My Fair Lily(40)

She swung the board at each man’s head, each time striking with a resounding thwack!

“Lily, by all that’s holy!” Her uncle grabbed her and lifted her out of harm’s way.

“No! I have to help him.”

“I’ll do it.” George unceremoniously dumped her beside Laurel, quickly removed his jacket, and rushed forward to haul the other assailants off Ewan.

The crowd cheered. Big bodies flew into the makeshift stalls, splintering wood and frightening horses. Several horses broke loose and galloped across the auction grounds, chased by their owners... angry owners, for no one wanted to lose a precious source of income. Buckets were overturned, bystanders splattered by more big bodies falling into water troughs.

Though it seemed to Lily as though years had gone by, the fight actually ended almost as quickly as it had erupted. Ewan and her uncle were the only ones left standing. Lily let out the breath she had been holding. “Thank goodness.”

She rushed to Ewan. “Are you hurt?”

He didn’t have time to respond before the Tattersalls officials arrived and promptly ejected them. Lily was surprised and indignant. “Us? You’re tossing us out? We’re the victims here. Where were you when that ruffian shoved me into the stall and tried to steal my purse? And when his companions attacked Lord Carnach and my uncle? I’m appalled. Your directors will hear about this, mark my words. I won’t let the matter—arghh!”

Ewan picked her up by the waist, scooped her over his shoulder, and hauled her to their waiting carriage. “Och, lass, you’re wasting your breath. They don’t care. Leave it alone. Your uncle and I will deal with the matter privately.”

“When? After everyone hears your cousin’s lies and believes them? They’ll never listen to the truth, no matter what you or Uncle George say.”

Ewan nudged her into the carriage. Laurel and her uncle scrambled in after her. Ewan stepped in last, settling his brawny frame beside her. He cast her a warning glower when she opened her mouth to utter more protest. “Enough, lass. M’head’s still spinning.”

She stopped complaining. Ewan was the victim in all this and he’d already heard her righteous indignation. “What about Hades and the little mare? We ought to have picked them up.”

“They’ll be delivered to my stables,” Laurel assured. “What shall we name the little mare?”

Lily knew that her sister was trying to distract her from the incident. “We should leave it to Meggie.” She sighed, knowing nothing could be done until Ewan and her uncle spoke to the authorities. She glanced at Ewan. He was rubbing his jaw with his left hand and resting his swollen right hand on his thigh. Though his expression was stoic, there was a glint in his eyes that revealed he was in pain. “Oh, dear. Is your hand broken?”

“No.”

She turned to her uncle. “How are you? Any bruises? Cuts? Broken bones?”

“I’m sure I’ll be full of aches and pains tomorrow, but no serious harm.” He grinned. “Felt good to throw a few punches, but I think this afternoon’s bout will satisfy me for the next forty years.”

Laurel leaned forward. “Lily, how did you fell those two brutes? You hardly swung that wood board but they tumbled to their knees so fast, I’m sure they had no idea what struck them. And come to think of it, how did you escape that ruffian who had you pinned in the stall?”

“What she lacks in brawn,” her uncle explained, “she makes up for in brains. She aimed for the pressure points, the parts of the body that respond in a predictable way to contact. The backs of the knees are exceptionally sensitive.”

Lily nodded. “And when the villain drew his knife, I simply stabbed him with my hat pin.”

There was a collective gasp from all three companions. Ewan pinned her with his glower. “He drew a knife on you? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t wait long enough for me to say anything. You simply went after the man in that protective animal rage of yours. Anyway, the knife had fallen under the little mare’s hooves and she wasn’t going to let him get anywhere near her. She probably kicked him for good measure.”

“Och, Lily. He might have killed you. I should never have left you on your own.”

“You? I’d think Laurel and Uncle George are more responsible for me, they’re my family after all. Not that anyone is responsible for me. I can take care of myself. As I said, I got him with my hat pin. I doubt he meant to hurt me, just scare me.”

“He drew his knife,” Ewan muttered, the quiet menace in his voice sending a chill through her.