Lord of Fortune

by Darcy Burke

  “You expect me to believe you were both trying to cheat each other?” Forrest let out a hollow laugh. “You must think me incredibly stupid.”

  Yes, actually. But not stupid enough since he held the woman Penn loved and was completely in command.

  “No. But the heart isn’t here. It’s at the lower falls. Let me take you there, and we can find it.”

  Forrest pushed Amelia toward the edge but didn’t let go. She let out a sound that was half sob and half shriek, putting her hand up and trying to grab his wrist.

  “I’ll push you, my darling. Please don’t make me. I’d hate to see your beautiful face splattered below.”

  Fear sliced through Penn. He started to make his way down the rock face to the ledge.

  Forrest cocked the pistol. “Don’t come any closer, Bowen.”

  Then everything happened very quickly. So quickly that Penn barely had time to react.

  Amelia turned and brought her knee up into Forrest’s groin. She grabbed his right arm and squeezed. Forrest screamed in pain and dropped the pistol. It clacked against the rock and bounced over the waterfall.

  Free of him, Amelia took a step backward. That was the moment Penn dashed down the rock face, nearly slipping over the falls himself.

  “You bitch.” Thaddeus sneered as he lunged forward. Amelia danced backward, evading his grasp.

  Thaddeus grabbed air and realized his mistake. He’d overextended himself, and he pitched forward, falling onto the slick rock. He tried to find purchase but slipped to the edge. “Help me!” he cried, as his legs swung out over the fall, dangling in the air. He grabbed at the rock, but gravity had other ideas, and he simply fell over the side and tumbled down to the river below.

  Amelia wasn’t out of danger. She’d lost her balance as she’d worked to stay clear of Forrest. Penn moved as quickly as he dared, sticking close to the rock face and away from the edge. “Take my hand!” He reached for her as she started to slip.

  Just when he thought he was going to lose her, his fingers met hers. He clasped her hand and pulled her hard against him. They fell back against the rock, and he fought to keep them upright.

  Her breath came hard and fast against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I’ve got you,” he said, kissing her temple. “I’ve got you.”

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders and clutched his coat so tightly that it pulled around him, reminding him that a bullet had grazed his arm. But he didn’t care. He’d endure anything for her.

  “Is he...?” Her voice was muffled against his chest. “I can’t look.”

  Penn couldn’t look right now either, but he couldn’t imagine anyone would survive the fall with the rocks below. “I can’t verify anything, but I think we can assume he’s dead.”

  A shudder racked her body. Penn held her more tightly and brushed his lips across the top of her head. “I’m sorry,” he murmured.

  “Can we get off this ledge, please?” she asked, still without lifting her head from where it was tucked into him.

  “Yes, let’s.” He positioned her between himself and the rock face as he slowly led her back to the incline.

  She climbed up with him holding and guiding her from the back. He scampered up after her and, well away from the edge, drew her into his embrace once more. “You’re safe now.”

  She twined her arms around his neck, her body still shaking. He held her close, stroking her back and whispering words of calm and care. The rain continued to mist around them, and he moved his hat to her head.

  Blinking, she pulled back and looked at his arm. “You’re bleeding.”

  Penn winced. “That last brigand shot me.” He studied her, looking for a wound he couldn’t see. “What about you? I heard a gunshot earlier.”

  “That was an accident. Price—the one you shot—slipped on the path, and his pistol went off. He injured another of Thaddeus’s men, Bertie. Did you see him on your way here? We need to help him.”

  Penn shook his head, his mouth pressed into a grim line. “No, we don’t.”

  Amelia lifted her fingertips to her lips and briefly closed her eyes. “I feel terrible that any of this had to happen.”

  Penn brought his hands to her face and cupped her cheeks. “None of this is your fault. The Camelot group is evil and will stop at nothing to achieve their ends. They need to be stopped.” He thought of Gideon and again wondered what had happened between him and Foliot.

  Thinking of Gideon prompted his next question. “Are you ready to go find the heart?”

