Page 72 of Duke of Chaos

“Ihear their horses,” Lydia said, her heart beginning to race at the sound.

Barbara’s head perked up from her book, tension written across her face as she strained her ears.

“As do I,” she said excitedly, shuffling out of her chair and the lap blanket.

Alice and Helena quickly followed and the four of them headed to the foyer. It was late, but none of them aside from Juliet had been able to sleep; too worried for their husbands to do so. After Juliet had gone off to bed, saying she would stay with her nephews for the night, they had remained vigilant in the front parlor, doing their best to distract themselves to pass the time.

“How many?” Alice breathed, as Lydia flew open the front door. “Four, please say all four.”

Relief flooded through Lydia as she saw four riders coming fast up the drive. Ezra was recognizable even in the darkness and was in the lead.

“Yes, all four,” Lydia replied, taking hold of her sister tightly as their husbands approached.

Ezra flung his leg over his saddle as his horse began to slow down, but he did not wait for it to stop before he jumped off and strode quickly toward Lydia.

“Ezra, your leg!” she cried in warning, but Lydia rushed toward him at the same him; the two of them coming together with great force as their lips pressed together greedily.

“I’m fine,” he murmured into her lips, though she felt his right leg begin to tremble with fatigue.

“You came back,” she breathed, peppering him with kisses.

“I promised you I would,” Ezra replied, his voice raw as he tucked her body tightly into his arms, holding her head to his chest.

She could hear his heart pounding as his hands moved and pressed on her back, as though he was trying to push her into him. Looking around, she could see that her friends and their husbands were having similar reactions to seeing one another.

“Duncan, thank God,” Alice sobbed, rushing up to him as he got off his horse.

“It’s all right, my love,” Duncan soothed, cradling her to his chest.

Lydia then watched in fascination as he took his mask off, letting it fall to the ground before he leaned down and buried his face into her neck.

“You let him hit you in the face?” Barbara asked incredulously, shoving at Ambrose’s shoulder before pulling him by his lapels as Lydia turned toward the couple.

“It was a dirty punch, darling, I could not avoid it,” Ambrose snickered before his wife hauled him down for a kiss.

“Come here, you handsome fool,” Helena laughed, going to hug Morgan as she let Ambrose and Barbara have their moment.

“Careful, darling, I’m not allowed to fall in love with you,” Morgan teased but accepted her hug warmly.

Lydia smiled warmly, beyond relief that they had all made it back in one piece.

“Did you find him?” she asked, turning her head to look up at Ezra.

She felt his body go still for a moment, then his hands began to caress her again.

“Yes,” he acknowledged. “He is in the proper hands now.”

“So, it is over?” she asked.

She wanted to feel hopeful, but there was something in his eyes that she was incapable of deciphering.

“Yes,” Ezra agreed, gently holding her chin, and stroking his thumb gently along her jaw.

“Then what is wrong?” she asked, studying his face; a face she had learned to read like a favorite book.

There was worry there. Fear, even, but Ezra said, “Let us get the others to their rooms first. We have all had a vexing day.”

Knowing it was the right thing to do, Lydia nodded, and as everyone broke away from one another, more hugs and words of endearment were exchanged. It did not take long after that for everyone to head to their respective rooms, and soon Lydia found herself walking with Ezra into his quarters. It was the first time she had stepped into the room since his attack, and though it was clean, she felt a shiver of discomfort as she stepped inside.

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