Chapter Thirty-One
Simon
He knew Penelope was terrified. Fear emanated from her in waves, her hands clammy and damp as she wrapped the rope around his wrists.
When she checked the knots, Simon could hardly see her face beyond the sweep of her unbound hair, but he knew tears streamed down her cheeks.
The droplets landed like liquid fire on his skin.
“It will be all right, little mouse,” he murmured soothingly. “Just do as he says. For God’s sake, do not provoke him. I don’t want him to hurt you.”
“Hurt her?” Gregory taunted, tucking the pistol away now that Simon was secure. “I plan on doing all manner of debauched things to her.” Striding forward, he shoved Penelope aside and immediately punched Simon in the jaw, knocking him down onto his knees.
Penelope let out an anguished wail, scrambling to reach Simon before Gregory grabbed her by the arm. He hauled her against him while snatching up one of the cravats that lay forgotten on the blanket.
“We’re going to ensure your husband wants this divorce,” Gregory said, holding her arm in a cruel grasp. “He’s going to watch as I use you so thoroughly that the very sight of you will disgust him.”
“Please, Lord Grant,” Penelope whimpered, crumpling in Gregory’s hold. “I will do whatever you say…just please do not harm him.”
“We are soon to be intimately acquainted, Penelope. You may address me as ‘Master,’” Gregory laughed, spinning her around so that her back pressed against his chest and they both faced Simon.
“Take a good look at your wife, Camden. It’s the last time you will be able to claim that she is yours alone. ”
Simon’s heart clenched with unbearable pain as he saw the terror on Penelope’s face.
Wide, green eyes stared back at him, her full, bottom lip trembling as she bravely contained her sobs.
Frantically, he twisted his hands, hoping that it might loosen the knots in the rope binding him.
He had to get free. Had to save his beloved wife from the grip of a madman.
He needed time to formulate a plan to save them both.
“How did you find us, Grant? Have you been skulking about? Watching from the shadows? Waiting for the opportune moment to strike?” Simon questioned in a thick voice. Already, his jaw was swelling from the assault.
Gregory shrugged, tightening his arm around Penelope’s waist with such force that she sucked in a sharp, agonized gasp.
“One of your new groomsmen, a young dolt of a fellow, told me everything I desired for the price of a gold crown. After I insinuated that I carried news of your father falling ill, and he eagerly directed me here.”
Simon sank back on his heels, his fingers searching for and finding the knife tucked away in his boot.
He had it on his person for one simple reason…
to cut Penelope free in a hurry if the need should arise during their lovemaking session.
Thank God he had thought to secure a weapon.
One that Gregory had no idea was secreted away in his boot.
Now, he must keep the man talking while he worked on severing the rope around his hands.
Needed to keep him distracted so he did not continue with the assault on Penelope.
“Very clever, Grant. Very clever.” Simon tilted his head, shifting his body so he had better access to the ropes.
Hiding his intention with a wince and a low curse, he clenched and unclenched his jaw as if it greatly pained him.
It hurt, no doubt, but he’d been struck harder during impromptu boxing matches at Gentleman Jackson’s academy.
“And the various vehicles that narrowly missed running me over in the streets? Was that your doing as well?”
“It was,” Gregory preened. He nuzzled his nose along Penelope’s neck, taking obvious delight in the way she strained away from him.
He used her futile resistance to force his body closer to hers.
“Failures, obviously. I did possess hope that the man sent to assassinate you outside of your barrister’s office would succeed, but alas, he, too, proved to be an abject disappointment.
I reluctantly abandoned my attempts at eliminating you and settled on a new plan.
Admittedly, I’m enjoying stealing Penelope from you rather than just killing you.
It’s almost poetic, wouldn’t you agree? I’ve been granted the opportunity to humiliate you twice.
This moment when I can fuck your wife while you watch, and later, when it becomes common knowledge that this is why you must seek a divorce. ”
Penelope choked back a hysterical cry, the words tumbling from her throat. “I will murder you myself, Lord Grant, if you do not let us go. If-if you succeed with this insanity, I shall slit your throat while you sleep, I swear it!”
Gregory laughed as though amused by Penelope’s fervent threat while Simon silently prayed she would be silent and refrain from provoking the madman.
