And just as quickly as the chaos erupted, the curricle slowed to a halt and all was silent.
“Are you all right?” Axel’s hands were around her, lifting her onto the seat. “Are you hurt?” The concern in his voice was palpable.
“I’m fine. Are you?” Her own hands were sliding up his arms, over the sleeves of his jacket, searching for—what? A bullet? “Was that a gunshot?” Had someone just tried to kill them?
“You two all right up there?” A handful of gentlemen approached on horseback. The Marquess of Greystone, unmistakable in his fashionable apparel of a deep lilac jacket and matching top hat, arrived first. “Did you see where it came from?”
“I did not.” Axel had turned and was peering behind them into the woods.
The steel in his voice sent a chill down her spine.
Lord Greystone removed his hat and ran a hand through thick, brown hair. Three other riders arrived as well. A few familiar faces…the Earl of Hawthorne, the Marquess of Rockingham, and yet another that she didn’t recognize.
Axel was still gripping the tethers, his attention divided between the horses and the gentlemen who’d arrived to provide their assistance.
And all the while, he kept one hand on her knee as though to assure himself she was whole and safe.
“What idiot practices his shooting on this side of the park?” Rockingham glowered.
“A suicidal one, that’s who.” Greystone was already turning his horse. “Rockingham, take the west side. Hawthorn and I will investigate the east.”
“If you find the blighter—” Axel began.
“Come by Knight House when you’re finished,” Greystone nodded. “Forgive me for racing away, my lady, but we’ve a dangerous idiot to subdue.” He replaced his hat, tipped it in her direction, and then raced off behind the other men.
Felicity’s heart slowly resumed beating at a normal rate.
It had been an accident. No one was trying to kill them.
Axel studied her. “You’re sure you’re all right?” He brushed a strand of hair away from her face and if she wasn’t mistaken, his hand was shaking.
“Yes.”
“And the baby?”
“Yes.” She gave him a tremulous smile and after a moment, he exhaled a great sigh of relief.
“Blackheart recommended a midwife and a physician. Will you meet with each of them? Once you have a preference, we’ll schedule an appointment for as soon as possible.”
“I’m inclined to a midwife.” She doubted her father had given her mother a choice. “But yes. I’d like to meet with them, too—so long as they are discreet.”
“Of course.” One of the horses tossed his head and Axel glanced around the park. “Best let these two walk it out. Do you trust me to get you home safely?”
“Absolutely.” She doubted she’d ever trusted another person more. She settled onto the bench facing forward, one hand on the seat, the other clutching his arm.
The earlier intimacy between them was lost, but her comfort with him was not. “You spoke with your parents? I’m sorry about the dinner party. My mother sent her invitation without checking with me first. I had no idea how enthusiastic she would be.” But she’d wondered how his father and stepmother would react. “Were they happy for you?”
She glanced sideways just in time to see his jaw tighten. So they were not. She was learning these little tells of his.
“They responded no worse than expected, but Cordelia is looking forward to meeting you. And I’m fine with the dinner.” He grimaced, meeting her gaze with a sideways glance of his own. “I imagine such a gathering would have come up eventually.”
“My mother wished to consult with Lady Crestwood on the wedding details. A breakfast at Bright Place, of course, but she is wishing to give your parents the opportunity to host the prewedding ball.” She sighed. Normally, she would have been just as excited about such details herself, but… she seemed tired all the time and couldn’t seem to thrum up much enthusiasm at all.
“Greystone is arranging an evening at Vauxhall.” Axel sent her a glance. “Is that something you’d be interested in attending?”
“I’m always interested in Vauxhall,” she sighed and leaned into him.
“In that case, we’ll reward ourselves once we’ve survived dinner with our parents.”
