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“Mr. Whitcomb had an enlightening conversation with Lord and Lady Hartford. Apparently, Lord Hartford couldn’t take his wife nagging him anymore, so he hired the thugs.

He is remorseful, but Lady Hartford had such a breakdown, he plans to send her to a convent to spend the remainder of her days,” Langford said.

“As for Lord Hartford, he has agreed to live at his country seat.”

“How did you convince him to live at his country estate?” Lilly asked.

“Whitcomb told him that Blackstone was livid and swore he would spend his life making Lord Hartford’s a living hell until he was ruined and his family name worthless.

Blackstone would keep his actions quiet if he moved from London and never returned.

But if he ever stepped foot in London again, the agreement was off.

He believed Whitcomb. According to him, he is already packing. ”

“What about Lady Beatrice?” Emmeline asked.

“Hartford agreed to the marriage proposal between me and Lady Beatrice. I just signed the marriage contract. Whitcomb had Hartford write up the contract while he was there and he brought it with him. Her dowry was increased three times.” Caldwell chuckled.

“Not that I need the money. I’ll be investing it for Lady Beatrice.

All that’s left is getting the special license. ”

“This all seems so fictional. Worthy of a gothic novel.” Lilly entered the conversation. “I’m having trouble believing such things occur in the ton .”

“How can you say that after what Redford planned for you?” Langford growled.

“Indeed. You are right,” she replied.

“I’m glad to know the truth finally, and that the attempts on my life will end, but that doesn’t solve the problem that Andrew is still unconscious,” Emmeline said.

*

“Forgive me,” Andrew mumbled. “I heard every word since Caldwell and Langford entered the room.” All eyes turned to him in shock.

Emmeline reached out and placed her small hand on his cheek, and he turned into it, seeking its warmth.

He’d been too shocked to speak as he listened silently to the conversation going around the room.

Being betrayed by Lord Hartford stung. The man could make his living on the stage.

He’d lied right to his face repeatedly. He was as vile a creature as his wife, and Andrew was glad to know he would never see either of them again.

To know they were so brazen as to try and shoot Emmeline in Hyde Park in broad daylight froze his heart when he thought about it.

“What are you thinking?” Langford broke the silence.

“Everything. How much my head and arm hurt, not to mention the rest of my body. I still had the aches and pains from jumping out of the way of the carriage when it tried to run Emmeline down. And then to be shot and thrown from my horse. It’s no wonder I can’t move.

Christ.” He placed his hand over Emmeline’s, which still cradled his cheek.

“The thought that they shot at Emmeline boils my blood. These three attempts on her life will haunt me.”

She smiled at him tentatively. “It is over. No one will ever try to kill me again. Please rest easy knowing this. We must be brave and live our lives carefree. If we don’t, Lord and Lady Hartford win.”

If his head didn’t feel like it would explode at any moment, he would sit up, pull her onto his lap, and kiss her until neither could breathe. But since every hair on his body ached, he didn’t think he could do any of that.

The sound of the gunshot and the immediate sting on his upper arm hadn’t panicked him.

What had frightened him was being thrown from his horse.

The whole event had been fast and exceptionally slow at the same time.

His mind had flashed to Aiden’s accident.

Then, his own life flashed through his eyes, and he’d believed the worst would happen.

He would die of a broken neck like Aiden.

His heart constricted painfully now thinking about it.

What would it do to Emmeline, he’d wondered.

Would she survive losing someone else she loved?

As he’d hit the ground excruciatingly hard, the last thing he saw in his mind was her lovely face with tears in her eyes.

Even though he’d been unconscious, some part of him had known he still lived.

He’d heard worried voices, felt tugs on his body, and he’d known he would see her again.

Right before he’d woken up, he heard muffled voices and people coming and going.

He’d struggled to open his eyelids, but they were heavy and stuck.

He’d pictured his arms and tried to move them but to no avail.

It was the same with his legs. And then, instantly, everything changed.

His eyes popped open, and his body twitched, allowing him freedom of movement, even if it was difficult and hurt deep inside his bones.

When he opened his eyes and saw Emmeline’s relieved face, tears rolling down her cheeks, his heart broke for the pain he’d caused her, even if he’d had no control over the situation.

But now they had both been given a second chance at a life together.

And he would spend however long he had loving her, making up for past mistakes, making babies, and worshiping her.

Caldwell wasn’t the only one needing a special license.

“You are quiet,” Emmeline said, gently caressing his hair. “Can I get you anything?”

“Something to drink would be nice.” He hadn’t noticed until that moment how stuck his tongue was to the roof of his mouth. Parched. He’d never been so thirsty in all his life.

“Here,” Caldwell said as he approached the bed with a glass of brandy. “This will ease the pain and help you sleep.”

“I don’t need to sleep,” he mumbled. “I need help sitting up so I don’t dribble on myself like a baby.”

Caldwell cocked a brow. “For someone who just defied death, you are grouchy.”

“Forgive me. It’s the pain.”

“The doctor left laudanum. Do you want some?” Emmeline asked.

“Hell, no. I’d rather be in pain than floating in a cloud, unable to see or focus.

” Once Caldwell and Langford had him sitting up, propped on pillows, he downed the entire glass in one swallow.

“Another, please.” This time, he finished it in three.

“I’ll beg your forgiveness now for falling asleep.

I can’t keep my eyes open anymore.” He looked at Emmeline. “Will you kiss me?”

Tears pooled in her eyes as she leaned forward and brushed her soft lips against his. If only he could pull her on top of him and kiss her properly. Soon. His eyes closed, his body eased, and he fell into a deep slumber.