Page 64 of A Wicked Business

Chapter 17

Scenes of a terrifying nature were played out at London Bridge Station this afternoon as a madman with a gun ran amok through the crowd.

Mr Felix Knight, son of the great industrialist Mr Gabriel Knight, heroically tackled the man to the ground and disarmed him. Unfortunately —

―Excerpt of an article from the London Evening Star.

7th August 1850, Keston House, Grosvenor Square, London.

The heart-stopping crack of a gunshot echoed around them, piercing even the sound of people screaming and the usual cacophony to be found at any train station.

Gabriel Knight was escorting Belinda towards the exit, for she really was feeling shaky and faint now after her ordeal. The dreadful noise chased away any frailty, however, and Belinda screamed.

“Felix!”

Pushing out of the arms holding her, she picked up her skirts and ran, but his father was quicker, unhindered by heavy petticoats as she was.

“Felix!” he exclaimed, fear in his voice as they both saw Felix laying prone on the floor, covered in blood.

Flint was getting up, staggering to his feet, pistol still in hand but Belinda was too terrified to pay him any mind. She fell to her knees beside Felix, as his father did likewise.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he replied, though his face was chalk white. “It only grazed my arm. Not serious,” he bit out, yet he was clearly in a good deal of pain.

“Oh, no you don’t you, wicked blighter!” Doris said, advancing on Flint.

She delivered him a punch that had him stumbling backwards. His nose, already bleeding from Belinda’s strike, took the brunt of it but he was wild now, eyes wide with panic, knowing at the very least prison awaited, if not the hangman’s noose for abducting a peer’s daughter.

“Get out of my way, bitch,” he cursed, giving her a hard shove.

Doris fell heavily, sprawling in a flurry of skirts. A shout of rage rang out and Charles Kirby ran at Flint, delivering a series of fast, powerful jabs. Flint went down, out cold on the pavement.

“Doris! Sweetheart, did the blackguard hurt you?” Charles ran to his beloved who looked at him with her heart in her eyes.

“Oh, Charlie,” she said, the words full of admiration as Charles Kirby seemed to glow in the light of her pride in him.

“Felix, are you sure you’re all right?” Belinda asked, running her hands over him. She was aware of the gathering crowd and the impropriety of what she was doing but cared about neither.

Felix caught her hand and lifted it to his mouth. “I’m well, love. I promise.” His gaze darkened as he saw the bruising on her face. “He did that?”

Belinda nodded and squeezed his fingers. “I’m fine too, my darling. I promise you. No more than a bruise.”

Felix gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted another go at Mr Flint but, before he could move, a shadow fell over them. Belinda looked up to see her father staring down at Felix, his expression unreadable.

“Young man, you saved my life,” he said, his voice not entirely steady. “That bullet hit the carriage instead of me. Why? Why did you risk yourself for me, your enemy?”

Felix let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m not your enemy and neither is my father. We’re just living our lives and doing what we do, and I saved your life because I could, because it was the right thing to do, and because your daughter loves you despite the fact, you’ve never appreciated or deserved how wonderful she is.”

Keston sucked in a sharp breath and nodded, but he looked ill with shock and fatigue. To Belinda’s relief, Doris bustled forward.

“Come now, my lord. Back into the carriage with you. We’ll get you home and fetch you a nice cup of tea with a tot of brandy in it. That’ll see you right, you’ll see.”

The earl did as he was told, apparently putty in Doris’ capable hands, as Charles looked on with pride shining in his eyes.

“Isn’t she magnificent?” he said happily.

“She is,” Felix agreed, smothering a groan as his father helped him to his feet. “But I’d watch yourself, Charlie, old man. She’s got a terrific right hook. Which, by the way, it seems you do too.”

Charlie grinned and hurried into the carriage to chaperone his lady.