Charlotte glanced back at Benji, silently pleading with her eyes not to shoot Ian.
Benji growled. “Fine, if ye don’t let go of my brother, I’ll kill yer wife.” Moving his aim, he pointed it toward Charlotte.
Ian finally looked at Benji. Immediately, he let go of the commissioner and turned to Charlotte, taking her in his arms, blocking her from Benji. Jeffrey lay on the floor, gasping for air. He stroked his throat, massaging the red finger marks Ian had left.
“Give me that pistol,” Henry hissed as he moved to grab the weapon.
Benji shook his head. “I can hold it.”
“Son...of...a...” Jeffrey rasped, still on the floor. “Kill him! Kill...Fielding! Kill him...now!”
Benji took aim.
Charlotte’s tears streaked down her face as she pleaded with him. “Benji. Please don’t. You are not as heartless as your brother. I know you are not.”
Benji’s hesitation made Jeffrey growl. “Kill him, you worthless piece of trash. Kill him, I say.” The commissioner’s voice squeaked out in agony. “Can’t you do anything right in your miserable life?”
“No, please don’t,” Charlotte whispered softly, her gaze never leaving Benji. “You are a good man.”
“Give me the gun and I’ll do it,” Henry snapped.
Benji shook his head. “No. I’ll do it. If there’s going to be a killing today, I’ll be the one who’ll pull the trigger.”
When Benji’s shaky hand subsided, she let out a cry and buried her head in Ian’s neck. The gun boomed in the room, but Charlotte’s scream was louder. It only took a few seconds for the smoke to clear, and Charlotte realized her husband hadn’t moved.
Had Benji missed? She lifted her head and gazed into Ian’s eyes. He shook his head. “I’m all right.”
Their attention went immediately to Jeffrey. The fleshy burned smell came from him. A bloody hole pierced his chest. Red pooled in the wound then spread in a widening arc in the fabric of his shirt. His eyes were wide with surprise. Confusion etched his brow, before turning to fear when he peered down at his chest. His shaky hands touched his blood-soaked shirt. He looked up and Benji and shook his head. “Why...why did you shoot me?”
“Because I’m not like ye, Jeffrey. I do have a good heart.” Benji stood holding a bloody arm.
Heavy footsteps drew Charlotte’s attention to the stairs.
Five men rushed into the room, George Fauxley in the lead. All held pistols alert and erect. George’s gun still had smoke rising from it.
He knelt beside them and touched Ian’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”
“George? What just happened?” Ian asked. “Benji shot me, yet I’m all right.”
George shook his head. “Benji didn’t shoot you. He aimed his gun toward you, but before pulling the trigger, he changed his aim to the commissioner. Of course, I didn’t know he was going to shoot his brother or else I wouldn’t have shot him myself.”
Ian’s eyes widened. When Charlotte realized all would be made right now, a gush of fresh tears fell from her eyes. She buried her face in Ian’s neck and sobbed, knowing they were safe now.
Chapter Twenty-One
The wind whistled around the castle. It tore through the trees and crashed against the double-paned windows. Ian tightened the blanket around himself and his wife and cuddled her closer while they lounged on the long sofa. The roaring fire kept them toasty warm, but he refused to release her. The events from the past twenty-four hours kept replaying in his mind, and he knew Charlotte would never forget what happened, either.
The commissioner had died from the bullet through his heart. Benji lost a lot of blood from his gunshot wound, but he’d live. Both Benji and Henry were arrested.
Charlotte sighed loudly and rubbed her face against his shirt. “This feels so good.”
“I agree.”
“I never want to leave.”
“You won’t.”
“Ian?”
“Yes, my love.”
“We should really do something special for Jacqueline. If she hadn’t escaped and ran to Ewan, George wouldn’t have found us.”
“Yes, I can’t believe George’s cousin never received my letter for help. It certainly explains why it took so long for the man to arrive.”
“We were very fortunate.”
“I agree. We have many people to thank for saving our lives.” He kissed the top of her head. “I love you,” he said for the millionth time since they’d been home.
“I love you.”
“Darling? What do you think of returning home to Surrey?”
She turned slightly in his arms and looked into his eyes. “Where did that question come from?”
“It has been on my mind quite a bit lately.”
“What will you do with the castle if we return?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. The King gave me with this rundown castle and awarded me Knighthood for assisting his guards in bringing down a plot to assassinate him. I feel obligated to keep the place.”
“Could you give it back to the King?”
“No, that would be an insult to him.”
“What if you just rent it out while we are away? We can visit once a year if we like.”
Silence lasted only a few moments before he nodded. “I suppose I could do that. To whom could I rent it?”
Her smile widened. “What about Ewan and Jacqueline? They need to start a new life, and this would help them out considerably.”
“True. I never thought of that. But you’re right. I will do that for them.”
He kissed her again, but this time, she turned her head and met his lips before they moved away. He kissed her this way for several minutes, enjoying the burst of happiness inside his chest.
She broke the kiss and stared up at him. “Ian? I think it’s time to talk about our marriage.”
He lifted his eyebrows and a grin touched his mouth. “What would you like to discuss, my darling?”
