Kisses and Scandal (A Survivors Series Anthology ) - Shana Galen Page 0,34

not to leave me, not to report them. I couldn’t have borne it if you had been forced to go.”

He pulled his hand free from hers. “Now ye know the truth, and I hope ye realize yer better without the likes of me. I’ll fetch a constable, take ye home, then go to the magistrate and confess my part.”

“No!”

He stared at her. “It’s better I go to them. The truth will out, and they’ll search every nook and cranny in the land to find me.”

“Then we’ll run away.”

James shook his head. “What are ye saying, lass? It’s over. There is no more we.”

She flinched back as though struck. “You don’t love me anymore?”

“Of course, I still love ye, but—” Then a thought struck him. “Do ye still love me?”

She nodded. “Nothing can change how I feel for you. In fact, I love you more. You saved me.”

He laughed. “Ye saved yerself. But love doesn’t change anything. I’m part of this, and I’ll be tried and convicted.”

Suddenly, her shoulders squared, and her chin lifted. “We’ll see about that.”

James did not know how she managed it. He fetched a constable, but when it came time to relay the story of what happened, Phil made James seem like a hero. The way she told it, he had saved her. James knew once Patrick and Sean were questioned, the truth would out, but if he could have a little more time with Phil before he was torn from her forever, he would take it.

Finally, Sean and Patrick were led away, and James and the magistrate, who had been called in, escorted Phil home. The duchess was half out of her mind with worry, though she had obviously calmed herself when she’d received word her daughter had been found and was unhurt.

Still, as soon as Phil and James walked into the foyer of Mayne House, she cried out and rushed to embrace her daughter. Phil hugged her back, and James looked down, trying to give mother and daughter a moment of privacy.

The magistrate cleared his throat. “I’d like to have a word with you, Your Grace, if I may. Some details of Lady Philomena’s account are a bit unclear, which is perfectly understandable. Perhaps we could speak in private.”

Phil disengaged herself from her mother and faced the magistrate. “I’m afraid you’ll have to return tomorrow. My family has been through an ordeal, and we cannot possibly be expected to answer questions today.”

“But my lady—”

“We will speak with you tomorrow. Banks?” The ever-present butler stepped forward. “Please see the magistrate out. Let him know when he may call tomorrow.”

The speechless magistrate followed the butler, and Phil turned back to her mother. “Mama, I think we had better talk.” She glanced at James. “In private.” She indicated a chair, one that a visitor to Mayne House might use. “Will you sit there and wait for us, please?”

James sat, glad to get off his feet, which still felt unsteady. The ladies moved upstairs, and he leaned his head back against the wall. That helped the throbbing slightly. Banks came and stood over him. “Shall I pack your things, James?”

James opened his eyes. “I don’t think I’ll need them where I’m going, Mr. Banks.”

Nine

Phil waited until her mother had finished sobbing and until they had both had a good deal of Madeira. Then she sat beside her mother on the couch and took her hand. “Mama, I have a story to tell you. It’s about a lady and a footman.”

Her mother’s sharp eyes met hers and narrowed. “I see. Is this a fictional story?”

Phil wet her lips. “It is based on a true story. Will you listen?”

The duchess took another sip of Madeira. “Go ahead.”

“It begins with the daughter of a duke. She didn’t want to marry a man out of duty. She wanted to marry for love. None of the men she met at balls or the opera or any social events made her feel anything more than friendship. But then she met a man who made her belly flutter. The moment he walked into her life, everything changed. The sun seemed brighter, the air crisper. Food tasted even more savory, music sounded more beautiful. She fell in love, Mama. She didn’t want to. She didn’t even know if the man noticed her.”

“But he did,” her mother said darkly.

“He did. He did not want to love her either. He was not a bad man, but he was desperate. His family was poor and suffering. He and his friends