Page 31 of Jaxon (Gentlemen of War #4)

Jaxon

I watched Amelia leave the room, fascinated with what I had witnessed. She exhibited such fortitude and strength as she worked alongside Mrs. Gentry, stitching Henri’s head wound. Blood covered the lady’s fingers. I had never seen such a sight. A lady of the beau monde assisting like a medical nurse and, above all, she did not falter or swoon. If I believed I could resist her now, I was sorely mistaken, but this was precisely what I feared when I first met her; and especially now when I realized how much I cared for her. If this mystery man was nearby, he certainly would know how to reach me by learning of where my affection lay.

Zachary appeared in the doorway. With only the three of us present beside Henri’s bed, we spoke freely in French.

“Did you see anything peculiar, Zach?” I asked.

“No, not by the time I went looking. But the forest is so dense. He, or they, could be anywhere.”

I paced within the small space between the two beds. “If this man has arrived, we could be certain he did not come alone,” I said.

Claude’s anger over his brother’s injury had not abated. “I will find them.” He lifted his pointed chin, rage surfacing in every stunted movement of his muscles. “I will go and search him out.”

“Yes,” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “But we must have a plan first. If you go charging out there alone, we could lose you.” I squeezed his shoulder. “I cannot let that happen.”

He buried his discontent in a nod. I did not blame him. I knew that vengeful feeling all too well.

Zachary took a deep inhale. “I saw the man with the scar several times in London. We have identified him as James Carver. He travels with a tall, gangly fellow who wore his long, black hair tied back. There might be only two—”

Outside, a shot rang out and stopped Zach from finishing his sentence. We seized our guns, running down the stairs. For only a brief moment my eyes flashed to where Amelia had been on the couch earlier with Daisy and Anna but now the women had dropped to the floor.

When I caught a glimpse of the footman near the kitchen I shouted his name before I reached the door, “Ennis, go sit with Henri!”

Bursting out the front door, we ran around the side of the house until we reached Diggs kneeling over Jesse’s prone form. “No, no, no!” I cried as I lowered to his side. Diggs had his neckcloth pressed against Jesse’s shoulder. He had been shot.

“Where’s O’Keefe?” I demanded.

“He is in the woods chasing the offender.”

Zach and Claude both tore into the trees to join the search. “These men are picking us off one by one,” I growled to Diggs.

“Jesse, did you see the man who shot you?” I lifted the cloth and examined the wound, grateful that the injury did not appear severe.

He shook his head. “No, sorry, I was turned away. If I hadn’t pivoted at that very moment, he would have hit me square in the chest.”

“Can you stand? We must get you inside.”

“Yes, sir,” he coughed, trying to catch his breath. “I can walk.”

“Very well. Diggs, take him inside. Put him with the others. See that Mrs. Gentry is informed. Restrict your remarks, please, I need to speak with them first.”

I actively guarded the spot where Jesse fell, scanning the trees with determination. More gunshots pierced the air, sparking my curiosity about the shooter’s identity and subsequent target. I prayed fervently that my friends remained unharmed as I sprinted toward the noise, eager to get a clearer view. To my relief, I spotted Zachary, unscathed.

“He fired at me,” he hollered. “Missed thankfully.”

“Did you see him?”

“No,” he replied, wiping sweat from his brow. “Just heard the crack and a whoosh past my ear.”

Claude emerged behind him with O’Keefe arriving from a different direction, bursting with energy. “I pursued the shooter!” O’Keefe exclaimed. “I think he acted alone, but I am unsure.”

“For now, we are safer indoors,” I declared. “We can watch from the windows.” I surveyed the garden, thankful that we had cleared most of the wild foliage encroaching on the house. It gave us a clearer view of anyone approaching.

“With the sun setting, we need torches on the perimeter,” Zach suggested.

“Yes, we have stakes and cloth in the stable,” I added.

“How is Jesse?” asked Claude in French.

“He is fortunate. It is just a flesh wound.” I wiped the sweat off my nose. “It could have been worse, but the bullet must have only nicked him.”

“What is truly going on, Mr. Jack?” asked O’Keefe, cradling his rifle in his arms. “Why is there a man targeting you or this household?”

I pursed my lips. It was time to bring him and Diggs in. “I uncovered some details of a traitor’s plot while fighting Napoleon.”

“A traitor’s plot?” he gasped. “Why not just alert the authorities. Why is he after you?”

“We have taken steps,” said Zachary. “But things like this take time.”

