Before he knew what he was doing, he leaned forward and placed his lips gently on her cheek, covering her scar with his kisses. At first, she gasped and moved but then, slowly, her muscles relaxed once more and she allowed him to show his affections, his love, in his own gentle way.
When he sat up again a moment later, her face bore a smile and her eyes were full of love.
“I love you, Kenneth Cragshade,” she said.
“And I love you.”
Their moment was interrupted by the neighing of Artemis. “I think he approves,” he said with a wink.
“I believe he is tired of carrying the both of us through the thickness of the forest,” she retorted with a giggle.
“Well, he will have to carry the burden for only a few more moments. Goldclaw Manor is just up ahead.” The top of the manor was already in view and within a few minutes, they arrived on the road leading to the house.
“Kenneth, look! It’s the constable’s carriage.” She was right. Stopped outside the manor was the black carriage driven by the parish constable. The two watched in amazement as his father, Ruth’s father, and Jack appeared at the front door, standing in one neat row, their eyes cast at the tall, thin man who served the parish as its sole law enforcement officer. He was leading out before him a squirming, wriggling Lawrence, his arms bound behind his back as he shouted and protested this treatment. It did no good, he was pushed into the back of the carriage before the door shut behind him. After a short conversation, the constable climbed back onto the driver’s seat and the carriage drove away.
It was over. Their long nightmare was at last at an end. Or so Kenneth believed.
Chapter 31
The keys of the pianoforte refused to produce the soothing sounds Ruth so craved. Instead, they clanged under her fingers in such a clumsy manner that Ruth gave up before resting her hands in her lap.
Ever since Lord Cragshade’s removal the previous day, she’d been in an odd state of malcontent. Relief at his being apprehended and the threat to her safety being removed, but knowing a man wanted to kill her was unsettling, to say the least. She could not help but wonder if it might have been different if her skin was smooth and flawless. No matter what Kenneth said, she wasn’t able to shake these thoughts.
The mood in the manor was decidedly muted. Her father, Kenneth, and the Duke were shut in the Duke’s study, spending their time discussing what was to become of Lord Cragshade. Ruth knew that he did not have the privilege of being a true nobleman. As such, he might have escaped punishment altogether. The nobility was hardly ever held accountable for their actions, short of murder.
Ruth rose, smoothing down her lavender-colored round dress. She fingered the pearls sewn down the front of her dress and wandered the length of the music room, coming to a stop in front of the harp. Letting her fingers slide along the strings; they tickled her fingertips and she slid into the seat behind the instrument. Closing her eyes, her fingers soon danced over the strings, finding the melody the keys of the pianoforte had refused to produce. Soon, she was lost in her world where nothing existed but the notes of her song.
“It is beautiful,” a soft voice drifted to her ear. “I’ve always enjoyed your harp playing more than the piano, have I ever told you?”
“Sophia,” she said when she opened her eyes. Her sister was standing before her, still wearing her Pomona-green pelisse and matching bonnet as she removed her white-silk gloves. Her face was sun-kissed, a surprise to Ruth as her sister usually made sure to keep out of the sun to preserve the sought-after porcelain skin.
“I did not even hear you enter.”
“You never do when you play.”
Taking off her bonnet, she slid into the seat nearest to Ruth, her shoulders suddenly dropping as she let out a loud sigh.
“Faith, Ruthie. I heard about Lord Cragshade. I cannot believe you were right about him all along. He was indeed the one who attempted to throw you down the stairs and now this? And I…I was with him, I trusted him. I allowed him to poison my mind against you.”
A strain appeared on her pretty face as she fought to keep the tears from spilling. Ruth reached out and grasped her sister’s hand.
“Oh, Sophia. I tried to tell you but …”
“I was too angry with you. I know it. I did not listen. I did not care to listen. I should have seen him for who he really was.” She sat up and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Ruth shook her head, reminding herself once more just how young her sister was, and how inexperienced in the ways of the world. Even though only two years separated them, it seemed that Sophia was a child yet. She lacked the experiences that had forced Ruth to grow up much faster.
“How did you find out? Did you not just arrive here?”
Sophia nodded, placing her bonnet beside her. “Lady Caster greeted us at the door, it seems she was eager to see Her Grace.”
Ruth shook her head. “She called on me for tea this morning. I believe she intended to call on His Grace and Papa to see how they are faring after the apprehension of Lord Cragshade.”
Sophia’s lips parted as she took in this information. “I see. We had already heard about the arrest when we stopped at one of the posting houses to change horses, but it was allondit, as you can imagine. Upon arrival, Lady Caster filled us in and is now conversing with Her Grace on a private matter.” She paused, rubbing her lips together. “Papa is occupied, I assume?”
“He is with His Grace and Kenneth. I have not seen any of them much since yesterday. A great number of people have come to call on His Grace upon hearing the news and he has been greatly occupied. Kenneth, of course, as well.”
The name seemed to linger in the air between them, the tension palpable. At last, Sophia unbuttoned her pelisse, draped it over her dress, and crossed her legs at the ankles.