“You will be spectacular when I break you, Penelope.” Gregory licked the side of her neck, biting her ear so hard that she whimpered. “It will be my greatest pleasure to have you crawl to me. To beg for mercy. To beg that I let you out of the cage I intend to keep you in.”
Simon hid the triumph on his face when one strand of rope fell free. There were still the combined knots around both wrists to cut through, but he was quickly making headway.
Just a few more moments, little mouse. Hold on for me…hold on for me.
“Give me your hands,” Gregory demanded of Penelope.
“No more talking now. That goes for you as well, Camden. I want silence, or I shall be forced to shut you up. An intriguing prospect, but I do want you conscious and aware of every single degradation I subject her to.” He paused, his attention caught by Penelope’s wedding ring, and grinned with ill-concealed avarice.
“This will fetch a pretty coin, I think.”
“Please, Lord Grant. Do not restrain me.” Penelope’s breathing was shallow, but she drew herself up straighter.
Taller. A strength Simon had never witnessed before in her rose to the surface, and it was glorious to see.
He could not look away from her. She was breathtaking.
Brave. Strong. Unbending. “I will do what you want,” she said with quite dignity.
Her hands fisted at her sides, her arms stiff and unyielding.
“As long as you do not hurt Simon, I will obey you.”
Gregory’s face hardened. “I ordered you to put your hands behind your back.”
Simon could see the emotions playing across Penelope’s features, and his own body tightened with trepidation. God help them both. She was going to do something foolish and brave, and he could do nothing to stop her.
“Penelope.”
Her gaze flew to his, their eyes locking.
Everything Simon felt for her—everything he had suppressed and stupidly denied for so long—rose to strangle the air from his lungs.
The essence of everything that mattered in the world, all that was dear, loved, and treasured, reflected back at him through forest-green eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
His jaw clenched with the need to cleanse his soul of all his sins.
To beg this sweet, gentle creature’s forgiveness and pray she would grant it.
He needed to confess his undying love and promise her a future where he was no longer a dissolute rakehell but rather her devoted husband.
The full, unfettered madness of love swamped Simon. It was so complete, so all-encompassing and devastating that it left him reeling.
“Penelope, I love you. Do you understand? No matter what happens, remember that. I love you. I wish to God I had possessed the strength to say it before now.” His words were low and intense, evoking a snarl of contempt from Gregory.
Yet Simon maintained eye contact with his wife.
He watched as his words sank into her heart.
Watched as his unexpected declaration transformed both of them.
He suddenly felt lighter. Euphoric. Stronger than he’d ever felt in his entire life.
And Penelope…dear God… Her entire face glowed with an incandescent light even as that overwhelming joy mingled with the deepest, darkest despair. She shuddered, closing her eyes as if she could somehow absorb his strength.
“How very touching…and utterly pointless,” Gregory muttered with a roll of his eyes. He jerked Penelope away, spinning her about so she could no longer maintain eye contact with Simon. “I grow weary of this sentimental nonsense. Time to bring you both to your knees.”
Penelope reacted violently, struggling despite her vows to submit. For a moment, she successfully jerked free from the hard grip Gregory had on her arm.
That brief flash of defiance earned her a vicious blow across the face. It sent her reeling, and she stumbled to the ground, landing against the forgotten crate with a moan. The wine goblets tumbled to the grass, accompanied by the tinkling sound of broken glass.
“Grant! You bastard! Don’t you fucking touch her!
” Simon shouted in helpless fury. He no longer cared that Gregory might realize he was nearly free of his bindings.
Scraping the knife against the rope with desperate force, he sliced open his own hand in the process, leaving his fingers slippery with blood.
One more knot fell away, and he lurched onto his feet.
What occurred next unfolded as if in horrifying slow motion.
Gregory thrust a hand into the thick mass of Penelope’s hair and hauled her to her feet using his cruel grip.
At the same moment, she whirled toward him, the neck of the forgotten wine bottle gripped tight in her hand.
She swung the bottle in a wild, arching movement, the thick glass connecting with Gregory’s temple with a sickening thud.
Gregory sank to his knees with a pained grunt, eyes wide with disbelief.
