‘I am for the hangman’s noose. You may depend on it. Do you suppose that your noble lord here has any other plans for me? Now, Miss Wentworth, let us have no more heroics. Pray do not follow the example of your friend, I beg of you. Your face is quite extraordinary. It would be a pity to reduce so much beauty to a mass of pulp and a few slivers of bone.’
Perdita ignored him. She was looking at the flow of blood which poured steadily from Adam’s wound.
‘It isn’t as bad as it looks,’ he whispered quietly. ‘Stand away from me, my love! That pistol holds but two shots and he has wasted one of them. If I could but persuade him to fire again…’ His eyes told her that he was in mortal fear for her safety, but she rose and rounded on Verreker.
‘I’ll strike a bargain with you,’ she announced. ‘I can’t allow his lordship to bleed to death. Give me your cravat to staunch the flow and I will help you.’ She was well aware that she must hold Verreker’s attention, and if, possible, give Adam the opportunity to reach him. Her heart misgave her. Just how badly was Adam injured? He knew well enough that she might lose him, but the firm pressure of his hand stilled all her fears.
Verreker nodded in quick appreciation of her words. ‘I have to hand it to you, madam. You are worth fifty of that milk-and-water miss I planned to wed. Here!’ He snatched at the snowy linen about his throat and threw it to her.
It fell short and Perdita moved towards him, but he backed away, still holding his gun against the Runner’s temple.
‘No tricks!’ he warned as he edged towards the door. ‘I shall not hesitate to shoot, and my next shot will be fatal. Now, ma’am, how do you propose to help me?’
Perdita was trembling and her mouth was dust-dry, but her main emotion was one of fury. Verreker must not be allowed to get away, but she could not think of a plan to stop him. He was now too far away from her to give her the chance to stumble against him, but even if she had been able to do so she would have put the Runner’s life at risk, to say nothing of her own.
She stared at him helplessly, hating the smirk of triumph on his lips. How many other lives would he go on to ruin, she wondered? Beside her Amy’s face was the picture of outrage, and Louise had fainted. It was then that the door behind him opened, and Thomas burst into the room. For the moment he did not understand what was happening in the court.
‘Where is she?’ he shouted. ‘What have you done with Louise?’
Startled by the intruder, Verreker dropped his guard for just an instant, but it was enough for Adam. Even with his left arm hanging useless, he moved with astonishing speed, knocking the pistol aside, and using a strong right hook to connect with Verreker’s jaw. The man fell like a sack of coals.
Then pandemonium reigned as the Runners hurried to secure him and his two accomplices. Perdita saw nothing of it. She was on her knees beside Louise, trying, with Amy’s help, to restore her friend to consciousness.
Thomas thrust them both aside and gathered Louise to him. She opened her eyes and gave him a loving look.
‘Oh, Thomas, I have been so frightened,’ she whispered.
‘That is all over, my dearest. You will never be frightened again.’ He picked her up and looked at Adam. ‘Where is your carriage, my lord?’ he asked stiffly.
‘It is waiting. Do you go ahead to Laura Place with the ladies.’ Adam was swaying on his feet. ‘Perhaps you might request the services of a surgeon for me?’
‘You are injured, sir?’ Thomas softened his tone.
‘Merely a scratch, I believe, but the ball should be removed…’
‘I see. Well, sir, Louise must be my first concern, but I shall wish to speak to you later.’
‘I’m sure you will!’ Rushmore grimaced as he looked at Thomas’s retreating back. The boy had a right to be furious with him. Louise might so easily have been killed. As a guardian he had fallen far short of his own high standards.
Then a soft hand slipped into his own. ‘Don’t blame yourself!’ Perdita said. ‘You saved her in the end.’
Adam took her in his arms. ‘You should go back with the others, my love. This has been a terrible ordeal for you. I wonder that you did not faint when Verreker threatened you. I confess that I was terrified for you.’
Perdita lifted her face to his and her eyes were twinkling.
‘Why, sir, I did not dare,’ she told him. ‘I recalled that you have no time for missish vapourings…’
‘You are a wonder!’ he said fervently. ‘I don’t know what I have done to deserve you. Come, my love, let us see the magistrate. I believe that the charges against Louise will be dismissed.’
He was right. Jem Keay was already babbling out his evidence faster than the Runner could record it, in an effort to save his own skin.
‘And Verreker?’ Perdita was anxious to know the fate of her adversary.
‘He will either hang or be transported, Miss Wentworth. Either way he will no longer be a danger to society.’
‘I am glad of it.’ Perdita held out her hand. ‘My aunt is hoping that you will dine with her at Laura Place, sir. Will that be possible, do you suppose?’
‘It will be my pleasure, ma’am. This case will go to the Assizes. It is now out of my jurisdiction.’
‘Come, Perdita!” Adam took her arm. ‘Your aunt will be awaiting you. Shall we walk back to Laura Place?’
