foolish disbelief he was invincible; he was now well aware of the blinding truth that it wasn’t so.

That everything could end in a fleeting moment. Of course, he’d known of young men who’d met their ill-timed fate early in life, though he’d lost no one close to him in that way. For the most part, Reese always assumed death came for those who had roamed the earth for their set amount of time and then faded off into the peaceful bliss of the unknown.

But now, Reese was shaken by the abruptness of how quickly it could all come to an end. Too soon. And he blamed Captain Merrick for it. The man was deadly and was a burden to the Crown, but it wasn’t solely Reese’s loyalty to the Crown that had him seeking vengeance on this maritime menace.

He could have another chance to face the man and bring him to justice. He’d done the right thing to alert the authorities. They would take care of Merrick while Reese—now a civilian—was able to stay at Slains and take care of Harlow. No one would question why he didn’t see to the duty himself. He was an earl and these messy affairs were left to agents, not noblemen.

Still, he wondered if it should be him that brought the man to justice. Would the night terrors relent if he personally saw the man swinging from the end of a rope? If he could see the matter dealt with, he’d have no reason to be continually haunted by the monster.

He might have gone if he wasn’t needed at home to see to Harlow.