Page 83 of A Kiss Of Lies

“Hadley took her and Jack home. Come, let me carry her to the carriage for you.”

“No. I’ll carry her.” As he lifted Serena into his arms, she gave a small groan.

“The doctor will travel with you, while Arend and I follow in Arend’s coach.” Maitland was his usual cool, logical self, and right now Christian needed that to keep him from falling apart.

Please let her live.

ChapterTwenty

The interrogation being held in Christian’s stable was going relatively well.

The culprit, a man called Jock Fanselow, was hanging from the rafters by his arms. The position was most uncomfortable, verging on downright painful. Arend and Maitland didn’t care.

They wanted answers. After a few well-aimed punches and a threat to his manhood, it didn’t take long to get some.

“Lord Markham was supposed to stay in Canada. Then the Duke of Barforte would continue to think him responsible for raping his daughter, and Markham’s reputation would eventually be destroyed, and he’d also be ruined financially.”

“Ruined? But why, what did he do?”

“I don’t know. Didn’t care neither. All I know is now that Lord Markham was back in England, he had to die. My employer wanted him disgraced, then eventually killed. The aim is to destroy the Markham name and all who bear it.”

Arend eyed him suspiciously. “Only Lord Markham?” A well-aimed kick loosened Jock’s tongue further.

“No. All the other Libertine Scholars as well, all six of them.”

“All of them?”

“Aye. My employer has plans to ruin all of you. Then kill you. But I’m only contracted to kill Lord Markham.”

“So you weren’t to kill all of us?” Arend’s menacing tone left Jock in no doubt he meant business.

Jock shook his head. “No. I’ve no idea who the other assassins are. My employer’s right careful. If I’m caught, I won’t know anything else about the others and be able to spill the beans.”

“Your employer is astute, even if he’s not a good judge of employee. You shot the wrong person. You’re lucky Christian isn’t here. He’d kill you with his bare hands for hurting Serena.”

Something flickered in the depths of the man’s eyes.

“Or was it a mistake? I heard two shots fired.” Comprehension dawned and Arend leaned in close. “You were supposed to kill her too. Why?”

“The lady might work out who has started this game of revenge. The rumor is, she knows my employer. She has five more men to destroy yet. Their reputations are to be tarnished too, and she doesn’t want loose ends.”

“She?” Maitland and Arend spoke together.

* * *

Christian paced before the huge open fireplace in his drawing room. Three times he’d crossed the room to go upstairs to Serena, but each time Hadley stood in his way.

“The doctor and Mrs. Butler will take care of her. You would be no use to them given the state you are in. They have to get the bullet out, and even though she’s still unconscious, it will hurt her. Do you really want to see her in pain?”

“It’s taking too long.”

“The doctor worked on the battlefields at Waterloo. He’s taken out many bullets. He is simply being thorough. Keep it neat and clean, he said. Boil water, he said. We are doing exactly as he requests.” He handed Christian a glass of whiskey. “Sit. Drink this.”

Christian let his friend guide him to the chair by the fire. He gulped down the whiskey and let the heat from the smooth liquid warm his cold body. Hadley took the seat opposite.

“I still don’t understand what happened. Who fired at us? They must have been after Dennett? If he wasn’t already dead I’d kill him myself, duel or no duel.”

The doctor had told Christian that Serena would likely recover, but it was hard to believe the reassurances when she lay so still and unresponsive in the bed upstairs.

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