Page 79 of Prince of Scandal

With that, he climbed out the window onto the roof. Georgiana dragged herself closer, half-kneeling next to the open gap. It was near-impossible to watch. And yet she couldn’t look away.

The next five minutes was like a scene from a gothic play, except frighteningly real. Rupert darted back and forth across the space as he pressed ineffectually against his bloodied wound sites, his actions becoming more frenzied at the realization there was no ladder or wooden crates to climb down, or soft place to fall. All the while, the four men slowly and ruthlessly herded him closer to the edge.

“You may think you’ve won,” gasped Rupert as backed up further until he stood on the edge of the roof, blood oozing from four different places now. “But this isn’t over. My friends…”

“Tell us about your friends,” said Xavier, tilting his head. “We’ll wait.”

“They’ll avenge me. They’ll never stop. This is so much more than you’ll ever know, Northam. You think you’ve solved it. They’re playing with you. Your superiors, too. Damned fool whelp. Our society will flourish, we have new members joining who will all know the power of taking a life. The excitement.”

“As you’re not offering anything of substance, we’re done here,” said Xavier as he glanced at the other three men. “Shall we?”

Georgiana gripped the windowsill, her heart near-pounding out of her chest as fear and rage churned within her. “Do it,” she yelled hoarsely. “Do it.”

“Die, scum,” said Ashton as he raised his pistol, cocked it, and fired.

Rupert jerked as a bright red flower bloomed on his shoulder. He coughed and gurgled, swaying on his feet…then began to laugh, the sound more than a little manic. But before he could be shot again, he sketched a mocking bow. And jumped.

For a few seconds there was an eerie silence, swiftly followed by the horrifying sound of flesh and bones meeting cobblestones at great pace.

Georgiana retched and tears began streaming down her cheeks.

It was over. Thank God it was over.

Ashton climbed back in the window, and soon she was wrapped securely in his arms, his hand stroking her hair.

“I knew you would c-come for me,” she sobbed, tucking her head against his neck and clinging to his chest. “I knew you w-would.”

He kissed her forehead. “Because you’re my very own sweet minx.”

“And you’re my m-man. I’m g-going to love being your m-mistress.”

Ashton made a growling sound, but before he could say anything further, the other three men silently climbed back through the window. Even in the candlelight glow they looked weary and grim, yet when they smiled at her, there was a lightness, too, like the beginning of dawn after an endless night.

“We’ll go downstairs and speak with Mr. Ireland. My footmen can help move the body to a more discreet location until Salisbury and the other local authorities are informed. After that we’re going to have a very large brandy,” said Lansbury, then he and Mr. Carr left the chamber.

Xavier nodded, but crouched down beside her, his gaze searching. “Are you well, baby sister? I know that was…a lot.”

“I am now,” said Georgiana as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve then reached out to clasp his hand. “Thank you, Xav. Even if you won’t tell me what the bloody hell Rupert was rambling about. You may, however, remove this shackle from my ankle while I cuddle my prince. I believe the key is sitting over on the side table.”

Soon she was free, and Xavier returned downstairs to join the other two men. After rubbing at her bruised, sore ankle, Georgiana leaned back against Ashton’s chest. “Just so you know…I’m going to require a spanking.”

A chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Christ Almighty, woman. There’ll be no spanking until all your injuries have healed. And we are properly married.”

Married?

She frowned. “But we can’t marry. I am thoroughly, thoroughly ruined. I don’t think anyone in the history of the world is as ruined as me.”

Ashton only held her closer. “Not ruined. Just an expert in scandal. As I am known in England as the Prince of Scandal, we are therefore an utterly perfect match. I wrote to King Frederick, asking for his permission and blessing. For me there is you. Only you. Until the end of time.”

Warmth filled Georgiana, the kind of warmth that only pure joy could bring. If she had the energy she would twirl about the room. Instead, she yawned, her eyes starting to close. “If your king attempts to decline, we’ll go to Berlin and create scandals there until he changes his mind.”

“A sound plan.”

“I shall expect a very romantic proposal if he says yes, though.”

Ashton laughed and kissed her once more. “Agreed.”

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