Page 95 of Foolish Bride
Michael blocked, putting himself between Roxton and Elinor.
Roxton screamed, “I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you.”
The carriage rocked so violently, it could topple any second, killing all three of them.
Michael pressed his forearm against Roxton’s throat, but he couldn’t get hold of his sword arm and stop the idiot from hacking.
* * * *
The men landed on the floor of the carriage with Roxton on the top. Elinor wished she could see Michael’s face, but only his boots were visible, pressed firmly against the carriage floor.
The carriage lurched, and she toppled across the bench.
Steel glinted from Michael’s boot.
Elinor pulled the stiletto and plunged it into Roxton’s back.
The world froze.
Elinor pulled the knife from his back.
Red spread across his jacket.
The sword stopped moving.
His face a mask of surprise, Michael looked around Roxton.
Elinor dropped the knife.
Michael pushed Roxton’s body to the side and squeezed out from under him. He stared at Elinor, then jumped up through the hole he and Roxton had made in the roof.
Hollering to the racing beasts, Michael slowed the carriage. The horses neighed before the carriage stopped.
Elinor stared down at Roxton. His back was dark with blood and he hadn’t moved from the floor.No.
The door opened, and Michael pulled her from the carriage and into his arms.
“Did I kill him?”
“You did what was necessary. I am very proud of you, Elinor.” He caressed her back.
She closed her eyes. “Should we go and look for the others?”
“They will find us.” He took her hand and walked her to a fallen tree beside the road.
The rain had stopped, but the silence was just as thick as the fog.
Elinor voiced her only coherent thought. “I suppose I am a widow now.”
“You were never really married to that pig, Elinor. It would have all been resolved, and we would have been married. This just makes things easier. You did the right thing. He might have killed me, then you would have been in real danger.”
She nodded, but her mind was a jumble of images she wanted to push away.
“Really, it’s a miracle that the carriage stayed upright through all of that.”
She nodded again and looked at the blood on her hands.
Michael removed his neck cloth and wiped the blood away. The white cloth turned reddish-brown. He was serious about his job, and a deep crease formed between his eyes.
