Midnight Masquerade (28 page)

Thankful he understood, she swatted him on his ass, “Go pack
Your Grace
.”

Bowing, he gave her a quick wink and walked out of the hidden vault as he said, “Yes
Your Grace
, as you wish.” 

Turning her attention back to selecting some jewels for her trip, she loved how giving her future husband was. He had not made anything off limits to her, his wealth, his homes, his body, he had given her free reign without hesitation. He trusted her.

Taking a few of the delicate boxes, she selected several necklaces, earrings and headpieces, broaches and bracelets. Stacking them together, she took a look over the large selection of rings present, men and women’s rings lined the shelf before her, selecting a few for herself for her right hand, she pondered what ring she should give to Alastair upon their wedding day. Both of her brothers had been given heirloom rings from her own family, Helena and Genevieve had selected from her family’s vast collection.

Alastair only wore his signet ring, he was not one for gaudy jewelry, and his style was very simple yet utterly refined and dignified. She needed an insider, someone who knew the family well that could help her with her selection, she knew exactly who she needed to talk to- Alastair’s majordomo.
If there wasn’t something here, then she’d have to commission a piece once they arrived in Scotland.

Turning, she saw Alastair packing in their large wardrobe, “Love, I need to run downstairs really quick. I forgot something, you continue on and I’ll be right back up. Do you need anything?”

Eyeing her, “
Would you like me to go with you?”

Shaking her head, “You pack, I’ll be right back it shouldn’t take but more than a few moments,” she said sweetly as she walked passed him, running her hand across his broad shoulders as she continued on.

Before they had
came up to the room
they
had stopped in the kitchen to get Romeo where Alastair’s military trained majordomo had been watching the pup. Hoping the man was still awake she went in search of him. In the few days since she had moved in she had learned a lot about the man and she trusted him.

With a song in her heart she skipped down the stairs to the first floor, hearing someone sing in the library she changed her direction to the sound of a lovely male voice. Peeking around the corner of the door she saw Raleigh tidying up the library while singing a little tune. The man had so many hidden talents she couldn’t help but smile, she knew the song well, it was an old
sailor’s
tune that Luke had taught her when she was a
child.

Unable to refrain, she stepped into the doorway and joined Raleigh’s tune,
capturing
his attention immediately
. He stopped singing immediately and bowed to her, “My Lady, I did not hear you, I’m sorry.”

“You have a wonderful voice Raleigh, I didn’t mean to make you stop.”

“Thank you Lady Amelia, I tend to sing to myself while working.”

“I do the same, I often don’t even realize I’m singing until someone mentions it. The tune you were singing was taught to me by Luke many
many
years ago, tis one of my favorites.”

“Tis
one of my favorites as well, can I help you with something my dear?”

“Actually yes, I was looking for you. As you know we are heading north and while there Alastair and I will be married. I was looking for guidance on a wedding ring for him, you’ve known him longer than his combined staff. In my family both of my brothers were married with family heirloom rings. Since Alastair has no family left for me to ask, and I want to surprise him
,
I was wondering if you had any ideas for me, maybe something his father wore?”

Crossing his arms, Raleigh pondered her question for a few moments giving her a brief moment to look around the room one last time. Seeing a letter on the corner of Alastair’s desk her curiosity got the best of her, she’d bet anything it was the letter from Aliana he had received tonight at the opera.

Quietly moving closer, she slipped the opened letter into her pocket as Raleigh finally replied.

“Come here My Lady and let me show you a portrait that’ll help you make the choice,” He offered, offering her direction to the portrait gallery across the hall. Following him
,
he took a candle with him into the gallery and lit a few candelabras so the room illuminated for her to see the wall of family portraits.

Pointing to the last painting done of Alastair and his parents, “His father wore several rings, the late Duke’s wedding ring was buried with him at the request of Alastair. However, as you can see in this picture he had another ring he frequently wore, it was a piece
handed down through the generations
from heir to heir upon their
twenty-first birthday. Obviously Alastair’
s father was in the grave for years before Alastair
turned twenty-one, thus the man has refused to wear it
as he father was not here to hand it down to him
. He is a stickler for tradition, I would say if you could find a way to get him to wear it
,
the generations of old would be mighty proud of you My Lady.”

“It is in the vault?” She asked, looking at the painting of Alastair’
s deceased parents, memorizing
the ring.

“
Yes, his mother was adamant that her husband wasn’t buried with it, she wanted Alastair to wear it. He was stubborn, and refused
,
the only place it could be is in that vault My Lady.”

Hearing the door knocker sound in the quiet house both of them turned towards the
noise
. It had to be at least two in the morning, whoever was calling at this time either had to have an urgent message, or was utterly mad. Assuming it was one of her brothers, she stepped forward only to be stopped by Raleigh.

“My Lady, please stay here. I’ll shall see who calls at this hour.”

Nodding to him she smiled and watched him walk out of the portrait gallery. Turning her attention back to the painting of Alastair’s father, she remembered the letter in her pocket that she had nicked from his desk moments ago.

Pulling it out, she looked at the folded note, she wrestled with herself whether she should read it or toss it in the fire. Curious why Alastair hadn’t destroyed it himself, she couldn’t help herself. Opening the letter she read through his ex-mistresses words with ease.

