Page 54 of The Gift of Patience
“I am afraid I cannot do that,” Renforth said. “He will have a fair trial.”
“Bollocks!” the man spat loudly. “I’m afraid you leave me no choice.” The eldest man cocked his pistol and took aim at Baines, who was guarding the door of the carriage. Fielding shot the gun out of his hand, then they all dove for cover as was their training. But who shot whom during what became a blur as the following eruption was akin to the heat of battle? Pistols discharged in a staccato of sound, the acrid smell of gunpowder as foul as the smoke that clouded the air.
When shots were expended, the gang fled back into the woods, no longer able to claim any advantage with empty barrels.
“Are they gone?” Ashley called.
“For now,” Renforth answered. Everyone began to emerge from their places to take stock of the damage.
Baines stood and wiped the dirt from his front where he’d taken cover on the ground. It was a miracle the horses hadn’t bolted in the melee.
Chum and Manners had taken off after the gang, which was a good sign that they were unharmed.
Fielding and Renforth were checking the prisoner and inside the carriage, so Ashley turned to see Sir Horace standing over Rupert’s prone form. He had fallen from his horse, and a large pool of blood covered his back.
Ashley slid off his horse and felt for Rupert’s pulse, but his lifeless eyes staring back at him told the story. Rupert had been shot dead. But how and by whom?
Rupert had been beside him the whole time. Had he turned around? Ashley could not think that he had. The others came over to see once they were certain the prisoner and driver were unharmed.
“Sir Horace, I am terribly sorry. Did you see what happened?”
Sir Horace stood there, immobile.
Renforth shook his head. They would get nothing useful from him for now.
“I would send for the magistrate, but he is currently attending his wife in childbed.”
Sir Horace continued to stand over the body in disbelief, as if too numb to cry and shocked into inaction. A farmer in a cart was passing by and stopped to help. Another horse and rider rode towards them, looking frantic. It was Greening.
“I heard the gunfire. What has happened?”
Ashley was surprised the entire village was not yet upon them after the gun battle that had just happened.
Renforth pulled Ashley aside. “Are you able to manage this? I think we should proceed with our original plan before the gang has time to regroup. I think at least one of them was winged.”
“I will see to having Rupert removed to the icehouse. Taywards is the only one hereabouts. Westwood will unfortunately have to make a decision about the inquest. He may call someone else in if necessary.” Thankfully, they were close enough to the village that he could get help quickly there if this farmer would oblige, and Greening would see to Sir Horace.
“We should return just after dark as planned.”
“I will be there.” Ashley turned to take charge of the mess.
CHAPTER 14
By the time Patience and the Dowager made it to Faith’s side, the doctor was already preparing Faith to push, and her maid and the housekeeper were assisting. A nervous Westwood was rubbing Faith’s back and wiping her brow. There was little for either of them to do, but Faith reached out a hand to Patience, so she held it while her sister displayed amazing strength. If her hand suffered permanent damage, well, Patience would not complain.
She marvelled at the process of childbirth, but she did not necessarily wish to go through it herself anytime soon.
“Most fathers wish to wait downstairs for the remainder, my lord,” Dr. Harvey said, though Patience thought it was for Westwood’s benefit more than any other reason. He was looking decidedly green, but Faith clung to him like a lifeline, so he shook his head and remained.
The pains Faith endured seemed as though she would not survive them, but then they would stop just in time. Then the doctor commanded her to push, and with just a few difficult pushes, a baby was wailing. Patience had never seen anything like it. She knew Faith was not out of danger, but the baby seemed healthy.
“Congratulations, my lord, my lady, you have a son with a strapping set of lungs,” Dr. Harvey announced.
The look Faith and Dominic shared with each other as they put their heads together with exhaustion and relief made Patience feel like the worst sort of intruder. It also made her long for what they had and made her more determined not to settle for less. There were much worse fates than being a spinster aunt to a beautiful baby boy. Even though he wasn’t so beautiful at the moment, she revised as the doctor unveiled the red, wrinkly mess to his doting parents.
He handed the baby off to the maid, who took the child away to clean him. Patience decided she was no longer needed and escaped with mixed emotions about the miracle she had just witnessed. “I will just go and let the others know,” she said in case anyone was paying attention.
Maybe one day that would be for her, but she was not in a hurry. She still wanted adventure and could not help but wonder how Stuart and the soldiers were doing with their ruse. It would still be several hours before they would return beneath the cover of darkness.
