The Sweetheart's Naughty Scandal (Rogues Gone Dirty Book 7) by Bella Moxie

Author:Bella Moxie [Moxie, Bella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-08-29T18:30:00+00:00

6

CHAPTER 6

John noticed the exact moment Mary realized he was taking her to his home as opposed to her own. She’d straightened in her seat next to his in the darkened carriage, and she’d looked around wildly, eyes wide and full of surprise.

But he was more than a little pleased to see nothing that resembled anger or fear or even trepidation.

She clearly didn’t plan to object to his plan, as surprised as she was.

“I am right to assume we’re heading to Vestry Lane?” she asked quietly.

“You are. I’m not taking any chances that you’ll be discovered sneaking into your home wearing a man’s borrowed clothing.”

She pursed her lips, turning toward the window. “Ah, yes, my ever-important reputation would surely take a blow if that were to come out.”

He wasn’t sure he understood the meaning behind her statement, but he shook it off and cleared his throat. “I’ll ask Theo to have Eloise send word to your parents. She can explain that you’d come to visit them and had decided to spend the night, given the late hour.”

It was a sound plan, to be sure. But the late hour had nothing to do with the reason Mary wouldn’t be returning to her family’s estate.

He didn’t want to let her out of his sight.

He couldn’t.

She searched his gaze for a long moment, appearing to be slightly taken aback by his already-prepared plan of action. But then she nodded, wordlessly agreeing.

And a wordless Mary was not something he was accustomed to. Whether she was flitting around a ballroom with a false smile that didn’t reach her eyes so she could fit in with the rest of the peerage or whether she was demanding he take her and her need for help seriously, Mary was not one for silence.

Mary was not one who kept her thoughts to herself.

Not in his limited experience with her, anyway.

It was a hint at her state of mind that he couldn’t help but pick up on. She was horrified by what she’d learned at the docks. Rightfully so, of course. It was a horrifying situation and anyone would be sickened by it.

But this seemed…deeper than simply empathizing with unknown victims of a despicable crime.

Her behavior—the waves of emotion coming from her…so palpable he could almost taste them—appeared to be caused by guilt.

“Mary,” he whispered into the darkness. “Look at me.”

She turned toward him, her face a mask of control.

“This is not your fault.”

She closed her eyes and turned away.

“Look at me,” he said again. When she did, he reached up and cupped her cheeks with both hands. “This is not your fault. You—and your uncle—had no idea what was happening with that club, and being taken advantage of and lied to does not make you responsible for the actions of a bad man.”

His hold on her face was too strong for her to shake her head in disagreement, but he could feel her trying to do so. And when she couldn’t, silent tears streaked down her face.

It broke his bloody heart.

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