Healing My Wounded Hero by Monica La Porta

Author:Monica La Porta [La Porta, Monica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Monica La Porta

Chapter 24

Adrenaline still coursed through Alexander and his brain had reverted to the ancestral modus operandi of the hunters and gatherers. Like a prehistoric man, he felt a strong urge to protect his woman and spirit her back to his cave where he could take care of her.

Appealing to his more sensible side, he forced himself to uncurl and step away from Lady Charlotte as the tawdry dandy pushed him to the side with a heavy shove.

Leaning over the lady, the blasted earl was about to reach for her—with what intention? Would he take her in his arms? With a crowd like the one that had gathered, his gesture would compromise Lady Charlotte as surely as if he had kissed her in public. Would the cad force her into a position where she couldn’t refuse his proposal of marriage? Was that his plan?

Zounds!

The countess acted faster, though, and took the earl’s place before Alexander had a chance to impulsively intervene and cause the kind of damage that would have him fired on the spot.

It was for the best, but Alexander was too unstrung to fully appreciate that he had just been stopped from thrashing a peer of the realm. He gulped down the many emotions stirring his heart and watched as the lady spoke softly to her daughter.

If Lady Charlotte hadn’t kept looking at him over her mother’s shoulder, he would have found it easier to compose his unruly thoughts. But her gaze was locked with his and he couldn’t lower his eyes as a servant was meant to do. Her interest in him drew the attention of the earl, who in turn frowned and shot Alexander a threatening look, which only provoked him further.

The dandy needs a good beating. Gentleman Jackson has taught me how to take down the beanpole with one punch—

Where had that thought come from? Gentleman Jackson didn’t give pugilistic lessons to grooms.

Alexander shook his head to clear his mind, but the angry energy burning inside him didn’t dissipate, making him want to hit something since he couldn’t touch the popinjay. In the meantime, the shouting and crying had resumed. The crowd gravitated at once towards an older man, who sat on the ground, nursing his bent leg and rocking.

The earl planted himself in front of Alexander and crossed his arms over his chest, his legs in a wide stance. “What did you see?” There was a clear warning in his question.

Alexander couldn’t help but straighten to his full height and mirror the dandy’s position, well knowing his muscular legs and arms showed to advantage, straining the tight fabric of his livery.

“I saw a man pointing a rifle in Lady Charlotte’s direction,” he said, enunciating every letter in the crisp affectation of the bon ton.

“Where?” The earl jerked left and right.

“He has already left.”

“You should have run after him!”

“My main preoccupation was the Lady Charlotte.” Besides, he knew exactly where to find the man.

Willie Holly, the owner of the Red Cock Inn, had attempted to kill Lady Charlotte.

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