Free Latymer by Tracey Devlyn Page A

enough for one lifetime.
    “How will we get to America?”
    “I’ve decided that we will stay in England.” A lump formed in my throat. “There’s so much we have yet to see here.”
    “All right,” Giles murmured against his chest. “Can we visit Mama’s grave?”
    My eyes burned and, for a moment, I couldn’t speak beyond the grief and guilt and shame. Finally, I managed, “Of course.”
    “Good. I’d like to tell her about how brave you were tonight.”
    Pulling him closer, I said, “Thank you, Giles. Instead, why don’t you tell her about how brave you were, stomping about the city all by yourself.”
    “I didn’t feel very brave.”
    “Oh, but you were. I’m very proud of you.”
    Giles looked me in the eye. “You’re not mad at me?”
    “Why would I be?”
    “Because I didn’t stay here, like you said.”
    “Sometimes our hearts guide us in ways our minds never could. You followed your heart and saved my life. How could I be upset with you?”
    “I saved your life?”
    “Rather than staying hidden, you exposed yourself in order to let me know about the footpad behind me. Had you not done so… Well, let’s say I’m rather glad you did. Though I’m sorry for the trouble it caused you.”
    “I got lost,” Giles whispered.
    “More important,” I reassured him, “you found your way back here.”
    “I was so scared. I didn’t mean to fall asleep—”
    “Shhh. Staying here until it was safe was the right choice. Setting out for Somerton House with a fresh mind was also the correct decision.” I stared at Giles for a long moment before coaxing his head back down onto my chest. “You did well, Giles. Never doubt it.”
    I gazed at the door once again. Where the hell were Somerton and O’Donnell? The one time I wanted them to find me, they were nowhere in sight. I could no longer feel my son’s body pressed against my own. The realization that I was very close to having our final moments together made my vision blur with fresh tears. One escaped and tracked down my cheek.
    “If not tonight,” I said in a shaken voice, “certainly in the near future, you will hear people whispering about the bad things I’ve done.” My thoughts clouded, and I struggled to remember what I wanted to tell my son. Something important.
    “Papa?” Giles’s hand cupped my cheek. “Papa?”
    I blinked my eyes open and saw tears trailing down my son’s face. “Don’t be afraid.” I cocked my head, listening. “All will be well soon.”
    “Papa, you would never do bad things.”
    “I have, Giles. I have done some very bad things.”
    “No,” Giles insisted.
    “Yes. But the one thing I did right was loving your mother and having you for a son.” I swallowed over the lump in my throat. “Never forget, Giles. Never forget how much I love you both.”
    “I love you, too, Papa.”
    I smiled. “The best words a father could ever hear.”
    The outer door creaked open. I lifted the pistol and aimed. The barrel shook violently. “Close your eyes, Giles.”
    My son buried his face into my arm, and my jaw clenched when I felt him tremble.
    Relief coursed through me as I watched Somerton and O’Donnell creep inside, their weapons at the ready. Another weight lifted from my shoulders. Seeing my pistol, O’Donnell tried to shield the earl. The idle thought that O’Donnell would make a good Nexus agent drifted through my mind. But Somerton gripped the Irishman’s arm, holding him in place.
    Somerton took in the scene before him. Although his features remained as unmoving as ever, I knew the exact moment when my old friend had accurately assessed the situation.
    Meeting Somerton’s gaze, I tore my next words from the deepest part of my soul. “Promise you’ll protect my son.” Giles’s grip tightened on me.
    “Let me send for a surgeon.”
    “Promise me.”
    “You have my word.”
    “This bag belongs to Giles. No one else.”
    “Understood.”
    I lowered my pistol, Somerton’s image coming