Evan closed the door behind Joseph and went around to the other side in hopes of finding what direction either Dodds or Amelia was.

His one groomsmen came to his side with a jittery voice. “My lord, you have been shot. You must get inside.”

“I will not until the three have them have been apprehended.”

“But the constable from town was riding in the front of the other carriage.”

Moments later they were joined by the constable he had originally spoken with regarding Amelia’s ongoing harassment.

“My lord, I see you have been hit. Once we finish here, we shall find you a physician.”

“Eliza, is she well?”

The man chuckled. “She is but if we do not apprehend these criminals who is to say things will end well.”

They both rose to their feet when Evan turned to the groomsman. “Joseph is inside. Take care and we will try to be done with this quickly.”

Evan pulled out the pistol he stole earlier and turned to the constable.

“Sir, this is your territory now. Tell me how I can be of service and I will do what I can.”

“There are three of them, correct?”

“Yes, Dodds and Amelia were out here and I tied Hubert to the bed some time ago.”

“The idea is to take all of them alive.”

Evan nodded and pulled away to change positions behind the carriage in front. He could hear Amelia yelling something but there were horses unsettled and ruckus coming from the stables. They both noticed then that Dodds was attempting to leave Amelia behind.

“You cannot leave me behind,” she screeched.

“Watch me, you idiotic bitch. I will not hang for you.”

The constable fired at Dodds and he fell off the horse. The groomsmen that rode with him approached the criminal with some rope and tied him up after he delivered a few kicks himself.

Evan then ran after Amelia who ran back inside the inn. Customers, in all the confusion, came out of their rooms to observe the chaos. He then noticed the innkeeper swing a chair at her to knock the knife she waved around in her hand.

He ran after her when she recovered and ran up the stairs, presumably to the room where Hubert was tied up. She attempted to latch the door before he could enter but with a swift kick she had fallen to the floor.

Hubert had managed to free himself so Evan pulled out the gun and pointed the pistol toward him and pulled the trigger, hitting only the flesh in his thigh.

Amelia tried to get passed him by swinging some pottery at him, catching him at the corner of his eye. Without a moment’s hesitation he swung at her and she finally stilled when she hit the floor.

“I have had enough of this idiocy. All of you, and I mean you, Hubert, Dodds, and Amelia will hang for this.”

Evan sat in a chair until the constable came up and joined him.

“My lord, it would appear you managed quite well.”

“If you say so. What is to be done with them?”

“I am waiting for the parish constables to join us with their means of transport to have all three taken away.”

“Where is Dodds now?”

“The innkeeper aided the groomsmen in tying him up to the stables while he was unconscious. We had numerous volunteers ask to watch him and the others.”

Evan was relieved that the end had finally arrived to this madness. Soon, he would be married to the love of his life and, finally, could do all that he wanted without having to hide their relationship from society like it was taboo.

He cared not if she was older than him or the rumors that she was barren. For heaven’s sake, the woman was married to a man older than his grandfather when he passed on. Evan was sure they would be able to have children and he could not wait to prove society, or his mother, wrong on that count.

Evan made his way down to the carriage only to stumble the whole way.

“My lord!”

Joseph came to his side ripping a part of his shirt to cover the wound in his shoulder.

“Help me get him in the carriage. We need the physician immediately.”

A groomsman aided them inside and they were off. Evan felt a chill and could not warm up. His valet tried to cover him with a blanked, but the chill continued to work through him. How could a paltry wound leave him so weak?

“My lord, you gave us all quite the scare. You would be so proud of Lady Winston though. I have never seen anyone more brave and strong with so much upset around her.”

“How is that, Joseph?”

“When the Havershams arrived with news of foul play, Lady Mary lost all her scruples over the potential of foul play. Lady Winston consoled her, even when her own husband would not.”

Evan smiled. She was, indeed, a strong woman to have put up with all this intrigue these last few weeks, and would spend the rest of his life making up for lost time while.

His valet kept the conversation going, yet, Evan desperately wanted to close his eyes. They were hours away from home and all he desired was to sleep.

“My lord, please… You must stay alert. Tell me how you met Lady Winston. I am sure when you both have children they will want to know the story, too. What will you tell them?”

Evan gritted his teeth. The throbbing in his shoulder intensified with each bump in the road. “I met Lady Winston in town. She had been shopping unaccompanied and decided to walk in an area not so welcoming to ladies of society. I rescued her, you know.”

His valet smiled and adjusted his blanket. “Seems like the two of you were destined to find each other in a world of pain. I imagine that day you came home from the scuffle, that was saving the dear lady, was it not?”

He nodded. Evan didn’t know if he was cursed or blessed from the moment he met her, his scandals intensified and became more troublesome than before. Women complicated life. Just wait until Emberly had a good dose of Annabelle after their honeymoon; he was guaranteed to hide in White’s for hours on end.

* * *

It was nearly daybreak when they pulled up to his courtyard and a handful of male servants, including Emberly, attended to him.

“Dear God, Radcliffe. You have been shot!”

“How good of you to notice. Has there been any word on Eliza?”

“None other than she is worried for you and is waiting for word until it is safe to return to you.”

“Let the physician do what he must, and once all is cleared, have her brought back. I do not want her to fret in my current condition.”

They carried him to his room where the physician had been waiting patiently. The doctor tore his shirt off and pursed his lips.

“It’s a bloody miracle you are still awake. Most men would have swooned at the sight of so much blood,” he noted while poking and pinching the tissue around his wound.

“Someone fetch me a pitcher of water and the man a drink. He will need it.”

A moment later, someone raised a glass of wine to his lips. He did not bother looking at what the doctor had been doing in fear of swooning.

“I need three strong men to hold him down while I attempt to pull out the bullet.”

