Scoundrel Ever After (Secrets and Scandals) (40 page)

She looked down at Ethan’s face, so pale against the lurid scarlet of her skirt. With her free hand, she stroked his dark hair back and tried to swallow through the lump in her throat.

His eyes blinked and he looked up at her. “Are you an angel?”

She choked through a laugh. “No. But I think there must be one on your shoulder. The uninjured one.”

Jason leaned forward. “Ethan?”

Ethan closed his eyes again. “Is that my brother?”

She stroked his head. “Yes.”

He flinched from where she held the cloth to his shoulder. “What happened to Jimmy?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Audrey shot him,” Jason answered. His gaze found hers across the hack and he nodded approvingly, gratefully.

Ethan opened his eyes again and twisted his neck to get a better look at her. “Is he dead?”

“Yes.”

“Are you all right?”

Her heart swelled with love for him. “Yes. I feel . . . unremorseful.”

His lips curved into a smile and his lids shuttered his eyes once more. “Good girl.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Once they arrived at Lockwood House, North met them and helped Jason carry Ethan inside. It was then that they realized the bullet must’ve gone straight through, as he was also bleeding from the front of his shoulder.

Jason and North conveyed Ethan upstairs to the bedchamber Audrey had slept in the day before. They sat him on the edge of the bed where Audrey quickly cut his clothing from his torso.

Jason held a cloth to his back while Audrey pressed one to his front and prayed the doctor would arrive soon.

North gave Ethan a glass of whisky, which he downed in one swallow. He thrust it back, his hand shaking. “Another.”

As Ethan finished the second glass only slightly more slowly, the physician arrived with Scot.

He allowed Audrey to assist as he probed the wound, cleansed it, and then sutured both the front and back. The physician proclaimed him lucky since the bullet hadn’t done significant damage and then told them all to pray infection wouldn’t set in. He dispensed laudanum, instructed Audrey on how to bandage the wound, and said he’d return the following day.

Ethan touched the puckered wound on his chest and winced. “I don’t suppose there’s any way to get some of that poultice from the innkeeper’s wife in Hounslow?”

“Unnecessary,” said Sevrin, stepping into the room. “I stopped by the Black Horse and brought some of Tom’s. Works wonders.” He handed it to Audrey.

She accepted the small pot with tears in her eyes. “Thank you.” She looked at each of them in turn—the Carlyles, Saxtons, Sevrins, Scot, North, Lydia, and Jason. “I’ll be forever indebted to you for saving Ethan.”

“
We
.
We’ll
be forever indebted.” He held his hand out to her.

She went and took his hand, squeezing his fingers. “We.”

She didn’t look away from him as she heard the room empty. When the door clicked shut, she opened the pot and wrinkled her nose. “What a horrid smell.”

He let go of her hand. “If it’s going to drive you away, leave it off.”

“Never. Now, lean forward a bit.” She set about liberally applying it to his back. “I was surprised to see Teague today.”

“I wasn’t. I asked him to come.”

She paused. “You did?”

He turned his head to look at her. “He was part of my contingency plan.”

“You asked for help. And you put your faith in him.” She didn’t bother masking her surprise—or her delight. “I’m glad. Now I understand why you leapt in front of him. He asked me to tell you ‘thank you.’”

His head drooped forward. “He lost his sister, and he risks his life to do good. He deserved to live.”

“So do you.”

“I’m not quite as certain of that, but I will try.” He did his best to straighten as she applied the ointment to his front. “What I would like to know is how we escaped St. Giles.”

“I’m not quite certain of that, but it did seem remarkably easy. It was as if people helped us along the way. They moved, they ushered us along, they wanted to see you safe.” She wiped her hand on a towel and grabbed the linen North had brought for bandages. It was quite long, so she was able to wrap it around him several times. He sucked in air and cursed under his breath as he lifted his arm to aid her efforts.

