With a plate of cake, Patrick went to find Sophie, who was not, as he’d told her, where he could see her.
Moving along the path that wound through the trees, he looked left and right. Where the bloody hell was she? Lowering the plate, he started running as he heard her scream.
“Sophie!” he roared as panic clawed at his throat. Sprinting off the path, he ran deeper into the trees, away from people.Away from help.
He heard the snap of a branch ahead and then the thud of feet. Someone discharged a weapon once and then again. Heart pumping, he crouched and ran, dodging through the trees.
“Sophie!” If she was in danger, if those shots were aimed at her, then maybe he could lure them away from her and after him.
“Patrick!”
He whipped his head to the right and saw her running toward him from behind a tree.
“Don’t stop… bullets!” Sophie gasped.
He didn’t hesitate. Running at her, he bent and threw Sophie over his shoulder and sprinted back the way he’d come.
The distance was not great, but to Patrick it seemed like miles until finally his feet hit the path. He didn’t stop but kept running back to the phaeton.
“Get on, Teddy!” he roared when he reached it. Ignoring the odd looks they were receiving, he threw Sophie into the seat and ran to join her. Seconds later, they were galloping for the gates.
“Are you all right?” he inquired. Shooting her a look when she didn’t answer, he saw Sophie was clutching her arm. Her glove was soaked in blood.
“You’ve been shot!”
“Get us home, Patrick. Hurry,” she said.
He urged his horses on as the panic inside him rose. She would be all right; she had to be. He drove around carriages and horses. People ran to get out of his way as Teddy yelled for them to stay clear.
“We are nearly there, Sophie. Hang on!”
“I-I’m all right. It is only my arm,” she said, but her voice was weak.
Only her arm?He knew at least ten women who would have fainted by now.
He stopped outside his town house. Jumping down, he ran to Sophie. Lifting her into his arms, Patrick sprinted to the front door.
“Why are?—”
“My house is closer. Fletcher!” he yelled, kicking the door with his foot. It opened seconds later.
“My lord?”
“Call for the doctor at once. Someone shot the countess. Is Lord Sumner here?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Instruct him and Mrs. Lilly to come to my rooms with water and bandages.”
Patrick did not wait to get confirmation of his orders; he ran up the stairs to his rooms. Her head was now lying on his chest, and he could almost feel her losing consciousness, or was that just him panicking?
Entering his room, he went to the bed and pulled the blankets back. Patrick then lowered her to it. Her sharp inhale told him how much pain she was in.
“Scream if you want, Sophie.” He untied the bow under her chin and threw her bonnet across the room. Next, he stripped off his jacket.
“I d-don’t need to scream,” Sophie whispered with a ghost of a smile on her pale face.
“You have no need of bravery around me,” he said, leaning in to kiss her. “Now I need to cut off your lovely coat.”
