Page 49 of Only Pleasure Will Do

Chapter 21

The high, shrill scream cut the silent air, making the hairs on the back of Reginald’s neck stand on end.

“Help! Help! Someone, help me!”

“That’s Maddy!” He kicked Marlow into a gallop and plowed past Dalbury. “Maddy! Maddy!” He rounded a stand of trees that gave onto a clearing just in time to see the tiny figure lose her footing as the cart pulled away from her. She swung free then, held aloft by a rope from a makeshift scaffold, a beam fixed between two pine trees. “Maddy! God, no!”

He pulled Marlow to a halt so quickly the horse reared. Reginald leaped from the saddle, ran the few steps, seized her legs, and lifted her, relieving the pressure on her slender neck. Dear God, he was too late. She slumped over his shoulder, lifeless. “Dalbury, for pity’s sake, help.”

Face grave, Dalbury appeared beside him. With deft fingers, he loosened the noose and drew it over her head. The marquess’s stricken gaze met his and he gave one small shake of his head.

“No. No. Maddy. Maddy. Help me, Dalbury.”

Gently, they laid her on the ground, her face ashen and still. With no idea what to do, Reginald began to rub her hands, her shoulders, massage her chest. “Maddy, please, oh please come back.” He couldn’t lose her. As he gazed helplessly at Dalbury, agony seized his heart. How his affections could have mounted for this woman with such riotous speed he couldn’t fathom. Perhaps it always did so for men. All he knew now was that he couldn’t bear the thought that she might be lost to him.

A tiny cough wrenched his gaze back to the still form. “Maddy?”

Color flooded back into her face, her cheeks flushing the most beautiful shade of pink. She coughed again, louder, and her eyes fluttered open.

“Reginald?” Her voice was gravelly and sounded painful, but never had he heard a more wonderful sound.

“Oh, thank God.” Relief so great it threatened to addle his senses flooded though him. Men weren’t supposed to show emotion, but Reginald couldn’t stop the tears leaking from his eyes. He took her hand gently, almost afraid to touch her for fear of hurting her, and brushed a kiss against the warm skin. “Maddy, I was so afraid.”

“I was too.” She frowned at the effort and touched her throat. “Ouch.”

“Be careful, love. The skin is torn in places.” The ugly rope burn around her throat spanned from ear to ear. She might carry the scar the rest of her life, but at least she would have a life.

“Pearl?” she croaked and winced.

“Shhh. She is fine. At Bow Street in the good care of Mrs. Dove. Now rest, my dear.”

She sighed and squeezed his hand. “Thank you,” she whispered then raised her head. “I want to get up.”

“Can you wait a little while, sweetheart?” He was terrified for her to move. How could he know what damage had been done? Or what might happen if she moved the wrong way. At least he could hold her hand, like a lifeline he could not release to save his soul.

She nodded then frowned. “It hurts to move my neck at all.”

“Not surprising.” Dalbury had returned from a conversation with Lord Edgemont. “Even a woman as small as you, Amorina, cannot support your weight on your neck. I think you will need a great deal of rest for the next few weeks. If you would like to stay at Dunham House, Katarina and I would be honored to have you as our guest.”

“The problem is going to be getting her back to London.” Stroking her hair off her face, Reginald smiled at her. “I do not think a person in your condition should be gadding about on horseback.”

She smiled briefly and squeezed his hand.

“Lord Edgemont, who is truly contrite about this entire debacle, has offered his carriage.” Dalbury nodded to the earl, who was speaking animatedly to one of the workmen. “The seats apparently fold down to allow passengers to sleep on long journeys. It is at your disposal, Amorina.”

“I wish to speak a word with the earl, Dalbury.” Reluctantly releasing Maddy’s hand, Reginald came to his feet. “He will have some answering to do about his blatant disregard for Maddy’s life. Excuse me, my dear.” Reginald smiled down at Maddy, who looked as though she might try to rise and restrain him. He drew Dalbury a little way away. “If she tries to get up, you have my permission to pin her to the ground.”

“Your permission?” Dalbury’s brows rose, an arrogant grin on his face.

“Yes.” He meant to keep her safe—with or without her cooperation. Time enough later to discover if she returned his affections in some way. “I will explain shortly, if an explanation is truly necessary at this point.”

“I will stay here with…Maddy, you call her?”

“Later.” Reginald strode toward Edgemont, not completely certain he wouldn’t silence the man with his fist.

“Sir Reginald,” the earl looked up from his conversation with his servant, “I do not think we’ve been introduced, but under the circumstances, we will not stand on ceremony. My apologies for this unfortunate occurrence.”

“Unfortunate occurrence?” The man must be mad. “You hang an innocent woman and call it an ‘unfortunate occurrence?’ By rights, I should be taking you in to Bow Street and charging you with attempted murder.”