Page 18 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
“Dead?”
“No.”
They must hurry then. “Stay close. Keep your blade handy.”
He heard a sharp intake of breath.
“And don’t use it on me. I’m rescuing you.”
“I have rescued myself.”
So she had. “Now is not the time to argue.”
Graciela tooktwo steps to each irritating one of Mr. Everly’s, trying to keep up.
“Ungentlemanly,” she muttered.
He shushed her.
A plain, unmarked coach sat at the corner, its lights dimmed.
“Stow the knife,” he whispered.
Her hands fumbled the blade back into its sheath, while her feet kept moving. As soon as they neared, the groom holding the horses ran to open the door. Everly waved him off, and without dropping the stairs, all but tossed her into the coach. In seconds, they were away.
She was pulled onto a seat. “Are you all right?”
The strained voice next to her was Lady Perpetua’s. As her vision adjusted, she saw the glint of the lady’s spectacles.
Her heart quaked and a chill went through her. Another man sat in the seat opposite Lady Perpetua. She could not make him out. She was not out of danger yet.
“Yes,” she said tensely, and started to shake.
“Change seats with me, Perry.” The commanding voice was Mr. Everly’s.
The coach teetered as if her own trembles were rattling it.
“Lean forward.” A coat, warm, and fragrant, settled over her, and then an arm wrapped her shoulders tucking her against a strong, broad chest.
Mr. Everly’s scent filled her anew. She choked, gulping great mouthfuls of it. Her eyes and nose clouded with moisture.
“Shhh,” he breathed into her ear. “I smell blood. Are you injured?”
“It is his.”
The hand at her shoulder squeezed. “Good.”
She closed her eyes and grasped for control. She was quivering and trembling like Reina after a tantrum, and her eyes were beginning to water, and she must not show weakness here.
“She is terrified,” Lady Perpetua said. “Do not fret, Miss Kingsley, we have your ward and your servants. They arrived safely last night. The danger is past.”
Reina…she’d forgotten to ask. Her heart filled and she could not speak.
“She is not terrified,” Mr. Everly went on. “You are experiencing the aftermath of battle, my love. It is very normal. Fighting for one’s life upsets the humors. This will pass.”
Yes, and of course she knew that from her papa. “It will pass until they come after me.”
“Yes, well, you will not stand alone. We will fight them together. I regret we did not come sooner.”
