Page 103 of Stolen By the Rakish Duke

“Is he…?” Anna couldn’t finish the question.

“Arrested,” Leo confirmed. “The evidence against him is substantial. The Home Secretary has personally guaranteed his prosecution.”

Philip’s shoulders sagged with relief. He looked down at Anna, something shifting in his expression as he took a deep breath.

“I should have done this months ago,” he said quietly. “Before all of this happened.”

To Leo’s surprise, his cousin lowered himself carefully to one knee. He took Anna’s hand in both of his.

“Anna Finley,” Philip began, his voice catching. “I’ve loved you since the moment you laughed at my terrible attempt at cards. I schemed to avoid scandal, to protect you from Society’s judgment, when I should have simply asked you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

Anna laughed through her tears, pulling him back to his feet. “Yes,” she said sweetly. “Though your timing is appalling.”

Philip’s smile transformed his haggard face, erasing weeks of fear and deprivation in an instant. “I’ve never had your sense of propriety,” he admitted, pulling her close again.

Leo felt an unexpected tightness in his throat. “Congratulations,” he offered, his voice rougher than he had intended. “The ton may look askance at your choice, Philip, but?—”

“I don’t care what they think,” his cousin interrupted. “I love her. That’s all that matters now.”

The words hung in the air, resonating with the truth Leo had been avoiding for too long.

Anna glanced around suddenly, furrowing her brow. “Where’s Beatrice? I thought she’d be with you.”

Leo stiffened, pain that had nothing to do with his wound lancing through him. “She’s… safer now,” he said, the words sounding hollow even to his own ears.

Philip’s gaze sharpened. He turned to Anna and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Give us a moment?”

She nodded in understanding. “I’ll make tea. You both look like you need it.”

As she slipped out of the room, she cast a knowing look back at the two men.

Philip gestured to a nearby chair. “Sit before you fall, Leo. You look terrible.”

“Your flattery remains unmatched,” Leo muttered, but sank gratefully into the seat, pressing a hand to his side.

“What happened?” Philip asked quietly, taking the chair opposite. “With Beatrice.”

Leo’s jaw tightened. “I sent her to her family. For protection.”

“Did you?” His cousin’s voice carried gentle skepticism. “Or did you push her away because you were afraid?”

“I’m not afraid of Westbury,” Leo snapped.

“I wasn’t talking about Westbury.” Philip leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “What went through your mind today, Leo? When you faced him. When that knife cut you.”

The question struck with unexpected precision.

Leo looked away, unable to meet his cousin’s searching gaze. “That’s irrelevant now.”

“Humor me.”

Silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant sounds of Anna moving about in the kitchen.

“Beatrice,” Leo finally admitted, the name barely audible. “I thought of Beatrice.”

Philip nodded, as though confirming something he already knew. “And yet you sent her away.”

“To protect her.”