Shewas worried abouthim?
Violet was the one who’d been kidnapped, and apparently had tried to escape. Shouldn’t she be hysterical or something and not worried that he might become ill?
“I don’t have the measles,” Eardly argued as he pulled a pistol from the inside of his suitcoat.
“You’ve been coughing, sneezing, and sweating. You also complained of the heat in the carriage, when it was not warm, which is indicative of a fever. Therefore, even if it is not the measles, you are still ill, and I’d not see Lord Ferrard made ill as well.”
Emory studied the pistol aimed in his direction. His fists were of no use against a steel ball tearing through flesh and muscle.
“Come along, Lady Violet,” Eardly ordered. “You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” Violet retorted.
“Yes, you are.” Eardly lengthened his arm, the end of the pistol aimed at Emory’s heart. He held his arms out so that Eardly didn’t see him as a threat, though it was likely he intended to shoot Emory anyway so that he didn’t interrupt their trip to the border. And, as much as he didn’t wish to get shot, Emory wasn’t going to make it so easy for Eardly to get away either.
“No. I am not,” Violet said once again. “I will be returning to Laswell with Lord Ferrard.”
“You’ve little choice. Either get into the blasted carriage or watch me shoot him.”
“That would be a mistake.”
Emory could hear Violet, amazed at the calmness of her tone.
“Mistake?” Eardly laughed and glanced in her direction. He immediately drew still as his eyes grew wide.
Emory edged away so that he could find shelter beside the phaeton and glanced over at Violet and stopped. Where the blazes had she gotten a pistol? Did she even know how to shoot the thing? Was her shot even accurate?
At least it was aimed at Eardly, though that was little comfort to Emory since Eardly could still shoot him.
“I will not hesitate to shoot you if you harm Lord Ferrard in any manner.”
“Don’t be foolish, Lady Violet,” Eardly cajoled. “Put that away before you are hurt.”
“Beforeyouare hurt,” she corrected.
She didn’t so much tremble as she gripped the pistol pointed directly at Eardly, her finger poised on the trigger.
“I’m accurate, Lord Eardly. Do you wish to test just how so?”
“You’re a lady, thus incapable of being able to shoot a man, despite your current bravado. Yes, I’m calling your bluff.” He focused back on Emory and aimed once again.
Emory turned and ducked behind a horse just as two shots rang out.
“Bloody hell! You shot me,” Eardly cried.
“I did try to warn you.”
Amazement and pride filled Emory at the calm tone from Violet, and he drew himself away from the horse and approached Eardly, who was holding his injured arm, the gun dangling from his fingers at his side while the other hand pressed against his wound as blood seeped about the fingers. Either the first or second shot had come from Eardly, but it had missed its mark, thankfully.
“An excellent shot, Lady Violet,” Emory congratulated her.
“I was aiming for his chest, but I suppose his arm shall do.”
As Eardly still held his gun, Emory crossed the distance to relieve him of it. But before he could get near, Violet had reached Eardly first and took it. “I told you he is ill, and I’ll not have you becoming sick.”
The situation was quite ludicrous. Emory had been sick with worry as he chased after Eardly, fearful for Violet and convinced she was terrified, and likely in a panicked state. Instead, she’d had the presence of mind to find a means of escape, protectedhim,and now was worried that he might be exposed to the measles. Perhaps it was simply relief to see that she was safe, or everything combined from a tension-filled day, but Emory found himself laughing. And the more he considered the situation, the more he laughed until he had tears.
“This situation is certainly not entertaining,” Violet insisted.
