Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (38 page)

He tilted back his head and roared with laughter. “That’s not what I hear. In fact, Jacqueline says I’m the best lover she’s ever had.”

“She lied to you so you wouldn’t beat her. Besides, I happen to know she’s taken another lover.”

“Charlotte, no,” Ian shouted.

She knew he didn’t want her to make Jeffrey angry, but right now, she merely stalled for time.

Jeffrey’s hands stilled for a moment as he met Charlotte’s glare. “She has, has she?”

“Yes.”

“You’re lying.”

She grinned. “Are you certain? I’ve become good friends with her of late.”

Grabbing her shoulders, he roughly shook her. “Who is it? Tell me!”

“Ewan Stout,” she answered smugly. “She prefers the mousy little man over you.”

“Impossible. Ewan is nothing but a lily-livered pansy. Why would she pick someone like him over someone like me?”

She laughed harshly. “You really have to ask? Isn’t it obvious?”

He scowled and backhanded her across the face. Her head snapped to the side, her ears ringing, but she was still able to hear Ian cry out. She focused bleary eyes on him.

Ian’s left arm flew from
Benji’s
grasp, and he knocked the gun from Henry’s hands. Quick as lightning, Ian spun around and kicked
Benji
in the knee, buckling him to the ground. Ian turned once again to Henry and punched him in the face with his elbow. Henry howled and stepped back, his hands protectively covering his nose. Ian lunged at Jeffrey and tackled him to the ground. Ian’s body imprisoned the commissioner’s, but her husband still wouldn’t relent. Ian pulled back his fist and let it fly through the air, only stopping when it connected with the man’s jaw. The loud crack echoed in the room.

Jeffrey fought, his fists flying in front of him, but he couldn’t keep up with Ian’s punches. Out of the corner of her eyes, Charlotte saw Henry move toward the gun on the floor. She threw herself toward it, but before she could grab it, Jeffrey’s hand enclosed around her ankle. She tripped and fell into a table. She stretched for the pistol, kicking at Jeffrey’s hand at the same time.

Ian shouted her name. He left Jeffrey and protectively wrapped his arms around her once again. Over his shoulder, Jeffrey picked up the gun. The commissioner regained his balance and stood. He raised his hand.

“Ian, watch out,” Charlotte cried. But it was too late. Jeffrey brought the butt of the pistol up to Ian’s head. Her husband’s expression turned to one of confusion before his eyes rolled back in his head and his body crumbled to the floor.

Charlotte screamed. “Ian. Don’t leave me.”

Jeffrey turned to his brother. “
Benji
, you are worthless! Why did you let him get away? Can’t the two of you take care of one man by yourselves? Do I always have to save your good-for-nothing hides?”

Benji
scowled. “That man knows the right places to ’it to make a man crumble.” He rubbed his knees.

“Stand up, you gutless, waste of a man.” Jeffrey’s gaze switched to Henry. “And you, you worthless fool. Get hold of Fielding and do not let him go. I want him to watch me take his wife, and I don’t care how much he struggles, you two imbeciles better hold him. Do you understand?”

Charlotte tightened her grasp on Ian’s unconscious form, shaking him, hoping he’d awaken.

“He’ll come to, my dear, and when he does he’s
gonna
watch me take my pleasures on you.” Jeffrey snickered.

“You are heartless! Leave us alone and go scurry off to live your miserable life with the rest of the gutter rats,” she hissed.

“You’re going to pay for every single insult you’ve ever flung at me, my dear.”

Growling, Jeffrey moved to her, bent and grabbed her arm. Ian’s hand reached out and seized Jeffrey’s. Charlotte gasped.

Ian wrapped his large, strong fingers around the commissioner’s neck and squeezed. The weapon flew from Jeffrey’s hand and he squirmed like a caged rabbit, clawing at Ian’s fingers, gasping for breath. A trickle of blood ran down Ian’s head from his wound and dropped on Jeffrey, but it didn’t stop her husband’s angry strength.

“I’ll kill you before you touch my wife again,” Ian rasped.

Charlotte spied the gun still on the floor. She dove for it, but so did the other two men.
Benji
was quicker. Kneeling, he aimed point blank at Ian.
Benji’s
hands shook violently and Charlotte threw herself at
Benji’s
legs.

“No,
Benji
!” she cried.

“Let go of ’
im
!”
Benji
shouted at Ian. But Ian made no move to do what was ordered.

Jeffrey’s gasps were getting tighter, his face turning bluer.

Benji’s
gaze moved to Charlotte. “Tell
yer
‘
usband
to take ‘is ‘ands off my brother or I’ll shoot.” He scowled. “I mean it.”

She nodded and scooted next to Ian. “Ian?” she said softly, touching his shoulder. “
Benji
has the gun. Do as he says or he’ll kill you.”

“Let him kill me,” he snapped, “because I’ll not let go. I’ll not leave the commissioner alive to harm you.”

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.”