Page 74 of A Lady's Past
“My mother was a wonderful woman who did not deserve to die at the hands of a filthy pig like you.” Too angry to cry, she longed to strangle the man who ruined her quiet life.
“Do you remember her screams when I cut off her little finger? That got your father working.” Victor laughed like a child remembering his first toy.
“That will be quite enough.” The ferocity in Jacques’s tone must have sparked something in Victor.
He sobered and turned the barrel of his pistol on Jacques. “You have been a burr under my saddle for too many years, Laurent. It is divine providence that you found your way to this whore, and now I have you both together to dispose of as I like. I am going to kill you and cut off your head while your woman watches. Nothing will ever give me as much joy, which is rather sad. However, I will mark this day and celebrate it for the rest of my life.”
Heart in her throat, Diana wanted to scream. “Just take me. I will be more than enough to show your loyalty to the Emperor. I’ll make your rocket and you will be a French hero and live your life in luxury. Just leave Jacques here. He’s not important. It’s me you want.”
“Be silent, Diana,” Jacques bit out.
A slow, terrifying smile spread across Victor’s face. “I am having a very good day. It is a fine offer, but no. I will have his head and you in France making rockets. I have no reason to make anyone a deal. Not today and not ever.”
Victor leveled his pistol at Jacques. “Goodbye, Laurent.”
Diana waited as long as she could. As Victor’s finger pulled back on the trigger, the world slowed. She leaped in front of Jacques. Nothing could happen to him. She’d rather die than watch him bleed.
She screamed as pain erupted in her shoulder and back. Jacques’s arms came around her and all she could see were his beautiful dark eyes. “I would never betray you. I’m no spy.”
Voices sounded as if they were coming from every direction.
Then silence and darkness.
* * *
“Diana!” Jacques held her limp body in his arms.
Horsemen and Preston rushed in from all directions.
Preston said, “Oh God, she’s been shot. Call for a surgeon.”
Warmth seeped over his hand. Holding her with one arm, Jacques ripped his cravat off and handed it to Preston. “Press this on the wound.”
He did as told but stared at Jacques. “Are you hurt?”
Diana trembled in his arms and he realized her trembling was his own. “She jumped in front of me. She took the bullet meant for me.”
Victor cursed in French and babbled nonsense. Alex ordered him taken to the dungeon.
A footman rushed over. “I can carry her, sir.”
“I have her. You can go for the surgeon.”
He must have looked about to drop because the footman pursed his lips. “Mr. Bates has already sent for the doctor. I’ll just stay with you until we get Miss MacLeod inside.”
Preston turned to the footman. “See if you can find Mrs. Fallcraft. She has some medical knowledge and may be able to help. I will follow Mr. Laurent and make sure his strength holds.”
At a run, the footman took off across the garden toward the school side of the castle.
Jacques lifted her in his arms while Preston kept the cloth pressed to her back.
“Do you want me to carry her? You look a bit worse for wear.” Preston tucked the cravat into Jacques’s hand and pressed both on the wound.
“No. I have her.” The snow was stained red around them. Jacques’s stomach churned. Diana’s moan gave him hope. She was alive and she had to stay that way.
As he rushed toward the castle, people ran past him, but Jacques only saw them in his periphery. He focused on getting Diana to warmth and finding a surgeon to make her well.
Footmen opened doors and maids rushed about with linens and wash water. Inside the parlor, Jacques placed her on the couch.”
