Page 74 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“Drop!” Hawk shouted.

Startled by his shout, she threw herself sideways and dropped to her hands and knees, wincing as the cobblestone cut into her skin. Hawk lunged forward, knocking the gun from the man’s hand, and slammed his fist into the villain’s gut so he collapsed to the ground. He kneed him on his chin, and he landed flat on his back, his eyes closed.

Mr. Allen climbed to his hands and feet, fingering his jaw. Lizzie swung her reticule at the man’s head, and with a grunt, he fell face down in the dirt.

Hawk grabbed the gun from the ground and pulled Lizzie to his side. His breathing was still rapid as he hugged her and said, “I like how well you take orders.”

“I did, didn’t I?” She smiled up at him, so very grateful for his unexpected appearance.

Hawk kissed her on the head. “Excuse me, my love, but I have to take care of these two.” He yanked his cravat from his neck, ripped it in two, then kneeled to tie the villain’s hands behind his back. He was awake and groaning.

Then he turned to Mr. Allen, who was still out cold. “What the devil did you hit him with?” He rolled him over and tied his hands behind his back.

Lizzie held up her reticule. “This.”

“And that knocked him out?”

She grinned, pulled the strings of the reticule apart, then turned it upside down. About ten rocks fell from her reticule to the ground. “You see. I was prepared.”

Hawk threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Yes, my dear countess, you were indeed prepared.”

Epilogue

Giles Templeton took Lizzie’s elbow and directed her away from the line of dancers who had just finished a rousing quadrille. Both were out of breath as they returned to where Hawk, Giles’s wife, Suzanna, Bedford and his duchess, Patience, and Lord Campbell and his ward, Lady Bridget, stood near the French doors at the Pennington ball.

“Aren’t any of you going to exert yourselves tonight and join in the dancing?” Giles stepped next to his wife and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to him, his brows furrowed. “Are you well, my love?”

Suzanna and Giles had just announced the pending arrival in several months of their first child. Given the grimace on Suzanna’s face, it appeared she’d had enough of her husband’s coddling. He’d been treating her like fragile crystal since they’d arrived at the ball. “Yes, my love, I am well. Perhaps you would care to fetch me a lemonade?”

Giles perked right up, as if she asked him to rescue her from peril. “Of course.”

“I believe I could use a glass, myself,” Lizzie said.

“Me, too,” Patience added.

Cam turned to his ward. “Would you care for a glass?”

“No, thank you.” She looked over his shoulder, as if the potted plant behind him held the secrets of the universe.

Cam scowled and followed the rest of the men to the refreshment table.

“Honestly, Giles is driving me absolutely crazy. I don’t know how I will put up with him for the next few months.” Suzanna studied her husband as he crossed the room with his friends.

“I’m afraid you are in for a rough time. Bedford made me so nervous near the end of my confinement that I almost locked myself away in the abandoned steward’s cottage at our estate.”

“Lady Hawkins.” The deep female voice made Lizzie jump, since Lizzie had not noticed Lady Creassy, followed by other ladies of the realm, Lady Honeyfield and Lady Livingstone, right behind their group.

Lizzie turned and dipped. “Good evening, my lady.” This was Lizzie’s first public appearance since the debacle with Mr. Allen. Hawk had assured her she would be accepted back into the ton, but aside from a few remarks hidden behind fans, the only guests to address her had been the circle of Hawk’s friends. She took in a deep breath, waiting for the criticism, or perhaps the outright cut direct.

Lady Creassy tapped Lizzie’s arm with her fan. “You are quite brave attending this ball.”

Lizzie spotted Hawk returning with a glass of lemonade, Bedford, Giles, and Cam behind him. If Hawk’s glower meant anything, this could turn into a problem. One she would prefer not to deal with.

“Yes, my lady. I was quite happy to receive the invitation.”

Lady Livingstone raised her quizzing glass and studied Lizzie. “From what we hear, you are quite the courageous young lady.”

Hawk had reached her side and placed his arm around her waist. “Good evening, ladies. I do hope you are enjoying yourselves.”