Colored lights winked from the boughs of the trees on the sprawling lands that flowed away from the walk. The breeze carried the faint music from the rotunda and the scent of night flowers. Moonlight filtered through the drifting clouds, illuminating the cobblestones.
“When you were of age, did you think he was a viable husband?”
Dorian asked, hiding any hints of jealousy.
“Benedict?” Ellie shuddered. “Egad. Goodness no. At that age, and with our connection, he was more of a brother to me. Besides, he was too busy pulling Victoria away from their parents and finishing university at the time.”
Dorian slowed his steps. “What happened to Lady Victoria?”
Ellie bit her lip, “T’is not my story to tell, but suffice to say, she’d lost a chance she wanted to have.”
“I see…” Dorian swallowed. He tilted his head to the sky and let out a long breath. “Evelina, there are things I need to tell you that—”
A low moan reverberated from the bush, and Dorian’s hand dropped to her arm. “We have to be quiet….” He led her around the bush. “Unless they are exhibitionists, I doubt they would enjoy being seen.”
A scream—a familiar scream— suddenly rent the air, and both heads snapped to the direction.
“That’s Harriet!” Evelina grabbed at Dorian.
They sped off, she hiked her skirts up, and the swift clack of her half-boots echoed in the air as they made for the sound. Halfway there, Dorian stopped and looked around.
“This is not the way—” He looked to the east through a thicket of bush. “It is that way.”
Dorian broke through the thicket and held it for her, but even as she ran through, the brambles scraped her.
They dashed into the clearing where three men were attacking Benedict. Dorian lurched into the fray while Ellie went to get Harriet.
CHAPTER 24
Frantic, Ellie pulled Harriet away from the tussle as she watched the fight with her heart in her throat. Her breath held as one of the brutes threw a punch.
Benedict dodged the attack easily, grabbing the man’s arm with one gloved hand, twisting it behind the other’s back before he delivered a kick to his backside, shoving him into the dirt.
The other blackguard spun and charged Dorian, and her blood roiled in fear. Unfazed, Dorian met him first; while the man came in with wild punches and swings, Dorian met him with targeted hits. The blows were aimed at cracking ribs and bruising kidneys; the calculated assault took the other down in seconds.
The first man Benedict had floored was back on his feet again, while a fourth yanked a blade out of his boot. The moon broke through the clouds, and through the rays, she saw his eyes as big as an owl; he had a wicked scar that bisected his nose.
He slashed, and Dorian evaded the swipe of the knife, then yanked his jacket away and balled it up. He managed to block a blow with the dagger but had to lurch back as the knife came across in a gutting slash—when a dark object dropped into the bush.
The pistol.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no…” Harriet chanted frantically, her hand clutching at her breastbone in dread and fear.
Ellie felt her heart hammer too, but her determination was just as high as her panic. She pulled Harriet to the side and whispered, “In two moments, I want you to scream as loud as you can.”
“B-But—”
“Do it,” Ellie ordered her as she looked to the men fighting. “I can put an end to this, but I need you to help me. Dig deep, Harriet. Be strong for me now.”
Jerkily, Harriet nodded.
Ellie dropped low and crept to where the pistol had landed. It was a miracle none of the men had spotted it, and she fixed the dark lump in her sights.
She turned to Harriet, then lifted her hand. Her cousin let out a cutting scream.
She lurched for the gun as Dorian smashed his fist into the knifeman’s temple. Something cracked, and the brute collapsed to the ground in a heap. Dorian kicked the fallen knife away as Ellie took up the pistol.
The weapon was black and heavy. With trembling hands, she grasped it firmly and raised her arms. Inhaling deeply, she took aim in the dark evening sky. Her trembling hands automatically maneuvered the barrel toward one of the men charging at Dorian. Pressing the trigger hard, a shot rang through the air in a deafening blast.