  She breathed deeply. “After I look at your wound.”

  “It’s fine. Barely a scratch. You can tend it when we get back to the inn.”

  “You must at least let me wrap your cravat around it.” Her tone brooked no argument.

  He pulled his coat from that arm, with her assistance, wincing with the effort. “You’re behaving like a wife again.”

  “Is that a proposal?”

  “Hell yes. Marry me, Amelia.”

  She rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and looked at his wound. “You may need a couple of stitches.” Reaching up, she tugged his cravat free, then wrapped it tightly around his lower bicep. “What is it with everyone getting shot in the arm?” she murmured.

  As she helped him get his coat back on, he said, “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “I’m still thinking about it.” She gave him a saucy smile. “You have to kiss me first.”

  He couldn’t contain the smile that spread across his lips. “Have I told you how much I love you? No, I don’t think I have. I’ve been too afraid to speak the words with the future—”

  “Shhh. I love you too. So much.” She stood on her toes and put her mouth to his.

  He held her tight and lost himself in her embrace.

  She pulled away and looked up at him with a fiercely determined gaze. “Now, let’s find that treasure.”

  * * *

  The mist stopped, and none too soon, because Amelia was cold to her very bones. She supposed that was to be expected, given the traumatic series of events she’d just survived. As thrilled as she was to hopefully find the heart at last, she looked forward to a warm fire.

  And Penn’s arms around her.

  He was ahead of her on the path as they descended to the lower falls, which allowed her to stare at him as eagerly as she liked. And apparently, she’d be able to stare at him in the days and weeks and years to come.

  Did he really want to marry her? She didn’t doubt his emotions, but he was still Penn the adventurer for whom home was a transient place. She could accept that because for her, home would be wherever he was.

  And yet, she didn’t want him to feel trapped. He’d talked of being free and liking it. If he could manage to avoid being the earl, would he really want a wife?

  Penn paused, then turned slightly, holding his left hand back for her. “Come walk with me.”

  She took his hand and came abreast of him. A moment later, they came upon the clearing with the body of Bertie. Her throat clenched, and she squeezed Penn’s hand.

  “When we get back to Pontneddfechan, I’ll make arrangements to have the bodies recovered. The man who tried to tie me up should be fine. He was unconscious when I left him tied up. The fourth man fell down the ravine to the river, and I’ve no idea where he could be.”

  “Thank you for taking care of things,” she said. “I’m sorry the others are dead, even Thaddeus.”

  They’d found his body trapped between some rocks, and Penn had dragged him to the shore. Seeing him lifeless had made her sad, even with all the grief he’d caused her. But there was also a sense of relief because for so long he’d been an unfinished chapter in her life, something she wasn’t sure would ever be completed. After feeling trapped for so many years, she was able to look to the future.

  “I am too. However, if the choice was them or you, there was no choice at all.” He brought her hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the inside of her wris
t between her glove and the hem of her sleeve.

  The lower Fall of the White Meadow came into view. “Do you think the heart is at the top of the first fall in this series?” she asked.

  “That would be my guess based on how the map was marked.”

  “And it was on this side?” At his nod, she exhaled with relief. “Good. I don’t think I could cross the river again.”

  He squeezed her hand again and led her to the edge of the path near the top of the first of the four small falls. “Now we look for anything that will help us find the heart.” He let go of her hand and walked off the path. “It wouldn’t be out in the open. I’m thinking it’s in something.”

  Amelia walked to the nearest tree. There was a V in the trunk where two branches started. “In something like this?”

  Penn joined her and looked over her shoulder. “Perhaps. But I suspect it’s in a vessel of some kind. This is a rough place to keep something of value. With the falls and all the rain, there’s a great deal of humidity. That would be very damaging over time.”

  “Except to a rock.” Amelia looked at the rock around and beneath the river, over which the water tumbled to the pool below. “Unless the rock was in the river.” Then it would erode or be washed away.

