Page 50 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“I believe Lizzie has been shot.”

His mother sucked in a breath and covered her mouth with her hand. “Good heavens!” She shook her head and waved toward the sofa in front of the fireplace. “Lay her there so we can see how serious the wound is.”

Hawk placed Lizzie gently on the sofa. She was pale and unconscious, and a fine sheet of sweat beaded her upper lip. His stomach muscles tightened as he carefully rolled her to one side. A small hole in the flesh of her upper arm oozed blood. “It doesn’t look serious. I’m going after whoever it was who fired the shot. Take care of her and send for the physician.”

He bolted from the room through the patio doors. The chance of him catching the culprit was slight since he had enough time to make an escape, but he must try. The scant moonlight provided enough light for him to search the garden. As expected, the perpetrator was long gone. He followed fresh footsteps in the damp earth as he made his way to the front of the Manor.

Squatting, he fingered marks on the pebbled pathway leading to the house that indicated a horse had recently ridden away. He dusted his hands off and stood, turning in a circle to view the expanse, holding still to listen for any sound. Nothing. Frustrated, he strode to the front door just as one of the footmen was leaving. “I am going for the physician, my lord.”

“Yes, take a carriage to bring him here, it will be much quicker.” Hawk returned to the library, where Lizzie remained pale and unconscious. His mother dabbed at the wound with a cloth.

He turned to Honora, standing very still as she studied her mother, her face as pale as Lizzie. “I will take her upstairs to her bedchamber. Please have one of the maids meet us upstairs so she can undress her to prepare her for the doctor’s visit.” When Honora remained fixed in one position, he barked, “Now.”

“Yes. Of course.” Honora made a quick escape as Hawk picked Lizzie up, careful not to jiggle her. She moaned, and her eyes fluttered open. Thank God she was awake. Although she would now feel the pain, at least he didn’t have to worry about her not awakening.

“What happened?” Lizzie’s voice was soft and strained. “My arm hurts like the devil.”

“Hush, sweetheart. You were shot. The doctor is on his way, and a maid will assist you to remove your clothes.”

“Shot?” She turned her face into his chest. “Our man is determined, is he not?”

He frowned at that somber comment, and he carried her upstairs, his mother in front of them carrying a candelabra. When they arrived at her bedchamber, Honora and a maid awaited them, the bedcovers already turned down. Hawk eased Lizzie onto the bed and stepped back, studying her. Her eyes remained closed, but the slight flickering behind her eyelids told him she was awake.

There had not been enough time between the attack at the inn and this attempt for their culprit to learn that the inn attack had been thwarted. The assumption remained that the man behind all of this had sent more than one person out, covering both Wycliff’s home and Hawkins Manor.

It followed that there was someone watching his London townhouse, as well. The plan to hide at Cam’s house was a good one. As soon as Lizzie was able to travel, they would head to London and get to the bottom of this mess.

“I will leave you to prepare for the doctor.” He turned on his heel and left the room. He was falling short on his promise to keep her safe.

That did not sit well with him.

Memories of Monica came back to taunt him with how ineffectively he’d protected his sister. He would not allow anything to happen to Lizzie. He would not have another woman’s death on his conscience.

He headed to the library and poured a snifter of brandy. When they departed for London he would bring several outriders with him and push to make it a one-day trip. They would go straight to his townhouse, and then immediately he and Lizzie would go out the back door and meet another—unmarked—coach to take them to Cam’s house.

The situation was becoming nasty. There was a very nervous person who was desperate to find the evidence before they did. He wandered the library, sipping on his drink and planning. He turned as one of the newer footmen, whom Hawk wasn’t familiar with, entered the library. “My lord, the physician has arrived.”

“Thank you.” He downed the last of the brandy and headed to the front door. He nodded at the man standing in the foyer holding a satchel. “Thank you for com

ing so quickly, doctor. If you will follow me, I will take you to my betrothed, who is in need of your services.”

“Yes. May I ask the nature of her ladyship’s illness?”

“No illness. She has been shot.”

The doctor frowned and followed Hawk up the stairs.

Hawk knocked lightly and opened the door at Honora’s summons. Lizzie lay in the bed in her nightgown, the covers drawn up to her neck. His mother hovered over her, fluttering, looking distraught. Lizzie turned toward him when he stepped into the room.

“How do you feel, my dear?”

She held out her uninjured arm, and he moved toward her. She took his hand and tugged him down, speaking softly. “I am very frightened. Whoever this is knows exactly where we are. How can he do that?”

Hawk brushed back the curls from her forehead. “I believe two men were sent to find you. One to Wycliff where he knew you were, and one here, in case I brought you to my home.”

“But you were told to bring me to London.”

“Our culprit has decided to allow for all contingencies.”