Injured Sensibilities by Ilene Withers

Author:Ilene Withers
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781621355243
Publisher: Clean Reads

Chapter 10

Marty couldn’t control her shaking until Julian sat down on the step beside her and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently, reassuringly. She noticed that with his other hand, he handed the note to Drake. “For now, let’s keep this between ourselves,” he told the butler. “We don’t know who put it there and we need to make inquiries, but they must be discrete. Until we know more, everyone is suspect.”

“Of course, my lord. I will, however, personally check every lock in the house tonight and I will sleep with a revolver by my side.”

“Good man,” came the marquess’s response. “It is most likely just a scare tactic.”

Marty looked up at her butler and then to Lord Knolton. They were both taking this extremely seriously, she realized. “It feels like a threat,” she told them.

“I know,” Lord Knolton replied, “and if you would like me to, I will send my driver home and I will stay sitting up protecting you tonight.”

It was tempting for her to say yes, but she knew her reputation would be in shreds after that. “I appreciate that, but I will have to decline. I do have a reputation to uphold.”

He reached over with his other hand and rubbed the back of her hand that he clutched.

“I will sleep with my revolver loaded, as well.” She took a deep breath forcing herself to calm down, to look at the situation as the pathetic scare tactic of someone, perhaps even the actual killer. She thought about if she even could have pulled the trigger and she knew that had Crowley laid a hand on her, she could have done so. Which meant, of course, if anyone tried to harm her now, she could protect herself from them as well.

Finally, looking up at Lord Knolton and Drake with a small smile on her face, she said, “They’re rather reckless, aren’t they? Whoever did this. If they believe I could shoot Crowley at long range and cold-bloodedly dispose of his body, they ought to be particularly scared.”

Lord Knolton chuckled, although it was but a small one. “That’s my girl.” And then he dropped her hand and put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. “You’ll be safe, as you will keep yourself safe. And you know anytime you need me, I am but a few miles away.”

“And I will be hyper vigilant, Miss Marty,” Drake put in. “This old front door is an impenetrable barricade. My room is quite close to the kitchen door which I feel, even though it will be locked, might be more vulnerable. I will sleep with my bedchamber door ajar and, like you, a loaded revolver at the ready.”

Marty slipped out of Lord Knolton’s embrace and rose, rather unsteadily, from her perch on the step. “Thank you, Drake, and thank you, Lord Knolton.” Here she turned toward him. “I am so happy I did not have to experience this alone.”

The marquess rose, as well. “If you’re sure you’ll be safe I should take my leave.

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