Page 115 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

Lydia shifted, her face a mask of fear, and, shaking her head, darted her gaze behind her in the direction she had come.

Juliana followed Lydia’s line of sight. A figure moved into the passageway, tall and lean, their face in shadows. Juliana’s throat constricted as she said, “Someone’s there!”

Victor took a step forward, but the crack of a shot rang out in the still of the night. Victor reversed direction and lunged toward her, his heavy body pulling Juliana down to the ground and landing on top of her.

A warm sticky liquid coated her hand trapped between their bodies. Alarm prickled the skin on her neck at the metallic smell of blood.

Victor slid off her and stumbled to his feet. “Lydia?”

But Lydia had vanished into the night, along with the assailant.

When Victor offered to assist her up, he grasped her hand, and his eyes widened. “Dear God, you’re hurt.”

The blood she smelled was not only on her hand but on her riding habit. Yet, other than a stitch in her side, she didn’t feel any pain. “I don’t think it’s me.” Frantically, she scanned Victor’s body, cursing the dim lighting. A dark stain spread across his waistcoat.

Heavy footsteps raced in their direction, and Nash appeared. “I heard a gunshot. Are you injured, Miss Merrick?”

She shook her head. “It’s Victor.”

Victor frowned at Nash, then peered down at the rapidly spreading blood.

“Victor?” she whispered, her voice cracking.

His eyes wide, he crumpled before her.

CHAPTER 32

Fear, ugly and unrelenting, clawed up Juliana’s throat at the sight of Victor lying on the cold ground. She fell to the pavement next to him, her hands trembling as she reached for Victor’s face. “Victor! Victor! Can you hear me?!”

Nash crouched beside her and placed two fingers on the side of Victor’s neck. “He’s alive. Probably passed out from either the pain or shock.”

A door slammed, and pounding from another pair of feet drew their attention. Juliana tore her gaze from Victor as Mr. Grey rushed from the building.

“I heard a shot. What the hell happened?” Mr. Grey’s gaze jerked from Nash to Juliana, utter surprise widening his amber eyes. “Does your brother know you’re here?”

Before she could answer, Nash interceded. “Now’s not the time, Grey. Pratt needs a doctor. No offense to my wife, but all things considered, going back to Burwood’s will only raise more alarm. Find Ashton. He’s the best. I’m going after the culprit. Where did the shot come from, Miss Merrick?”

Juliana pointed a shaky finger down the shadowy passage, and Nash raced off without a backward glance.

Dropping to his knees, Mr. Grey pulled open Victor’s coat, then unbuttoned his bloody waistcoat. Blood bloomed like a living creature, vivid against Victor’s once-pristine white linen shirt.

“We need to get him inside.” Mr. Grey rose, ran back to the building, and yanked open the door. “Hartley, come down here!” His voice bellowed in the eerie night.

“Which one?” a man called back.

“Both of you!”

Two enormous men exited, their appearance strikingly similar. As they took stock in the situation, one of them said, “Are you hurt, miss? You have blood all over you.” His voice was surprisingly gentle for a man his size and appearance.

She shook her head. “It’s Victor’s blood. He used his body as a shield and fell on top of me.”

“Probably saved your life,” Mr. Grey said. “And now we need to save his. I’ll have someone ride and find Ashton.”

Juliana grasped his arm, purpose flowing through her like wildfire. “Let me go. I know where he lives. And I have to do something, or I’ll go mad with worry.”

“Hartley One, go to the mews and have a horse readied, then come right back and we’ll get Mr. Pratt inside.” Mr. Grey turned a gentle gaze toward her. “You’ll have to ride astride, but from what I’ve read in the scandal sheets, that won’t be a problem.”

Thank God she’d worn her riding habit. She leaned over Victor and, with trembling fingers, smoothed back a lock of his blond hair. “You reckless, brave man. Don’t you dare die on me, Victor. I love you. Fight with all your strength and live.” When she placed a gentle kiss on his lips, Victor’s eyelids fluttered, then opened.

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