Meredith giggled. “You should not be. It is how you won my heart.”
Her lingering trepidation disappeared the moment she quickly pressed her lips to his. Heath gave her that slow smile that would always fill her with heat. “That is how I won your heart?” he echoed. “And here I thought it was because I was simply far too charming for you to resist.”
“That, as well, I must admit. It was only a matter of time before I was all yours.”
“I am happy you recognize that, My Lady,” he said with a chuckle.
Meredith peered up at him. Annalise’s words came rushing back to her mind and she debated the idea of asking him if that was truly his plan.
“What is on your mind, my love?” Heath asked, his voice a deep, content rumble. He rested his head on the back of the seat, languid eyes watching her steadily.
Meredith didn’t let herself think about it anymore. “Will you ask me for my hand in marriage?”
Heath blinked, lifting his head. Meredith instantly regretted her boldness but she didn’t back down. She didn’t let her eyes waver from his.
“What a rather sudden question,” he said. “What brought this on?”
“It only crossed my mind just earlier,” she said noncommittally. She didn’t look away from him even as her heart beat madly. Now that she thought about it, Meredith didn’t know if Heath wanted to marry. He was so untraditional, so unlike what she’d been told during her lessons that she would not be surprised if he had denounced the very idea altogether. She hoped desperately that wasn’t the case.
“You have been thinking about that all this time?” Heath took her hand before she had the chance to reply and captured her lips with his.
Meredith should have pushed him on it, should have demanded that he answer the question. Now that it was out, that was all she wanted to know. But the taste of his lips, the feel of them against hers, was too much for her to ignore. She gave in to his touch, leaning into him as tremors of her ever-present yearning rose to full height. She splayed her hand on her chest, her other hand snaking around the back of his neck. As their tongues battled and twisted, and his hand dipped to her waist and held her there gently, Meredith was certain she’d gone to heaven. The uneasy feeling, the anxiety at being out amongst others again, was no longer present. She felt only dregs of it left.
The carriage took a sharp turn and Meredith recognized that they were heading into the driveway of Castlemore Manor without having to look out the window. That sudden jerk was too familiar to her, brought up from when she’d come here with Heath only a few weeks ago. Heath pulled away from her, his lips hovering close. They were both breathing heavily as the carriage came to a full stop, as if wanting to bring themselves together.
When she was certain she’d recovered, Meredith looked back up into his eyes. “So,” she said. “You did not answer my question.”
Heath’s lips stretched widely into a smile as he framed her face with both hands. But he didn’t get the chance to speak when there came a knock on the door and a voice on the other side. “Your Grace? There is a man here who wishes to speak with you. He sounds quite urgent and he does not wish to leave before he gets to say what he wishes—”
The door flew open and standing there, shoving the footman aside, was one of Heath’s gang members.
Chapter 28
Meredith jerked away from Heath’s embrace, hiding her body behind his. She peaked around his shoulder to see a man she did not recognize wearing a knowing look. He was dressed quite rattily and had enough scars in his face for Meredith to know exactly where he hailed from.
“What is it you want?” Heath asked him, sounding very exasperated.
“Vic wants to see you,” the man said. His attention was focused mainly on Meredith, studying her curiously. She stared back, even though it was clear that she was trying to remain hidden behind Heath.
“I am far too busy to see him tonight,” Heath said dismissively.
That caught the man’s full attention. “It is urgent,” he said. “I would not be here if it wasn’t. So, I’m here to bring you back.”
Heath sighed. “Very well, let us speak in the parlor and I will hear what you have to say.”
Meredith looked sharply at Heath. She’d expected him to turn the man away. Even though they had not spoken expressly about it, she knew he meant to forget about that part of his life. He should no longer seek the chaos that came with being in a gang, but had she been wrong all this time.
He touched her hand for a brief moment before he climbed out the carriage. Her blood beginning to boil, Meredith tried to rein in her thoughts as a footman helped her out from the other side. She followed behind Heath and the nameless man, not missing the way the latter glanced over his shoulder at her as he continued his curious scrutiny. Unlike the last time she’d been among these men, she did not back down. She followed them all the way into the manor then stopped and watched as Heath led the man towards the parlor. Before he turned down a hallway, Heath glanced back at her and Meredith gave him a pointed look. She hoped he understood what she meant.
Then, she went to the drawing room and waited. She chose to sit by the window again, wanting to gaze outside as a way of distracting herself from the conversation that was currently happening. But her agitation shone through and she could not get it out of her head. Fear crawled through her at the very idea that Heath might go back to his old ways. Staying out late at night robbing others, ruthlessly bringing terror over others, resorting to violence when he was angered. The past few days had been so perfect that she didn’t want to see him go down that path again.