“Well, you know the annulment papers are still in my room.”
Ian’s heart dropped for only a second, and then he realized the lift of her mouth explained her humor. He shrugged. “I suppose I could sign them if you don’t think we’re suited, although we have consummated our marriage—a few times already.”
Her amber eyes twinkled. “And what if I’m with child?”
Ian shook his head. “We’ll definitely have to stay married, won’t we? For the sake of the baby, of course.”
She laughed and held him tight. “I’ve been doing some serious thinking. I’d like to stay married to you, but only on a couple of conditions.”
“And what conditions are they, my love?”
“You have to assure me to give me at least one child every two years.”
His grin widened. “That can be accomplished, but you know, we’ll have to practice for a while.”
“I can handle that.”
“What is the other condition, my love?”
“I want you to always be the man I fell in love with.”
“What about your Lord Thatcher?”
Charlotte shrugged. “You did have a lot of good qualities when you were him, but I’m not talking about that man. I was thinking more on the lines of that sensual, charming Frenchman I met at the masked ball...just as long as he doesn’t get tired of me when my belly is round with child.”
Ian threw back his head and laughed. He kissed her on the nose and smiled. “Oh, my love, I gave my heart to you that night without realizing that was happening.”
She rested her head against his chest and sighed deeply in satisfaction. “Have I thanked you yet for saving my life?”
He chuckled. “You were the one who saved me. If you hadn’t pleaded with Benji, I’m certain I’d be dead.”
“I definitely did some fast talking while I was tied up,” she said. “I tried to make those two dimwits see the commissioner wasn’t going to share his wealth with them. I think it worked. I believe that was the reason Benj
i got fed up with his brother.”
“No. I think it was looking into your enchanting eyes. You know, those eyes of yours make men do things they wouldn’t usually do.”
She smiled. “Good. Then I know I have a little power over you when I need it.”
He laughed heartily. “You’ll always have power over me, my love.”
Charlotte moved out of his arms and stood. “I think I’m ready for bed.”
“You are?”
“Yes,” she said in a silky voice. “Now I want you to take me to your room and make mad passionate love to me.”
“Which room?”
Her smile widened. “The lord of the manor’s room, of course.”
The End
**READERS**
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this book, please consider posting a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble. The fate of indie books depend entirely on the reviews it gets.
THE FIELDING BROTHERS SAGA
Love Me Always
Book One
© 2011 Marie Higgins
No Way Out – Catherine Martin is trapped. Either she wed an elderly man and commit to a marriage without love, or continue living with the father who believes her guilty of murder and one foot outside the asylum. Catherine picks marriage to the Duke of Ashton, Grant Fielding. However, when she stays with the Fielding family before the wedding, she doesn’t plan on falling in love…with Grant’s nephew, Nicholas.
Destined for a lonely life – Nicholas Fielding loves his uncle’s soon-to-be bride, and has loved her since they were children. Now Nick must choose between his dying uncle's last wish to marry, and the woman who will make Nick happy for the rest of his life. No matter how hard Nick tries, he cannot stop his love for Catherine.
A flurry of accidents begins to happen around the Fielding estate and soon all accusing eyes turn to Catherine. When accidents escalate to murder, suspicions expound and even Catherine’s father believes she’s gone mad. Does Nick love her enough to discover the truth?
Charmed By Knight
Book Two
© 2011 Marie Higgins
Lady Megan Saxton will do anything not to marry the drunken lord her grandmother selected. But when she thinks she’s trapped herself a duke, will a mistake in identity have her falling in love with the man who put her family in financial ruins?
Clever Scoundrel, Edmund Knight will stop at nothing to take back the deed to his goldmine that has been stolen. When his enemy’s daughter mistakes him for someone else, his plans change. Now he’s after her.
Vows of Deception
Book Three
© 2011 Marie Higgins
Not even lies can deceive the heart.
Juliana Beaumont wants to keep her freedom—and her grandmother’s estate in Scotland. But can she do both? Especially when her father demands she marry a man from England before he can give her an inheritance.
Andrew Dean is tired of being the stable help, and jumps at the chance of playing Miss Juliana’s pretend husband. But he doesn’t believe in marrying unless in a church. He hopes Juliana doesn’t know they are legally married now, and he wants her to fall in love with him. But a secret that has been hidden in his memory for twenty years might just keep them apart.
Love Comes Blindly
Book Five
© 2011 Marie Higgins
If love isn’t blind to past indiscretions, can absence truly make the heart grow fonder?
Gregory Fielding has been wounded when he travels to Scotland to find the next big story for his London newspaper. Now blinded, he relies on the soft, comforting touch of one of the nurses at St. Mary’s Abbey. He thinks she’s a novice, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to give her his heart.
Madeline O’Neil cannot believe her misfortune. The man she had almost married three years ago is back in her life. Gregg doesn’t know who she is and she doesn’t dare tell him. Not until she makes him like the new Madeline. But as each day passes and her heart grows fonder, she fears he’ll hate her for certain once his eyesight returns. Especially when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for three years…
Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) Page 28