Page 44 of Kismet

Looking at Catherine, he noted her grim determination. Her hair was mussed and her bonnet was missing and still she was glorious. What better woman could there be? Not only had she been able to defend herself against Deerhurst, but she was willing to save his life after he so stupidly endangered it. Her fingers deftly created a slip knot that she pulled tight before doing something to twist it into place.

Grunting in pain, Deerhurst complained once more. “Isn’t there a better way to stop the bleeding?”

“As you decided to accost Miss Catherine in a park, we do not have a lot of options. If we were on the battlefield, I might be able to cauterize your wound with a hot iron. That normally works, and only sometimes festers. But like I said, you haven’t left us with a lot of options.” Theodore growled and wondered where Mr. Burgess was with the physician and possibly the magistrate.

Needing to focus on something besides his desire to rend the man lying in the grass to pieces Theodore looked around the small clearing. Theodore spotted Lambert standing to the side with the little boy Timmy at her side. As he stepped out of his home that morning, the little scamp's concerned face caught his attention, clueing him in on the potential for trouble. A rushed conversation about a dangerous man following Catherine into the park had sent him running. The little boy had hurried to keep up with him. Undeterred by the curious gazes, he reached the park with ease, quickly locating Catherine amidst its sprawling grounds.

Anger churned in his gut as he noted that despite her calm facade, she must be distressed by the events of the morning. She might have done what she had to in order to protect herself, but that did not mean she was not affected. It was not easy to harm someone else, despite how necessary it might be to protect yourself or others.

“I say! I was uncertain of what I would find when the gentleman said I was needed, but this was far from what I expected.” A man with a bag had arrived and rushed to Theodore’s side. “What happened?”

“That is a longer story than we have time for. Long story short, this cur has a knife wound in his thigh. I have been applying pressure, and we tied a tourniquet to attempt to stem the flow of blood.”

“It sounds, and looks, as if an artery may have been cut. It might require some more care than we can provide here, but it looks like you managed to save his life.” Opening his bag, the unknown man began looking for something within its contents.

“I will have you know I am Viscount Deerhurst!” The complaint was feeble, yet Theodore was sure it grated on the nerves of everyone secretly hoping he would lose consciousness.

“That does not prevent you from being a cur! Be glad I did not let you bleed to death,” he said, his voice dripping with menace, “after what you were attempting to do to a lady in broad daylight in public.”

“It sounds like we have a wrong‘un then.” A new voice commented and Theodore looked up to spot Mr. Burgess approaching with three rather burly men. The one in front seemed to be in charge. “I am Justin Wright. My men and I are Bow Street Runners. Mr. Burgess said you were needing help with a villain.”

“Thank you for coming,” Theodore greeted quickly before returning his attention to Deerhurst’s leg.

“You may move your hands, sir. I will take care of the wound now.” The physician moved his hands into place as Theodore took his away.

The moment he could move away from the miscreant, Theodore moved to check on Catherine. He was uncertain of how his attention would be received, but he could not force himself to stay away from her. “Are you truly well?” He wanted to cup her face in his hands but did not for more than the fact that his hands were covered in blood.

“I am well enough, though I fear the penknife you gifted me is rather soiled now.” Catherine wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Looking over at the blood covered weapon in the grass, Theodore was ever more grateful he had found the beautiful blade and gifted it to her. “I would never have imagined you would have to use it in such a way, but I am glad it was there for your protection in my absence.” Shoulders suddenly slumping, he lowered his gaze with a contrite expression. “I cannot apologize enough for my stupidity.”

“While I am happy that you appear to have come to your senses, I do not think this is the time nor the place to have the conversation that we need to have. I will be fine. Speak with the increasingly frustrated looking gentlemen over there. It is time to take care of the matter at hand.”

“As you wish, my lovely Artemis.” Giving Catherine a smile and a nod, he turned to the men behind him. He considered shaking the men's hands, but decided against it due to the blood that coated his hands.

Justin Wright nodded in thanks before saying, “I can see that the current situation is under control. I will need something to put in my report.” Looking down at the moaning man, he made a face of disgust. “From your conversation, I am assuming we are not here to hunt down the person who stabbed the cove?”

“No, I stabbed him,” Catherine spoke up as she stood with Miss Burgess’s help.

Rushing forward, a shaken Lambert stood in front of Miss Catherine as if to protect her from arrest. “He was threatening her. She was only trying to protect herself. It was only right that she do so with what he was trying to do.”

“Yeah, he said he was given five thousand pounds to hurt her. He deserves to be stabbed. Miss Catherine is a good lady,” Timmy added, approaching the men.

“Do not either of you worry. We are not going to take the young miss away.” The gentleman at the front of the group tousled Timmy’s hair before turning back to Theodore. “We will need to get everyone’s names and an idea of what happened.”

“I am Colonel Theodore Fitzwilliam, the current Earl of Matlock. The moaning wretch is Viscount Deerhurst. He admitted before you came that he was offered five thousand pounds to compromise the woman I am courting, Miss Catherine Bennet.” Looking back at Catherine where she stood, her hair loose and disheveled, it was obvious that she had endured something, yet her posture was straight, and her gaze was determined. She was a goddess, her beauty and fortitude radiating like a celestial beacon, leaving him in awe. How had he ever lost sight of that? “I can only be grateful that she managed to prevent his attempt with her penknife. Mr. and Miss Burgess and I came upon the scene shortly thereafter. Despite being advised that he should leave the knife in place until a physician could be summoned, Deerhurst pulled it out. I can only assume that he damaged something, causing a large amount of blood loss.”

The Bow Street runner gave a low whistle. “That is quite the lady you are courting.” Turning, he gave a smart nod to Catherine. “I wish my own sister would have as much nerve. Good on you, miss, for putting such a cad in his place.”

“Cad! I am Viscount Deerhurst. I will be respected.” The weak complaint only received a series of eye rolls and hard looks.

Studying Theodore for a moment, Justin seemed to draw some conclusions before speaking. “So, Lord Matlock, are you wanting to press charges against the cad? Most lords want things handled quietly, but I am thinking you are not one of those lords.”

“No, I want him to face the harshest punishment allowed by law. Make an example of him, as they say. We need fewer people like him in the world. People should not think they can get away with horrible behavior because of who they are related to,” he declared emphatically. Theodore's voice quivered with anger as he clenched his fists, the blood staining his hands a stark contrast against his pale knuckles. He still felt the need to pummel the man on the ground behind him.

One of the men behind Justin cracked his own knuckles and looked down at Deerhurst. “He was doing this at someone else’s behest. Do you know who was out to hurt Miss Bennet? Or would you like us to find out for you?”

“No, he admitted that it was my mother, Countess Matlock. I presume she was unhappy with my choice of wife.” His voice was hard and devoid of emotion as he openly admitted to the fact that his mother was indeed a horrible person. There was a long minute where everyone merely looked at one another. What could one really say to such a confession?

---