When she was finished, she helped him lie back against the pillows. She sat on the edge of the bed facing him. “Do you know what I think?” At his questioning look, she smiled, feeling confident that she was right. “I think you were never really alone. You thought you were without friends, but you’ve always had people who cared about you, even in that world.”

His face darkened. “Like Gin Jimmy.”

“No.” She touched his face and ran her thumb over his lips. “Not like Gin Jimmy. People who genuinely cared about you.” She closed her eyes and swore.

“Audrey, did you just curse?”

She looked at him and gave him a lopsided smile. “Apparently I did. But with good cause. I forgot about Nan. She’s a maid at the Cup and Burrow, and I said I’d take her out of there with us.”

“I remember Nan.”

“Of course you do. You helped her. You showed her kindness and mercy when no one else would. And I’m willing to bet she wasn’t the first one.”

He turned his head and pressed a kiss into her palm. “Your faith in me has made all the difference.”

“Maybe, but I still think you were doing something right all along.”

His eyes found hers. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I definitely got something right now.”

“I would say so.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips over his. He tried to prolong the kiss, but she drew back with a smile. “You need to rest. I don’t even know how you’re conscious after what happened.”

He clutched her hand. “I’ve spent too much time in the dark, my love. I want every moment with you that I can grasp.”

“And you shall have them. I promise to be here when you wake.”

His forehead creased with doubt. “You won’t leave me?”

She brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead. “Ethan, my dearest love, no one is ever going to leave you again.”

Epilogue

July 1819, Wootton Bassett

T
HE SUMMER SUN
beat through the linen of Ethan’s shirt, heating him to the extent that he sought the flagon of water beneath the tree twenty yards distant. As he slaked his thirst, he watched the men dig the foundation for the new school at Stipple’s End.

Pride and excitement mingled in his veins as he thought of the changes he was bringing to the orphanage. Fox had been thrilled to bring Ethan and Audrey into the fold. Together, they’d planned to enlarge Stipple’s End. Within the next two years, they hoped to double the staff as well as the number of beds, in addition to the new school that would prepare the children for futures they might never have dreamed of.

Like the future Ethan was now living.

The investments he’d begun making eight years ago—right after he’d ventured to Lockwood House and fought with Jason—had made him a wealthy man, and he couldn’t spend the funds on anything other than improving the lives of others. He’d been given a second chance and was committed to giving them to as many people as he could.

A child sprinted across the field toward him. Instinctively, he tensed. He’d relaxed since moving to the country, but some reflexes were still ingrained.

It was Hal, a nine-year-old boy from the orphanage. “Ethan!” The panicked tone of his voice did nothing to ease Ethan’s anxiety.

He set the flagon down. “What is it?”

“It’s Mrs. Lockwood.” The children had learned to call Ethan by his given name, as they addressed Fox so intimately, but they still called Audrey Mrs. Lockwood, as they called Miranda Lady Miranda. “She needs you at home!”

The mild sense of apprehension that had struck him upon noticing Hal coming toward him bloomed into full fear. Thank God he had a horse here. “Is she all right?”

Hal was breathing heavily from his run. “I think so?” He didn’t look certain and that was enough to send Ethan dashing for his horse.

A scant ten minutes later, he was riding up the lane to their small house. Nan, whom they’d rescued from the Cup and Burrow and brought to the country with them as their housekeeper, met him at the door. She smiled. “Good afternoon, Mr. Lockwood.”

Ethan blinked at her lack of visible distress. Was there a problem or not? “Where’s Mrs. Lockwood?”

“Upstairs. She’s just—”

Ethan didn’t wait for further explanation. He ran inside and took the stairs two at a time. He went straight for their bedroom in the back corner, but found it empty. Voices from the opposite end of the house drew him to turn and retrace his steps past the stairs to the large guest chamber they’d only recently finished furnishing.

Audrey stood inside, her hand resting on the gentle curve of her increasing belly. She laughed at something Jason said, then her gaze found Ethan’s. “There you are!”

