Alesbury helped Edgerton off with his jacket. “Clean through. At least you won’t have the surgeon digging around in there, looking for the bullet.”
“Not helping, Alesbury.”
“I’ll go for help,” Bishop said. “Carlisle won’t be going anywhere.”
Violet looked over her shoulder to see her kidnapper sprawled on the floor, his hands tied with Bishop’s cravat. “Will that binding hold him?”
Bishop nodded. “Yes, for the moment. I’ll return as soon as I can.” He took off running.
“I knew you’d come,” Violet said, gazing at her beloved.
“I’ll always come for you, my darling. Did he hurt you?”
“No, but I’m relieved at your timing. I don’t even want to think about what Carlisle had planned.”
Alesbury kissed her cheek. “Put it from your mind, my love. You’re safe now.”
“Do you two think you could control yourselves? I’m bleeding here.”
“My apologies, Edgerton,” Alesbury said, pressing Edgerton’s jacket against his shoulder.
“I’m so sorry you were hurt,” Violet said, tears running down her face.
“Violet, you have nothing to be sorry about,” Edgerton said, trying to smile through the pain.
It was several minutes before a Bow Street Runner arrived. “What’s this?” he asked, looking at the scene before him.
Alesbury spoke up. “That’s the Earl of Carlisle lying there,” he said, pointing to the bound body. “He enticed us here with a business deal and shot Edgerton when we declined to invest and leave.”
Violet moved away from her brother and kept her head down following Alesbury lead that this whole incident was a business deal gone bad.
The Runner shook his head. “What a mess.”
It was at that moment Carlisle struggled to sit up. “Release me at once. You have no right to detain me,” he sputtered
“I believe the judge can decide that,” the magistrate said, hauling Carlisle up and marching him out of the warehouse.
Bishop had managed to hail a hackney, and Alesbury helped Edgerton inside.
“Violet, my darling. Please go with your brother; I’ll come shortly,” he said, helping her into the carriage.
Violet nodded, and the hackney took off for the Edgerton townhouse. “Charles, I was so scared when I saw the blood.”
“I was hoping to spare you any unpleasantness when we rescued you, but then that bounder Carlisle had a pistol. I must confess, I didn’t think he was armed, and I’m deeply sorry for the shock you’ve endured this night,” Edgerton said.
Violet hugged her brother, trying hard not to jostle him overmuch. It was a bumpy ride and seemed to take an eternity before the hackney stopped in front of the Edgerton townhouse. Akers was out the door in a flash and down the stairs, helping Violet out of the carriage.
“It’s not I who needs help, Akers. Edgerton has been shot and needs a surgeon.”
Akers helped the viscount out of the hackney and up the stairs.
Courtney and Lavinia rushed into the foyer. “Oh my darling girl, are you well?” Lavinia asked, pulling Violet into a fierce hug.
“Yes, Mama, but Charles needs a surgeon.”
“Surgeon?” Courtney asked.
Akers assisted Edgerton into the parlor and helped him lay on the sofa.
