Page 105 of The Nature of a Lady
“I wouldn’t try anything.” Tas-gwyn kept his face gruff, but to Oliver’s ear, his voice had a note of glee in it. He could only imagine the yarns he’d weave about this later. “I’m the vengeful sort, you know, and still owe you for that crack to the head.”
Mamm-wynn’s gaze sought Oliver. “Are you all right, dearovim?”
“I’ll be fine.” The gunshot wound couldn’t be anything serious, not given that he was far more aware of Libby’s citrus scent as she wrapped Mabena’s shawl around him than he was of the pain.
Tas-gwyn jerked his chin toward the rocks. “Out of the water with you, Mr. Lorne. Let’s keep this nice and friendly.”
Lorne looked around, clearly considering his options. But between Tas-gwyn’s hunting rifle and the pistol that Casek had claimed, he apparently decided that trying to make a break for it wouldn’t go well for him. Grumbling, he moved slowly toward the rocks.
“Rescued by grandparents.” Telford moved from a kneel to a crouch, a hand out to help Oliver to his feet. “Sheridan’s never going to let me live this one down.”
Well. There was no one in the world quite likehisgrandparents. Oliver accepted the help up, wobbling a bit when his head swam at the sudden shift in altitude. Perhaps he was bleeding more than he’d thought.
But Telford steadied him with a hand clasping his arm, and Libby’s came around his waist.
Noise came from outside, and a moment later the constable dropped into view, surveying the situation with a sharp eye. “Everything under control in here? Enyon said he heard noises—and not ghosts either.”
God bless Enyon.
“More or less.” Casek didn’t take his gaze off Lorne for even a second. “One got away. Did you see him?”
“We saw someone running in the opposite direction. Enyon’s chasing him down.”
Lorne snorted. “Good luck. That one’s slippery as an eel.”
“We catch eels all the time.” The constable moved with practiced ease over the rocks toward them, handcuffs at the ready and eyes taking everything in. He frowned at Oliver. “You’re injured?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Telford rolled his eyes. “He was shot. Saving that one.” He motioned at Casek.
“Really.” The constable looked from Oliver to Casek and back again. “High time you lads learned to get along.”
Libby pressed herself a bit closer to Oliver’s side. And Telford didn’t even scowl at her. Just sighed and said, “I suppose if that’s how you treat your enemies, I’m looking forward to seeing how youbehave with your friends. And,” he added quickly when Libby drew in a breath, “I imagine we’ll be taking the rest of the summer here to see it. There won’t be any prying Sheridan away now. Nor Libby. So we’ll see how patient you really are with that ‘as long as you like’ offer of staying with you, Tremayne.”
Libby made the sweetest little squeak. “You mean it? We can stay the rest of the summer?”
“I suppose.”
She abandoned Oliver to dart around him and throw her arms around her brother. Which brought a grin to his lips—and to Telford’s too, though he tried to smother it.
“Well.” Mamm-wynn accepted Mabena’s help out of the boat, onto the rocks. “Perhaps we might continue this conversation in the daylight? It’s a bit chilly in here. And I’m famished.”
No one objected, so the crowd of them made their way up to the entrance and out into the warm sunshine, the mist having vanished as stealthily as it had descended. The constable and Lorne emerged first, and two deputies took him none too gently in hand. Oliver blinked at the onslaught of light when they emerged, glad to spot Beth, Sheridan, and Lady Emily safely on the sand a small distance away.
Not quite as glad to see Enyon jogging back to them, alone. His best friend was waving a hand and shouting, “Ollie! You all right? When I heard a gunshot, I about charged in then and there! But then when that bloke chargedout—he was fast! Gave me the slip.”
“I’m all right!” More explanation than that he wasn’t going to shout for the whole island to hear.
Especially since his sister had just spotted their grandmother and had some shouting of her own to do. “Mamm-wynn! What are you doing out of bed? Andhere, of all places?”
Their grandmother laughed. “Saving the day, of course. I had to. All my favorites were here.”
It only took Oliver a few steps to realize that the adrenaline was ebbing away—and his side was absolutely on fire. He pressed a hand to it, wincing, and looked down to see blood seeping through the shawl.
Telford’s hand gripped his arm again. “Feeling it now, are you, old boy?”
“Perhaps a bit.”
