Alexander’s jaw tensed. “You cannot possibly wantthisto be the solution, Laurence.”
He hesitated a fraction, but then he shook his head. “No.”
“More defiance?” Heathfield snapped. “Enough. Shoot the girl, Laurence.”
“No!” Alexander cried out and he threw himself in front of Julia, blocking her. “No, don’t. Please, you can’t.”
Heathfield stared at him. “You would put yourself in the line of fire for acourtesan? Awhorewho fucked your cousin and then offered her leftovers to you?”
“I would put myself on the line for the woman I love, no matter what ignorant slurs you toss at her. I know who she is and what we are to each other. What we could be.” He shook his head. “How could you do this? How could you think it? You are mad, rotting from the inside if this is your solution.”
Heathfield’s cheek twitched and he motioned toward them. “Shoot your cousin and then shoot the whore. Then Bates can toss them both in the river and we’ll be done with it.”
“Don’t, Alexander,” Julia whimpered behind him. “Please, look at him, he’ll do it. Step out of the way. Don’t do this.”
He didn’t look at her, but he reached back and touched her, fully aware it could be the last time because Laurence had lifted the gun and was now aiming at Alexander’s heart. There was hesitation there, but despite his years of defiance, in the end his cousin usually took the earl’s side. Especially when the alternative involved personal harm. Alexander had no doubt he could very well do the same now. Even if Silas and Vaughn were poised to burst in, it would likely be too late.
“Laurence, if you do this,” he said softly, “it will poison you. His venom will work its way through all of you and turn you twisted and ugly like he is. I know that’s not who you are. Iknowwho you are.”
Laurence held his gaze and a cascade of memories rushed through Alexander. Of the lifetime he had shared with this man, of all he’d seen him do and be under the influence of their grandfather, but also of every shared laughter and eased pain. Of their friendship, as well as Alexander’s guardianship. And he hoped Laurence felt the same, but he didn’t know.
“No,” Laurence said at last, and lowered the gun. He faced their grandfather. “I won’t shoot him and I won’t hurt her. This is over, Grandfather. You can’t win, not this way. It’s over.”
“Fucking coward! I’ll do it myself!” the earl shouted, and then he lunged for the gun.
At the same time the huge guard at the fireplace started forward. Alexander rushed him to keep him back even as Laurence and Heathfield fought for the gun.
“Windham!” Alexander screamed as he grappled with the man who had superior strength. “Blackburn!”
The door splintered as the two men rushed into the room at last. Vaughn hurried for Laurence and the earl while Silas tackled the brute and together they brought him to the floor just as there was a shot that echoed in the room.
Alexander rolled over and lunged forward, his gaze first on where Julia cowered in her chair. She was unharmed and she pushed to her feet and staggered toward him. He caught her in his arms and looked at Laurence, his grandfather and Blackburn. Blackburn had rolled away and was staring in horror, but unhurt. Laurence was still pressed against their grandfather, smoke from the pistol rising up between them before he pushed the earl away and Heathfield collapsed backward, eyes staring at nothing.
Dead from a shot to the chest.
CHAPTER 26
Julia rubbed her rope-burned wrists as she watched Silas shove the monster who had kidnapped her into the arms of the guard across the room. Alexander was with them, along with Laurence and Vaughn and all four men were explaining some version of what had happened that night. Under a blanket, the body of the Earl of Heathfield remained and there was a spot of blood seeping through the fabric from where he had been shot.
She turned away, her stomach turning, but her heart also filled with relief. She hadn’t died that night. No one she loved had died. And that hadn’t been a certainty by any stretch of the imagination.
She looked at Alexander. He appeared serious and drawn while he shook the hand of the guard and then came toward her. He said nothing, but tucked her against him.
“I should have taken you to another room,” he whispered against her hair as he kissed her temple. “I wasn’t thinking.”
She clung to him, soaking in the solid aliveness of him that meant so much more to her in that moment. “I wouldn’t have wanted to leave you.”
“Laurence will deal with the guard and have the body taken. He’s the earl now, after all.” They looked at Laurence and henodded to them, his expression grim as they walked into the hall and away from that horrible room. Silas and Vaughn were in the foyer waiting for them. They were both pale and drawn.
Julia squeezed Alexander’s hand before she stepped to her brothers-in-law and hugged them each in turn. “You ought not to have risked your lives for me,” she said.
Silas tilted his head. “Don’t be daft. You’re our sister. I’d burn down half of London for you.”
Vaughn nodded. “And I’d take the other half. Christ, I’m glad you’re well. I’m sorry we took so long to burst in, the window was locked tight and we had to find another way inside.”
“Rock to the glass,” Silas said. “Another mess your cousin will have to take care of, I suppose. He was decent about it, at least. He could have caused trouble for all of us.”
“For me,” Julia said softly. “But he didn’t.”
