“And how would you know what I want?” Lord Clarence sneered. “Maybe I want him dead.”
“Be silent, India,” Ridge ordered. The last thing he wanted was for India to raise Lord Clarence’s ire. He was an unstable, maniacal bastard, and Ridge didn’t want that turned on India.
Mrs. Unster snatched the bracelet from India’s hand and crowed in delight. “It’s ours!”
“No, you old fool, it’s mine,” Lord Clarence said. Without another word he turned the pistol on Mrs. Unster and fired.
Mrs. Unster gripped her chest, a look of utter shock engraved on her face. Ridge whipped around, prepared to tackle Lord Clarence.
“Not so fast, Ridgewood,” Lord Clarence said evenly. He dropped his gun, quickly pulled another pistol from his waistband and pointed it at Ridge once again. “Surely you don’t think me unprepared?”
Ridge inwardly seethed, his nerves taut, every muscle tensed. A sound to his side turned his attention from Lord Clarence long enough to see Mrs. Unster fall in a heap a few feet away.
India cried out and started toward the woman.
“Stay away from her,” Lord Clarence ordered, waving the pistol at India. “You,” he said, motioning at Robby. “Don’t try anything stupid or I’ll expedite your journey to the grave.”
Ridge focused his entire attention of Lord Clarence, looking for any weakness, any opportunity to disarm him. He would not allow India or Robby to come to harm, not while he lived.
“It will do me great pleasure to make your brother the heir, for the short time he will carry the title.” He laughed as if he found himself greatly amusing.
“Why do you loathe him so much?” India asked softly, her eyes locked on Lord Clarence.
“Before he joined the historical society, I held a position of respect and honor. When he came along, he ruined my credibility. He made me look a fool.”
“I can’t make you look more of a fool than you already are,” Ridge said, effectively turning Lord Clarence’s attention back on him. “I exposed your thievery and your blatant lack of knowledge. That was hardly a bad thing.”
Lord Clarence chuckled. “It won’t work you know. You’re trying to make me angry. And truly, I could have overlooked your intellectual ramblings among our peers, but then you managed to enlist the aid of Miss Ashton when she turned me down flat. I knew she was key to discovering the city’s whereabouts.”
India’s mouth flew open. “What? I’ve never met you before in my life.”
Lord Clarence stared icily at her. “Indeed. How could you have made my acquaintance when you refused to answer my invitations?”
“I was in mourning,” she spat. “If I received any invitations, Udaya handled them for me.”
Lord Clarence shook his head. “It is of no import. In the end, I am the victor. I will return to England triumphant, and the viscount will die here.”
He turned and stared at Ridge, his hand steadying as he took his aim. Dear God, Lord Clarence was actually going to do it. His mind raced. He would have to rush Lord Clarence and take his chances.
He started forward, and he heard India cry out. Then to his horror, she leaped in front of him, grasping him, her arms tight around him, shielding him with her body. He flinched as he heard the crack of the pistol shot. Then her body went slack against him.
No!
He stared down at her shocked face, etched with pain, and he let out a cry of agony. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Robby lurch forward as if to intervene, and his heart nearly stopped. He couldn’t lose them both.
Letting India slide from his arms, he charged Lord Clarence like a raging bull. His heart screamed, his mind shut down. All he could see was India sliding down his body, her beautiful eyes closing.
He buried his shoulder in Lord Clarence’s midriff and drove him to the ground. In the distant recesses of his shattered mind, he could hear Robby calling India’s name.
Lord Clarence attacked like a mad man. He knew he was fighting for his life. Over and over they rolled on the ground. Lord Clarence kicked desperately at Ridge, finally landing a blow to Ridge’s groin.
In the instant Ridge paused, Lord Clarence scrambled to his feet and lunged for his cane. With a twist to the gold handle, metal flashed from the end.
Ridge lunged for Lord Clarence again but drew up short when he saw the wicked blade glistening in the sun. Lord Clarence smiled as he circled Ridge. A predator stalking his prey.
“Give up now, Ridgewood, and I will spare you a long, painful death.”
Ridge stared at him, allowing every ounce of his hatred to spill over. “If you think you are living beyond this day, you are wrong. Dead wrong.”
