Page 81

“You can’t keep—”

His grip on her arms tightened. “Get in. Now. We’ll talk inside.”

Something in his voice made Lydia pause. He wasn’t just annoyed.

His fingers still snug around her upper arm, he walked her quickly back inside.

Without letting go of her, Thorn turned to his butler. “Did I have any correspondence last night?”

“There was an urgent missive from Wakefield Manor, my lord, but Lady Wakefield intercepted it.”

“That cunning witch,” he growled under his nose. “Is the carriage ready?”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Good. Vlad, collect my traveling valise. We’re going on a trip.”

“Thorn—” Lydia started, but he steered her toward the stairs.

“Someone was watching me,” he said as they ascended. “I thought I was being followed this morning, but I wasn’t certain. Now, I am. And the only reason someone might be watching me is if they’re looking for you. I was quite vocal at Hades’ Hell last night, asking around about you.”

They reached the first-floor landing and turned toward the corridor leading to his bedroom.

“And now, they’ve probably seen you dashing out of my house.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “I don’t know who they are or what they want with you—throw you into the gaol or dole out their own punishment… But I propose we don’t find out. I just went to Hades Hell—”

Lydia whipped her head to face him. This was the last place she had expected him to go.

“I made a compelling offer to the owner, who is apparently my half-sister,” he continued evenly and emotionlessly as they reached his bedchamber. He opened the door, guiding her inside. “She’s going to try and rein in the damage she’s done. But it won’t be easy, and it’ll take a while.”

Lydia blinked a few times, making sure she hadn’t misheard him. “She is what?”

“Yes, I know, I am still processing it myself.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how I feel about all that. And she obviously is not fond of me either.”

That explained why she wanted his ring, but… “She isn’t? And she still agreed to help you? Why? Why would she even—” Then it finally dawned on her. Her gaze dropped to her bare hand.

The ring. He’d given it away.

“Yes,” he said, as if reading her mind. “The point is, even after her retraction, the rumors will persist. Some people will never believe you’re innocent. So, for a while, until everything calms down, we need to leave.”

“I need to leave,” she countered.

He shut the door behind them with a telling slam.

“Thorn,” she said softly. “I’m not going with you.”

“Why not?” he asked irritably.

“How can you ask me that? I can’t marry you!”

“Why. Not?” He spoke slowly, but his voice had a menacing edge. “You love me. Isn’t that enough?”

Lydia forced herself to regulate her breathing. “I loved you. Loved. In the past. I haven’t forgotten you, and there’s clearly passion between us, but it’s been ten blasted years! I don’t know if I love you now. Hell, I don’t even know you. And you don’t know me.”

The pain on his face nearly brought Lydia to her knees. She wasn’t lying. Her feelings were jumbled and confused. She wanted him—yes. Their last encounter had proved that much. But did she love him? She didn’t know.

What she did know was that she never wanted him to suffer because of her. And if she stayed, that was bound to happen.

“I know you,” he insisted. “And I know you can be happy with me. In your letters, you said you love watching the stars all night. Well, you can do that in Wakefield. The skies are clear there… Clearer than in London, anyway.”