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“I am sorry we are running late. Unfortunately unavoidable,” Warwick said with a sigh, stepping forward to make his bow over her hand.
“I am glad you could join us.” Lily did her best to hide her distaste for his touch, though she did not allow her hand to linger in his. “You and my husband’s late brother were friends, were you not?”
“Ah, not really. Neighbors, of course, but…” Warwick paused as if trying to figure out how to word his statement without sounding insulting. Lily raised her eyebrows.
“I am sorry, I misunderstood. My housekeeper told me you visited with him the night before he…” Lily’s let the sentence hang, hoping Warwick would take the bait and she was not disappointed.
“Yes, I had just returned from London and knew he was in residence. Wanted to do the neighborly thing and all that.” Warwick shook his head sadly. “It was a shock to hear the news the next day when I had been speaking to him the night before.”
“A shock to everyone. So young and—from what everyone says—an exceptional rider.” Lily paid close attention to Warwick’s reaction, knowing Josie would be doing the same for Mitchell. From what she could see, there was nothing in his demeanor other than true sorrow.
“I suppose a horse can throw anyone, but I must admit, I am not much of a rider,” Warwick replied. “Mitchell is an avid horse lover, though. He visited the stables while we were here. Fine specimens, you said.” As he spoke, Warwick turned toward his secretary, and Lily focused on the other man.
Did she imagine it, or did Mitchell stiffen when Warwick mentioned he had visited the stables during their visit? Would such a visit have given him ample time to sabotage either Sebastian’s horse or his tack?
“Mitchell. Warwick.” Nathan’s voice echoed through the foyer, making all of them jump. Their heads swung around as one to see Nathan looking down on them, gripping the banister overseeing the foyer. Beside him were Elijah, Captain Browne, and Rex, all appearing just as tense. “A moment of your time, if you please.”
The request was snapped out like a command, nothing like the polite back-and-forth Lily and Warwick had been engaging in. She turned her head to look at him and saw nothing but confusion.
Beyond him, Mr. Mitchell had gone stiff. Grim. Staring up at Nathan. Then Nathan turned his head, and his gaze met hers, full of suspicion. Lily pressed her lips together.
“Now.”
Perhaps it was the tension in Nathan’s voice or that Warwick had brought up Mitchell’s sojourn to the stables, but whatever it was, the man clearly realized they suspected him.
With a fluid motion, he jumped forward, his hand slamming against Warwick’s side. The earl cried out, clutching the knife hilt that had suddenly appeared there, dropping to his knees. Mitchell shoved the injured earl at her and Josie, and they held out their hands to bolster him as he cried out again.
* * *
Nathan
Shock held him immobile for a moment.
Ithadbeen Mitchell. It had been Mitchell all along.
The traitor. His brother’s murderer. A turncoat, double-crosser.
Fury had him springing into action, but the drawing-room was emptying into the foyer, crowding the space. The noise increased as questions were asked when one of the ladies saw Warwick lying on Lily’s lap, blood slowly spreading on his coat, and the lady screamed and fainted.
Nathan was already more than halfway down the steps, Elijah and Browne beside him, Rex only a step behind, but Mitchell had a big lead on them… and all the people now whirling around the foyer were getting in their way. They pushed through—Elijah and Browne heading straight for the door and Nathan going straight to Lily.
“Are you alright?” he shouted to be heard over the cacophony.
“Yes. Go!” Lily swung her arm about, pointing to the door. “We will handle this.”
Evie was already pushing through the crowd, a cloth in her hand and a fierce expression on her face. She dropped to her knees beside Lily and pressed it against Warwick’s side, wrapping it around the knife’s handle.
Cursing under his breath, Nathan went. It felt wrong to leave Lily there, but he had his priorities, though, and Warwick was no threat.
The ladies had been correct.
Nathan straightened and shoved his way through the crowd still milling about, ignoring the questions shouted at him.
Despite his stop, he was not far behind Elijah and the others. He could see them running headlong for the stable yard. Unfortunately, Mitchell had gotten there long before them and was already rushing pell-mell out of the yard atop his horse.
Bloody hell.
Elijah and the others scattered as Mitchell aimed a pistol at them, which allowed him to go straight through toward the road unhindered. They kept running for the yard, determined to catch him. The raised voices both in and out of the house were reaching a peak as he and the others shouted for their horses.