Emberly and two footmen stood before him and awaited their orders. Lord almighty. Today is going to be a long day and agonizing.

* * *

“What do you think you are doing, Eliza? You cannot go just yet!” Mary pleaded with her blocking her exit from the bedroom.

“I cannot just sit here while he is home suffering alone. Dear God! What if the man is dying… I could not live with myself not knowing, holding or seeing him one last time.”

“Quit being so dramatic, Eliza. You heard the news just as well as I did… That horrible woman escaped the carriage while being transported. Do you honestly think she will not come for you after her plans being foiled?”

Eliza struggled to maintain her composure, yet she simply had to burst. She fell to her knees into a heap of skirts and sobbed into her hands.

Escaped.

The woman who planned this mad plot to marry Evan had escaped. What illness would drive a woman to those lengths? She would surely return to the manor and try and kill Evan, most assuredly.

Eliza could feel it in her heart he was not safe.

“Mary, I must go at once. If you wish to accompany, then please do, otherwise I want to leave immediately.”

Eliza’s nerves could not take another minute being apart from her love.

“Eliza, this is madness, you know not if she has hired other men… This is lunacy! Haversham…where are you?”

Her cousin shouted loud enough for servants to come running.

“Yes, my love, what appears to be the issue?” Haversham appeared in the doorway, not pleased at all having been interrupted from reading.

“Talk some sense into her. She wants to return to the estate and now!”

“Mary, calm yourself. Eliza is one of the most sensible people I know.” Haversham turned to her. “If it will put you at ease, my lady, we will all travel together.”

Eliza quickly gathered her things while Haversham went off and had their servants prepare their journey. At last! She would see him in a short while and never leave his side.

* * *

As Eliza and the Havershams exited the carriage, she noticed something off about the dower house in the distance. She had noticed two people standing idle as if guarding the home. She would certainly confirm with Evan if he arranged it all, if not, she would send several servants over to investigate and see if the dowager countess was well.

They entered the estate when Annabelle ran to her in an embrace.

“Oh, Eliza! I am glad you came. He has been drifting in and out of sleep since the doctor left.”

“Take me to him, please.”

Eliza smiled and followed Annabelle upstairs. Servants waited in the hall for new instructions for their master while Emberly appeared agitated and took Haversham aside.

When Annabelle pulled the door open, Evan was sound asleep.

She moved a chair next to the bed and held his hand for a period when she noticed servants rushing to and fro from the dower house with buckets. Another carriage had appeared but she could not see from where she was seated.

Eliza placed her trust in Emberly and Haversham to sort the matters at whilst she sat with her beloved. She nodded off but became started when the door slammed shut. Eliza turned to find Evan slowly waking up and Lady Amelia on the other side of the bed holding a pistol.

“I should have known you would have returned. At least my little distraction at the dower house paid off.”

Evan’s eyes widened with horror and Eliza finally understood what was happening earlier. When she and the Havershams first arrived.

“You really should not have troubled yourself, Lady Amelia. On second thought, no lady is as despicable as you,” Eliza said slowly raising from her seat.

“Sit down, you whore. Once I am done with him, you are next.”

“Do you honestly think you can waltz out of here unnoticed after your troubles at the dower house? Are you so foolish that you did not consider the consequences?”

Evan went to leave the bed but Eliza held him back. “You need your strength, my love, be easy.”

“He is not going to need anything where he is going,” the woman snarled, lifting the pistol.

Before Eliza could blink the door burst open and Constable Peabody aimed his own gun at the woman.

“Put your weapon down, Amelia. This charade is over.”

Yet, the woman who now faced the constable turned the gun on him. Before Eliza could catch her breath, Evan flung himself at the woman causing the gun she held to go off.

“Get off me at once.” She growled and wriggled beneath him.

The constable kicked the gun away from her reach and pulled her up off the floor and hauled her out of the room. They were then joined by his mother, sister, and Emberly who all helped him up.

Eliza took a step forward to help, but the room spun and all went dark.

*

When she came to she was back in her room and Evan’s mama was at her side.

“Your lips are parched, Lady Winston. Allow me to pass you some water.”

“You have my gratitude, Lady Radcliffe. Though, I do not understand why you are not with your son.”

“He thought it best I stay with you and, in an odd way, I am glad. I misjudged your character, Eliza, and I, too, remember what it was like to be married young. You have been a great influence on my daughter as well. She seems happy enough though I will never understand this concept of finding happiness before marriage. What does happy and love have to do with financial security and society?” The woman prattled on under her breath as she brought the cup to her lips.

“Will you be staying on with us then, here at the house?”

“No. That evil woman did not accomplish enough damage to drive me from the cottage. Besides, I am quite happy for my own space and peace. I can come and go as I please and receive my own guests without judgment.”

Now that caught Eliza’s attention. “I see. Can I at least ask you to dine with us this evening?”

“That would be lovely but I have already made plans for tonight. Another time perhaps.”

Eliza nodded and whispered, “Thank you for your kindness, Lady Radcliffe.”

The woman rose and left like nothing had happened. A blessing in disguise she supposed.

She leaned back to get comfortable and closed her eyes. While she heard the door open and then close Eliza continued to rest, not bothering to look until there was weight added to the bed.

Knuckles brushed her cheek. Evan was the only one who touched her in that manner. When she opened her eyes, her gaze met his in a pool of love and warmth.

“You should be resting, my love.”

“As should you, but I would much rather have a nap here than with Annabelle and Mary fretting over me.”

Eliza giggled and pulled him closer. “I suppose no harm can come from you laying down for a while, above the blankets that is.”

He pouted and then laughed. “Is that how it is to be?”

“Until we are married, yes. However, you can always sneak in at night while the house is asleep.”

“Now that, my dear,” he inched closer behind her and whispered in here, “sounds like the best idea I have heard all day.”

###