Page 84 of Lady Gambit
“This ain’t no misunderstanding. Say your prayers now.”
Dorian’s face was a white mask of fear.
“Please don’t shoot,” she pleaded, crossing her arms over her body to protect her heart. “We can resolve the problem. You can leave. Don’t you want to find Mrs Haggert and punish her for putting you in Bethlem?”
Nora pressed forward, forcing Delphine to shuffle back towards the open study door. “Have no fear. I’ll find that crone soon enough. I’m here to put a ball in your false heart.”
“Mine?” Good Lord! Why?
“Step back!” Nora yelled to Aaron. “Flinch, and I’ll shoot.”
Both men froze, afraid to make a wrong move.
Attempting to make sense of Nora’s motive for murder, Delphine said, “But I was a child when you knew me. What did I do to you?”
“You’re the one who put me there. If it weren’t for your loose tongue, the deed would be done, and we’d all be happier for it.”
“I don’t remember. You’re not making any sense.”
“Happen you’d remember if you’d spent sixteen years in a cell.”
Confused, Delphine glanced at Aaron, but she’d never seen him look so afraid. As they shuffled slowly past Miss Lovelace, the lady caught Delphine’s eye. She splayed her hand on her chest, three fingers visible. Slowly, three fingers became two, then one, then her gaze dipped to the floor.
“Kill the chick and blame the hen,” Nora sang in a childlike voice, “and the wolf will set me free.”
Delphine ignored the woman’s mad ramblings and studied Miss Lovelace’s fingers, waiting for the signal. She knew instinctively what to do and prayed the plan would work.
Three. Two. One, Miss Lovelace mouthed.
Delphine said a silent prayer and dropped to her knees.
She wasn’t sure what happened next, but Aaron swore and Dorian gasped.
Nora screamed in pain and collapsed to the floor, writhing as she cradled her arm. “Evil wench. You’ve snapped my wrist in two.”
Delphine shot to her feet, as dazed as the day Monsieur Chabert brought her out of a trance. She looked at Miss Lovelace, thankful she’d had the foresight to knock on her door. The lady had one hand clasped to her chest, the other wrapped around the small pistol.
“I’ve only practised the move twice but was assured it works to disarm a villain.” With shaky fingers, she gave Aaron the pistol.
Aaron’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. He gawped at Miss Lovelace. Either he was about to murder the lady for her interference or carry her upstairs and ravage her senseless.
“That was stupid,” he said, “and ingenious.”
“I’m not sure I’d want to do it again.”
“There’s sherry in the drawing room. Pour yourself a glass.”
The lady nodded and left them to deal with Nora.
Despite looking as pale as a ghost, Dorian crossed the room. He stepped over Nora and hauled Delphine into his arms.
He didn’t care that Aaron stood watching them. He kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that spoke of relief.
“I’ll not fail you again.” Dorian brushed her hair from her face, cradled her cheeks and kissed her deeply. “You might have died had it not been for the intrepid owner of The Burnished Jade.”
“It’s not your fault. None of us expected Nora to draw a pistol from her boot.” Though she would suffer Nora’s threats again if it meant Miss Lovelace could prove her worth.
“The hellcat must have hidden it on her person and slipped it into her boot.” Aaron hauled Nora up by her good arm, though the woman wailed like a hungry babe. “You didn’t escape Bethlem with a loaded pistol. Who gave you the gun?”
