The Forgiven Scoundrel by Laura A. Barnes

Author:Laura A. Barnes
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2020-08-10T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Belle arrived at the park early, not wanting to miss a chance at catching a glimpse of Phillip. She missed lying in his arms through the night. It had been a week since he'd walked out. Belle hadn’t heard a word from him. She tried not to feel rejected. The fault lay with Belle after deeply hurting him.

He no longer brought Henry to the park. However, Henry came every day to play with his friends. His trusting smile while he ate his biscuit gave Belle reassurance that Phillip wouldn’t cut her from the boy’s life. Henry’s new governess would accompany him and sit on a bench nearby, always keeping a watchful eye on her charge. She was a young girl with a warm disposition. Henry introduced Belle to Lucy, explaining that Rosie was his friend. Lucy replied that Lord Delamont had spoken of their friendship, and that she was to allow Henry all the time he wanted with Rosie. It warmed Belle's heart that Phillip considered her advice on the kind of governess Henry needed. Belle wanted to ask Henry why his father no longer joined him, but pride kept her silent.

One day, when Henry waved goodbye, Belle decided to leave too. She trailed behind them at a discreet pace. When Belle came to the park entrance, she wished to continue following them but stopped, knowing she would look out of place in Henry’s neighborhood. Before, it had been out of anger for the lad’s welfare. Today’s reason would be for selfish purposes.

When Belle was about to turn toward home, street thugs set upon Henry and Lucy. Belle watched in horror when they stole the governess’s reticule and shoved her to the ground. When Henry tried to defend Lucy, they struck him across the face sending him flying backwards. Henry landed in a heap, his arm twisted at an odd angle. Belle shouted for help and ran toward them. When she got closer, she saw they were not street thugs, but Brutus and Magnus. This was not a random attack, but one done out of vengeance. Did her association with Phillip put Henry in danger? At her pounding footsteps coming towards them, the brutes took off. A crowd gathered, coming to their aid. Belle ran to Henry and brushed the hair from his face. He moaned. Tears ran down Belle’s cheek at the vicious attack. A bruise was appearing under Henry’s eye.

“Rosie?”

“Yes love, ‘tis I. How do you feel, dear?”

“Did you see me defend Lucy?”

“Yes, dear. You are a brave knight in shining armor. Can you walk?”

Henry groaned in agony when he tried to push himself up with his arm. Belle caught him before he fell.

“My arm hurts badly.”

Belle looked around for help. The crowd had helped Lucy to her feet and someone was giving an account of the attack to a constable.

“Wait here, love. I will get you home.”

Belle hired a hackney. The driver, who saw the attack, told Belle he had a child of his own and insisted on helping.

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