“My father?” she asked.
“A bit worse for wear, but he will live to meet a hangman’s noose.” His lordship paused before adding, “As likely will you.”
To Annalise, he said, “Lionel was instructed to escort you to Dutton Hall, but it would be best if you called on Duncan Place. You will be surrounded by family there. Marksman’s family will gather to watch over him.”
“Is he seriously injured?” she pleaded.
“Every wound can be serious,” Lord Beaufort cautioned. “However, Alexander is strong and determined to share his life with you. Be of assistance to Lady Theodora, for Dora will be quite distraught.”
“And where will you be?” she asked.
“One of us must assist with the search of both William Booth’s home a second time and that of John Yates, as well as catch up with any who initially escaped, such as did your cousin. For now, your first mission is to oversee your brother’s healing.” He turned to Lionel. “See Lady Annalise reaches Duncan Place safely. I will escort Caroline Moreau to the magistrate.”
“Aye, sir.”
Beaufort placed a quick kiss on Annalise’s forehead. She was asconcerned for this man as she was for her brother, but her real fear was his leaving meant he had no interest in her.
“We’ve reached DuncanPlace,” Lionel told her as Annalise leaned forward to look upon the magnificence of the town home of Lord Macdonald Duncan.
“Is this where Alexander lived as a boy?” she asked in quiet reverence.
“Here and on Marksman Abbey land in Derbyshire,” Lionel said as he slid across the seat to open the door’s latch. The young man looked at her oddly. “You not be afraid, are you?”
“I do not fit into this world,” she admitted.
“Me and Axe said the same when Lord Duncan came for Axe’s father, but you’ll learn quick enough,” Lionel assured. “You are a resourceful girl, and you wish to watch over Xander while he heals, don’t you?”
“What happens to me if he does not heal?” she asked Lionel as he set her down before the house.
“None of us should be worrying over Axe, for he has set his mind to bring you home to Derbyshire. You must simply hold your own in Lady Theodora’s household. I know Axe is very fond of her and she of him, but she’s accustomed to having things her way or no way. She must learn to share Xander with another, though she’ll not like it much.”
Nothing more could be said for the door opened, and a proper butler appeared. “Mr. Carter,” the man said with a slight frown indicating he did not approve of Lionel calling at the main door.
“This be Marksman’s sister, Lady Annalise,” Lionel respondedcivilly, but Annalise heard a bit of irritation in her friend’s voice. “I be told by Beaufort to deliver her here. Have someone fetch her belongings from the boot.” To her, he said, “I’ll be around until we know Axe’s fate. When he wakes, tell him of my prayers.”
“I will,” she said as the butler ushered her inside. Annalise looked about the magnificent foyer in awe. The house had to be three times larger than Amgen House.
“There you are, my dear,” Lord Duncan said as he came forward from an adjoining room to greet her. “I am glad to have you among us, but we all wish it was under better circumstances.”
“How is my brother?” she asked.
“Shot in the chest by your cousin,” Lord Duncan explained.
“Yes, so Caroline said,” Annalise responded, “when she and I fought.”
“Fought?” Lord Duncan asked in surprise. “Where is Beaufort? Did he capture Caroline Moreau?”
Annalise emphasized, “Actually, Caroline and I were fighting in the weapons’ room, when his lordship and Lionel arrived. My cousin had fallen on her backside just as they appeared.” She wanted his lordship to understand she was as capable as his daughter in that manner. “Beaufort escorted Caroline to whomever is in charge of the investigation.”
“That would be my husband,” a female voice said from behind Annalise, and she turned to view the same stylish blonde Annalise had viewed previously.
“My daughter in marriage,” Lord Duncan declared with a hint of pride in his voice. “Lady Emma Orson. Countess to my son Richard.”
Annalise blushed. “I was briefly in Lady Orson’s company one day in the park,” she explained, “but we held no actual conversation, and I do not believe you were then Lady Orson.”
“I was not,” her ladyship said. “And none of us knew of your relationship to Lord Marksman then.”
“It was a great surprise to all of us,” Annalise stated the obvious.
