Page 27 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

With a nod of his own, Reese went to get Harlow.

*

After the earl’s abrupt departure in the gardens, Harlow and Belle had finished their walk and were sitting on the terrace. She wasn’t sure where Reese would take his guest to visit, and Harlow didn’t want to be seen at Slains Castle with no chaperone.

It would be a miracle if she could make it home with her reputation intact, but she would do her best not to make any reckless mistakes that would otherwise seal their fate.

For if Harlow was publicly ruined, her father would demand Reese marry her. Something she couldn’t bear. Neither of them wanted to be forced to wed. She’d not be the cause of such an outcome.

She was seated on a bench, rubbing Belle behind the ears the way the dog seemed to like best when the earl came out through his study.

He didn’t speak until he sat next to her, taking up rubbing the dog’s other ear.

“There is a man here. His name is Albert. He’s an agent with the Home Office, sent here to look for Captain Merrick and take him into custody for crimes against the Crown.”

“I see,” she said, glad her voice didn’t tremble. For she didn’t see. She’d never been mixed up in such serious things before. The Home Office, agents, treasonous captains that kidnap innocent women… It was all the stuff of novels. But she was living it now. She focused on Reese’s face as he continued.

“He would like to question you about the events that brought you here. I told him only that I would ask. No one will make you, do you understand?”

She nodded and opened her mouth to explain that she’d be more than pleased to help bring the captain to justice if not for the danger to her reputation, but Reese spoke as if he already knew what worried her.

“He’s been sworn to secrecy regarding the nature of your visit here. I assured him my mother was in residence, and he has agreed. No one will know any differently, I promise ye. But it is still up to you if you wish to speak of what happened.”

“I can do it. If it means having the man stopped. I want to help.”

“I thought ye might. You’re a brave lass.” He looked out over the grounds before looking back at her. “I will stay with you while you tell him the story. But if you were to speak of your uncle’s part in this, he would surely be arrested.”

Harlow looked up at him to see what he thought of this, but he gave nothing away.

“If Uncle Edgar is arrested, he wouldn’t be able to come here. I’d not get to see him again. Not get to hear him explain himself or see him beg for forgiveness he will never get.”

“He would likely be dealt with along with Merrick. It is likely to be a severe punishment, Harlow. I want to make sure you understand what could happen.”

She understood. But there was something else she had wondered and needed to know before she went any further.

“It may be some time yet until he arrives. When I first planned revenge, I didn’t give much thought that you might not want me here so long. With my ankle recovered, I could return home.”

He nodded slowly without looking at her.

“You are welcome to stay in my home for as long as you wish. I’d not cast ye out no matter the length of your stay and surely not after you’ve been back on your feet for less than a day.”

She nodded. It was what she had expected any gentleman to offer. But he hadn’t said he wished her to stay. Was that because he wanted it to be her decision or because he truly didn’t care.

“I will tell ye,” he said looking her in the eye. “There is something to be said for getting closure on this event. You had no control over how you ended up on that ship, but you can take that back now. My leg… well, the person who did it got away, and I think the matter bothers me more because I wasn’t able to see it through. That’s why I’ll help ye with whatever you need.”

This time when she nodded she was more resolute. If she were not so set on seeing her uncle again and making him explain why he’d let her be taken, she might have been content to allow the authorities to handle it. But she needed to know why he’d betrayed her in such a painful way. She needed to look him in the eye while he told her the truth.

“I wish to handle him myself. I need to have my chance.”

He nodded. “If you can relay the facts without mention of Polk it would serve your plans better. Try to keep to the truth as much as possible.”

After a deep breath she took the hand he held out to help her up. She slid her arm over his so he could lead her inside, where she would give a stranger every detail of the worst moments of her life.

She closed her eyes for a second and gathered her strength around her. She would do this so no one else would fall victim to that monster.