Page 23 of Roseanna (The Shackleford Legacies #3)

Boscastle had been the Revisionist inside the house.

Seconds after the butler had fired, another shot sounded, and Rosie watched in horror as a bloom of red spread over the front of his chest. Moments later, he collapsed.

Picking up her skirts, she began to run towards the last place she’d seen Tristan. Her heart pounded as she saw his majesty crouch down, focused on someone lying on the floor. ‘ No, no no ,’ she moaned as she unceremoniously shoved aside everyone who would keep her from her love. When there were no more obstructions, she stopped, and the first sob forced itself from her throat. Dropping to her knees, she took his hand. ‘Tristan,’ she whispered brokenly.

‘Sweetheart, you need to give them the space to do what they need to do.’ Her father’s voice sounded next to her, infinitely gentle, knowing as he tried to pull her away. She shook her head vehemently and fought to free herself from her father’s grip. Then she looked up and spied Malcolm crouching on Tristan’s other side.

‘Let me save him lass,’ he murmured, reaching out to touch her shoulder. ‘Then ye can have him back.’

When Tristan finally woke three days later, he stared at the sumptuous canopy above his head in confusion. Where the devil was he?

‘Bloody hell, ye gave us a scare, laddie.’ His head snapped to the left at the sound of Malcolm’s voice, then groaned as the pain in his head intensified with the sudden movement.

‘What happened?’ he croaked.

‘Ye saved the King o’ England is what happened Tristan Bernart. I ken yer name is already on the lips of every person wi’ a pulse from here tae London.’

Tristan frowned, trying to recall what had happened. The last thing he remembered was taking Rosie’s hand… ‘Roseanna?’ he croaked, feeling a sudden white-hot pain across his chest.

‘Careful laddie, yer not out o’ the woods yet. She’s here. In fact, she’s hardly left yer side since you were shot.’

‘How long have I been here?’ Tristan rasped.

‘This is the fourth day.’ Malcolm answered. ‘An I have tae say, ye fair put a damper on the Garden Party, laddie.’

A sudden bark came from outside the door. ‘She can stay fer no more than half an hour and the only reason I’m leaving ye both alone is because yer in no fit state tae ravish a bloody lettuce.’

Seconds later, Roseanna came into the room with Trixie in her arms. Seeing him awake, she gave a sob, and he held out a weak hand.

‘I thought you were dead,’ she murmured, gripping his fingers. For some reason she was unable to stop crying.

‘How can I die now when, for the first time, I’ve got something to live for?’ he whispered. ‘As soon as I’m out of this bed, I’ll be speaking with your father.’

Roseanna gave a teary laugh ‘If you think I’m going to wait that long, Tristan Bernart, you’re sorely mistaken. Indeed, I’m fully expecting a formal proposal within the next five minutes…’

THE END

The story continues in Henrietta: Book Four of The Shackleford Legacies to be released on 20th December.