  She turned from the river and studied the other side of the path. There were trees draped with moss, and ferns blanketed the ground. Crossing over the path, she stepped into the undergrowth. To her left was a particularly large oak, larger than the others around it. Lichen coated much of the trunk, but there was one area where it looked a bit like a pattern, reminding her of the map they’d found at the fall of snow.

  Calling out to Penn, she traced her fingers over the subtle pattern and found the shape of a heart. He arrived at her side with a soft exhalation. “What did you find?” The astonishment in his voice spurred her heartbeat.

  “Do you see what I see?” she asked, tracing over it again.

  “Yes.” He moved toward the trunk and felt along the bark.

  For some reason, Amelia looked down. She crouched low, brushing her hands along the trunk and then moving the ferns at the base. The moss was thick here, growing in fat clumps.

  She plucked at a bit of it, and a piece tore off in her hand. Beneath, there was ground and the edge of something that wasn’t dirt. She pushed at the moss and uncovered the edge of something pale and brilliant.

  Moving the moss aside, she exposed it entirely—a small, pink, heart-shaped stone nearly the size of her palm. She picked it up and wiped the rest of the moss and dirt away. “Penn,” she said softly. “Is this tourmaline?”

  He turned and looked at the stone in her palm. “I believe so.” His lips spread into a wide grin. “It’s certainly heart shaped.”

  She lifted her gaze to his. “Is this it?”

  He nodded. “It has to be.”

  “How can we know for sure?”

  He tipped his head to the side. “I don’t suppose you can use it to make me fall in love with you—that’s already happened.” He smiled again, and she laughed in response.

  “Assuming this is the real artifact with whatever enchantment these thirteen treasures possess.”

  He looked at her in surprise. “Now you’re doubting if this is real?”

  “No, I’m sure it’s real, and that it’s likely enchanted, unlike the faux heart and the dagger.” She tipped her head to the side. “We can’t test it, of course. It will only work for Gideon and others like him—descendants.”

  “That’s true. I suppose he can try it out, then.”

  She ran her thumb over the beautiful stone. “What a dangerous thing, to meddle in matters of love. What if someone like Thaddeus had this and was able to use it to make me love him?” She shuddered. “I may understand why the Order seeks to keep these treasures hidden.”

  Penn was quiet a moment, his brow creasing. “It is a concern. I should hate for them to be used for evil purposes. For that reason, I’m glad to turn them over to Gideon. Perhaps he’ll be able to find a way to keep them safe. Hopefully, we can see him soon to discuss it.”

  Amelia looked up at him. “We? Does that mean you wish me to accompany you?”

  “Of course. I’m still waiting for your answer to my question.” He curled his arm around her waist and drew her against his chest. She held the heart between them. “I don’t ever want to let you go. Do you think you can put up with being an adventurer’s wife? I can promise it won’t be boring.”

  “No, I can’t imagine it would.” She looked down at the heart briefly, then lifted her gaze to his. “Are you certain this is what you want? You like your freedom, and if you aren’t an earl, you’ll still have that—”

  He gazed at her intently. “Amelia, you are my freedom. You’re the home I never knew I wanted, the one I think I was trying to avoid. The only home I’ve ever known is with my parents. Before that, I didn’t belong anywhere, and since then, I think I’ve been…restless. Searching, but not for treasure. For you.”

  Her heart swelled with joy. She stood on her toes and gave him a brief but satisfying kiss. “I will be your wife whether you’re an adventurer, a scholar, an antiquary, or an earl.”

  He picked her up and swung her around with a laugh. Then he kissed her soundly before setting her back to the earth again. “We should hurry back before it gets dark.”

  She tried to hand him the stone, but he curled her fingers around it.

  “You keep it,” he said. “In your pack. You’ve worked very hard for this, and your grandfather would be exceedingly proud.”

  She hoped so.

  Later, after she’d applied a salve to his arm and properly dressed his wound, they lay in bed at the inn, a fire sparking in the hearth and the treasures they’d collected displayed on a small table. The dagger, the fake heart, the White Book of Hergest, and the Heart of Llanllwch. It was quite a haul, as Penn had noted earlier.

