Chapter 23 #3
To Alaina and Christopher’s surprise, Mr. Reid crumpled to the floor, and yet a blossom of blood could be seen on Charles’s white shirt, exposed by his jacket, just where his heart would be.
A quick glance at the door revealed that Graham had somehow made it down the stairs and reloaded, all while dragging his wounded leg.
He slowly lowered himself to the floor almost in a complete slide, as Christopher stepped over Felton’s body to get to his cousin, being sure to check that the man was actually dead this time, the hole in Felton’s head leaving no room for doubt.
Charles was sputtering by the time Christopher got to him.
“You know, you always had it so easy,” Charles struggled, blood and spittle spraying as he talked.
“Never had to worry about anything, never worried about money, never had a vice, you even got lucky when you married a woman who actually loves you. Even had a mother who was honorable, though I doubt you know much of that.”
“What?” came Christopher’s question, the marquess feeling powerless to stem the flow of blood from his cousin’s chest.
“You were too young, really,” Charles started, coughing a bit, as blood splattered his lips.
“My father found a love note in my mother’s things, some London season when we were young, and she somehow convinced him that she was helping your mother hide an affair.
Your father refused to believe him, each brother accusing the other’s wife of infidelity.
Turns out it was my mother’s own deceit and shame that tore this whole family apart. ”
Stunned by the deep family secret, the only word Christopher could muster was, “Why?” It seemed he had misjudged Charles’s character entirely. And to think, he had always wanted Graham and Alaina to form a close bond with his remaining family member. How foolish he had been.
“Why kidnap my wife and hold her for ransom?” Christopher asked again.
Charles choked, coughing up blood as he tried to answer.
“Every man has ambition and vices. And I was unfortunate to be surrounded by those with bad ideas of how to achieve my goals, money and power,” came the answer, so simple, and yet perfectly summing up the mayhem he had wreaked.
It seemed that humans were always reduced to basic, uncomplicated reasons and motivations, no matter how complicated the situation appeared.
And with that Charles took his last breath, an anticlimactic gurgle before his body gave way to the damage wrought by Mr. Reid’s close-range shot.
A hush fell over the room and Graham struggled to remain upright against the doorjamb, closing his eyes against the pain.
Christopher surveyed the carnage, still in shock at what had transpired in so short a time, and at what he had learned.
Tears of terror and relief flooded Alaina’s eyes, and she brought her hand to her chest in an attempt to steady her beating heart.
She closed her eyes, and a tear escaped onto her cheek as she quietly sobbed.
“We really do have the worst pair of cousins, Christopher,” Graham said, breaking the silence. “I will be the first to admit that I always disliked Charles, but never could figure out why. Now I can at least put to rest any guilt I had.”
Alaina was first to react to Graham’s injury, and she scrubbed away tears as she made her way over to the duke to provide aid. “I would have to agree with you on that account, Graham.” Alaina stated, touching his arm as Christopher applied pressure to the wound on Graham’s leg.
Graham turned his glassy eyes toward Alaina and studied her face for just a few moments before turning his attention back to his friend. “You know I would only take a bullet for you or your lovely wife. You owe me now.”
“And how should I repay you?” Christopher questioned.
“I am sure my love story will be something grand with highway heists and such, so I will call in the favor then,” Graham said weakly, attempting a smirk to Christopher and then Alaina, before fainting from the pain and loss of blood.
Alaina grasped Christopher’s arm in worry, but Christopher was quick to reassure her.
“He has just passed out from exertion. From what I can tell, Graham has lost a fair amount of blood, but not too much. The wound is largely superficial. We do need to get him back to the manor house as soon as possible and get him proper medical attention.”
Christopher left to bring the wagon that was kept in the stables of the hunting lodge as close to the front door as was physically allowed, thankful that there were still horses to hook up to it even after all the commotion of the evening.
Once Graham was loaded in the back of the wagon, through no small effort, Alaina settled in next to Christopher, worried for their friend, but reassured by the strong steady breathing she could hear and the makeshift bandage they had fashioned out of handkerchiefs and strips of linen from one of the bedroom’s sheets to slow the bleeding.
Christopher was quiet for most of the drive back to the manor house, darkness still shrouding the estate as they wound around the winding path.
His worries for his friend, his wife, and his adoptive Ashford and Norwich families were at the forefront of his mind.
Christopher also wrestled with his grief.
His cousin may have been at the heart of what happened, but they had grown up together, and reconnected as adults.
It was tough to reconcile the Charles who had kidnapped his wife with the one he thought he knew.
He had always seen ugliness in people like Percy, overt and in the open, but how was he to protect his loved ones from the people who were like his cousin, Charles?