My dearest love,

It is my utmost wish
for your happiness with your new fiancée, she seems much more suited for you than your previous choice. As jealous as I am, I know I have never been in the running to become your wife. I can only hope that our years of friendship and love can be continued in the future as you have promised me. I miss your touch, your kiss and I miss our bed we shared for so very long. Although I understand we must be more clandestine regarding our romance, I do hope to see you soon, I know you will find a way for us to be together even after you marry. My heart belongs to you my love, be careful with it. Until our lips meet again, I shall dream of you.

With all of my soul,

Aliana

Xoxo

Closing her eyes she crumpled the paper in her hands and walked out of the gallery to the library, crossing the foyer she saw Raleigh reaching the door on the far end of the corridor. Crossing into the library she threw the letter into the fire and watched it go up in flames as a single gunshot rang out.

Without even thinking grabbed her skirt and ran towards the library door, turning she saw the front door open and Raleigh
sprawled out
on the marble floor clutching his shoulder, red blood pouring out. Screaming his name she ran towards him and slid next to him on the marble floor and pressed on his wound.

“Lady Amelia, you need to go…run lass.”

Shaking her head, she leaned across him and slammed the door shut.

Slamming his trunk closed he wondered where his pretty little bride-to-be had ran off to when he heard the single gunshot ring loudly through the night. For a moment in time he was sure his heart had stopped when he heard Amelia’s scream.

Running out of his room he rounded the curved staircase and saw Amelia holding Raleigh on the ground before the front door, crying.
Blood pooled around both of them.

“Amelia!” He shouted, running towards her as she looked up from his majordomo. As he ran, his security guards and additional staff were all appearing from around the house at the sound of the gunshot as well.

“He was shot, we were in the gallery and someone knocked on the door.
Due to the hour of night I thought it must be Gideon or Luke, I went to answer the door and he made me stay in the gallery
.
I was walked over to the library just as he got to the door when I heard the shot, w
hen I
got to his side he was alone
.”

“My Lord….” Raleigh coughed, his eyes shutting as blood flowed over Amelia’s hands as she pressed on the man’s wound.

“
Shhh
, Ral…relax old man,” looking up at the head of the guard who now knelt beside them, “Jax did you see who approached? Anyone leaving the front stairs?”

Shaking his head, “No Your Grace
, I was overseeing the traveling carriage in the back with my men.”

Amelia looked up at Matilda who was running towards them
and gave orders
, “Call for the doctor Matilda, Jax and Alastair
,
L
et’s get him somewhere the good doctor can work on him.”

Watching her he wanted nothing more than to shake her for being so near death again, had Raleigh not been present he was sure Amelia would have answered the door herself only to find a bullet in her own heart. Instead, his trusted man bid her to stay put and was shot, but why? Why shoot him? It didn’t make sense.

Losing too much blood his trusted employee was in no condition to answer questions about the shooter, knowing the man was tougher than a battle axe he had no doubt he’d pull through. The bullet appeared to have missed his heart and landed in his shoulder.

Seeing Matilda do as she was ordered, his staff started scattered in different directions in anticipation of the doctor and most likely an impromptu surgery that was about to commence on Raleigh.

“Lia, look at me.” He asked, putting his hands over hers until she looked up at him. Beautiful tears ran down her face as she held Raleigh, “let go love, I’ll take over from here. He’ll be okay, I promise. He’s been shot so many time
s
I can’t count on two hands.”

Closing her eyes as she spoke, “Why would they shoot him? Why?”

“I don’t know love but I will find out, that I promise you. First we need to get him to his room so the doctor can work on him, he can’t answer my questions until he regains his strength.”

Nodding she looked up at him as she slid her hands out underneath his and allowed him to take over putting pressure on the wound, god he was so thankful she was alive.

Standing up she looked at Jax, “You and your men will find o
ut who did this, and
answer to me why
exactly we did not have guards at the front of the house.
You
are the head of security Jax, this falls on your shoulders and your lack of attention at a time where my family is in the midst of war is
most
noticed. I will not play loosely with anyone’s life, if you are unable to do this job you will be replaced, is that understood?”

Lowering his chin to the ground in shame, “Yes Your Grace,” nodding, Jax turned on his heel and ordered his team with him as they went in search of answers.

Never in his life had he seen Amelia command such power and attention. She might have shed tears for Raleigh but his little brunette had snapped to attention and demanded answers like a general.
It was something that irked him, he had never had to share power before. His staff was used to his demands, not those of his young fiancée.

Looking over at his footman, “George help me get him to his room, lift him up while I apply pressure on his wound,” looking back at Matilda who reentered the foyer, “Matilda, when the doctor gets here send him to Ral’s room.”

Bobbing a curtsy, “Yes Your Grace.”

Standing up with George as he lifted Raleigh into his arms he applied pressure against the bleeding wound. At his side Amelia walked with them quietly, she was covered in blood, her fist clenched in anger. It was a side of her he had never seen before, which felt very odd.

“Lia, go upstairs and clean up. Once the doctor gets here and I’m assured
Raleigh
will be fine I’ll join you. We’ll leave in a few hours.”

“We are not going
anywhere
Alastair.”

Whipping his head around to look at the petite woman, he threw up a questioning eyebrow, “Excuse me?”

Crossing her arms, “Did I stutter?”