Page 83 of Wickeds Scandal
“Shut up, Alexandra. I am so verytired of listening to you talk.”
Alexandra struggled against the blacknessthat was stealing over her vision. Sutton! That had been Sutton’svoice! Her heart leapt.
“Alex! I’m coming.”
The sound of hooves broke the silence ofthe glade. A large black stallion galloped towards them. Sutton satatop the horse, his long dark hair billowing in the breeze. The glint ofjade sparkled in the sunlight, his face set in stone and full of controlledrage.
Alexandra struggled. She smacked atRunyon’s hands where he held her.
Sutton ran the stallion at Mr. Runyon,leaping out of the air at his nemesis.
Mr. Runyon released his grip on Alexandraand she fell back against a gnarled oak.
The two men tumbled to the ground amidthe tall grasses. Alexandra couldn’t see anything except the moving ofthe grass.
Runyon shot up. He held up his caneand hit Sutton as he stood.
Sutton grunted in pain,disappearing from view. Then his leg jutted out, hitting Mr. Runyon’sknee so forcibly that Alexandra heard the bone snap.
Runyon let out a cry of astonishment andpain. “You worthless, bastard! Look what you have done! Ishall make sure you stay dead this time.” Runyon rolled on the mat ofleaves, weeping in pain.
“Alex!” Sutton ran to her,enfolding her in his arms. The smell of him, cinnamon and horse wrappedaround Alexandra, blanketing her. Suddenly he pushed her back, holdingher before him with both arms. He gave her stomach a stricken look.“I left you and you were with child.”
“He said you were dead!” Alexandra cried.“How did you-?”
“I am the package Miranda needed to pickup. You were supposed to go with her.” He kissed her forehead.
“You…should…not…be….here!” The wordscame from behind Sutton. Archie crawled over the forest floor, pulling out awicked blade.
Sutton pivoted, but not quickly enough.Runyon’s blade flashed in the sunlight before burying itself in Sutton’sside.
“You see if you want a job done correctlyyou must do it yourself!” Runyon cackled. He struggled to stand.“Now it’s just you and I my little pigeon! Leave him! We have abarn burning to oversee!”
A large bloodstain spread across Sutton’swaist. He fell to his knees as Alexandra desperately reached him.
She caught him, cradling his dark head inher arms, his blood seeping through the shirt and staining what was left of herskirts. Tears coursed down her cheeks. “No. No. Please Godno!”
“Love you. Have forever.” Hiseyelids fluttered closed. His skin paled.
“Sutton. No.” Alexandragently shook Sutton’s head. Bitter tears ran down her cheeks. She heardRunyon near her, but didn’t look up.
“Dead! Yes! Finally!”Archie stood on unsteady feet and approached Alexandra. His insanelaughter echoed through the quiet clearing. “Pigeon! Pigeon!”He moved towards her.
That was the last thing Mr. Runyon said,before a single shot rang out.
EPILOGUE
Sunlight filtered over the newly restoredgardens of Helsmby Abbey. Alexandra closed her eyes, soaking in thewarmth of the sun and the peace of her garden. She rocked back and forth,humming gently to the bundle in her lap. A pair of curious green eyes staredback at her, nearly hidden underneath a thatch of dark, curly hair. Herheart constricted in her chest. “I almost lost you,” she whispered to thebundle. The nightmares still came, although not as often asbefore. The horror of that day finally was fading.
“No more tears, my love. Youpromised me.” Sutton sat in the other rocking chair. He surveyedher garden in appreciation. The roses, not a single one white, bloomed ina profusion of color against the old stone fence.
Sutton shifted, wincing as the wound inhis side pulled. The doctor who tended him that fateful day told Alexandra thatSutton barely escaped death. Runyon’s knife sliced deep, but there wouldbe no lasting damage. The dragon’s tail, however, looked as if it hadbeen cut off. The knife’s blade neatly severing the tail.
Sutton moved again, trying not juggle thebundle, identical to Alexandra’s, he held in his lap. Reaching out, hegrasped Alexandra’s hand across the small span that separated them.
Bees buzzed, stopping at each floweringrose. Alexandra smiled, closing her eyes. They sat in silence, the onlysound small snores from the bundles they each cradled. As the sun rose inthe sky, the click of heels on the old cobblestones disturbed the tranquilityof the early morning.
“There you are! Auntie Miranda mustsay goodbye!” Miranda floated over to Alex and pressed a kiss on Robert’sdowny head. She stood and moved to the bundle Sutton held. “And a kissfor you, my beautiful Madeline.” Miranda placed her hands on her hips,surveying her niece and nephew in mock offense. “They aren’t quite as upset atmy leaving as I expected they should be. It’s very disappointing.”She grinned ruefully. “I suppose with all that eating, burping andsleeping, they are quite busy and will hardly notice I’ve left.”
Alexandra took her sister-in-law’shand. “But I will notice.”
Miranda smiled. “I shall eagerly awaityour return to London. Elizabeth will be coming home from Scotland soonas well. She is beside herself that she is now an aunt. And totwins!”
“Gray Covington, I think, Miranda.Not London.” Sutton stated firmly. “My marchioness prefers life away fromthe glare of theton. As do I.”
Miranda laughed lightly. “Oh, it won’t beso bad now that Mother’s been exiled. Cousin Herbert, it appears, hasquite a firm hand about him. He’s determined that Mother need not visitLondon in the near future. Or ever again.” She wrinkled her brow.“The poor man is truly distressed by all that happened, Sutton. I doubtI’ll ever have to see Mother.”
“Herbert is much tougher than Iwould ever have given him credit for.” Sutton smiled back. “Youare muchtougher as well. I am grateful for it.” He kissed his sister’s hand. “And I amespecially grateful, my beautiful sister, that you nagged me to teach you howto fire a pistol.”
