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“Be that as it may—” Father’s gentle scolding was cut off when a gunshot ricocheted through the air. “Are the fireworks starting already?” By his tone, he knew, as well as Elijah, that was no firework.
The sound had come from deeper within the Dark Walk.
“Stay here. Guard them.” Father’s orders were terse as he dashed out of the courtyard, heading in the direction Magruder had been taken. Before his marriage, Elijah would have felt left out and chafed at the bit, though he would have understood and done his duty. Now, there was nothing more important than guarding Josie’s safety. Even if his father had wanted to send him to see what was happening, Elijah was not sure he would have gone.
His place was here, by Josie’s side.
Always.
“What was that? Where did Uncle Oliver go?” Mary stepped into the courtyard, followed by Rex, who loomed behind her, looking increasingly anxious.
“Gunshot?” Rex asked, in the tone one of who wanted to be told he was wrong. His expression grew grimmer when Elijah nodded.
“I think so,” Elijah temporized, but he knew it was true. While the fireworks would be going off soon—which Magruder had likely counted on in his plan to murder Elijah—his gut knew it had been a gun.
Mary wrapped the cloak around Lily, and all three ladies had stubborn expressions on their faces Elijah recognized. Fortunately, he was not forced to tell themno, they could not investigate because Father was already striding back into the clearing.
“Magruder is dead.” Father was grimly furious. “Shot from someone behind the hedges. They got away.”
Elijah cursed, hugging Josie tighter. Their mastermind was still out there, and now, their only new lead was dead.
Chapter 37
Josie
Despite knowing her bottom was in for some stern discipline, Josie felt nothing but relief arriving home with Elijah. Tonight could have gone so differently in so many ways.
She could have been killed.
Mary or Lily could have been killed.
Elijah could have been killed.
Despite her love for her friends, it would have been the last possibility that would devastate her the most.
Instead, they had come had all come through it with nothing worse than bruises and scratches. Her arm still ached where Magruder’s fingers had gripped her, but that was hardly worth noting compared to what could have happened.
Elijah seemed to feel the same way. Rather than ordering her immediately to the corner or to present herself for discipline, the moment they were alone, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Devotedly. Josie returned the kiss, clinging to him with all her strength. Celebrating, for lack of a better word, the ability to do so.
It was several long moments before their lips parted, leaving her dizzy and gasping for air as her husband’s dark eyes bore into hers.
“What the devil were you thinking, going after Magruder on your own?” He did not relinquish his hold. His arms tightened, trying to press her even closer to him as if afraid she might slip out of his grasp at any moment. Foolish man. There was nowhere she would rather be. She hugged him back even tighter.
“I thought he had set a trap for you and the best way to thwart him was to spring it myself first,” she responded guilelessly. There was no point in hiding her motives from him. Elijah groaned, closing his eyes in sheer disbelief. Josie shrugged and bent her head against his chest, rubbing her cheek against the soft material of his jacket, feeling the steely muscles beneath. It was easier to make her admission when she did not have to look at him. “I am as eager to protect you as you are me. That happens when one is in love.”
Because of how tightly they were pressed together, she felt Elijah’s breath hitch. Felt every minute reaction of his body. The way he stilled, as the impact of her words hit home, the way his fingers caressed in their wake, the feel of his cheek atop her head.
Josie was braced for his questions, his disbelief, ready to defend her statement or even to bear his judgment over her flighty emotions. What she was not ready for was his simple response.
“I love you, minx.”
Pure, unadulterated joy bubbled up inside her. She twisted her head around, forcing his from atop hers so she could kiss him again, this time with a new array of emotions, even stronger than the ones before. Elijah’s lips curved against hers in a happy smile, and she pulled away from the kiss, staring at him.
“You love me?” She did not mean to sound incredulous, but she was.
“Not that it will do you any good in avoiding your just punishments,” Elijah teased, bending his head to press the tip of his nose against hers. “But yes, I love you, Josie. There is no other woman in the world I would rather have as my wife.”
“Even though I am impetuous, reckless, and flighty?”
