He prayed that his grandmother would understand. It was nearly unheard of for a Lord to abdicate his title, but Felix knew in his heart that Stanley would make a far better Duke of Rosewood than him. Adventure lived in Felix’s heart. He simply didn’t have his cousin’s mind for business and matters of state.
When the men began discussing Felix’s plan again, he pulled his thoughts away and focused on the discussion. Finally, the plan was set. Felipe divided the men, giving them assignments on where to go and wait.
“What about me?” Katrina asked in a small voice as she sat up in the chair.
Felix moved and knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. “My love, you are going to stay here where it’s safe.”
“Oh no, I’m not.” She frowned, and her eyes dulled with sadness. “I want to help. I want to stay with my father and help protect him. He is too frail and won’t be able to defend himself.” She took a deep breath. “And Icanuse a dagger.” A smile tugged on her mouth. “You didn’t believe me, but I was telling the truth. I can also shoot a pistol.”
He caressed her cheek and she snuggled against his palm. “I believe you now, but what about the premonition you received? I don’t want to take that chance.”
“I understand, however, what if Robert comes here to kill me while you are all gone?”
Felix nodded. “Point taken.” Turning his head, he peered at Felipe. “I think she will be just fine in her father’s room. Faro won’t go there anyway, especially since he knows Mr. Landon is dying. Also, if Faro knows we have the house surrounded, all he’ll want to do is escape.”
The other men verbalized their agreement.
“Then let us go,” Felix said. “No need to waste another moment.”
Katrina slipped her palm against Felix’s as his large fingers closed around her delicate hand. She hugged his arm and smiled fully now.
“I won’t let you down, Felix. I promise.”
He gave her a wink. “And I promise that no harm will come to you. I shall continue to protect the woman I love.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Either the rain hadeased up or being with Felix made it more tolerable. Katrina figured it was the latter, because he kept her by his side as the group of them trudged back through the mud to the main house. Felix held her hand all the way, and he even carried her across patches of mud when it became unbearable to step through.
Although her heart was light with the knowledge that he had chosen his love for her over his life as a duke, she still worried about her father. He was so sick, so weak. Could they find a doctor with an antidote that could stop the poison? She feared it was too late. She didn’t want him to die this way, and she tried to maintain faith that there was a cure.
“We are almost there,” Felix told her. “Are you certain you will be all right?”
She smiled into his rain-soaked face. “Yes. I’m not only fighting for my father’s life, I’m fighting forourlives. Robert is a despicable man, and I cannot let him come out the victor. How could we have a happy marriage if he is trying to control us?”
Felix wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her up against him. “You are correct. I just want to make you aware that this battle might end in Faro’s death.”
