“Charles!” Courtney shrieked, rushing to her husband’s side when she saw the blood staining his clothing.
“It’s not as bad as it looks, my darling.”
Once Edgerton was situated, Akers hurried from the room and tasked one of the footmen to fetch the surgeon.
Violet slumped into a nearby chair. Her perfect night had almost ended in tragedy. Though he was trying to downplay his injury, she could tell by the tenseness around her brother’s eyes and mouth that he was in severe pain. She hoped the surgeon arrived soon.
“Will someone please tell me what happened?” Lavinia demanded, sitting in the chair next to Violet.
Violet reached for her mother’s hand. “Mama, might we wait for Alesbury and the surgeon to arrive? I promise I’ll tell you everything, but it will be easier if everyone’s here to explain their part in the story.”
Lavinia nodded. “Of course, darling. I think we could all use a drink,” she said, walking to the sideboard. She poured brandy into four glasses and passed them out. Edgerton downed his in one gulp.
“Do you want another, my darling?” Courtney asked.
Edgerton nodded, and Courtney gave him her glass.
“Thank you. This will help dull the pain until the surgeon arrives,” he said.
Minutes later, Alesbury and the surgeon arrived at the same time. Violet rushed into the hall and into her betrothed’s arms. “Oh, Brooks, how can I ever thank you for rescuing me?”
Alesbury brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “All will be well, my love,” he said as they went into the parlor, where he went to the sideboard and poured a splash of brandy and downed it in one gulp.
Violet took a sip of her brandy and let the liquid burn down her throat. She wanted to put the last few hours out of her mind.
“It will be better if I assess my lord’s wound in his bedchamber,” the surgeon said. Alesbury was beside his friend in a moment, helping him off the sofa and up the stairs to his bedchamber, Courtney following in their wake.
When Alesbury returned to the parlor, he went to Lavinia. “Lady Edgerton, would you like a refill?”
Lavinia shook her head. “What I’d like is to know what happened this evening and why my son returned with a bullet in his shoulder.”
“I understand and—”
“Mama, I’m engaged,” Violet said, interrupting her betrothed. “Lord Alesbury has proposed, and I’ve accepted.”
Lavinia looked between Violet and Alesbury. “I see.”
“We were set to tell you at the ball, but I wanted to visit the retiring room first. That’s when everything went wrong.”
Lavinia pierced Alesbury with a look. “Does Edgerton approve of your proposal?”
“He does indeed and has given his consent for me to marry Miss Bainbridge.”
Violet slipped her hand into Alesbury’s. “When I started to return to the ballroom, someone put a handkerchief over my mouth and everything went dark. I awoke in a warehouse with Lord Carlisle threatening to ruin me and my sisters if I didn’t marry him.”
“Oh you poor dear, how dreadful! What a vile man. He’s haunted our family for the last time, I hope.”
“I knew something was wrong when Violet didn’t return to the ballroom in a timely manner,” Alesbury said, continuing the story. “When I relayed my concern to Edgerton, we suspected Carlisle was somehow involved.”
“I wish I’d been told the situation at the time and not have to imagine the worst.”
Alesbury nodded. “I understand, Lady Edgerton, but we thought it best not to say anything more at the ball. Too many prying eyes and gossips. I apologize that we couldn’t tell you sooner what was happening.”
“I understand your reasoning—thetoncan be vicious,” Lavinia said, somewhat mollified.
“Carlisle wanted to ruin Violet and force a quick wedding, but luckily, we arrived at the warehouse in time to rescue her. Unfortunately, Carlisle had a pistol with him and was able to shoot Edgerton before he was taken down.”
“Where is Lord Carlisle now?” Lavinia asked.
