Page 74 of Her Rake Fiancé

Struck dumb, Richard took them from her hand.

She turned around and walked towards the carriage. One of the identical twins helped her climb up, and the darkness swallowed her.

Iron claws of loss dug into Richard’s heart, deeper and deeper. He couldn’t move, couldn’t lift a finger, his legs as heavy as granite slabs.

This was final. The confirmation that he couldn’t be himself. Couldn’t be a man worthy of a woman’s love. A man who didn’t need to wear masks and appear to be someone he was not.

A man brave enough to get hurt over and over again if that was the price for being himself.

He stood, breathing hard, as Thorne’s men mounted their horses or climbed into the multiple carriages, and took her with them forever. Trying to find the courage to move, he turned towards Carlton House, watching numbly as the crowd slowly dissipated.

Unlike with Lady Charity, when his heart had been broken and shattered, this time it felt stone-cold dead.

* * *

The carriage swayed and rattled against the street on their way back to Whitechapel. Thorne’s face was somber in the semidarkness of the rich interior, illuminated only by the swaying lamp over their heads.

Jane’s heart was in pieces. But it was all worth it, as long as Thorne didn’t harm Richard. Two broken hearts were better than one coffin.

Thorne pointedly looked out of the window, and Jane knew his stoic face was nothing but a mask. Cold fury raged behind his dark eyes. A battle was being fought in his soul.

She now had to fight her own battle with him.

“Thorne,” she said as she leaned forward. “Brother.”

He looked at her.

“Be angry with me,” she said. “It was as much my fault as his.”

“No, sister,” he said. “You’re wrong. The fault is mine.”

Her heart broke all over again at that. She was the one deceiving him, going behind his back, letting Richard get valuable information and then never telling her brother about it.

“I am sorry about all that,” she said. “I am ever so sorry, brother. I should have never let that game go so far. I should have never helped him. It’s not your fault. It is mine.”

He nodded, his eyes softening. “A little. But I can’t be angry with you, darling. You’re the one that suffered from my decision. Had I not forced you into that marriage against your wishes, you would still have your honor and virtue intact.”

And she wouldn’t have fallen in love with Richard and known the greatest happiness in the world.

“No, you cannot take responsibility for my mistakes,” she said. “Which is why I’m begging you not to hurt Richard.”

He went completely still, all warmth gone from his face the moment she said Richard’s name. “No. Jane, you are a female. Men of my kind hold only our loved ones and honor close. He has harmed both. I cannot let him go unpunished.”

“Please, Thorne. I know you’re planning something. But I’m here, safely with you. I promise you I’ll never do anything like that again. I’ll take any husband you want me to and won’t say a word. I’m begging you. Do not do whatever you plan to do.” Her chest was tearing apart as Thorne eyed her coolly. “Please,” she added.

“Jane—”

“For our shared childhood’s sake,” she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “For our bond. Please, Thorne.” Her eyes blurred and her throat constricted so that her next words came out in a croak. “Let him live.”

He sighed deeply. Then he nodded and looked out of the window again. “You shouldn’t worry about it.”

“So you agree? You give me your word?”

He cryptically hummed without looking at her.

Relief flooded her and she leaned back. With Thorne, that was as good as a yes.

She clutched her hands together and looked out at the dark streets passing by. Saying no to Richard and abandoning the happiness of a lifetime with him was worth it, she thought. Richard would live.