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Henry had been fully prepared to leap from the carriage just a few minutes ago to avoid her company. Now he didn’t want her to leave, but he couldn’t think of a damned thing to say. At least, nothing appropriate. She turned back to him with an expectant look, as his mouth was practically hanging open. “I…I hope you take that trip,” he said lamely as the carriage came to a stop.
“I’ll give it serious consideration,” she replied with a soft smile.
A sudden desire to bottle it up and carry it with him swelled in his chest.
Henry did his best to strike the thought from his mind. He was not a maudlin man.
Except around her.
“Good night, my lady,” he said as she moved to the door.
She had just begun to respond when an ear-splitting crash rocked the carriage.
***
Before Georgiana even had time to react, Captain Harris had pulled her to the floor and covered her with his body. Shattered glass surrounded them, and she could hear shouts from outside followed by pounding footsteps that faded into the night.
Captain Harris cradled her head to his chest. “It’s all right, Georgie,” he murmured against her hair. “I’ve got you. Breathe.” He took a few deep inhalations to guide her, and she did the same.
“W-what happened?” she managed after a few moments.
He glanced around. “Someone threw a brick through the window.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t keep the tremble out of her voice as her fingers curled into the fabric of his evening jacket. As he began to move away, her grip tightened. “Don’t.”
His face was not more than an inch from her own. She could make out the extraordinary color of each iris in the low carriage light, and his breath quickened as his lips parted. All the air seemed to escape from her lungs. Apparently a brick through a window didn’t rattle hernearlyas much as Captain Henry Harris.
Either she was going to kiss him, or he was going to kiss her. And she wouldn’t stop it.
Just as he began to lower his head, the carriage door was wrenched open. “My lady! Captain Harris! Are you all right?”
They both turned toward the speaker. It was Reggie’s coachman. “I tried to catch the bastard, but he was too—oh, apologies,” the lad said as he quickly averted his eyes.
As Captain Harris pushed off of her, she felt the loss of his heat. Did she look as dazed as he did?
“Mind the glass,” he said softly as he pulled her into a sitting position before suddenly turning pale.
“Captain?”
He shook his head as he clutched a hand to his chest. Georgiana moved closer. “Henry?” But he didn’t seem to hear her and began taking gulping breaths. She placed her hands on his arms and began smoothing them up and down. “There, there. It’s over now. You’re safe,” she crooned softly. His eyelids began to flutter, but his breathing slowed a little.
She turned to the coachman. “Help me get him inside the house.”
The lad nodded, and together they eased Captain Harris out of the carriage. By that time her footman Charles and Mossdown had arrived and took over.
“Put him in my study and bring a pot of tea. And some whisky,” she added.
“Yes, my lady,” Mossdown replied.
Georgiana watched as the two men helped Captain Harris up the stairs, and then she turned back to Reggie’s coachman, who had begun clearing the broken glass. There was no way she could hide this.
She let out a sigh. “If my brother is still awake when you get back, please assure him that we are both fine and that he can call tomorrow morning.” The last thing Georgiana needed was an overwrought Reggie showing up on her doorstep after midnight. She had just begun to ascend the stairs when the lad called to her. He held out a worn brick in his hands. “You should take this to show the police.”
Georgiana forced herself to reach for it. The brick was heavier than she expected and looked like the kind used to construct large buildings. A piece of paper was wrapped around it and secured with twine. She glanced up, and the coachman gave her a sympathetic nod.
“Take care, my lady,” he said softly. “I’m glad you’re both all right.”
A shiver jolted down her spine. If this had hit either of them, they could have been badly injured. Possibly even killed. And the perpetrator could very well still be near right now. Watching her. For the first time since the threats began, Georgiana felt true fear.