Unable to keep herself still, Meredith shot to her feet and began pacing the drawing room. She went around the wide room a few times before it became instinct and she was simply skirting the furniture without seeing a thing. As the seconds stretched on, she wondered why they were not done talking, what could have possibly been so urgent that he had come all the way to the manor to talk to him about. As far as Meredith knew, only Mr. Gale did such a thing, but she could tell that he had a different bond with Heath. Perhaps it was the same as all the others?
After a while, Meredith didn’t think she could stay there waiting any longer. She began making her way across the room towards the door but drew to halt when it opened and Heath slid inside.
“What did he say?” she asked instantly, studying his face. She couldn’t read him. That wasn’t a good sign. “What was so urgent that he had to come to your home so late at night?”
“Vic wants to meet with us,” Heath said. He stayed by the door, the distance between them occupied by a single sofa. His voice was even, but his eyes searched her face while he spoke slowly. “Things have not really been looking good for the gang lately and he wants us to regroup. Perhaps even demand the turf of another nearby gang. I am not completely sure what he wishes to say, to be honest, and neither was Gregory.”
So, his name is Gregory. Hearing Heath say it didn’t make her feel any better. “You are not thinking of going, are you?”
Heath didn’t answer immediately. He let out a long breath, coming around the sofa to face her. Meredith didn’t take her eyes off him for a second. “I admit it is not quite as urgent as I first thought,” Heath said. “But I do think I should go.”
“Why would you do such a thing?” she demanded. Hysteria rose in her and she tried to tamper it. “Are you not done with that life? I thought you no longer craved such lawlessness!”
“I do not, I promise you. I only believe it would be a good opportunity for me to say my goodbyes to everyone. I plan on leaving the gang for certain, rather than to simply disappear and have them show up at my home now and again wondering what I have been doing.”
The hysteria melted. Meredith sighed. “Is that not so bad an idea?” she asked.
Heath laughed as he shook his head. “Perhaps it would have some effect, but I would rather nip this in the bud from the very beginning.” He stepped closer, taking her hands. “I owe these men
many things, especially Victor. He saved me in ways no one else could and though it might not have been the best course of action at the time, being amongst them was what gave me the strength to keep going. I would have surely withered away had that not been the case. You understand, don’t you?”
“I do.” Though she was still feeling trepidation, she wouldn’t show it. “I suppose I should commend you for your softheartedness towards your gang members.”
“You need not worry at all. I will not stay out for long. Once I am done with my business, I will return to your side. I imagine you will find it difficult to sleep if I am not there.”
Meredith blushed, but her voice didn’t waver as she said, “I believe I will be fast asleep.”
“I dare you, Meredith Cluett.”
“I accept your challenge, Heath Fillion.”
They both laughed, and as it faded to nothing, Meredith suddenly didn’t want to let go of his hands. At the same time, however, she felt pride at his decision to end his relationship with his gang for good. Perhaps it was a sign that he planned to spend the rest of his life with her.
“I will return as soon as I can,” Heath said again, kissing her gently on her forehead. He let go of her hands, making his way to the door.
“You have not yet answered my question, I hope you are aware,” Meredith called to him before he made it through the door.
Heath turned to her, giving her that sloppy grin that made her heart do somersaults in her chest. “You need not worry, Meredith. I have every intention of marrying you the moment I am able.”
Without giving her the chance to respond, Heath left the drawing room, leaving her standing there gaping at the closed door. Her limbs had turned to blocks of ice in that moment, her face stricken with her shock. And then warmth spread through her body like a wave, breaking her free from the icy stillness that had come over her and filling her with such happiness that Meredith didn’t know what to do with herself.
He is right about one thing at least. After leaving me with those words, there is surely no way I will be able to sleep without seeing him again tonight. I suppose he has won this dare.
Meredith didn’t mind it in the slightest. She didn’t know what to do with herself, looking around the room as her face began to ache from all her smiling. She could fetch a book from the library to pass the time while she waited for him to return, but there was no guarantee that she would not fall asleep. She could also wait around in her bedchamber, perhaps finally write that letter to Jenny despite having already sent off the letter to her father, but it did not sound the least bit appealing. After a moment of thought, Meredith left the drawing room, deciding to go for a stroll through the gardens while she tried to digest what she had heard. Though it was cold out, it didn’t hinder her. If anything, she knew it would calm her.
He truly wishes to marry me? Goodness, I do not think I can possibly be as happy as I am right now.
The gentle scent of flowers wafted through the evening air. She followed the first path she saw, not caring where she ended up. She knew how to find her way back anyhow.
