Molly came back with a small bottle, which she handed to the duke. He pulled out the cork and placed it under Eva’s nose.
“Again,” Simon urged when she did not respond.
This time, she flinched and then her eyes sprang open as she screamed his name.
“I’m here, love.” Daniel’s hands held her so she could not move.
“A-are you hurt?”
“No, Eva, but you are hurt.” He looked down into her eyes. Filled with pain and tears, they smote his heart.
“I was so scared.” She grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled him closer as she began to cry. “I thought you were dead when the carriage turned and I knew you were on top and it is all my fault.”
“Ssssh, love,” Daniel soothed her. “I am here.”
“The doctor has arrived, your Grace.”
“Thank you, Molly, please let him in.”
Daniel watched as the doctor examined Eva thoroughly, then pronounced she suffered from a knock to the head and a few bruises. Her shoulder would ache but she would make a full recovery, given time. He gave her something to ease the pain and help her sleep.
“Please see to my driver now, doctor,” Daniel said, signaling Simon to see to the task.
“Of course, your Grace, and I will return tomorrow to check on the duchess.”
Between them, Daniel and Molly put her into a nightdress. He tried not to flinch every time she winced and moaned.
“Daniel?”
“Yes, love.” He ran a finger down her cheek. He could have lost her tonight and he realized if that had happened, his own life would have ended alongside hers.
“Daniel?” She yawned and her eyelashes fluttered shut. “I…I must talk - “
“Sleep now, Eva.”
“I-I love you,” she said so softly that had the room not been silent, he would not have heard her.
Daniel closed his eyes briefly as her words surrounded him. She loved him.
“I will sit with her for a while until you return, your Grace,” Molly said.
Nodding, Daniel stood and quietly left the room.
Simon was pacing around his study when he ran him to ground minutes later. “She sleeps.” Daniel took the drink his friend handed him. “I don’t know why you were following our carriage tonight, Simon, but I will be forever in you debt,” he added, sitting on the edge of his desk.
“Claire went home with her aunt who was at the theatre, therefore I decided to go to my club. It was purely coincidence that I was following your carriage.” Simon refilled both their glasses before continuing. “I heard the gunshot and when I looked out the window, I noticed your carriage tearing down the street ahead. Christ, Daniel! My heart nearly gave out when I saw you thrown and then watched as the carriage flipped onto its side.”
“Was it deliberate? Was I the target or Eva, or was it just a random act of foolishness by an idiot?” Daniel ran a hand over his face.
“Who are the possibilities?”
“Her family, Gilbert Huxley - dear God, there are plenty of possibilities if I give it thought.”
“Claire’s sure Huxley spoke to Eva tonight when they went for a walk with Lady Dunbar. She saw him pause briefly behind her, and then by the time Eva had turned around, he had walked on.”
“I’m certain he and her father have some sort of hold over her but she will not talk to me about it.” Daniel paced the room. “I will not allow her to be threatened or hurt again, Simon. We must get to the bottom of this.”
Nodding, Simon rose. “I will leave you for now, but I think in the morning we should send out a few men to enquire over tonight’s events.”