He gestured to his brother as he went into the bedchamber. “This is why you sent for me? I thought there was something wrong. The baby or something.” His voice trailed off as he realized how unjustifiably worried he sounded.

Audrey slid her arm around his waist. “Of course not. The baby’s fine—and not due for another four months as well you know. Lydia, on the other hand, does not have that much time.” She inclined her head to the corner, where Jason’s wife was sitting with her feet propped up. She and Jason had come to the country to birth their child sometime within the next month.

Lydia’s hands rested on her rather swollen midsection. “Hello, Ethan. Thank you for letting us come to stay.”

“You know you’re welcome anytime.” Ethan moved to hug his brother, happy to see him after several months apart.

As they parted, Jason glanced around the newly refurbished room with its warm gold and ivory hues. “The house looks good.”

“Audrey’s been working on it night and day.”

“Someone has to pay attention to
our
house instead of the orphans’.” She slid a look at Lydia. “I begin to understand some of Miranda’s frustration about the lack of improvements to Bassett Manor. Fox and Ethan spend the majority of their efforts on Stipple’s End.”

Jason slapped Ethan’s back. “And now there’s a school along with it. How’s that coming?”

“We’re just getting started. It’s amazing how quickly it’s all come together. I’ll show it to you—now, if you’re not too tired.”

Jason grinned. “How can I refuse your eager invitation?” He turned to Lydia. “You’ll be all right?”

She waved her hand at them, smiling. “Go.”

Ethan brushed a kiss against Audrey’s cheek and left with Jason.

When they reached the base of the stairs, Jason paused. “Just a moment. I brought something for you.”

Ethan couldn’t imagine what that could be as he followed Jason into the sitting room at the front of the house. A wrapped package stood against the wall. Jason tore the paper away to reveal the painting of their father from his office at Lockwood House.

“I thought you should have it,” Jason said. “You liked him better than I did.”

No mention of whom the viscount had preferred. And Ethan realized it didn’t matter. It had never mattered. What mattered was that he was their father, and it was thanks to him that they had each other. Ethan looked at Jason and nodded. “Thank you.”

As they rode toward the site of the school, Jason asked, “You really are happy out here?”

Ethan cast him a sidelong glance. “It’s shocking.”

“I don’t know if I could do it, at least not full time. I’m happy to visit though, especially since it’s likely to be the only time I’ll see you. Is there any chance you’ll come to London?”

“I’m sure we will—to visit you and Audrey’s grandfather.” Lord Farringdon didn’t entirely approve of Ethan, but he was thrilled to see his granddaughter happily married. Her joy was his, and that was all Ethan cared about.

Her parents, on the other hand, were less pleasant. They’d attended the wedding by special license, but their emotions could only be described as a mingling of disappointment, over her choice, and relief, because she was finally married. Audrey was happy to see them as little as possible, if ever, and Ethan wasn’t inclined to persuade her differently.

“That’s good,” Jason said. “I’m sure the cousins will want to see each other.”

Ethan slowed his horse as they neared the building site. “I’d like them to grow up together.”

They climbed down from their horses, and Jason touched his arm. “I would too.”

Later that night, after a laughter-filled dinner that included Fox and Miranda, as well as the Knotts, Ethan climbed into bed with his wife and drew her into his arms.

She snuggled her backside against his groin as he stroked her belly.

“Are you trying to tempt me, Mrs. Lockwood?”

“Every moment.” She turned her head and pressed a quick kiss to his neck. “It’s good to have Jason and Lydia here. I’m so happy they’re going to have their baby with us.”

They hadn’t wanted to have the baby in London, and Jason’s country seat wasn’t an option since his mother resided there. Her fragile mental condition wouldn’t tolerate the upheaval. He’d discussed with Ethan that it was perhaps time to move her to a dower house, but he had to build one first. He acknowledged it was past time to do that, now that he had his own family to consider.