She could hardly believe she was at this point in her life, a point she never thought she’d reach. Only a month prior, Meredith had resigned herself to dying a spinster, a recluse. Shut away from the cruel world that had driven her into hiding. A month ago, she would not have believed that she would have found herself living in a manor with a gentleman alone, fall in love with him, and have that love and comfort bring her out of her shell into the woman she’d always been lurking underneath. It felt so impossible even though she’d already lived it.
And ahead of her was a wedding, her newfound title as a wife, the family she would raise, and the heir she would bear for the dukedom. Meredith had never pictured herself as a mother, but now she could not stop.
There was a sound, cracking through the night. Meredith came to halt, trying to listen to it. It had sounded like the snap of a twig, but she had not stepped on anything. And the groundskeepers had surely all retired to bed, had they not?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Meredith spotted it. A shadow, in the shape of a man, watching her from afar.
Heath arrived at the hideout to find it in chaos. The men were not arguing the way they usually did, with good-natured playfulness that could easily be mistaken for hostility. There was bite behind their words, but as Heath slipped into the shadows of the place he’d once deemed his second home, he was not alarmed by it. Upon closer examination, he realized they were all simply debating something in such a manner that it seemed as if knives would be drawn any second.
He scanned the space, noticing that every single member was present—save for Phillip. Seeing Victor standing off to the side, his arms crossed and looking wildly amused at what was going on in front of him, Heath approached him and said, “I do not see Phillip. Was he not called for this meeting?”
“He was,” Victor said noncommittally.
“And?” Heath pressed.
“And,” Victor didn’t look at him, chuckling at the way his men began shoving each other, “it appears he did not show.”
Heath resisted the urge to sigh. It was clear that Victor was in one of his moods, which meant he would not be getting a straight answer out of him for now. Victor tended to play around things for the sake of frustrating the other person, but it truly amused him.
Relaxing against the wall next to him, Heath asked, “What has gotten them so upset?”
“I mentioned that I cannot possibly have so many people in one gang and they are now arguing who should be tossed to the side.”
Heath lifted his brow. “At this rate, they will surely tear each other apart.”
“Do not worry.” Victor waved a dismissive hand. “I will stop it before things grow too intense. But until then, do you not think it is quite entertaining to see how flustered they all get at the thought of leaving?”
“I am not surprised to know you only asked the question to be entertained.”
“It was a very nice benefit, but not the reason I asked, no.” Victor cocked his chin at the scene before him—at the way a few of the men jumped in to save their friends from others. “It only goes to show how close they have all gotten during their time together, and how dedicated they are to being a part of this gang. Many of these men have always longed to be a part of something, to make a difference even if it is not quite as virtuous a way as they might have hoped.”
“Quite?”
Victor chuckled. “Very well, then. Not in the slightest. And yet not a single one of them has offered to step aside. Not a single one of them has allowed their pride to dictate their answers.”
Heath saw it as well, the comradery amongst these men. Even though they were hoodlums, skirting the law and bringing fear down upon their victims, they treated each other like brothers. Once upon a time, Heath had wished his mother could see this side of them. He wished she could tell that this was partially the reason he’d stuck with them so long. But she was taken from him before he’d gotten the chance to.
Thinking about the past would do him no good right now. His future was waiting for him at home, with the woman who had been by his side for half his life. If he wanted to enjoy that future, if he wanted to make sure he and his family were happy, he had to let go of the past he had held onto for so long.
The hatred for his mother’s killer. The anger over her death. And the need to be a part of something that would let him channel them—this gang.
Now, he only wanted to enjoy the love and acceptance Meredith gave him.
“Were you serious about having one of the men leave?” Heath asked, not taking his eyes off his rowdy gang partners. Two of them were shoving each other, while the others chose sides. Some barked with laughter, many of them spurred them on. All chaotic joy.
Heath didn’t look away from the oddly emotional sight even when he felt Victor’s eyes burning into the side of his face. “Why do you ask? Are you thinking of stepping aside?”
&
nbsp; Heath didn’t say anything. He knew he didn’t have to. Sentiment clogged his throat, but there came no tears. He’d long since forgotten how to cry, but being here to put aside this major part of his life brought him close.
“I see.” Victor looked ahead. “I can’t say I’m surprised, though. You’re a Duke. Since I found out about your status, I knew a time would come when you would have to choose.”
“That didn’t have to be the case,” Heath murmured.
“You can’t continue to walk the thin line between your two lives. Sooner or later, you’re going to topple over to one side. I was hoping you would put that life aside and join us completely, but that is what you were born into so I suppose there was no use hoping.”
Heath looked over at him. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re about to cry, Vic.”
Victor chuckled, one side of his lips tilting up into a smile. “Well, then it’s a good thing you do know better.” He jerked his chin towards the others. “Go do the honors, then. You’d better not be thinking that I’ll be the one to inform them.”
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