Page 98 of Tempting the Marquess

Now that the last risk had been dealt with, Samantha ran over to her mother and crouched beside the chaise. “Mother? Mama?”

William swallowed hard. “Isshe…?”

Samantha placed two fingers on Eva Claremont’s neck. Then she sagged. “No. There’s a pulse. Faint, but there.”

“Thank God,” he replied. Emotion overwhelmed him, grief and elation and relief, and his eyes grew damp as he threw the weapon away, and walked over to joinher.

“I’m so very glad you shot them both,” Samantha said softly, taking his hand and rising to her feet. Her skin was damned cold, and she was shivering, but she was the bravest of women. “After what they did to your parents.”

“Yes.”

“I’m also glad that Phillipe will be brought to trial.”

“Me too,” he choked out, pulling Samantha into his arms and burying his face in the curve of her neck. “But I thought I’d lost you. Just because you’re as fierce as a warrior queen does not mean you have permission to leap into danger any time in the future. My nerves couldn’t standit.”

A watery giggle escaped her. “That’s because you’re aging. P-practically in your dotage. Luckily I am quite p-partial to anxious old men, and have decided to keep you and love you forever.”

“Thank God. I’ve no chance of happiness with anyone else. I love you, Samantha.”

“You do?” she asked, smiling up at him, the radiant joy on her face indescribable.

“For eternity, at least.”

They held each other tightly for several long, blissful minutes, until the parlor door swung open and a plethora of armed men led by White and Trudy invaded theroom.

“What on earth?” said Samantha. “Trudy?”

“Er, hello, my lady,” said the woman, a hint of color in her cheeks.

William leaned down. “May I introduce White, intelligence coordinator at the Home Office, and one of his lady operatives.”

“Such exquisite timing,” Samantha said irritably. “Only showing up after matters have been taken inhand.”

“Indeed. The poorest of form,” he whispered back. Then, “White, we need a physician to attend to Lady Claremont atonce.”

Surveying the bloody carnage in the room, White folded his arms and glared at him. “Of course. By the by, your employment with the Home Office is hereby terminated, Standish.”

“What? No congratulations on the efficient and successful conclusion to a long and delicate operation while only sustaining cuts and bruises?”

“Wipe that smirk from your face. Do you have any idea of the trouble you’ve caused? The paperwork I’ll now have to complete? Don’t ever darken my door again, and keep that dagger-wielding lady of yours on a firm leash or she’ll be working for me between births.”

“Don’t even think about it,” said William, tightening his grip around his fiancée’s waist.

“I wouldn’t do it anyway,” added Samantha. “Your organizational ability leaves a lot to be desired, and I believe the pay is terrible.”

White’s eyes glinted. “Don’t know where you heard such scandalous falsehoods, my lady. But feel free to visit if you ever get bored with the quietlife.”

“Thank you, but no,” Samantha said crisply, lifting her chin as they walked arm in arm toward the door. “We have far nicer duties in our future.”

“I guess you do at that, I guess youdo.”

* * *

Two days later,Samantha and William sat side by side at the foot of his bed, while Dr. Murray finished his work. A tray of steaming tea with lemon, sugar-dusted apple tarts, and a pile of carefully ironed broadsheets waited nearby, and Samantha kept glancing over longingly. Today her stomach was in definite food-accepting mood, and William might be lucky to get even one of the delicious-looking tarts.

The physician eventually stepped back and folded his arms. “Lord Standish, your rambunctious exertions damaged the delicate tissue around your shoulder, so you’ll need to wear that sling for at least a week to limit movement and allow the stitches to do their duty. I will leave a pot of Victoria’s salve for your cuts and bruises.”

William inclined his head. “Verywell.”