Page 92 of A Duchess to Unravel
“There’s a carriage,” Theo said hurriedly, “still hitched to the horses. “Let us get him there. Quickly!”
Dominic moved to her side, ready to help Alistair, but Theo found herself unable to let go of her husband. Dominic gave her a pleading look and placed a gentle hand on her other shoulder.
“You have to let him go so I can help him, Theo,” he said gently.
“I cannot,” she sobbed, her grip on Alistair growing tighter, “I left him once. I will not do so again!”
“And you won’t,” Dominic insisted. “But he’s far too heavy for you to carry. You have to let me take him.”
Theo’s chin wobbled as she clung to Alistair. It took all of her strength to let him go. She let out a sob as Dominic took her spot and lifted Alistair to his feet.
“Get that barricade off of the door and then get in the carriage,” Dominic told her, wrapping one of Alistair’s limp arms around his shoulders.
Theo moved quickly, hauling the heavy beam from the doors. She pushed them opened wide, then went to the carriage. She opened its door just as Dominic brought Alistair to it, and she crawled in first. Together, they got Alistair into the back of the carriage, and lay his head on her lap.
“Hold him tight,” Dominic commanded, “I will be driving fast. Keep a hand pressed to his wound if you can.”
Theo nodded, already doing both, and a moment later, she felt the carriage lurch forward.
“You cannot die,” Theo commanded, looking down at Alistair’s slack features and closed eyes as the carriage raced through the London streets, “Not after everything. I will not allow it. Do you hear me?”
For a moment Alistair’s eyes fluttered open. He looked up at her, a ghost of smile on his blood-stained lips--then he was gone again.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Theo,” Dominic said, his tone gentle as he reached for her. “Perhaps you should--”
“No,” she said, her tone adamant, “I am fine, and I am not leaving this spot until the surgeon tells me he is going to recover.”
She glared at Dominic, challenging him to negate her. But Dominic only nodded in understanding and drew his hand away. It had felt like hours had passed since they’d brought Alistair into the surgeon’s chambers, and she was still in her dirty, bloodied nightgown. Dominic had shrugged off his jacket to cover her exposed shoulders, but she’d barely noticed.
She knew Dominic wanted her to go home, to change and get cleaned up. It was the decent thing to do. The polite thing to do. Yet she could not bring herself to leave the spot on the wall she leaned against; ironically becoming the wallflower yet again.
“Perhaps you should be the one to go,” Theo stated, trying to sound calm. “Find Tristan. Tell him where I am.”
Dominic looked as if he were about to refuse when the door opened and Amelia, Hugo, and Seraphina came hurrying into the sitting room.
“We came as soon as the messenger told us what happened,” Amelia said, reaching one hand toward Theo and the other to her husband. “How is he doing?”
Theo’s face crumbled as Seraphina came forward and wrapped her arms around her. As soon as she did, Dominic wrapped his arms tightly around Amelia and drew her close.
“We do not know,” she sobbed into Seraphina’s shoulder, “It has been hours and no one has yet to come out and tell us anything.”
Seraphina pulled her from her embrace, giving her a determined look.
“If they are still operating that means he’s alive,” she stated calmly, “Take it as a good sign.”
Theo nodded, drying her eyes. Her friend was right. She just needed to be patient. Let the surgeon and his attendants do their jobs.
“Where is Tristan?” Hugo asked.
“Probably still dealing with the constable,” Dominic answered, his arms still wrapped tight around his wife. “Theo and I were just talking about going to find him when you arrived.”
“I will go,” Hugo offered.
“No need,” Tristan’s voice came from behind them all.
All of them quickly whirled around, and Theo took in the weary look on her brother’s face.
