“Papa!” Maggie cried, scrambling across the cold floor to her father, who lay curled in a heap, his wounds bleeding darkly. Neil felt his own blood race so fiercely that he shivered; the adrenaline left him hollow and raw.
Emma, safely seized by Simon, clung trembling in his arms. Around the doorway, the household men stood, cudgels ready but watchful, their faces set to act if need be.
Neil looked once more to where Victor lay, still and breathless. The man who had stood menacing only moments before was now motionless on the straw.
“Simon,” Neil said, voice shaken though steady, “perhaps now is the right time to call the authorities.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Two Days Later
From the window, Neil could see Jenny and Simon sitting together on a stone bench down in the courtyard. Today was the first day the physician had allowed Jenny to remove the bandages wrapped around her head. There was a thin scar along her forehead and would likely not go away anytime soon. Not that it mattered. Neil had reassured himself that Jenny was safe and healthy, since her bravery had saved them all.
Simon appeared to be talking about something very serious, leaning forward and looking carefully into Jenny’s face. Slowly, Jenny dragged her eyes up from her tangled fingers, meeting Simon’s gaze. Simon said something else, and of course Neil was too far away to hear, but it must be good news, judging by the slow smile which spread over Jenny’s face. Gingerly, Simon reached forward, placing his hand on Jenny’s, and their fingers entwined.
Sometimes, I’m very glad that Simon doesn’t listen to my advice,Neil thought, smiling wryly. Woken from his reverie, he glanced up at a knock on his study door.
“Enter.”
The door creaked open, and to his surprise, there stood Aunt Harriet.
“Oh, Aunt,” he remarked, leaning back in his seat. “I assumed it was Crawford, with more of that wretched paperwork. The authorities are determined to question me about every detail, it seems.”
“Details are important,” Aunt Harriet commented. “Lord Bramwell is facing the noose, after all. He will do his best to wriggle out of it.”
“He can’t. Not with the evidence we found in the Greenery, not with the testimony of his men, who all turned traitor as soon as they could. Not with Maggie’s testimony.”
His chest warmed at the thought of Maggie. Clearing his throat, he glanced away from his aunt’s sharp, thoughtful eyes.
“I came to tell you that Thomas Camden woke up from his fever today,” Aunt Harriet commented. “The physician believes he’ll make a full recovery.”
Neil let out a sigh of relief. It was only natural they had brought Maggie’s wounded father back to the house for proper care. During that first day, his death had seemed almost certain, yet the physician persevered, and so did Aunt Harriet, and slowly Thomas began to recover.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said at last. “The man is a coward, a deadly one, but he saved his daughter at the very last.”
“If Maggie intends to forgive him, then there’s nothing we ought to say about it,” Aunt Harriet agreed. “She scarcely left his side, except to attend to Emma and, of course, to Jenny. Poor Miss Winter has barely slept.” She paused, considering. “I suppose I might as well call her Miss Camden again.”
Neil cleared his throat, glancing away. “With Thomas Camden’s debts gone, I daresay he and his daughter can start life afresh. I don’t imagine that Maggie will want to stay here as a governess, not now.”
Aunt Harriet stared at him for a long moment, her brow furrowed.
“You haven’t spoken to her at all, have you?” she said at last.
Neil sighed, passing a hand over his hair. It was really getting too long and tangled these days. He would have to get it cut.
“I haven’t had time.”
Aunt Harriet clicked her tongue. “Well, you should.”
“I am busy, Aunt, and so is she. All of this,” he paused, gesturing vaguely to the house, to himself, to everything that had happened, “was never what she wanted. She’s free now, and I imagine she will be keen to leave this place behind.”
And me behind,he added, in his head.
After a long moment, his aunt gave a ragged sigh and came over to stand beside him at the window.
“I only tried to match you with Lady Constance because I thought it would be best for you, Neil. I know you don’t believe me—”
“I do believe you,” he cut in gently. “I know you had my best interests at heart, Aunt.”