The sun was shining when they reached the street, and as they strolled along in the balmy air the world seemed a better place. Perdita felt that a dreadful weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
‘I can’t believe that it is really over,’ she said softly. ‘Now we have nothing more to worry us…’
‘Speak for yourself, my darling!’ Adam gave a wry smile. ‘I suspect that I am in for a most unpleasant interview with young Thomas.’
His suspicions were well founded. They saw Thomas sitting outside Louise’s room, his head in his hands, and slipped away to wait for him.
‘Well done, miss!’ The physician patted her hand as he finished his task. ‘You have been brave. I would guess you to be a soldier’s daughter.’
Louise gave him a misty smile, but she was looking beyond him towards the door.
‘I’ll send the young man in,’ the physician said. ‘But you must rest, my dear. I have prescribed a sedative, but you must not let him tire you.’
‘He won’t do that.’ Louise sighed with content as she rested her head against the pillow. ‘He is always so gentle with me.’
She spoke no more than the truth. Thomas approached her as if she might shatter to fragments before his eyes. She lifted a hand to wipe a stray tear from his cheek.
‘I am stronger than you think,’ she whispered. ‘You must not worry so.’
He bent his head and kissed her hands, but speech was beyond him. He sat motionless for several minutes until she drifted into sleep. Then he went to find the Earl.
He walked in upon a family gathering. Miss Langrishe was seated with the girls, whilst Adam explained that the charges against Louise had been dropped.
Thomas stalked over to him. ‘Can you spare me a moment in private, sir?’ he said.
‘I can spare you all the time you need to give me a dressing-down, Thomas, but it need not be in private. I am well aware of my shortcomings. Whatever opinion you have of me, it cannot be worse than my own.’
‘I am glad you think so, sir. Let me tell you that your role as a guardian leaves much to be desired. Louise has been neglected and today she was almost killed. Good God, sir! Imprisonment…humiliation…what else will you let her suffer?’
‘Stop!’ Perdita was on her feet at once. ‘How dare you, Thomas? We have been dealing with a man who would stop at nothing to gain his ends. Adam saved our lives today. You might remember that!’
‘Perdita is right, my boy!’ Miss Langrishe said gently. ‘No one could have known the depths to which this man would sink. We were all outwitted…but Adam did his best to ensure Louise’s safety.’
‘Without too much succes
s, I fear!’ Thomas was still smouldering with rage.
‘Don’t be such a gooby, coz!’ Amy said inelegantly. ‘Must we have a family feud? Adam is to wed Perdita, and you, no doubt, will offer for Louise. May we not be friends again?’
‘Well, sir, may I offer for Louise?’ Thomas gave the Earl a belligerent stare.
Adam’s smile lit up the room. ‘With my blessing, Thomas. Indeed, I hoped that you would do so.’ He held out his hand.
Thomas was nonplussed. He had expected opposition…an argument…an outright refusal. Now his dearest wish was to be granted. A surge of happiness overwhelmed him.
‘Well, that’s all right then!’ He took the proffered hand and beamed upon the assembled company. ‘I must tell Louise. How long shall I wait? I must not wake her, I suppose.’
A chorus of protest answered him until abashed, he returned to sit by Louise’s bed until his love should wake.
Perdita stole a look at her aunt’s face. Miss Langrishe looked exhausted. The events of the morning had taken their toll, and now reaction was setting in.
Amy caught her sister’s eye and nodded. ‘Aunt, will you not rest for an hour or two?’ she coaxed. ‘Perhaps, when we dine tonight, we may allow ourselves a celebration. After all, we have much to celebrate today, and you will wish to enjoy it to the full.’
‘You are right, my dear.’ Miss Langrishe allowed herself to be helped from the room.
Adam turned to Perdita. ‘And what of you, my darling? Do you also wish to rest?’
‘Great heavens, no!’ Perdita beamed at him. ‘This has been an adventure! Just think! If I had gone to Gibraltar I should have missed it!’
‘Fraud and lies and attempted murder, Perdita? In our future life together I shall be hard put to provide you with enough excitement, but I shall try.’ He was laughing down at her.
She gave him a wicked look. ‘I’m sure you will succeed, my lord, though I can’t think how.’
‘I shall have to prove it to you before too long. How soon may we be married?’
Perdita nestled happily against his chest. ‘As soon as my parents return to England. It is late autumn now, and they return in early spring. Of course, by then I may have changed my mind…’
‘About what?’
She heard the anxiety in his tone and chuckled to herself.
‘Why, sir, about becoming a Countess. You cannot be surprised. After all, it was you who told me that I had no hope of doing so. An ape-leader was the term you used, I think.’
‘Why, you little minx, am I never to live that evening down?’
‘I hope you will remember it for all your life, my love.’ Perdita’s eyes were shining. ‘It was the night we met. I, for one, will never forget it.’
‘Nor I!’ He kissed her then, and they were lost at once in a world which promised nothing but happiness for the future.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-2501-5
THE REBELLIOUS DEBUTANTE
Copyright © 2002 by Meg Alexander
First North American Publication 2006
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The Rebellious Debutante Page 25
