Chapter 29
The faint creaking of a spring being stretched caused Della to turn away from Royce and look directly down the barrel of a pistol.
She closed her eyes and shied away as a loud scream quickly masked the sound of the gunshot. But who had screamed Della did not know.
With the silence settling around them, she turned her attention to Royce, and their shocked gazes locked in a moment of disbelief, realizing that neither of them had been harmed.
“No!” Della cried out when she glanced down to see Emma lying motionless at her feet.
All at once, several people appeared on the dock. Desmond and Mr. Rowntree surrounded Lord Milton as Maggie rushed to help Della. They ripped strips of fabric from their chemises and held them to Emma’s shoulder, attempting to stop the blood flowing from the wound as much as possible.
Lord Milton looked down at Emma, who had bravely taken the bullet for Della, with disgust. There was no hint of worry or sign of remorse showing in his face for having shot his own daughter. And his attitude suggested that he held no regard for her well-being, as if whether she lived or died did not matter to him.
Della’s heart ached for Emma, after seeing a glimpse of what she must have had to endure with this man as her father.
As she tended to Emma’s wound, Della saw her own father press a pistol he got from Grayson against the viscount’s back and guide the man away from his daughter.
And with the help of Desmond, Aden tossed Lord Haddock over his shoulder, and dumped him into the carriage at Lord Milton’s feet. Mr. Rowntree offered to ride back to Derrington Chase with them to ensure they did not escape or cause any more trouble.
Accepting another loaded pistol from Desmond, Mr. Rowntree climbed up to sit in the seat next to the driver, because he was afraid of what he might do to the men who tried to have his daughter shipped to America if he sat inside with them. On a ship he owned, no less.
Della did not know what would happen to either of the men being carted away, but she did not care so long as they never graced her presence again. Grayson’s hands moved with great care as he picked Emma up, making sure not to disturb the bandage that had just been placed on her wound.
“I will take her to the estate and have the doctor called immediately,” Grayson said, cradling Emma’s body against his. “I will see if Mother can watch over her until someone in her family can be contacted.”
“The extra carriage I asked Mother to send just arrived. You can use that to take Miss Putnam back,” Maggie said.
“Ever the planner, dear sister.” Grayson walked down the dock and placed Miss Putnam gently on the floor between the seats, using the coat off his back as a pillow for her head, and climbed in with her.
Strong arms wrapped around Della’s waist as she watched them leave and prayed Emma would be all right. “We owe Emma everything, Royce.”
“I know, and I promise to do everything in our power to see she is taken care of. But right now, she is in the best of hands. Grayson will let nothing happen to her and see that she gets the care she needs.” Royce walked in front of Della and turned to face her. “What I am currently worried about is the fact that I never told you that…I mean, are you…Della…” Royce could not seem to form a full sentence.
“I will be fine,” Della said as she gently cupped his cheek. “As Lord Haddock said, I am rather resistant to being killed. I must be, otherwise—“she took Royce’s hands and guided them to her stomach—”how are we to meet our son or daughter?”
“So, when you asked Lord Milton about being with child, you were not lying?”
The look of shock on Royce’s face nearly made Della laugh.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Maggie exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
“Y-You mean, w-we are going to be…I-I am going to be—” Royce stuttered.
Della smiled and nodded. “Yes. The doctor came to the estate while you all were out, er, riding.”
“Is that why mother sent me to town with Aden on that pointless shopping trip?!” Maggie asked.
Royce sank to his knees before Della until his eyes were level with her stomach and gently wrapped his arms around her. “To think I could have lost you both.”
“Shh, Royce, we are alive and safe, thanks to Emma.”
Royce kissed her stomach and stood, cupping her face in his hands.
“I love you, Della,” Royce said, placing a kiss on her lips. “I have been such a fool.” He gently used his thumb to wipe away a tear as it streamed down her cheek. “Please, do not cry. I am only sorry it took me so long to say those three words. Now that I have, I feel as though I cannot say them enough.”
“I am not crying because you said you loved me, though I am overcome with sheer happiness at the thought. I am crying because you finally admitted you are a fool,” Della said jokingly.
“The biggest.” Royce chuckled as he smiled warmly at her.
“So, if he is a fool, what does that make you?” Maggie looked at Aden. “An idiot?”
“Better an idiot than a fool in love with you,” Aden remarked dryly as he clasped his hands behind his back. The lightness of the moment dissipated with Aden’s unkind words.
Maggie took a deep breath, and with fire in her eyes, she marched straight up to Aden. The sound of his face being slapped echoed around the shipyard.
“Go to Hell.” Maggie met Aden’s eyes in silent challenge.
“Only if you promise me you will not be there.”
“Oh, I can assure you I will not be.” Maggie looked at Desmond. “Will you take me home? We can take the carriage Lord Milton left behind. I will see you all later,” she said to Royce and Della as Desmond followed her.
Della and Royce watched them leave as Aden stormed toward his horse, not saying a single word. He gathered up the reins and swung himself into the saddle. Della wondered what could have possibly happened between Aden and Maggie to have caused such a divide between them.
“Royce.”
“Leave it for another day,” Royce said to her. “For now, let us just celebrate the fact we are here, we are safe, and that this one—” he placed his hand on Della’s stomach—“is too.”
“I love you.” Della smiled.
“If I ever take those three words for granted again, you have my permission to kick me out of our bed.”
“You are a fool.” Della laughed.
“I am, but I am your fool,” Royce said, touching his forehead to hers. “Your Foolish Duke.”