“When I’m done, I’ll toss her lifeless body out onto your doorstep, Florian.” He shook with the humor he found in that statement. “Imagine the joy I shall find in knowing I took her from you and tainted her with the filth you’ve been so ashamed of all these years.”
Behind her, Juliette heard Florian curse Bartholomew with words that would shame the devil himself. Taking her chance, she held on firmly to the clock hand she’d stolen and plunged it deep into Bartholomew’s leg. He cried out in pain and a thud sounded from somewhere behind Juliette right before a shot shattered the air.
All laughter ceased.
Bartholomew’s eyes bulged and he bared his teeth like a rabid dog.
As expected, the blade sliced her neck.
“No!”
Another shot fired followed by a grunt.
“Juliette!” Florian’s voice told her he lived and would be all right while she on the other hand had to finish what she had started. Especially if Raphe or Lowell had just been killed.
Retracting her hand to unblock the wound, she followed Bartholomew down to the floor. “You fucking bitch!” Bartholomew writhed beneath her and Florian was suddenly there, pulling her off him, his hand pressed over the side of her neck.
“Jesus.” He drew her into his arms, surrounding her trembling body with his strength while she came to terms with what she had done. “I thought I lost you,” Florian whispered against her cheek. “I thought he cut too deep. Thank God it is just a graze.” Unwinding his cravat, he carefully tied it around her neck to stanch the bleeding.
Tears welled in Juliette’s eyes. “Heavens, what have I done?”
“What was necessary, sweetheart.” Florian’s hand smoothed over her hair. “He threatened to kill you so you had no choice. You did the right thing.”
Pulling back, Juliette forced herself to look at the body beside her. “Do you think you can save him?” Blood pulsed from Bartholomew’s thigh. His face was already paling.
“You punctured his femoral artery with surgical precision, Juliette.” Florian’s voice was packed with amazement for only a second before turning serious. “How on earth did you know how to do so?”
“Cowper’sAnatomy of Humane Bodies. I’ve been studying it in great detail.”
He stared at her as if she were the most incredible woman who ever lived. “Of course you have.” His knuckles brushed her cheek. “So full of surprises and always ready to astound me with your interest in learning.” He glanced sideways to where Bartholomew lay. “There is nothing I can do for him at this point.”
Juliette’s insides twisted. “I’m sorry. I know you deserved your own vengeance and I...” She gulped, sucking air into her lungs. “I took that from you, but—”
“You made the right decision, providing us the distraction we needed to take out his men.” Nudging her chin, he turned her gaze toward his own. “There is absolutely nothing for you to be sorry about. Do you understand?”
She nodded even as the severity of her actions sank deeper into her consciousness. Florian might forgive her, but would she ever forgive herself? She’d taken a man’s life after all, even if he was guilty of heinous crimes and had been sentenced to hang. Getting over that would not be easy. It would take time, and even then she feared she might never fully recover from the shocking awareness of her own capabilities.
Helping her to her feet, Florian clasped her head between his hands and held her gaze. Compassion darkened the blue in his eyes, speaking volumes of his affinity with her. “I am so incredibly relieved to know you are safe.” He bent to kiss her, thoroughly and desperately and without caring about Raphe’s or Lowell’s presence. A tight hug followed, infusing Juliette with warmth and steadfast calm before he released her and took a step back. “Give me a moment to say a few words before it is too late.”
She nodded and went to stand next to her brother whose solid embrace was a welcome support against all that had happened. Behind where they stood were Bartholomew’s men, one dead, the other held at gunpoint by Lowell.
“What happened?” She could not believe the speed with which they’d been taken out.
“When you stabbed Bartholomew and he cried out in pain, his men’s attention was directed away from us,” Raphe told her. “Florian must have realized they would not shoot him, so he made a grab for one of the pistols. Lowell and I followed suit, which was when the men fired, one of them hitting the other in the fray.”
“I’m glad it wasn’t you, Lowell or Florian.” It was sobering to think how lucky they were since the situation could easily have played out differently.
Raphe squeezed her against him and kissed the top of her head. “Me too.” His voice, always so strong and certain, was weak with emotion. “These past few weeks have been hellish for me. Had it not been for Florian’s stalwart dedication toward you, I fear...” Words failed him for seconds on end before he managed to draw a deep breath and say, “He loves you so much, Juliette. The dread in his eyes, first when he realized how sick you were and then when I told him that you had gone missing, left no doubt about it.”
Peace settled deep in Juliette’s chest, spreading warmth through all her veins. “I love him too, Raphe. I love him so much my heart’s bursting with it.”
Raphe chuckled faintly. “I know what you mean and so does Amelia. The three of us have been truly blessed.”
Not by the wealth they’d secured but by the people who longed to spend their lives with them. It was dizzying, Juliette decided, knowing Florian wanted to make her his wife—that in spite of his strict aversion to marriage, he welcomed it now. Because of her.
With this in mind, she looked up at her brother and smiled. “Blessed doesn’t even begin to cover it, Raphe, and I am not really sure if anything does.”
Chapter 27
