.
Rachel tried to deny that Reuben’s words were the truth, and yet in her heart, she suspected they were. It was the only thing that truly explained the change that came over him. One minute he was pushing her away, and the next…
It hadn’t been her clothes. He’d kissed her before she’d ever changed her wardrobe. He’d found her attractive before she’d donned her mother’s headband, or stopped wearing high collars.
It was her safety he’d cared for. Always her safety, since the moment her father had installed him in the house.
And yet, she knew that somewhere through the games of chase, his heart had changed, and he’d allowed himself to fall for her. He said he didn’t want her ruined, but nothing would have ruined her faster than a broken engagement.
He truly planned to marry her, and she knew it was because he loved her.
“Do you recall how Napoleon won one battle after another?” she whispered.
“What?” Reuben was obviously lost.
No matter. “He divided his army into small attack groups and spread them around the enemy before he attacked. That’s what we must do.”
“Rachel, I don’t know what—”
She wrapped her arms around his back. “I love you, Reuben.”
He stiffened and then relaxed into her hold. “Don’t move, Rachel. Please. Let me protect you.”
“We have to go now!” Dabney shouted. “I’ll shoot him in ten seconds, my lady. Ten!”
Reuben turned around, and they sought one another. Their mouths tangled. His tongue was rough, as was his grip. She clung to him.
“Five!”
She unfolded Dabney’s dagger from her skirts, the one she’d gathered in them, when he’d fallen to the ground, and stuck Reuben in the front of his thigh.
He groaned, his eyes widening as his lips left her.
“I love you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I hurt you. Now, stay here. I’ll be right back.”
“No. No, Rachel,” Reuben grabbed her shoulders as he started to fall to the floor, but Rachel shrugged him away, and started toward Dabney.
The earl was grinning. “Wise choice, my lady. Now—”
The blade shoved in his heart cut off his words.
Rachel’s hands trembled as she released the hilt, and watched the man slump to the floor. His chest bloomed with blood.
There was a yank at her skirts, and she turned around just in time to watch Reuben kick Lord Fosse in the back of the head, with his good leg.
The man, with a groan, went to sleep once more.
Reuben then lowered his leg and groaned. He narrowed his eyes at Rachel. “Why didn’t you tell me you picked up the blade?”
“So you could have taken it from me?” She stepped away from Dabney, without looking at him, sure his face would haunt her forever. “I was the only one he would have allowed close enough.”
Reuben hopped over to the dead man, and picked up his gun. “That was stupid.”
“You’re stupid!”
He looked up at her with alarm.
Rachel’s lips trembled. She didn’t know why she’d shouted that. And then she burst into tears. She’d killed a man.
Reuben grabbed her close and held her. He was whispering in her ear, but she couldn’t make out the words through her anguish.
“I murdered him,” she whispered.
“You defended yourself and me.” He lifted her head, which caused her to meet his eyes. “You were brave. I should have said that before. You risked your life for me.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry for what I said, I was simply surprised that…”
“Someone could love you that much?” She gripped his shirt. “Reuben, you’re not the only one who cares. I love you, and you’ve more than proved that you deserve it, above all others.”
He kissed her then, and lifted his head. “I’ll try to remember that more often.”
“I’ll help you,” she promised.
They were kissing wildly when the shooting started, and then feet were rushing to the top of the stairs, as soldiers poured into the room, followed by her father and Lord Yall.
The duke was looking Reuben over cautiously, and Rachel didn’t know if he was simply seeing a soldier, or his own flesh and blood. “Are you hurt?”
Reuben held onto her, but only let Rachel go, when she leaned toward her father. “Neither of us is hurt.”
Yall nodded and then looked down. “Now, please tell me how two of the realm’s lords are lying on the floor, and why one of them is obviously dead.”
Reuben reported the story. Rachel used the word ‘report’, because that was how Reuben spoke to the duke. Rachel told her own portion of the tale, everything that Reuben had missed.
In the end, Yall nodded and turned to the soldiers. “Take these men out of here.” Then he looked at Reuben. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning.” He left them.
“The least he could do is let you rest,” Woodley said.
Reuben shook his head. “Soldiers don’t rest.”
Rachel went back to her soldier, and wrapped her arms around him.
His arms went around her. She was still shaken from what had taken place, but with his warmth around her, she felt better. It would likely take time for her to truly move past it, but with Reuben, she suspected she’d get through anything.