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If there was any justice in the world, they’d killed him if Blackaby’s bullet had failed todoso.
But she shook that awful thought from her mind too. St. George, Blackaby, the Home Office. None of it mattered to her. Only Marc. “I can’t lose him, Luke,” she saidsoftly.
He squeezed her hand. “Whatever happens, Juliet and I are always here for you. For allofyou.”
“I know that.” And while her brother’s support did bring some comfort to her, the only thing she really needed was for Marc to recover. “I love him with all myheart.”
“No onewouldever—”
A soft knock on the door halted whatever else her brother meanttosay.
Callie, it must be. “Come in,” Carolinecalled.
And then the door pushed open and Callie’s dark head poked inside Caroline’s chamber. “Rachel said you wanted toseeme?”
Heavens. Caroline had no idea how to explain all of this to the poor girl who really was frightened of nearly everything. “Callie darling, come here. Something hashappened.”
“What is it, my lady?” Callie asked, her soft voice was no louder than a whisper as she crossed the room to stand right at Caroline’sbedside.
A staggered breath escaped Caroline. “I’m afraid your father has suffered…an accident. We are headed to London to be byhisside.”
“An accident?” Callie echoed, her light eyes, so much like Marc’s, roundedinfear.
“Would you like to come with us to see him, ifwe’reable?”
The girl looked like she might be ill and Caroline felt exactly the same way. “Papa said it’s too dangerous for me to leave Saddleworth.” And she swiped at a tear that started to trail down her cheek withherhand.
Oh, Caroline hoped that wasn’t really true; she prayed that was just Marc’s overprotective nature and not some premonition that had yet to occur. “You don’t have to come if you’d rather stay here. But Iamgoing to him. I have to be byhisside.”
“And Emma and Rachel?” Callieasked.
Caroline nodded. “Yes, Emma and Rachel are coming too.” She gestured to Luke and added, “And my brother will be with us along the way, Mr.Beckford.”
Callie blinked at Luke. “You came here once. I remember. You’re a friend ofPapa’s.”
“For most of my life.” Luke agreed with a nod. “I’m surprised you remember me, Lady Callista. You were so little atthetime.”
Caroline glanced at her brother and frowned. “Youwere at Saddleworth before?” Marc was so secretive about the place. It was surprising to think that Luke had been invited sometime inthepast.
A slightly sheepish expression settled on his face. “During an unfortunate time in my life after I’d found the most perfect girl in the world but decided to run from her instead of holdingontoher.”
Caroline had no idea. Well, she’d known Luke had run from Juliet. That foolishness had caused all sorts of carnage in its wake, but she hadn’t known he’d comeherewith Marc. Neither of them had ever said a word about that. What other things had been keptfromher?
“We get so few visitors here,” Callie said. “And you were very sad. Irememberthat.”
“What a very good memory you have,” Luke said. “It is very nice to make your acquaintance again, Lady Callista. I’m sorry it is under thesecircumstances.”
Callie nodded in agreement, then focused once more on Caroline. “You’re leavingtoday?”
“Just as soon as a few things have been packed for thejourney.”
“Papa said you’ll always keep me safe,mylady.”
Had he? Marc was the one who’d been keeping Caroline and her daughters safe. Did he have such faith in her abilities to do the same for his child? Caroline’s heart nearly broke at hearing those words, but they emboldened her a bit as well. “I will, Callie. Just like if you were my own daughter,” shevowed.
The little girl nodded once more, her hair, dark as night, bobbed slightly against her shoulders. “Then I would like to come. I would like toseehim.”
Chapter29
