Duchess by Chance(71)

“Was it deliberate? Was I the target or Eva, or was it just a random act of foolishness by an idiot?” Daniel ran a hand over his face.

“Who are the possibilities?”

“Her family, Gilbert Huxley - dear God, there are plenty of possibilities if I give it thought.”

“Claire’s sure Huxley spoke to Eva tonight when they went for a walk with Lady Dunbar. She saw him pause briefly behind her, and then by the time Eva had turned around, he had walked on.”

“I’m certain he and her father have some sort of hold over her but she will not talk to me about it.” Daniel paced the room. “I will not allow her to be threatened or hurt again, Simon. We must get to the bottom of this.”

Nodding, Simon rose. “I will leave you for now, but I think in the morning we should send out a few men to enquire over tonight’s events.”

Daniel agreed. After Simon left, he went back to his rooms. Dismissing Molly, he stood, looking down at his duchess. The gentle rise and fall of her chest was the only movement. Her cheeks were pale and he wanted to take all her pain and make it his own. How was one small woman to shoulder so much anguish? A life spent with angry, abusive men, and then to suffer the unwanted attentions of Lord Huxley and whatever threats he and her father were holding over her. He would get her to tell him and then he would make them pay for her pain.

Removing his clothes, he then washed. After ensuring the laudanum was where he could reach it, Daniel blew out the candles and climbed into bed. As if sensing he was with her, Eva edged toward him in the dark.

“I will protect you, my love.” He gathered her into his arms and then, wrapping her hair around his fist, he tried to tell himself she was safe now, but the night’s events ran endlessly through his head and it wasn’t until the grey fingers of dawn filtered through his window that he slept and finally the tension eased from his body.

...

“Hello, Grandmother.” Daniel looked up as she stomped into his breakfast parlor.

“You did not send word that my granddaughter was injured!”

“That is not exactly true, Grandmother. I sent around a note saying she was indisposed,” he said, climbing to his feet and holding out a chair for her so she could join him, which, of course, she refused and instead, stood glaring at him.#p#分页标题#e#

“Being hurled around in a carriage after said carriage was shot at does not constitute being indisposed!” she snapped at him.

“She is all right, I promise. I would have alerted you instantly if that was not the case, Grandmother.” Daniel saw the genuine distress in her eyes and realized that she cared a great deal for Eva and most probably him. He’d just never really taken the time to look before.

“I don’t understand, Daniel. Why would anyone want to shoot at either of you?”

Dear Lord, his grandmother had tears in her eyes and her shoulders had slumped. Taking her arm, he hugged her. She resisted at first and then leant against him. He could feel her tremors and realized he had underestimated her and it humbled him to have her love when, in all honesty, he had probably not done a lot to deserve it.

“Come now, I will pour you some tea, Grandmother. We are unsure why we were shot at but I have men investigating it as we speak.” Daniel talked steadily until she had regained her composure. “It could just be a random act of stupidity that we were unlucky enough to have been caught up in.”

“But you are not convinced.”

Shaking his head, Daniel continued, pleased to have an ear to voice his thoughts, thoughts he had tried to hide from his duchess.

“It could be her family or someone else.” He went on to explain about Huxley’s infatuation with Eva and his visit with Eva at Stratton.

“Scoundrel!” she roared. “I’ll ruin him!”

At least the color has returned to her cheeks, Daniel thought as his grandmother proceeded to explain in detail what she would do to Gilbert Huxley.

She swallowed her tea and grimaced. “You did not follow the correct procedure for pouring tea, boy!”

“Forgive me.” Daniel realized her moment of weakness was well and truly behind them.

“Grandmother?”

The breakfast door opened and this time in came his wife, followed closely by Furban, who had not left her since the accident. Dressed in pale lemon with her hair drawn back in a matching satin ribbon, she looked about fifteen. Her movements were slow, which told him she was stiff and sore and she wore a sling, which both he and the doctor had insisted upon.

I could have lost her.

“What are you doing out of bed?” the Dowager Duchess snapped, once again on her feet. “And what is that?” she added, glaring down at the puppy, who was sitting on his haunches, staring up at her.