Page 8 of A Daring Desire

“Gosh,” Rose said faintly. “Perhaps I do have a sensibility or two.”

“Aggie?” Cat said, trying to take in the information, which seemed too extraordinary to be true. “Aggie hunted the man down?”

Mr Berrycloth nodded. “She did. Shot him too,” he added as an afterthought.

“Shot him?” Rose squeaked, which Cat was glad of because she was too dumbstruck to speak.

Mr Berrycloth nodded. “According to Lord Marlowe. Thanks to Miss de Montluc’s efforts, they discovered Harris was being held hostage in his own home. He and Lord Frederick Adolphus went to search the property for him whilst Miss de Montluc waited in the carriage. Franklin returned whilst the men were inside, so she gave chase. She cornered him in an alley, but Franklin threw a knife at her, so she shot him.”

Cat covered her mouth with her hand.

Rose was staring at him like he’d run mad, or perhaps she had. “A knife? B-But… she never said. Not a word. Fred neither. They were both here the entire time, and they said nothing. Aggie wasn’t hurt I collect, but….” She trailed off, an expression of disbelief on her face.

“No, Aggie wasn’t hurt, but Lord Frederick sustained a minor injury, I believe.”

“This is what Aggie wanted to tell me,” Cat said, aware her voice sounded a little odd, shock at the astonishing revelations still reverberating through her. “But why didn’t she tell me he was in prison?” she demanded.

Rose shrugged. “I don’t know, but she certainly did everything she could to save him, Cat. You owe her a debt of thanks for her courage, by the sounds of it.”

“Oh, of course,” Cat cried, still bewildered but appreciating that much. “But why did she not tell me at once, or you, Mr Berrycloth? Why did you not inform me my husband was in fear for his life?”

“Because you would have come,” he said simply. “And been caught up in a scandal that might have ruined you if news had got out. You do not know how substantial the bribes I paid were, or the steps I took to keep it from becoming public knowledge.”

“But he might have been condemned to die and I—” Cat clamped her mouth shut, her voice breaking.

“But he wasn’t,” Berrycloth said softly. “Besides which, I have known your husband for many years and, in my opinion, Lord Kilbane would not have thanked you for coming. It was a difficult time, and I do not believe he would have relished you seeing him kept like a common criminal. In all honesty, I’m astonished that he’s here with you now, incapacitated as he is. I have never known him to turn to anyone else for help before.”

“Is that why he came?” Cat asked, hardly daring to hear the answer, but needing to know. “Did he come because he knew I would look after him? Or just because he wanted to come home?”

Mr Berrycloth looked uneasy. “I truly don’t know. He was certainly keen to leave France, having taken offense at the manner in which he was treated, which is hardly to be wondered at. More than that, however, if anyone knows what his lordship is thinking at any one time, I’d love to know, for I can never guess.”

Cat laughed at that, having to acknowledge the truth of it.

“You’re not angry with Aggie, are you?” Rose asked her anxiously.

“How can I be?” Cat said with a huff. “I wish she had told me, and that she didn’t… Oh, but everything else she did for him, for me. My word, I shall be in her debt forever.”

“Kilbane is in her debt forever,” Rose said dryly.

“Yes, and he knows it,” Mr Berrycloth remarked, smiling, before drawing out his pocket watch again and frowning down at it again. “Are you certain your Pippin will come?”

“Yes, of course,” Cat said. “At least, I think so.”

Pippin seemed as robust as ever and always said she was healthy as a horse, but she was an old lady now and did not much enjoy going away from home. Cat knew it was a great deal to ask of her and wondered if, perhaps, it was too much.

“You think so?” Berrycloth repeated, alarmed. “My lady, forgive me, but if she doesn’t, what then?”

Cat turned to glare at him. “I shall take care of him! She taught me well and I know what to do. I just… I just would like her reassurance,” she added fretfully.

“You?” Berrycloth repeated, his tone and his alarmed expression suggesting this idea was not one he found favour within the least.

“Yes, me,” Cat retorted. “I know how.”

“My lady, forgive me, for I mean no insult, I assure you, but have you nursed anyone before?”

“Yes! Well, no… at least,” she said, a little flustered as anxiety coiled in her belly. “Yes, I have under Pippin’s supervision, but not by myself. That is why I sent for her!”

Berrycloth groaned and rubbed a hand over his face. He took a moment to steady himself and drew in a deep breath. “Lady Kilbane, over the years of our correspondence, I have come to realise you are a remarkable woman with a will of iron, but I do not believe you have the necessary skills to do this alone.”