Defiant (37 page)

“They planned to kill me because they thought I was Gwyneth of Windrose,” panted Irma, indicating the long silver-and-gold wig. “They knew that she had information about the illegal slavery. ”

Seeing her opportunity, Gwyneth cleared her throat and stepped forward. She pointed to the women who huddled together at the back of the ship. Elfreda’s eyes were wide like two round moons. “Many women have been sold into slavery to brutal masters. I have dedicated my life to freeing them.”

The magistrate’s hands twitched and his eyes shifted. He signaled his men to keep watch over the men being held prisoner and motioned at Gwyneth, Jared, Montgomery, and Irma. “Come. We have much to discuss.”

The full moon beamed down on them as Gwyneth and Jared, hand in hand, climbed the steps to their home. She squeezed his palm, her heart filled nearly to bursting with the events that had happened this day.

“You saved all of them,” she said, amazed. “And stopped the inhuman trade altogether.” He had accomplished something she’d never thought possible. “I am not even sure how you managed to round up enough men in such a hurry.”

He smiled at her, a warm glow in his agate eyes. “It wasn’t difficult to make the magistrate nervous once I threatened him with public exposure about my wrongful imprisonment. And James owed me a favor—he
is
the king’s enforcer, after all.”

“But you did it all for me.”

“Of course.” He raised her hand to his lips. His mustache tickled her skin as he kissed her palm. “It was very brave of you to face the prison.”

She swallowed. “But, Jared … I … I was telling the truth. I really am a murderess.”

He tugged her into his arms so that her head was tucked under his chin. “Irma explained it all.”

“She said that you went to see her. ”

“I did. She told me about how Rafe had raped her in the woods. How you took a stick and bashed his head and then the two of you hid the body in the river. ”

“You aren’t angry with me?”

“How could I be angry with you for acting for justice?”

She thought of the scars that crisscrossed his legs. “You spent three years in prison for a crime you did not commit—for something that I did.”

“But I am alive.”

Guilt weighted down her shoulders. “You have such scars.”

“Perhaps if I would not have gone to jail, they would have arrested you and you would have been sold as the other women were.” He pulled her close to him, embracing her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. “I could not live with myself if that would have happened. I’m glad I was in prison, because it kept you safe.”

His patience and generosity touched her heart. He was so different than the other men she knew.

“And I found my daughter as well.”

“Your daughter?”

“Elizabeth. She’s mine. From Colette.”

Gwyneth’s brows drew together. “She is?”

“I will explain it all later. She had on the wooden necklace I had given to her mother.”

“You gave her a necklace?”

Reaching down, he spun the bracelet on her wrist. “Colette thought my gift was beneath her.”

“She was a fool, Jared.”

Jared shrugged.

Gwyneth ran her finger down the length of his arm, admiring the way his muscles danced under her fingers. “The gift was not the necklace, my lord. The gift was the man who carved it.”

His shoulders rounded and moisture gathered in his eyes.

She touched his cheek. “What is this?” She wiped away a wayward tear before it could fall. She touched it to her lips, tasting its saltiness.

“No one has ever called me a gift before,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “My own mother—”

Standing on tiptoes, she kissed his lips. His goatee tickled her skin. “—was a fool as well to not recognize what a treasure you are.”

Candles glowed in the sconces as they traversed the hallway to their chamber. She turned her face to one side and batted her eyes flirtatiously at him. “I thought you were quite a gift when I had you tied to the cot.”

Hunger gleamed in his eyes. The corners of his mouth lifted in a predatory, knowing smile.

They reached the door, but before it could be opened, she stopped. She turned to Jared and ran her hands boldly up his chest. “There is something I would like to ask you.”

“Aye?”

“Jared, my lord, will you marry me?”