“But I do.”
“Do what?” he prompted, hope in his voice.
“Love you.”
Matthew had never been so terrified in his life as when he heard the shot and Grace collapsed against him. Now all that fear was replaced with happiness. He was bordering on giddy, something he had never experienced before. If she weren’t injured he would pull her close and kiss her in a way that left no doubt to his feelings for her or his desire. However, she was injured and he could only pray that it was minor. If it were serious wouldn’t she be unconscious?
The carriage rolled to a stop and the door swung open. Matthew lifted Grace in his arms and moved toward the house. The door was opened by John. “Take the coach back to the church, or hitch a wagon, if there is one, to bring Jordan and Draker back.
“Draker?” John asked. “What about Elizabeth?”
“Draker shot Grace. Elizabeth took my horse to go for the doctor.”
Matthew continued up the stairs, not looking back to see if John did as he ordered, assuming his brother had. He carried Grace into her chamber and once she was settled on the bed, he ripped the sleeve from her dress to better view her arm. Matthew examined the wound, careful not to move the arm too much. The bullet grazed through the flesh of her upper arm. “I think you may need a few stitches.”
Grace strained, trying to see the damage. “I am sure a bandage is all that is necessary.” She relaxed back on the bed. “I am just grateful Draker is a poor shot.”
“As am I,” Matthew chuckled. “I hope to be married quickly.”
“The banns need to be cried, and you need to ask my father.”
“I will ask your father, of course.” He smiled. “But, we are going to Scotland the moment you are well enough to travel.”
“We will not.” Grace tried to push herself up off the bed.
Matthew grasped her shoulders and gently pushed her back down. “Yes, we are.”
“But my father won’t be there. I want to be married in my home, so he can be present.”
“I don’t know how that is possible. It could take days to obtain a special license.”
“It will take days to get to Scotland and I won’t be separated from my father. Not right now. If he were better I would. But what if something happens? What if he suffers a setback?”
“Hush.” Matthew leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. As much as he wanted to rush Grace off to Scotland and be married immediately, the entire trip would be spent with her worrying about her father. He would not make her suffer in such a way. Besides, he hadn’t planned on spending his wedding night with a fretful bride. Though he was confident Mr. Cooper would recover in due time, he was selfish enough to want to spend the first night of his marriage in the most pleasurable way possible, which meant Grace should not have a worry on her mind. “I will see about obtaining a special license.”
“Thank you.”
“Isn’t it situations like this that has the town wagging their tongues about you?” Dr. Norton walked in chuckling.
Graces face took on a lovely rosy hue and Matthew removed himself from where he sat on the edge of the bed.
“I am sorry I wasn’t in church, Vicar Trent.” The man stifled a yawn behind his hand. “I was up most of the night over in the next county delivering a baby. Stubborn child didn’t want to make an appearance until the sun was rising.”
Though he was no longer the vicar of this village, Matthew was pleased that Dr. Norton hadn’t succumbed to the gossip and had a very good reason for missing services.
“I was just about to find my bed when Mrs. Trent started banging on my door.”
“She can be a bit determined,” Matthew agreed.
“Now, let me examine Miss Cooper. I’ll come for you when I am done.”
Matthew moved to leave the room and paused to glance back at Grace one more time. She simply smiled at him. He closed the door and made his way to Mr. Cooper’s. The man was lying back against pillows and alert. Perkins stood by the window.
“Might I have a word with Mr. Cooper, alone?”
Perkins nodded and left the room. Matthew took a seat beside Mr. Cooper who watched him with interest. There was so much intelligence behind those faded green eyes. How could anyone have ever believed he was incompetent?
“Sir, I would like your permission to marry Grace.”
His eyebrows rose and a smile formed on his lips.
Matthew explained to Mr. Cooper the situation he found himself in, his daughter’s current reputation and the decision to no longer be a vicar. Mr. Cooper simply watched him intently. What if he denied him Grace’s hand in marriage? No, he couldn’t think that way.
