Page 79 of Her Daring Earl
“Archibald,” he said in relief. “I thought you were dead.”
“Fortunately, I have a hard head,” the detective said, rubbing a spot on the back of his head, his hand coming away red whenhe dropped it. “It was sufficient, however, to knock me out long enough.”
He looked around the room. “Is everyone well?”
Eliza stared back at him with an expression of disbelief as Levi was currently occupied with divesting Madeline of her pistol.
Then Henrietta’s face appeared around the doorway, and Fitz groaned aloud.
“How many of you came?” he asked, his relief fleeting at concern that they had all put themselves in danger.
“Dot and Sloane are here too,” Henrietta said. “But they were with Mouse in front.”
“Is it over?” he asked, looking at Levi, who nodded slowly, his good eye fixed upon him.
“I hope so,” he said. “It appears Brighton was the one behind this all.”
“Brighton?” Fitz repeated, surprised. “I didn’t think he had it in him, truly.”
“There will be much to discuss,” Archibald said. “But I think we would all prefer to do it in your drawing room rather than in the middle of this hell or brothel or whatever you call this place. Lady Danger will be coming with me, but as for Brighton and Miss Madeline. Their fates are up to you.”
Fitz looked over at Madeline, who appeared near to collapsing.
“Eliza?” he asked his wife. He wanted to have mercy on Madeline, but he wouldn’t if it would make Eliza uncomfortable. She was the one who now mattered most.
She crossed the room, stopping in front of Madeline, who appeared wary. Eliza reached out, surprising them all by taking her bound hands in her grasp.
“You will take your daughter and you will leave this city,” she said firmly yet, strangely, kindly. “My issue with you is that youhave now threatened my husband’s life twice, and I cannot sleep well knowing that you are nearby, perhaps willing to do so again. If you leave us be, then I have no issue in seeing you go free without charge. You obviously care deeply for your daughter, and I have no wish to see a child motherless.”
Madeline nodded slowly. “Thank you. I can do that.” She looked from Eliza to Fitz and back again. “I am truly sorry.”
Fitz rocked back and forth. He hadn’t cared as much when he was the only one in danger, but now that Eliza was part of it…
“I am not certain how truly sorry you are, Madeline, or else you would never have taken such an action a second time. You are lucky, however, that my wife has a forgiving heart.”
Eliza shook her head, not denying his words but also not taking the credit.
“I cannot see how, as a woman who is going to become a mother soon myself, I could advocate to take away the mother of another child,” she said. “But I do have to consider my own family and safety. I can only hope that all of this is behind us now.”
Madeline, her face pale, nodded and began to slip out of the room as though she was worried that they might change their minds – which was a valid concern.
Fitz had no problems letting her go.
“Eliza?” he said, turning to his wife. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Gladly,” she said, smiling as she took a step toward him.
He couldn’t wait to wrap his arms around her and show her how much he had missed her, even if it had just been for a few hours. He needed to revel in the feelings of relief and safety once more. The look on her face told him that she felt the same, but just as they took a step toward one another, concern flashed over her eyes.
She stopped for a brief moment before crumpling forward – his heart sinking to the ground along with her.
CHAPTER 27
Fitz rushed forward, catching Eliza just before she hit the floor.
“Eliza!” he called out, cradling her face in his hands, desperate for her to respond as Henrietta crowded next to him. He looked wildly around him as Dot and Sloane soon joined them. Word had gotten out that all had been taken care of back here and it seemed the room was practically flooded with detectives – detectives who they could have used a few minutes ago, although that was not his primary concern at the moment.
“What’s wrong with her?” he asked Dot, who quickly knelt beside them, easing Eliza down so that her head was in Fitz’s lap.
