Chapter 14 #3
Marcus put her down, and then slowly rose. While still in a crouch, he whipped up the gun and squeezed off a quick shot. The bullet caught Ludlowe in the arm, sending his own weapon clattering to the floor. Augusta slithered across the carpet in a trice and grabbed it up.
“Meddlesome old bluestocking!” cried Ludlowe, clutching at his bloodied sleeve. “I shall—”
Marcus slammed his fist into the other man’s jaw.
There was a mere wisp of a groan as Ludlowe crumpled to the floor.
Augusta scrambled to her feet, Ludlowe’s weapon still cocked and ready. “I was sorely tempted to pull the trigger.”
“I know, but it’s best this way. We will let the authorities deal with him. He won’t escape the noose.” He held out his hand. “Give me the pistol, Gus. I shall see to him.”
She gave a resigned sigh and handed it over. “I suppose you’re right.” Her gaze lingered on the unconscious body lying in a heap on the carpet, then rose to the earl’s glowering face. “I wish I knew how to do that.”
Marcus couldn’t hold back a lopsided grin. “Your knowledge is quite extensive enough without knowing how to throw a punch. Besides, I fear that I’d be the main target and your prowess with lemonade is lethal enough.”
A moment of awkward silence followed. He set aside the spent pistol. “Gus—” he began.
“I know. You wish to ring a peal over my head,” she said in a rush. “But—”
His hand came up to caress her cheek, causing her words to catch in her throat.
“A peal? Yes, I suppose I do,” he said softly, though there was some emotion other than anger in his voice.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again. The thought of you racing neck or nothing into such danger had me half mad—”
Augusta’s mouth twisted into a rueful grimace. “Not half mad, I’m sure. Entirely mad.”
“You should never have entered in this room,” he said.
“Well, it was too late. I was already here when the two of you, er, made an appearance.
“You could have slipped back out the window.”
She finally dared to meet his gaze. “And leave you here at Ludlowe’s mercy?” She gently touched the streak of blood at the corner of his mouth. “You’re hurt. I’m so sorry I had to let him go on like that with you, but it was vital that he tell us everything.”
For an instant, an expression flashed in the hazel depths of her eyes that made Marcus dare to hope all was not lost between them.
“Leaving me in his clutches would have been what I deserved, considering—” he began, only to be interrupted by the muffled sound of pounding at the front door. At the same time, a head appeared at the mullioned windows and there was a tapping at the glass.
Swearing under his breath, the earl went over and flung it open.
“When ye didn’t show up guv, I took the liberty of sending fer Bow Street.
Stevie stuck te the lady, like ye’s ordered and follered her here.
” A scruffy-looking fellow craned his neck regarded Ludlowe’s unconscious body.
“Look’s like ye got things settled without der help, but at the sound of the shots they’s gone ahead and broken in the front door. ”
“You did the right thing, Jones.” Marcus turned to Augusta. “You had best be out of here before the Runners come in,” he said softly. “My man will see you safely home.”
“But we must search the desk for further proof, and question—”
The tramp of hurried steps echoed from the hallway. “You may trust me to do all those things. Please don’t argue with me on this, Gus.” Marcus took her arm and drew her toward the window.
“Now …” He quirked a faint smile. “If you will just leave the way you came in.”
She swung one foot up over the sill. “Will you promise to send around a note and let me know what happens?”
He nodded. “I promise you will hear of everything.”
The other leg went up, and Jones reached out to help her down.
“Gus.”
She turned around.
His lips came down hard on hers for an instant, then Marcus propelled her into the other man’s waiting arms.
Augusta paced back and forth before the fire, her gaze straying to the clock on the mantel every few minutes.
“Damnation,” she muttered aloud. It was nearly midmorning and she still had not heard from Marcus. Surely he could have taken the time to pen a short note to inform her that the culprit was finally locked away and the authorities were beginning to move against the unscrupulous mines.
She sighed. No doubt it would be the last bit of correspondence she would ever receive from him. Wandering back to her desk, she picked a letter at random from the neat pile lying on the blotter and began to read. Each word on the paper seemed to burn a hole in her heart.
Oh, she would miss their intimate exchange of thoughts.
But even more, she would miss his company in the flesh.
It felt as if he had become a part of her, yet she must resign herself to giving him up, no matter how much the void ached.
They were too different to fit together comfortably.
Hadn’t she seen the sparks fly often enough to know that?
And hadn’t their hot words left raw scars on each of them?
She mustn’t fool herself into thinking his kiss of last night was fired by anything other than the relief of escaping from deadly peril.
A discreet knock on the door caused her to brush a tear from her cheek.
She hastily shoved all of the letters back into her desk drawer and pushed it closed.
At least, she would have the pleasure of seeing his distinctive script once more.
“Come in, Jenkins,” she called. “I have been waiting for a note—”
Her words died in her throat as Marcus entered instead of the butler.
“Oh!” Augusta turned to hide the quiver of her lips.
“I thought you would like to know what the authorities are planning.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another. “It would have entailed a rather long letter, so I thought I might as well stop by myself.”
