Page 80 of Love Unraveled
“Stratton. Durand.”
Sophie shifted in his arms and stiffened in surprise. “Bentley,” she whispered.
“Indeed, Countess Tessaro,” he said, bowing politely as though greeting them at an evening event. “It is I.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Who was witness of the crime?
Who shall now reveal it?
—Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Forlorn”
Sophia was weak-kneedand grateful Gaston had his arms around her, holding her tight, pressing kisses to the top of her head. Laurence slowly got off the duke while Bentley kept the gun trained on the duke’s head. He needn’t have worried. The duke sat up and cradled his hand, rocking back and forth, weeping like a small child. She might feel sympathy had the man not meant such harm.
“You shot the gun out of his hand?” Sophia asked, still trying to make sense of what had happened in the last few minutes. She took off her blood-splattered glasses and wiped at her face. She clearly remembered the duke suddenly extending his hand under her armpit to shoot Laurence. The gun had been less than a foot from her. Chills raced down her spine as she pictured it. “I don’t want to think of what would have happened had you missed.”
“Best not to dwell on it,” Bentley said. “Besides, I don’t miss.”
Gaston growled behind her, and she assumed it was because the full implication of Bentley’s actions had registered with him as well.
“It’s true,” Laurence said, tying some rope around the duke’s feet. “I’ve never seen him miss a target.”
“See? I’m not simply another pretty face.” Bentley grinned.
Once the duke was secured, they bound his coachman, putting them both in the carriage. A moan sounded from the other side.Stefano!Sophia broke from Gaston and ran to him, scanning his body for external wounds, running her hand over his head. She met a large, bloodied lump, and he moaned again but did not awaken.
Gaston joined her.
“Gaston,per favore.” Sophia felt like a helpless young girl.
Gaston knelt and carefully touched Stefano’s head. “He will be fine,mon amour. There is a bump.”
“And a bump is a good thing?”
“That is what the doctor told me,” he said and touched his own head.
“Oh, my poor Gaston. You have been through much these last days, no?”
Still kneeling, he pulled her into his arms. “So have you,ma chérie.” She held on tightly as he whispered her name over and over into her hair.
“Let’s take your reunion inside, shall we?” Bentley said, bending over and grabbing Stefano under the arms. “Along with this guy.” Gaston took hold of Stefano’s legs, and they hefted him as gently as they could. Laurence shouted from the box, and they waited as the duke’s carriage pulled out.
“He is going back to London?” Sophie asked.
“No, to the stables.” Bentley shifted Stefano’s weight, and they began to walk with him across the courtyard. “The horses are too tired. As is Laurence. He’ll keep the men locked in the carriage and watch them until I join him. When we’re both rested, we’ll take them directly to the Home Office. I should say, I will. Laurence will quietly disappear again when we get to London. We should be gone before daylight.”
Sophia was speechless. Bentley knew all about Laurence’s secret life. She could not fathom how he would.
“Somebody get down here and bloody well help, would you?” Bentley shouted at the trio of footmen and the cluster of maids huddled at the top of the stairs. They scuttled down the stairs, Patterson’s large eyes darting among the men, Stefano’s lifeless form, and her.
Sophia took charge. “You two, take him to his rooms and see one of the maids to his care. Patterson, you go to the village for Dr. Redding. Discretion,s’il te plaît.”
“Yes, my lady,” they said in unison, and Patterson darted out of sight, while the other two took over from Gaston and Bentley.
“Where were they when you were in need?” Gaston scowled as he watched them carry Stefano up the stairs.
“When a duke tells you to stay away, you stay away,” Sophia said, touching his arm. “It is the way of the world, no?”
