Abercairn screamed and dropped the pistol.
She brought her knee up, right into the center of his falls, and the blackguard’s eyes and mouth rounded in identical circles. His face drained of blood. With a pathetic squeak, he clutched his ballocks and tilted sideways, crumpling to the ground. Winnifred stomped on his chest, his thighs, his shoulder, wishing she wore something deadlier than slippers. All of her fury, her despair, she unleashed onto his curled body. Every blow she landed exorcised some of the terror that had choked her since Sin had disappeared.
Gentle hands encircled her shoulders, pulling her back, away from Abercairn and into a firm, warm, and breathing body. Sin turned her folded her in his arms and held her until her body stopped shaking. Leaning back, he examined her from head to toe. He loosed a jagged sigh and tucked her into his side. Lips pressed into a white slash, he glared down at the whimpering heap at their feet.
Summerset joined them. “I never thought I’d see the day. The mighty Marquess of Dunkeld, saved by a woman.”
Sin growled.
Summerset smirked. “Abercairn fell without you even landing a finger on him. You must be taking this very ill.”
“You!” Lady Abercairn pointed to one of her servants. “Bring Abercairn inside here.” She glared at Sin. “Do not think you can stop us. With all our servants, we outnumber you.”
“Count again, milady.” Tavish marched through the front door, an antique breastplate over his livery, a rifle notched against his shoulder. Every male servant of Kenmore who hadn’t been in attendance spilled out of the castle after him. They fell into formation around the steward, each one bearing a weapon from the armory. Rifles were leveled, swords pointed. Even a mace was raised in defiance. Kenmore’s own army had arrived.
Lady Abercairn paled, and drew back into the landau, slamming the door shut. Those in service to Eirlie and Abercairn raised their hands in surrender.
“And now saved by your servants.” Summerset planted his foot on a carriage wheel spoke and slid his blade back into his boot. “Truly, what use are you?”
Sin bent and grabbed the front of Abercairn’s jacket. He raised him with one hand and pounded him in the face with the other. He threw him back to the ground with a grumble. “Enough. I will pound the living hell out of my enemies later, and that might include you if you don’t watch your tongue.”
Summerset grinned.
Sin held Winnifred’s face between his palms. “Tell me you’re all right.”
She nodded, and wrapped her hands around his wrists, needing the connection. Afraid to let him go. “You?”
“Irritated beyond measure that I was incapacitated and stuffed in a trunk.”
Summerset hopped back on the coach. “Sutton needs a physician.”
Dr. Masson pushed through the Kenmore footmen and rushed forward. “Let’s get him out of there and bring him inside.”
Several men worked together to carry Sutton down. Deirdre led the way into Kenmore, calling for bandages and water to be boiled.
It was over. Winnifred’s knees went weak, and she tightened her grip on her husband’s wrists. Sin was bruised and bloodied, but he was whole. Safe.
Hers.
She pressed her lips into his palm and whispered, “I love you.”
Sin’s good eye swiveled back to her face, flaring wide. His chest heaved. “Repeat that.”
A grin stretched across her face. Repeat it? She wanted to shout it to the uppermost turret.
“I love you.” She stepped close, leaning into him. “I’m sorry it took me so long to recognize it. That I ever believed that what I felt for you was merely friendship. When I thought I might never see you once more, or have the chance to tell you ….” She swallowed, her throat burning. “Don’t ever disappear on me again. I cannot survive another night like—mmff!”
Sin cut her off with a kiss. His mouth crashed down upon hers. Their teeth knocked together; she didn’t care. The kiss was hungry, one meant for the bedroom and not for broad daylight in front of God and servants and shocked guests. It mattered not.
Threading her fingers into hishair, she kissed him back with all she was worth.Gave him everyone moment of fear, every hope she held for their future. Every drop of love in every molecule in her body she exposed to him in that kiss.
Her husband was returned. They’d married as strangers, but against all odds she loved him and he loved her.
Life didn’t get any crazier than that.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Winnifred curled closer into his side, her hand tucked tight between the buttons of his waistcoat. The scent of oranges teased his nose, and Sin breathed deep. A stone under the blanket they lay on dug into his side, but he disregarded the ache. He never wanted to move, not with the woman he loved lying next to him.