“You-you goddamned little bitch…” Blood welled from a long, jagged cut along his hairline, streaming down the side of his face in little rivulets.
He stared up at Penelope, paralyzed with shock, his arms straight at his side.
“You’ll pay for that…with your screams and blood. Yours and his…”
With a low cry, Penelope swung the bottle a second time, cracking Gregory across the jaw and knocking him onto his back. The pistol, previously tucked into the waist of his trousers, slipped free and tumbled to the ground.
“Penelope!” Simon cried out. Terror gripped him that Gregory would regain the weapon and shoot them both.
Gregory groaned as Penelope scrambled forward and grabbed the firearm. Realizing he had lost the advantage, the man snarled like a wild animal and clumsily attempted to wrap his arms around her legs.
Even with the bulk of her riding skirts, Penelope nimbly evaded Gregory’s grasp. She reached Simon just as he ripped his wrists free from the last tangle of ropes, the knife dropping to the forest floor.
Catching her against his chest with a muttered curse, Simon crushed her to him.
His heart threatened to burst free of his body.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, his pulse pounding with such ferocity that his knees threatened to collapse beneath his own weight.
Penelope’s tears dampened his shirt as she sobbed with a mix of fear and relief.
“It’s all right, my love. It’s all right…
” he crooned, removing the pistol from her quivering fingers even as he embraced her.
After a few seconds, he pulled back so he could examine her cheek.
A vicious growl rose in his chest at the sight of the red mark left behind by Gregory.
He brushed his fingers over the bruise, leaving behind a streak of blood.
“Simon…oh my God. You are bleeding,” Penelope gasped. Her entire body shook as she held his hand, palm up, to better view the damage inflicted in his bid for freedom.
Closing his eyes for a split second to gather his careening emotions, Simon pressed a quick kiss to Penelope’s trembling mouth.
“Do not worry, little wife. It is not a wound that will take me from you. Nothing will keep me away from you. Not blood. Not money.” His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Not even a madman can destroy my love for you.” His gaze softened, his lips brushing her temple in a gentle caress as she inhaled deeply.
Her hand traced the cut on his palm, as he continued, “You’ve been so very brave, mouse…
be brave a little bit longer for me. You must tie his hands and help me place him on his horse.
When we return to the house, we shall have the steward send for the constable immediately.
Lord Grant will be placed into his custody and charged with abduction and attempted murder. ”
Penelope nodded, but fear flitted across her features, refusing to be tamped down by Simon’s assurances for their safety. “He is dangerous, Simon, and you are injured…”
“He no longer poses a threat to us, Penelope.” Pushing her gently aside, Simon aimed the pistol at Gregory.
The man sat in the tall grass, slumped over with a hand pressed to the wound on his head.
“Did you hear that, Lord Grant? Your crimes will be addressed by the court, although I would be well within my rights to kill you now.”
Gregory laughed, the sound like brittle leaves. “A court?” he rasped, lifting his gaze with effort. The madness still flickered there, only now it was faint, like the last guttering of a candle. “You think they will believe you over me?” He stumbled up onto his feet, swaying with the effort.
Simon did not lower the pistol. “They will believe the truth, Grant. And everyone will see you exactly for what you are and what you have done.” He motioned toward him.
“Turn around. Slowly. And place your hands behind your back so my countess can restrain you. Apparently, she’s very good at tying knots.
” Giving Penelope a crooked grin, his attention returned to Gregory.
“You will not resist. Try it,” Simon paused, his eyes hardening with an overwhelming desire to permanently eliminate the man who had come so close to destroying their lives.
“I shall happily shoot you where you stand.” Stalking closer to the man, Simon rasped in a voice meant for Gregory’s ears only.
“If my wife were not present, I would cut off your hands for daring to touch her. Your tongue? I’d rip it out for tasting what belongs to me alone.
And I’d have your eyes because you looked at her and saw her as prey.
” A mirthless laugh escaped him as Gregory tried shuffling away, and he punched the man in the stomach, dropping him to his knees once more.
“I cannot promise that I still won’t do any of those things but for your sake, I hope I can control my murderous urges when it comes to protecting my wife. ”