“Gavin Worthington, you are a very horrible man, and since you came back to this estate, I have been doing all that I can to hurt you and make you pay for breaking my heart.”
He scowled. “It wasyouwho was doing all those things?”
“Indeed, I am responsible, but fortune was not on my side. When you fell off your horse because of the cut saddle girth, you were not injured. You were supposed to die in the fire while trying to put it out. Andyouwere supposed to take the coach with the broken wheel. Not to mention the door should have been heavy enough to crush your skull.”
Inwardly, he groaned. Many people had suffered because she wanted revenge. Why couldn’t she see she was just as guilty as he was?
“You must believe me,” he told the older woman, “that I’m a different person now. I’m so sorry for how I hurt you, and I probably deserve every bad thing that you have done to bring me harm. However, I wasn’t the only one injured, and that is onyou.” He paused, remembering one more thing. “Are you also the one stealing money from my coffers? If so, I want to know how you can accomplish this without my knowledge.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I will not take credit for stealing from you. I assume one of the other women you have hurt is taking your money.”
“I don’t believe you,” he growled.
“Your Grace, you are obviously not thinking clearly. If I was stealing your money, would I be working for your grandmother?”
Anger filled him. “I certainly deserve your wrath, Miss Eggert, but Miss Priscilla doesnotdeserve any of this, and the servants of my grandmother’s estate didn’t deserve the labor they all went through trying to put out the fire. My poor, defenseless grandmother could have died in the coach accident, just as you.”
She lifted the pistol and steadied her aim. “You are correct, and I realized my folly, which is why I decided to shoot you instead. At least I know that nobody else can be hurt.”
“Mrs. Jones, wait.” Priscilla tried to move past him, but Gavin held her behind him, trying to keep her from accidentally taking the bullet meant for him. Instead, she peeked around him. “Mrs. Jones, you are not the only woman he hurt with his roguish lies. I, too, was one of his many heartbroken women, but I have seen what a good man he is now. All those things he did in the past should stay buried. We have all changed since then, especially Gavin. Why can you not forgive him as I have?”
Jane smirked as a nerve in her cheek jumped. “It is clear that you were not hurt as badly, since you fell for his false charms so easily this time.”
“You have it wrong, Mrs. Jones. Gavin has proven his worth to me this time. He has really changed.”
The other woman glared. “He is an excellent chameleon, then.”
Gavin sighed as sadness came over him. There would still be some people in his life that would never believe he was sorry for his misdeeds. He certainly couldn’t prove to all of them how he had changed. But hopefully, there were enough people in his life that loved and trusted him enough to stay by his side.
“Jane, I have already asked your forgiveness, but I cannot force you to give it to me. If you choose to believe the worst, then so be it. But killing innocent people is not the answer. That will only get you thrown in the gaol. Is that something you really want? You have been a good friend to my grandmother and the other staff at the estate—do you want to lose that just because you want revenge against me?”
Different emotions played on her expression, and Gavin prayed she would seriously think about his words and make the right decision, one that didn’t get him or Priscilla killed. But when the woman’s face turned hard again, his hopes dropped.
“Then I suppose,” Jane said in a harsh voice, “that I will be punished for my sins. But believe me, ending your life will make everything worth it.”
“No!” Sobbing, Priscilla struggled as she tried to reach for Mrs. Jones, but Gavin wouldn’t let the woman he loved take a bullet for him.
The gunshot echoed in the room. Gavin closed his eyes, waiting for the pain from the bullet to weaken him. But when he felt nothing, he opened his eyes. Blood covered Mrs. Jones’ shoulder, spreading quickly down her arm. Her face was pale, and her eyes were wide from shock. The pistol dropped to the floor, unfired.
At his bedchamber door, his grandmother stood with a smoking pistol still in her hands. The betrayal and anger on herface as she glared at Jane said it all. Gavin’s heart wrenched with emotion for what his grandmother must be feeling.
Priscilla gasped and ran to his grandmother. Just as Cilla reached the old woman, the dowager sagged against her.
“Oh, Your Grace,” Priscilla said in a sorrowful voice. “How did you know your housekeeper would be here?”
Gavin grabbed the weapon off the floor as Jane sank to her knees, clutching her bleeding shoulder. He stepped to his grandmother and kissed her forehead. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, dear,” she said, patting his cheek. “I wasn’t sure if these accidents came from Mrs. Jones, but tonight she said things that made me wonder, so I followed her the best I could without my rollerchair.”
“Let me help you sit while I fetch your rollerchair,” Priscilla said as she assisted the dowager to the closest seat.
“Gavin?” his grandmother asked weakly. “Please fetch Martin, posthaste. He will be able to find some servants to clean up the bloodied floor and to keep Mrs. Jones from dying. He will also be able to fetch the constable.”
“Yes, Grams.”
Before Gavin left, he met Priscilla’s watery gaze. She smiled at him with quivering lips and mouthed,I love you.
His heart soared with happiness. This evening’s events had ended rather poorly, but knowing she returned his love made everything better.