  “When I went down to fetch our dinner, the innkeeper said he and Mr. Hughes would take care of the bodies in the forest.”

  “Is the innkeeper part of the Order, then? He did encourage us to see Mr. Hughes.”

  “I’m not sure,” Penn said. “And he may not tell me if I asked.”

  Amelia snuggled against his side, laying her head atop his shoulder. “Do we need to leave terribly early for Monmouth? I’m rather exhausted.” She yawned to punctuate her statement.

  He rolled over on top of her, surprising her and eliciting a gasp from her lips. “Mrs. Bowen—”

  She narrowed her eyes playfully at him. “I’m not Mrs. Bowen yet.”

  “The innkeeper thinks you are, and I prefer to keep to the charade. Mrs. Bowen, if you think you’re exhausted now, just wait until I’m finished with you.”

  “Is that a promise, Mr. Bowen?”

  “One I intend to keep until my dying breath.” He kissed her, his tongue delving deliciously into her mouth. After a moment, he paused. “On second thought, I intend to keep it forever because one lifetime simply won’t suffice.”

  He kissed her again, and Amelia wondered if even forever would be enough.

  Epilogue

  Because it was rainy and cool, Penn and Amelia took two days to travel from Pontneddfechan to Hollyhaven. Also because they took their time enjoying their newfound joy.

  As they rode into the stable yard, they’d barely dismounted before his parents came dashing from the house. Following at a more sedate pace behind them were his sister, Cate, and her new husband, Elijah.

  Penn put his hand at the base of Amelia’s back as they greeted his mother and father, and he introduced Cate and Elijah.

  “Well, did you find it?” Cate stared at him in eager anticipation.

  “I take it Mother and Father told you what we were doing.” He’d dispatched a note to them from Wells informing them they were going to the Valley of Neath to find the heart.

  She pursed her lips at him. “You’re keeping up the suspense on purpose, and it’s beastly of you.”

  Amel
ia reached into the pocket of her habit and opened her palm to display the Heart of Llanllwch.

  Cate sucked in an audible breath as she moved closer. “Can I?”

  “Of course.” Amelia placed it in Cate’s hand.

  “It’s beautiful,” Cate said. She lifted her gaze to Penn and grinned. “Well done.”

  Penn inclined his head toward Amelia. “Tell that to my fiancée. She found it.”

  “Fiancée?” This came from Penn’s mother, who also came forward to look at the heart. She snapped her gaze to Penn. “What about—”

  Penn interrupted her. “That is a very long story that we will tell you in due time. Suffice it to say that Amelia is free to be my lawful wife.”

  Mother’s eyes widened briefly, then she gave a slight nod. “I see.” She looked to Amelia. “Should I be sorry for your loss?”

  “Not at all. I’m sorry for what happened, but I am eager for the future.” She moved closer to Penn, and he squeezed her waist.

  “Let’s not stand around here all day,” Father said, glancing up at the sky. “It’s going to rain again soon.”

  Cate handed the heart to their mother, who was anxious to see it more closely. Looping her arm through Amelia’s and pulling her from Penn’s side, Cate guided her toward the house. “Are you sure you want to marry my brother? He’s rather arrogant.”

  “Yes, I’d noticed that, but I daresay he grew on me, and I learned to look past it.”

  “Well, you’ll need to keep him in line.” She threw a dazzling smile at her often stoic new husband. “Isn’t that right, Elijah?”

  “I am entirely at your service, as you well know.” He arched a brow at her, and Penn detected a note of mischief in the man’s gaze. Perhaps he wasn’t as buttoned up as Penn had thought. Or perhaps he was merely shirking the role of military officer as he adjusted to his new position as earl. Or, and this was the most likely, Cate was provoking him to madness.

  Penn walked over to him. “It turns out I may need your advice.” He glanced over at his father. “Has Egg returned?”