Mr. Cooper only showed alarm when Matthew told him what had happened at the church this morning but relaxed when he was assured Grace would be fine and her injury wasn’t much more than a scratch.
“I assure you that I am in a financial position to take care of Grace. I’ve never needed to work, on that you have my word. If you are in doubt, confirm what I am telling you with Lord Crew. He knew my father.”
The man gave a slight nod. Was he going to ask or did he accept what Matthew was telling him. Now had come the time to ask the question once gain and hope for the right answer.
“Mr. Cooper. May I have your blessing to marry Grace?”
The man smiled broadly and nodded his head.
Relief flowed through Matthew. There was nothing to stop him now from making Grace his wife.
“Your brother has arrived with Draker and is asking where to put him,” Perkins announced from the doorway.
Matthew’s first thoughts were Hades, then the barn, but he didn’t want the man to die from infection setting in before they had answers. “Put him in the most secure bedchamber upstairs. I then need you to send someone for Lord Crew and Lord Brachton.”
“Very good, sir.” Perkins left and Matthew stood. “I need to go learn what I can.”
Mr. Cooper nodded and Matthew quit the room. He hadn’t noticed until there was a crisis that it is deuced inconvenient not having servants around to do ones bidding. He had lived simply as a vicar with nothing out of the ordinary every occurring. Since Grace and her family came into his life he realized how necessary they were from the basic meal, to milking cows and summoning lords.
As he reached the landing Dr. Norton stepped out of Grace’s room. “How is she?”
“She talked me out of stitches. Her arm probably could have used a few, but if she refrains from using it until it is healed all should be well.”
“Can I see her?”
“She is changing and complaining about someone ruining a perfectly good dress,” the doctor chuckled. “I understand I have another patient.”
“Yes, Draker. He was shot after he shot at Grace.”
Dr. Norton merely shook his head. “None of this makes any sense to me. I’ve known them both since they were children. Why would he shoot at Miss Cooper?”
“That is the exact answer I hope to have eventually.”
Dr. Norton and Matthew followed the sounds of moaning until they came to an open door. Draker lay on top of the bed. John and Jordan were on either side of it watching him. Matthew entered the room and stood at the end of the bed. “Why did you shoot Grace?”
The man looked at the gentlemen surrounding him. “I am not telling you anything.”
Dr. Norton shrugged. “Call me if Miss Cooper needs anything. I will stop by and check on her father on my way out.”
“Thank you Doctor.”
“Wait,” Draker called out. “You have to get this bullet out of my leg.”
Dr. Norton paused by the door. “I will in good time. I’ve been up all night. I am tired. I don’t really want to help you right now.”
“You took an oath,” Draker cried.
“Yes, I did. I can’t recall it exactly now.” Dr. Norton shook his head and began to leave again.
“Wait. I can pay you, now.”
The man turned. “It isn’t payment I wish. When you give these gentlemen the information they requested then I will tend your wound.”
“You can’t do that.” He looked up at Jordan. “He can’t, can he?”
“I don’t believe so,” Jordan shrugged. “But I don’t believe I will tell anyone either.”
Draker looked at John, who simply shook his head. Finally, his eyes met Matthews. “Why did you shoot Miss Cooper?”
“Bloody hell.” Draker looked around the room, not focusing on anyone. Matthew waited patiently.
John reached down and pressed his hand against the wound. Draker cried out in pain.
“This is torture,” he said after a few moments, beads of sweat dotting his brow.
John leaned down. “This is nothing.” His voice was low and cold making Matthew wonder exactly what John had been doing as a spy besides working in the stables in Paris.
Draker looked to Matthew. “You are vicar. How can you allow him to do this?”
“I resigned this morning. I am simply a man who happens to be in love with the woman you shot this morning.”
Draker paled further.
John pressed harder on Draker’s leg. “Do you really wish to find out all that I am capable of?”
“It was Stillwaite.”
John eased away and Dr. Norton stepped back into the room.