A Promise of Tomorrow by Rowan McAllister Read Free Book Online

raised brows, and Kyle kept his eyes firmly fixed on Ashton before he broke out into tears and shamed himselfinfront ofthem.
    Ashtondidn’t seemto know what to sayas he looked up to the house and then back at Kyle. But he gathered his wits quickly and responded, “Oh, ofcourse, Allen, I understand completely. Youmust be done-in after… well… I’m, I’m sure the coachman will take you wherever you wish to go.” There was a question in his eyes, if not in his words.
    “Thank you so very much for allyour assistance, Ashton. I will, of course, send word when I’m settled, to both you and your sister. Thank her for me as well, will you? I don’t know what I would’ve done ifit weren’t for your kindness.”
    Ashton just looked at him for a moment and then nodded his understanding, much to Kyle’s relief. He didn’t look happy about it, but his new friend wasn’t goingto fight himonthis.
    Thank you. It will be better for everyone if I leave now and let you get back to your lives. I’ve caused enough trouble with my stupidity and weakness.
    “Good night, my lord. Good night, Ashton,” Kyle said, nodding to both men and retreating back into the carriage. He was sure there was more he should have said or done, but he couldn’t think, and he needed to get awaybefore he fellapart completely.
    As the footman closed the door, Kyle instructed himto tell the coachman to drive out the northern end of the square and up four more blocks. He had no idea where he was. Victor’s rooms were nowhere near this part of town, and he hadn’t been in London long enough to familiarize himself with other areas. He was too tired to think, and he was running on the last shreds of his strength as it was. He only hoped his instructions were enough not to inspire concern or suspicioninthe servants.
    When the carriage stopped, Kyle was let out in front ofanother row of townhouses. He waved the coachman off when he would’ve waited, which he was sure would seem suspicious, but he didn’t know what else to do. After the coach turned the corner, he headed into a smallpark he’d seenfromthe carriage window.
    Finding a secluded corner as far away from the street as he could, Kyle hunched down against a tree and wrapped his coat more tightly around himself. The late summer nights were still quite warm, but he couldn’t seemto shake the chillthat had settled into his bones. Wrapping his arms around his knees, he began to shiver uncontrollably as tears stung his eyes. He didn’t have the strength to stop them anymore. He’d used what little he had left keeping his composure in front of Ashton and his uncle, and now he was limp withexhaustion.
    With no defenses left, the memories he’d been fighting swamped him, images of Victor’s cold, almost inhuman face in the dark, memories of being all but dragged to an empty room, forced over the back of a couch, and held down while Victor…. Kyle’s stomach revolted and he stumbled onto his knees, retching in the bushes before falling back against the tree. Alone in the dark, he relived every moment of Victor’s betrayal in painful detail, too weak to do anythingmore thanwhimper.
    He didn’t know how long he stayed like that before exhaustion finally claimed him and he surrendered into a blessedly dreamless sleep. It wasn’t until he woke, several hours later, shivering and damp, that he realized Ashtonstillhad his purse.
Chapter 4
     
    J
AMES hadn’t slept well at all, despite how tired he was. After the carriage had pulled away, taking Mr. Allen with it, Andrew and he had climbed the stairs and let themselves into the house. He had put his arm around his nephew’s shoulder as they had made their way directlyto the drawingroom, where Andrew’s parents waited.
    After assuring herself that her son was none the worse for his adventures, Charlotte had launched into a lecture ofepic proportions, and James had taken the first opportunity to excuse himself, claiming exhaustion. Charlotte had