Page 58 of Three Nights with the Beastly Duke

Arthur breathed against the searing pain, and with his good arm, raised one pistol high above Timothy’s head. “She willneverbe yours,” he growled, bringing the butt of his pistol down hard on the back of Timothy’s head.

As the gun connected with Timothy’s skull, the man’s posture suddenly went rigid. Then, as if someone had turned off the light inside of him, Timothy’s body slithered down onto the ground, falling into a pathetic heap.

* * *

“I’m fine,” Arthur promised, trying in vain to soothe Lavinia.

Lavinia only shook her head, as if refusing to believe him, and added yet another layer of fabric to his already bandaged shoulder.

The vision of Timothy’s blade sinking into Arthur kept playing over and over again in her head, and she was not at all convinced that he was all right. Even though Arthur and Archie had both assured her that it wasn’t a life-threatening wound, she was still terrified that he would slip away.

“Lavinia,” Arthur spoke, her name coming from his mouth like a caress. He captured both of her hands, wincing as he moved his bad shoulder.

“Arthur, please,” she urged, “you must know that I didn’t write that letter. I wasn’t going to leave. I wasnevergoing to leave.”

Arthur pulled her to him and kissed her tenderly, and she let out a soft sob as her blood-stained lips connected with his.

“I know,” Arthur whispered, pressing his forehead against hers tenderly. “I was a fool at first to believe you could do such a thing, but Susan and Archie made me realize it was my own self-loathing that made me think that way. I’m so sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

Lavinia felt another sob escape her lips, and she moved to kiss him again. It must have been the hundredth time in the last hour that she’d done so, but she was unable to stop. She needed proof that he was still alive—that he was going to continue to live.

After Arthur rendered Timothy unconscious, he and Archie had used the rope that had been tied around Lavinia’s wrists to secure both him and the driver to a tree, and then Archie had rode off to fetch the constable. Susan, finding a way to deal with her own rage over having her new sister taken, had happily waited by the tree to pistol whip either man any time he attempted to break free or even speak. After being struck by her twice, Timothy had finally silenced himself and was now leaning against the tree in a resigned manner.

“I must tell you something,” Lavinia urged. “Now, before anything else happens.”

“Lavinia—” Arthur attempted.

“No, please, let me say this,” Lavinia insisted, cutting him off and giving him a begging glance. “I love you, Arthur. I began to feel it the moment we first spoke. And I know this all started because I was trying to protect Rebecca, but it doesn’t make my feelings any less true. I love you, Arthur. I love you so much.”

Arthur looked back at her, happiness glowing in his eyes as he pushed her hair away from her eyes. “And I love you, Lavinia,” he breathed, pure emotion emitting from his voice.

She let out a sobbing breath. “You do?” she asked, feeling tears burning in her eyes.

Arthur chuckled softly as he shook his head at her and wrapped a hand around the back of her neck. “After everything you’ve done for me?” he said, his voice growing thick. “How could I not? I love you, Lavinia, like I will never love another. And I promise you, nothing like this willeverhappen again. I will never again doubt you.”

“Oh, Arthur,” Lavinia breathed, relaxing into his chest.

With a simple movement of his fingers, Lavinia felt him tilt her neck back, and once more, his lips closed intimately over hers. She kissed him back needily, temporarily forgetting all about his injured shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

They didn’t break their kiss until they heard the sounds of an incoming carriage, and it was only when they heard Archie’s voice directing the constable toward Timothy and his driver that they let one another go.

“Come,” Arthur coaxed gently, untangling himself from her only to take her hand. “Let us finally get this settled. Then, I shall take you home.”

“To our home?” she asked, nearly delirious with happiness.

Arthur nodded, kissing her forehead. “Right where you belong.”

EPILOGUE

One Month Later

“Well, Your Grace, I’m happy to say that your shoulder is healing nicely,” the physician stated, tucking his instruments back into his bag.

Sitting on Arthur’s bed was Lavinia at his head, followed by Susan and his mother.

Marianne hadn’t spoken a harsh word to Lavinia since they’d all arrived home a month ago but had turned into a mother hen instead. If she wasn’t checking on Arthur, she was constantly at Lavinia’s side, asking how she was feeling or if she needed a cup of tea.

“Your muscles and tendons have nearly pieced themselves back together,” the physician continued, “but they are still delicate, so be gentle with your right side for another few weeks. Unfortunately, you’ll end up with another scar, but after seeing the rest of your battle wounds, I’m sure that won’t bother you a bit.”

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