A quiet knock sounded on the door, and Graham called out, “Come in.” He attempted to sit up more in bed and was perturbed when a twinge of pain kept him from doing so.
Graham watched as Alaina and Christopher entered his room, his friend bearing a tray with afternoon tea. They had insisted he take up residence at Waverley until he was completely healed, but after a week, he was already wishing to be home.
“Graham, we thought you might like some refreshments,” Alaina said softly.
“Yes, thank you, Alaina,” Graham responded, and he huffed in consternation as she went about fluffing pillows and fussing over him before she took the tray from Christopher and placed it in front of him.
“Still wishing to be home? You have not even rested a week here. Surely our company is not so terrible?” Christopher questioned.
“I just prefer to be home, ‘tis all,” Graham answered. “At least you both have somehow convinced my mother to restrain herself from making a visit. I could not fathom what it would be like to deal with her tending and yours.”
A brief look passed between Christopher and Alaina, but before Graham could inquire, Christopher spoke. “Well, I for one am happy that the doctor says you should make a full recovery.”
Graham grunted and felt unnecessarily constrained in bed. It was infuriating!
“I told Christopher that we cannot keep you here,” Alaina said. “And that when the doctor gives the ok to let you travel, we shall see you safely home.”
“I can see myself home,” Graham responded, his tone cantankerous.
“Nonsense, it will be some time before I let anyone travel completely alone,” Christopher challenged.
The statement hung in the air as the three of them relived the events of a week ago. Graham could not help but ask, “How is Nicholas doing?”
“Well,” Christopher replied, “He is up and about a bit, and is being just about as ornery as you when he is asked to rest.”
“I suppose you have informed the authorities?” Graham continued on his line of questioning. After a week, he still had no idea how things were resolved. According to Alaina and Christopher, no news was so important as to threaten his recovery.
“Ah, yes, funny you should mention that,” Christopher started, but then paused as Alaina shot him a glare. “Darling, I cannot keep the sheriff from him forever.”
“Will you both stop treating me like an invalid and just tell me what is happening?” Graham implored.
Alaina waved her hand in Graham’s direction. “Go ahead and tell him if you must.”
“Well, it took a few days for us to sort through everything. Charles and Felton wrought so much destruction that the sheriff has been visiting every day with more questions, more information. We have been delaying his speaking to you to allow you to recover,” Christopher said.
“Why the worry?” Graham asked.
“I am not worried about what the sheriff will do. He knows you only shot Felton in an attempt to save him from shooting anyone, including yourself, and that you suffered grave harm in the process. But… the delay in his official report has set tongues wagging.”
At this point, Alaina interjected, “There really is no need for you to speak to the sheriff, Graham. He has admitted such, especially with Christopher and me as witnesses. But with everyone shouting ‘murder’, the sheriff feels a certain pressure to formally interview you. You know, to put everything to rest, finally.”
Graham let out a groan, and fell back into the pillows. “What a mess.”
“Indeed,” Christopher agreed. “You know, I was telling Alaina that our early married life has not gone at all to plan. I am sorry you have been dragged into our mess.”
“What are friends for, if not to help when there is need?” Graham asked, rhetorically. “Well to say the world’s plan, at least at this particular moment, is shite would be quite an understatement in my opinion.”
Alaina and Christopher released a breath they did not know that they were holding and chuckled ever so slightly. They certainly could agree on that sentiment.
A sound of a carriage coming down the pebbled drive of Waverley caused the three friends to shift their attention. Not long after, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed through the halls, and they all heard a familiar voice.
“I asked to see my son! The duke, where is he?” Eleanor’s concern was palpable even from a distance.
Heeled footsteps sounded across the foyer, up the stairs, and down the hall. In just a few moments, Eleanor practically crashed through the door. Her shrill greeting almost made Graham wish it was the sheriff.
“Graham! How are you, my darling son?” Eleanor asked, not waiting for a response as she crossed the room and assured herself that her son was indeed alive and well.
Disengaging from her ministrations, Graham smoothed down his hair. “Mother, Alaina and Christopher wrote to you that I was perfectly fine, and that there was no need for you to come. What are you doing here?”
“Not to come? Do you think them so callous as to keep a mother from her son? I would have been here sooner, but I was visiting Georgiana in Cornwall and just returned yesterday,” Eleanor responded.
“Besides, you are bedridden, so ‘perfectly fine’ is not an apt description. I can stay with you until you are well enough and then I can escort you home.”
The last statement from Eleanor caused Christopher to laugh. “Well, Graham, if I know Eleanor, you will be home before you know it, just as you wished.”
Alaina giggled as well, and soon the friends were all laughing, leaving Eleanor to wonder what was so funny.