“So, the men are British?” O’Keefe asked. “The traitors?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Are they men of distinction? Politicians? Lords?” His eyes lit up. “Maybe I have heard of them.”

“That is irrelevant.” I gestured for us to go inside. “Right now, our uppermost priority is to reinforce the lodge and make sure no one else gets hurt.”

We walked to the front of the house. Pointing toward the river, I removed my hat and ran a hand through my hair. “Apparently the lack of a bridge did not deter them, much like it didn’t stop you, Zach.”

“What worries me is that we are backed into a corner here,” Zach retorted. “A river we cannot cross in front of us and unforeseen dangers in the woods behind.”

“We have enough guns and ammunition to defend,” I said. “My uncle left the lodge well stocked.”

“But how many can shoot?” O’Keefe asked.

I mentally ticked off names in my head. Diggs, O’Keefe, Mr. Gentry, Claude, Zach, and I. With their injuries, Henri and Mr. Duncan could not assist, Jesse was unknown, and I wasn’t sure if Ennis knew how to shoot. “Maybe seven.”

“We don’t know how many are out there, Jaxon,” Zach said. “If they outnumber us, we could put the women at risk as well. And what if they sought to ambush us? At night?”

I clenched my fists, recognizing the weight of his words. “We don’t even have the means to get word to any local authorities in time.” I met his look. “What did Bow Street say when you met with them?”

“They are looking into your claims, it’s why Hunter and Luke stayed back. Investigations like this take time. You are accusing members of the peerage of being involved in a traitor’s ring. It can be seen as a political ploy.”

“It’s been two months. I provided proof.”

“My guess is that these men see silencing you as their best defense, then you can’t stand against them in court,” Zachary paused. “But what perplexes me is if that was their plan, they could have picked you off on the streets of London. Why wait?”

It’s true. If they wanted me dead, they could have easily accomplished it before now. This mystery attacker went after my friends instead. “They must need me alive.”

Zach’s cheeks slowly released air. “That is a reasonable deduction. They are trying to thin our numbers to get to you.” He peered over at the front door which drew my attention.

Amelia stood just outside. She was too far away to have overheard our conversation, but how much did I want her to know? I had already told enough lies to last a lifetime. Regardless of Amelia being in or out of my life, I wanted us to part as friends and for no secrets to remain between us.

“What is the plan, Jaxon?” Zachary questioned, in an effort to bring my focus back to him.

“We have to assume the men are likely regrouping and coming up with an alternate plan themselves. We may have surprised them with the additional men, assuming I was alone.” I turned to the other men. “O’Keefe, check in with Mrs. Gentry and see if she needs any help with the injured. Mr. Gentry, check the guns and ammunition. Claude, go check on your brother. Let’s reconvene in the great room at a quarter past the hour.”

They each departed with a nod.

Zachary and I stood silent for another minute. “Truly Zach, all these men want is me .”

“Don’t you dare think it, Jax,” he growled. “We will not give them what they seek.”

“But to what end?” I questioned. “Everyone around me has suffered because of this. My friends, family… you. Certainly, your new wife and son are not pleased you are away from them this long. Gwendolyn is expecting a child, and Lucas has left Helena and Charity. If I gave myself up, there would be no need to also risk the lives of all the people of my association.”

“Enough.” Zach gripped my shoulder. “That will never be an option.”

“These men are serious, or they would not have attacked Henri or shot Jesse.”

“We will prevent anyone else from being harmed.”

“Until when?” My voice was laced with indignation. “You have shown your loyalty to me, but the protection must end at some point. What if my wife is walking down Bond Street one day and disappears?”

“You have a wife I don’t know of?” He chuckled so Zach-like.

I smirked. “You know what I mean. Or even my mother or sisters?”

Zach had not let go of my shoulder and only squeezed. “We are brothers-in-arms. We will do whatever it takes for one another.” He looked back at the door where Amelia remained. “Now, someone is waiting to speak with you.”

“She is engaged to be married.”

Zach’s eyebrows quirked upward. “I would pay a hefty wager that that woman is most certainly not affianced… at least not yet .” He chuckled and walked away, dipping his chin in her direction as he passed her before he stepped inside.

I took a deep breath, still wondering how Zach could make such a claim. When I reached Amelia at the entryway, I took her by the hand and led her straight to my study. I certainly didn’t want to make us targets for whoever was in the woods and I did not wish to speak to her where we could be overheard. Regardless of impropriety, this was the most logical place to speak privately.