Page 73 of Cloaked in Beauty

But it wasn’t just a job. It was his life. And if he lost it defending her . . .

God, protect him. Please!

34

Philip sprinted down the hall and rounded the corner in time to see the assassin abandon the study door and race for the exit. Thank you, God! Philip gave chase, contorting his body around vases on pedestals and decorative hall trees in an effort to catch his quarry. The man slowed as he reached the closed front door, and Philip pushed harder, intending to tackle him against the wood and prevent his escape. But at the last minute, the intruder turned, gun in hand.

Philip dove sideways as the pistol fired. The bullet meant for his chest grazed off his arm as his body crashed into the entryway wall. As he struggled to gain his feet, the would-be assassin yanked open the front door and fled. Philip pursued, determined to apprehend the man who could testify to Drake Radcliffe’s guilt, but the villain must’ve had a partner, for the moment Philip rushed onto the porch, a volley of gunfire erupted from across the street. Wood slivers and plaster dust exploded around him, sending him scurrying back inside to shield himself with the house.

The report of a rifle interrupted the revolver fire. Carter, bless him. With the cover fire, Philip might just have a chance.

Staying low, he darted outside. Shots ricocheted wildly around him with no particular aim, giving him a chance to sprint down the porch steps and find cover behind one of the large oak trees that shaded the front of the house. He pressed his back against the bark and steeled himself for his next mad dash. Yet even as he pushed away from the tree and spun into the yard, retreating hoofbeats echoed in his ears like the banging of coffin nails.

He ran into the street anyway and spotted two assailants fleeing. He made note of the few distinctive details he could pick out to report to the local law, but the weight of failure pressed onto his shoulders.

In minutes, Radcliffe would have confirmation of Letty’s location. They needed to lock the house down and bring in reinforcements. Clenching his jaw, Philip pivoted and jogged back to the house.

Carter ran up to meet him, rifle in hand. “The folks inside?”

“Unharmed, I think.” Philip slowed so Carter could come alongside. “I’m fixin’ to check on them. I need you to send a wire to my employer.” He halted, pulled his billfold from his pocket, and extracted a card carrying the Pinkerton logo. “Have him send any agents in the area to this address as reinforcements. Fetch the law, too. I’ll need to give a statement.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Secrecy is no longer a viable strategy. We need to make this place a fortress until Miss Radcliffe can sign that will tomorrow.”

“I’ll head out right now.” Carter took the card and hurried back to the stable.

Philip jogged around the house’s perimeter to confirm that no attackers remained behind, then ran into the house, shouting an all clear as he made his way toward the study. He reached for the knob on the still-closed door, then opted to knock instead. “It’s Carmichael. Everyone all right in there?”

The door cracked a few inches. Stefan Anderson’s face showed in the opening. “Is it over?”

Not even close. But Philip kept that thought to himself. “For now. Are the ladies well?”

Could the man not get out of the way? It took all the restraint Philip possessed to stop himself from pushing past the lawyer and searching for Letty inside. He needed to see for himself that she was all right.

“Philip?”

Letty’s voice. Stefan turned his attention back into the room, and a few heartbeats later, the door flew wide. Letty stood before Philip, her stylish green dress wrinkled, her coifed hair untidy, and her hazel eyes misty with unshed tears. But she was alive and unharmed.

And now in his arms.

He wasn’t quite sure how it happened. If he reached for her or if she lunged for him, but in all honesty, he didn’t care. He could have lost her today. If he had his druthers, he’d never let go of her again.

He rubbed her back and pressed his cheek against her hair as he thanked God and reveled in the feeling of her heart beating next to his. He longed to touch his lips to her forehead, to murmur words of love in her ear, and to caress her arms and back until every fearful tremor ceased. A discreet cough reminded him of his audience, however, and had him stepping back instead of tugging her closer.

Raised male eyebrows and wide motherly eyes met his gaze when he found the courage to face Letty’s guardians. But before he could think of something appropriate to say, Letty grabbed his wrist and gasped.

“You’re hurt!”

“It’s just a graze.” He tried to shrug off her concern, but she proved unshruggable.

She ran her fingers up his arm to the spot above his elbow where the bullet had creased his skin, her frown deepening as she eyed the blood staining his sleeve. “We need to clean and bandage this right away.”

Leah Radcliffe glided forward and placed a hand on Letty’s shoulder. “Why don’t you fetch Mrs. Krouse. She keeps a medical box in the kitchen.”

Letty nodded and ran off to find the housekeeper, unaware of the tension crackling in the air behind her.

Mrs. Radcliffe narrowed her gaze at Philip, her face hardening. “You saved our lives today, Mr. Carmichael, and for that, I am in your debt.” She laced her quiet words with steel. “But if you think to seduce my daughter to get your hands on her money, I will not hesitate to use the full force of my influence to see you discredited.”

Philip held her gaze as his gut churned. He could either win an ally or destroy his future with the next words that came out of his mouth.

“I care a great deal about your daughter, Mrs. Radcliffe, but I don’t care a hill of beans about her money. Letty is remarkable all on her own. She’s brave, kindhearted, willing to sacrifice for others, and handles adversity without blinking an eye. Any man who wins her heart will be gaining a companion whose worth is far above rubies. Truth be told, her money is the only thing about her I don’t like. I worry that the expectations it manifests will pressure her to put Letty Hood aside in order to become Scarlett Radcliffe.”