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Verifying that Lord Wood’s finger was still resting on the barrel, Richard spoke behind his ear. “I believe you are looking for me?” Simultaneously, he swung his clenched fist down on the man’s pistol-wielding right arm. Sophia immediately swung herself around the curving banister and dropped to her haunches behind the staircase. Radcliffe stood hesitant, plainly unsure whether to retreat or leap forward to help, while Lord Wood was so startled that he released his wife. Lady Wood crumpled into a heap but still possessed enough presence of mind to crawl away to where the butler hailed her toward him.
All of these events occurred in mere seconds, but Richard observed the scene with the same eerie calm, perceiving the position of every actor in the unfolding melodrama concurrently with the heightened focus that descended on him when it was time for him to spring into action. He fought for control of the weapon now pointed down between them in Lord Wood’s hand, while Richard gripped the barrel. He was younger and fitter, but the beefy lord he was wrestling had the advantage of mass and a large, powerful grip. Lord Wood was renowned at their pugilistic club for packing a devastating punch—Richard knew he must avoid the man’s club fists while fighting for control of the firearm.
If the unthinkable happened and he lost … the damned weapon would only be loaded with one bullet, so Radcliffe and Sophia could protect themselves in the event of his demise.
Perry will take care of my family if he must assume the title, was his last coherent thought as the two of them stumbled and Richard took a ringing punch to the side of his head, holding on to the barrel of the pistol like his life depended on it while his vision spotted from the blow.
CHAPTER17
Ashot rang out.
Sophia screamed in fear and clamped her hands over her ears. Then she scolded herself for being a scared little mouse, stiffened her resolve, and carefully peered around the curving banister of the staircase, which afforded a little protection.
Both men were prone on the floor, Lord Wood on top of her beloved Richard.Please, she prayed,please let Richard be unhurt.Neither man moved. Were they both dead? Panic clawed at the thought that her wonderful, foolish husband might be gone.
Slowly, she reached behind her onto a table to grab a vase as an impromptu weapon and then, crouching down, she scampered over to where they lay. Lord Wood rolled off Richard, and Sophia panicked, her eyes filling with tears until she realized it was Richard who had pushed the large man off, causing him to roll as if he were still alive.
She wept in relief, taking in Lord Wood’s sightless eyes and blood seeping through the gold brocade of his waistcoat.
Richard scrambled to his knees to grasp Sophia in a hard embrace while she sobbed out her relief into his shoulder, the vase she held in her hand trapped uncomfortably between their bodies.
Sophia gasped. “You are hurt!” she exclaimed, touching his blood-soaked jacket.
“Nay, it is Lord Wood’s blood. Sophia, my love, I must take care of Lady Wood. Can you be strong for me while I check on her?” Sophia realized she was still sobbing. Calming herself, she nodded.
He let her go and crawled over the few feet to where Lady Wood lay near Radcliffe, who had collapsed in a stupor. His butler noticed Richard’s arrival and exhaled in deep relief. “My lord.”
“Are you all right, Radcliffe?”
“Just a little dazed. I will collect myself back together, my lord.”
“Take your time, Radcliffe. This is not a typical evening.”
The butler bobbed his head, drawing in a deep breath while Richard turned his attention to the slight form.
“Evaline?” He touched the trembling woman on her shoulder and she flinched, cowering in a huddle.
“Evaline? Are you all right?” She shuddered and then looked up at him.
“It is over?” she whispered, her eyes unfocused and her face as pale as a white sheet.
“Yes,” Richard assented. “But, my lady, Lord Wood … I am afraid … he is no longer with us.”
She stared up at him with empty eyes until, in a hollow voice, she replied, “I could do with a strong drink, if I may?”
“I will take you to my study in a moment, as soon as I check on John over there.”
Sophia watched her husband move over to the shorter John, carefully turning him over from the position he had fallen in after Lord Wood surprised him with a blow to the head with the pistol. The guardsman mumbled, to her relief, opening his eyes to look up into the earl’s face. He bore a nasty gash on his temple that was bleeding profusely, and his gaze skittered about.
“Your lordship?”
“Yes, it is I. Radcliffe is calling for a doctor.” Richard glanced over to the servant, who gave a quick nod and clamored to his feet.
Sophia dried her eyes, taking pride in the man she had married. Her heart had nearly stopped when her husband hurled into Lord Wood, but he had succeeded in his heroic antics and now ensured the well-being of each person, despite the ordeal he had just faced.
Richard had just saved her life.
And killed a man.
