Page 68 of Daring the Forbidden Earl
He looked like he was about to pull the trigger, when another shot fired. Johanna’s gaze darted toward a passageway between two stacks of crates, where two shadows stepped out into the light—Kenneth and Liam. Both armed, while a bluish wisp of smoke curled up from the end of Kenneth’s pistol.
Thrumming with anxiety, Johanna twisted back around and watched as Lord Dresday lifted a hand to his face. The pistol shot had skimmed the flesh of his cheek, prompting bright red blood to bead from the scratch.
“Enough of this, Lord Dresday,” Kenneth said, beckoning to Liam to hand him the second pistol. “You ought to know that I aimed for your cheek. No justice can be done here, in this place. We ought to leave it to Bow Street and the magistrates.”
The Baron is outnumbered. Oh, thank goodness!
Lord Dresday gave a sharp bark of a laugh. “You think this can be resolved in a court of law? You know, as well as I do, that boxing is prohibited.”
“Nevertheless, proper channels must be utilized,” Kenneth insisted. “For we have our own quarrel with Hugh, on the charge of kidnapping and sedition, and you will not take justice from us.”
Mark took a step forward. “Go home to your daughter, Lord Dresday. You cannot win this. Leave Hugh in our hands, or you might find that someone will tell tales to the law about your business endeavors.”
No, Mark! Why would you say such a thing? You will only antagonize him!
Johanna’s anxiety transformed into a pulsating wave of terror, as an unnerving sort of trance came over Lord Dresday. A furious streak of red appeared beneath the skin of the opposite cheek, colored by rage, while his body visibly trembled with anger.
“I have had quite enough of you all,” Lord Dresday rasped, pointing the barrel of his pistol at Mark. “You do not threaten me. You do not tell me what I can and cannot do. And though you might not have been responsible for my daughter’s shame, I would be doing England a service by ridding this country of you.”
Johanna tried to swing herself up onto her feet, wondering if she would be able to make it to Mark before the shot fired. But her legs would not cooperate, remaining useless and numb beneath her. All she could do was watch as Lord Dresday pulled the trigger, knowing what Mark’s record was like when it came to duels.
In a blur of movement, Hugh suddenly broke away from Lizzie’s grasp and threw himself in the path of the pistol shot. Johanna heard the crack of the weapon firing, but she could not bring herself to look. Her eyes squeezed shut for the second time, praying the shot would miss.
And that was when she heard it—a bestial, gut-wrenching scream that seemed to shake the ground beneath her.
“Hugh! Hugh, no!” Lizzie howled, the sound urging Johanna’s eyes open.
Hugh lay on the ground, bleeding from his chest. His hand lifted to cover the wound, but Johanna suspected it was already too late. She might have been wrong, but the injury seemed to be directly over the spot where his heart was. And if that was the case, then he was on borrowed time.
Lizzie sprinted toward her beloved, skidding to her knees at his side and struggling to try and pull him into her lap. “Hugh? Hugh… why did ye do that, love? Why did ye do that?” she cried frantically, clutching at his face as if that might be enough to keep him here in the land of the living. “Ye stupid fool. What did ye do that for, eh?”
At the same moment, Kenneth and Liam used the distraction to charge toward Lord Dresday, tackling him to the ground.
“What do I do?” Lizzie wept. “How do I get it to stop?”
Hugh smiled up at her. “You don’t, love. He struck me true.”
“There’s got to be somethin’ I can do!” Lizzie begged frantically. “Ye can’t leave me like this, love. What about our littlun? Ye have to be here to meet them, love. I can’t do it without ye.”
Hugh swallowed thickly. “You must, love. Our child is going to need you.”
“Please, love…” Lizzie leaned over and pressed her forehead to his, as tears sprang to Johanna’s eyes.
Hugh might have kidnapped her and behaved badly, but he did not deserve this. His intentions had been good, in a twisted sort of way, and Lord Dresday had just taken everything away from the loving couple. All because he could not stand to lose control.
At least my father had some sense of decency…
Just then, Mark walked slowly toward Hugh, and joined Lizzie at his side. Johanna observed the sight with a macabre curiosity, for just a few minutes ago they had been locked in a battle of wills. A few minutes later, the two brothers had tried to protect one another against a common enemy.
Kneeling now, Mark shot a dark look toward Kenneth and Liam, who were wrangling with a flailing, furious Lord Dresday. “Get him out of here. Take him to Bow Street and see that he is charged with attempted murder.” He hissed air through his teeth. “And pray, Lord Dresday, that it does not become murder.”
Kenneth nodded. “I will see it done.” With his strong arms, he hauled Lord Dresday away from the warehouse clearing, while Liam followed after.
“I’m… not lying to… you, Mark,” Hugh wheezed, drawing his brother’s attention. “I’m only… sorry I didn’t… get to meet you sooner.”
Mark took hold of the younger man’s hand. “Why did you save me like that? Why did you step in the way?”
“I told you.” Hugh smiled weakly. “You’re my… blood. You’re my… brother. I’ve always… known about you. When I saw him… pulling the trigger… I just… acted. I didn’t… think. I don’t… know what that’s supposed… to mean.”
