Page 63 of Redemption of a Marquess

Miss Stone lunged through the doorway. Grey dove for Gordon. The gun fired with a deafening roar. Jeanine screamed when Grey stumbled. She sprang forward as Miss Stone collided with Lord Gordon, but felt as if she was struggling through quicksand.

The marquess caught himself and stumbled toward Lord Gordon. Miss Stone raked her nails down Lord Gordon’s cheek. He howled and shoved her aside. She hit the carpet and the marquess crashed into him. They fell to the rug with a thud as Jeanine reached them. She leapt aside as the two men rolled across the rug in a death grip.

Miss Stone shoved into a sitting position. Jeanine looked wildly about the room for something to hit Lord Gordon with. Her ears rang. Two men appeared in the doorway. She yanked her gaze up and saw the gentleman she’d met in Grey’s library two days ago, Baron Rosemund, along with another tall, dark-haired man.

“What in God’s name—” Baron Rosemund rushed to Grey and Lord Gordon.

He dealt a hard kick to the side of Lord Gordon’s head with his boot heel. The man went limp. Jeanine rushed to Grey’s side and fell to her knees beside him. Blood spotted the sleeve of his left shoulder.

Baron Rosemund nodded toward Lord Gordon. “I assume he is the reason your door is open and a footman is lying unconscious in your foyer?”

The marquess looked sharply at him. “Is the footman dead?”

Brendan shook his head. “Nae. But I’ll wager he has a devil of a headache tomorrow.”

“What are you doing here?” Grey actually sounded peeved.

“We had a meeting,” the baron said.

Grey grunted. “I sent a note, cancelling.”

“Anthony insisted on ignoring that,” Rosemund said. “You should be grateful he did.”

“What the devil is all this about?” the other man demanded.

Jeanine gingerly fingered Grey’s wound. “You are bleeding.” She dropped onto her backside and pinned him with a hard stare. “I specifically instructed you not to be hurt on my account.”

His brows rose. “The bullet barely grazed me.” He looked up at the baron. “Brendan, if you would.” He extended a hand.

The baron clasped his hand and hauled him to his feet. Grey reached for Jeanine, but she scrambled to her feet and grabbed his arm.

“You must sit down.” Jeanine looked over her shoulder. “Miss Stone, please wake Mr. Baldwin and have him call for a doctor.”

Lady Guilford burst into the room with Mr. Baldwin and Mrs. McPhee close behind.

Lady Guilford skidded to a halt, her sleeping cap askew on her head. Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her heart. “What happened? Valan, you’re bleeding.”

“A mere flesh wound,” he said with exasperation.

“Mr. Baldwin,” Jeanine said, “please call for a doctor.”

Mr. Baldwin glanced at Grey, who sighed and said, “She will not be satisfied until a doctor confirms that I am not dying.”

The steward disappeared.

“Mrs. McPhee, will you bring tea for everyone?” Jeanine asked.

The housekeeper looked at Grey. He nodded, and she hurried from the room.

“Very clever of you, my dear,” Grey said to Jeanine. “They will stay busy for some time.”

“Will someone tell me what is going on?” Lady Guilford demanded. Lord Gordon moaned and she jumped. “Good lord, is that—” Her eyes snapped onto the marquess. “I told you he would go too far.”

“As usual, you were right, Peigi.”

“We should call for a constable,” she said.

“Aye.” Grey looked at Baron Rosemund. “Brendan, I would greatly appreciate—”