“Of course.”
“With what Ludlowe told us last night and the number of documents found in his desk, there will be no trouble in arresting the owners of the mines. His cohorts will find their way to the gallows as well. And the children will be returned to their families.” He gave a sigh. “Though I fear not all.”
“No.” This time, at least, she had a good excuse for the tear that spilled to one cheek. “We could not save them all. I … I wish I could have done more.” She reached up to brush it away, but Marcus was suddenly standing close and did it for her.
“You have done more than any one person could be expected to do,” he said. “Not only did you stop this monster, but your eloquent writings have raised the public’s awareness of the horrors of child labor enough so that it may never happen again.”
“But much of the credit for that rests with you as well.”
“Only because you encouraged me to take action.”
Augusta drew in a long breath and looked away into the fire. “It doesn’t really matter who deserves credit. All that counts is that Ludlowe has been stopped.”
“He is safely locked away in Newgate.” Marcus moved steps closer, and she was suddenly aware of his warmth through her gown. She started to move away, but his hand touched her arm. “Gus. About last night …”
“Y-You needn’t apologize. I know the heat of danger makes us do things we wouldn’t normally do.”
He stared at her for several moments. “You know, the heat of danger is now over.”
“Yes, I suppose it is.”
His arms came around her. “Then why do you suppose this is happening?” he murmured as his lips touched her cheekbone.
“I … I don’t know.”
“Mmm. Take an educated guess.” A gossamer kiss lingered on the lobe of her ear.
Her legs suddenly felt very wobbly. “But you don’t even like me! You said—”
“You are all too aware of my damnable temper. I say a good deal of things I don’t mean when I am angry.” He paused. “And even worse things when I’m hurt.”
Augusta bit her lip. “I -I hurt you?”
“You seemed so indifferent to me in the flesh. It was hard to bear, as I desperately wanted you to care for the real me as much as you seemed to esteem my ghost on paper.”
“Oh, Marcus.” She her face against his shoulder. “If I acted indifferently it was because I was afraid to show you even a hint of how much I had come to … esteem you. I thought you might find an aging, ungainly spinster’s attention unwelcome.”
“You think yourself unattractive, Gus?” He gave a soft laugh. “At last I have found a subject about which you are totally wrong.”
“But I am too … sharp in all the wrong places.”
“No, my love, you are exactly right in every way. Sharp where it counts, soft and rounded just where you should be.” He tilted her chin up and ran his mouth along the line of her jaw.
“I … I suppose I must defer to your greater knowledge in these things.”
He gave a chuckle. “A wise decision.”
Augusta was silent for moment. “Does this mean we can still be friends? That is, can we still correspond like before?
“I am afraid not.”
She looked down to hide her disappointment.
“You see, my man of affairs has told me that I am spending far too much on ink and paper.” He gave a crooked grin.
“So I really must insist that we continue our relationship in the flesh rather than in letters. If you remember, I had early on suggested that we meet to discuss our ideas over a glass of port …”
His grin widened. “Would you care to make that every night?” he added, though there was a touch of vulnerability beneath the humor. “However, I’m afraid it would have to be our own library, for White’s is out of the question.”
The light that came to Augusta’s eyes seemed to put his fears to rest. “For now, perhaps,” she answered, a mischievous smile of her own stealing across her features. “Perhaps our next crusade could be on the unfairness of men banning—”
He interrupted with a mock groan. “My friends already think I am a candidate for Bedlam. Imagine what they will say when I propose that females be admitted to our clubs! But that’s a discussion for some other time. At the moment, we have something far more important to resolve.”
She held her breath.
“I needn’t waste my breath telling you all my faults and weaknesses, for you have them all down in writing.
You also know all my fears in life, and doubts, as well.
But there is one thing of which I have no doubt—I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
Will you be my wife as well as my best friend, Gus? ”
This time the tears on her cheeks were one of joy.
“Oh, Marcus, I should like it above all things. I think I’ve been in love with you since that first curse popped out of your mouth.
” She hugged him very tightly, then looked up and bit her lip.
“But I must warn you. I doubt I shall be able to change. You already know I’m headstrong, opinionated, and sharp-tongued. And not very obedient.”
He couldn’t repress a laugh. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
When her own soft laughter had died away, she ventured to speak again. “There’s also the matter of Firebrand. Perhaps you don’t want a wife who would insist on writing such incendiary things? For I would, you know. Not even for you could I give up fighting for Good to triumph over Evil.”
His expression turned very serious. “You can’t imagine that I would ever try to prevent you from doing that which is so very much a part of who you are.” A tentative smile. “Besides, I have quite a fondness for our fiery friend. After all, it was he who introduced us.”
“You’re not afraid of the sparks that sometimes fly between us?” ventured Augusta.
“On the contrary. They will keep our marriage from ever burning down into a bed of cold coals. In truth, my love, I can’t conceive of a better match.” His mouth took hers in a long, lingering kiss. “Have you an answer for me?”
Augusta reached down and picked up her pen. Grabbing a fresh sheet of paper, she dipped the nib in the ink and scribbled a single word across it.
YES!