Livinia held her gaze and refused to back down as she openly challenged her, rushing to Benedict’s side and gripping his arm.
“Benedict, you have to believe me,” Eleanor pleaded with him, frantically tugging his arm. “Thomas was the one who talked me into everything. I never wanted anyone to die. I only said those things because I’m scared of him! I think he’s been having an affair with the governess!” Her voice was filled with panic.
Thomas winced noticeably as his lips curled into a disgusted sneer. She was still willing to throw him under the bus after all these years.
Her heart thudded in her chest like the beating of horses’ hooves as Livinia waited to see what Benedict would do. She was certain that he didn’t love her, yet the look of utter rage in his eyes made her nervous.
Leaning down, Benedict whispered in her ear loud enough for everyone to hear. “Livinia is twice the lady you will ever hope to be; you can rot in the king’s dungeons for the rest of your miserable life. That is if the king decides to spare you from the executioner.” He forcefully removed her hand from his arm and took a step back.
Eleanor’s lips parted in shock as the men came forward and lifted her from the floor, each hooking an arm beneath her elbows.
“This is a mistake! You’re making a grave mistake!” She began to kick and scream while being dragged from the room.
Thomas stepped aside and allowed the guards to take her away.
“You! You are just as guilty as I am. I will not go down for this on my own!” The nasty guttural scream that escaped her throat made Thomas wince as the door shut on her shrieking.
Livinia wasted no time before rushing to Benedict’s side and taking his arm. “Are you alright?” He seemed as if he were about to break down but glanced in Thomas’s direction.
“I will leave now that everything has been settled, My Lord,” Thomas said stiffly and turned to leave.
“Wait.” Benedict caught them all off guard as he called for Thomas to halt.
The man turned back to them with a worried frown. “My Lord?”
Benedict cleared his throat before placing his hand on Livinia’s that rested on his arm. “I still can never forgive you for the part you played in murders. A better man would have come to me instead of being led astray.”
Her hand filled with warmth as Livinia looked into the face of the man she loved. She wasn’t certain what he planned on saying, but she knew that she’d stand by his decision no matter what he decided.
“As I should have done, My Lord, I will spend the rest of my life doing penance for my lack of judgement.” Livinia almost felt sorry for Thomas, but she reminded herself that he had gone along with Eleanor’s schemes.
“With that being said, you did show a willingness to atone for your sins by helping us today. I cannot write you a reference that is without fault, but I can recommend you to a cousin of mine who owns several pig farms. Your lodgings and wages will be meagre, and you won’t ever serve in a house, but you will at least have a roof over your head and food in your belly,” Benedict finished just as Thomas’s eyes filled with tears.
Livinia felt as if her heart would burst with pride. Benedict showed more restraint and compassion than any other man in his position would have displayed. He was more than just a handsome and wealthy earl; he was a good man. If there was one thing that Livinia had learned in all her time as a governess, it was that good men weren’t like coaches; there wouldn’t be another one along within the hour.
“That is far more than I deserve, My Lord. I shall humbly accept your offer and live out the remainder of my days as humbly as I am able.” Tears flowed freely down his cheeks. “I know my words will hold little to no value in light of my actions, but I am truly sorry for what I did and the part I played.”
“My father was a forgiving and humble man; think of that while you live out the rest of your days.” Benedict’s voice was cool, yet Livinia detected the underlying tones of hurt.
Thomas bowed a final time before leaving the room and shutting the door behind his back.
“Benedict?” Livinia asked softly and turned her back on the door. She was surprised to see that his eyes had filled with tears threatening to spill. “Benedict,” she said more softly, drawing him into her arms.
The sobs that raked through his body shook his muscles as she held him tightly against her chest. “So many years, I finally feel as if I can lay them to rest.” His shoulders heaved as he almost sank to his knees.
Leading him over to the couch, Livinia allowed him to release all the emotions plaguing him for years. He must have felt like such a failure, never being able to discover who had been responsible for his parents’ deaths.
His body eventually stopped shaking as Benedict drew back and looked her in the eyes. “None of this would have been possible if you hadn’t come; I owe you so much, Livinia. How can I ever make it up to you?” The honesty in his gaze melted her heart.
“Be happy,” she said with a simple shake of her head. “All I want is for you to be happy. I ran away because I knew that nothing would ever be fine unless you saw the truth. I didn’t want you to marry a woman who was more than likely responsible for your parents’ deaths.”
“You ran away to stop me from getting married?” Benedict allowed the corner of his mouth to curl into a mischievous grin.
“Lord Sheffield, was that the only thing you took away from everything I said?” She couldn’t help feeling a sense of relief at seeing him smile.
Benedict leaned back and let out a laugh that warmed her heart. Livinia hadn’t ever heard him laugh; the deep sound with heavy timbre notes sent thrills of pleasure up her spine. It was definitely a sound she could get used to for the rest of her life.
“You know, I don’t think I would have been able to go through with the wedding if you were standing in the chapel watching me. I would have been looking for you the whole time instead of focusing on my vows.”
Livinia felt herself melting into his arms as he leaned in to kiss her.
Chapter 30
Six months later…
Livinia stood at her attic window, watching contentedly as Lady Theodora laughed along with Lady Olivia and Lady Adelaide. It had taken Livinia a while to convince Benedict that his sister needed a closer group of friends, but once she had done it, the girls had become almost inseparable.
The trio were comfortably perched on a blanket alongside the roses that Livinia had suggested to Benedict. She liked the way he listened to her suggestions when they were alone. He discreetly allowed her to run the house the way she wanted while she crept into his bed late at night and only left when the sun peeked over the hills.
They needed to be more discreet now that the mansion was once again bustling with life. Livinia had single-handedly convinced Benedict to bring the running of the mansion back up to scratch. She had even gone as far as hiring the old cook who had helped her solve the mystery with her honest letter.
Her attention was drawn back to the girls in the garden below when Olivia burst into a fit of laughter that carried across the grounds.
Theodora seemed to be teasing Olivia about the slew of suitors who had been leaving her extravagant bouquets of roses.
“I thought I might find you hiding up here,” Benedict whispered in her ear as his arms came around her waist, drawing her back into his chest.
Livinia jumped a little but quickly relaxed into his warm embrace, allowing his breath to tickle her neck as she leaned against his shoulder. “You mustn’t frighten me like that, Benedict. What if I had screamed and the girls looked up?” She smiled happily as he kissed her neck, taking his time to caress her skin.
