Anger over the destruction this madwoman had caused pushed aside a portion of Carolyn's fear and she lifted her brows. "Perhaps I'm not as boring and timid as you think."
Lady Walsh's eyes turned to slits. "He would have returned to me if not for you. I tried to tempt him back, but he stubbornly refused. And turned my love to hate. That's when I decided that if I couldn't have him, no one would."
"Then why didn't you simply kill him?"
Her lips curved up in a travesty of a smile. "But that's exactly what I'm doing. Shooting or stabbing him would be too quick, and Daniel must suffer. Must be ruined. So I decided to frame him for murder. Of his former lovers."
"How did you kill them?" Carolyn asked, straining her ears, praying she'd soon hear footsteps coming along the path.
Pride now gleamed in Lady Walsh's eyes. "I lured them to their deaths by sending them the sort of time and place lover's notes that are currently all the rage. I disguised my handwriting to resemble Daniel's and asked them both to wear pieces of jewelry to their liaison that he'd given them. After you're found dead, his fate will be sealed. Especially after I plant the notes he sent to Lady Crawford and Lady Margate where the authorities will find them."
"Why didn't you just leave the notes on the dead women?"
"I'd planned to send one to you on the night you would be killed, and I didn't want you afraid to answer the missive." Her expression turned cunning. "That's if you didn't die sooner."
"You mean the shot you fired?"
A sly smile curved her lips. "Perhaps."
"Why this change in your plans?"
Lady Walsh frowned. "Because Daniel decided both you and I were in danger. Did you know he came to me last night, to warn me to be careful? I almost felt sorry for my plan to ruin him, and I might have halted it had he accepted my invitation to stay. But instead he left." She glared at Carolyn. "To go to you, I'm sure."
"Yes."
"That final rejection sealed his fate, and forced me to act sooner than I'd planned. I knew he'd see to it that you were never out of his sight." Another sick smile. "But I fooled him. And you. And now here we are. And you're going to die."
A cold fury unlike anything she'd ever known rose in Carolyn. "You already failed when you shot at me the other night," she said with a sneer.
"I won't miss this time."
Realizing it was now or never, Carolyn sprang at her attacker with a feral scream that cut through the chilled air. Shock, then profound hatred, registered in Lady Walsh's eyes as they struggled over the pistol. Carolyn fought with every ounce of her strength to keep the muzzle pointed away from herself, but Lady Walsh was demonically strong, and as determined as she. Fear and fury forced Carolyn to keep struggling. Sweat broke out on her skin, and her every muscle trembled with her efforts.
Yet despite her valiant attempt, Lady Walsh managed to jam the pistol's muzzle directly beneath her breast.
Dear God, I'm going to die. At the hands of this madwoman
.
No sooner had the thought whispered through her mind than Lady Walsh cried out and stiffened. Her eyes went wide and her grip slackened on the pistol. Carolyn grabbed the weapon and scurried back, away from her. Shaking, she pointed the pistol at Lady Walsh, fully prepared to squeeze the trigger, but to her astonishment, the woman fell to her knees. A trickle of blood oozed between her lips and a thin line of scarlet trailed over her jaw. Her eyes were rapidly dimming, but they remained focused on Carolyn.
"I'll have my revenge," she whispered. "Even from the grave I'll see you dead." She collapsed forward then, and Carolyn stared with disbelief at the hilt of the knife protruding from her back.
Dazed, she looked up and saw Daniel standing in the opening in the hedges. Before she could move, he ran to her. "Are you hurt?" he asked, gently removing the pistol from her suddenly nerveless fingers.
"I… I'm fine." Although fine didn't precisely describe the shakiness attacking her limbs.
He passed the pistol to Mr. Mayne, who'd entered the clearing along with Samuel and Nelson, who held a knife in one hand and brandished a fire iron in the other.
She blinked at her very proper butler. "Good heavens, Nelson, what are you doing here?"
"Came to help rescue you, my lady."
For some reason, that filled her eyes with tears. "Thank you. All of you."
Daniel wrapped an arm around her then led her away from the body. She glanced at it over her shoulder and shuddered. When they stopped walking, she turned to face him. He cupped her cheeks between his hands and his anxious gaze raked her face.
"You're certain you're not hurt?"
She nodded. "Yes."
Before she could utter another word, he crushed her to him in a hug so tight she could barely breathe. She clung to him, grateful for his strength, because her legs still felt decidedly wobbly.
"My God, Carolyn," he whispered against her hair. "I've never, in my entire life, been so frightened."
"She was going to kill me," she mumbled into his chest.
A shudder racked his frame. "Yes, I know."
She lifted her head and leaned back just enough to look into his eyes. "Did you kill her?"
"Yes."
"You made an excellent throw with that knife. I'm very relieved you didn't miss."
"There was no possible way I was going to miss. Not with all that was at stake."
"I wasn't going to let her shoot me. Not without a fight."
He brushed back a loosened tangle of her hair. "I'm very relieved to hear it. I didn't know you were so fierce."
"Neither did I."
"You're a veritable tigress."
"Apparently. But I certainly hope I never have to prove it again in such a manner."
"As do I. Do you feel able to walk?"
"I'm a bit unsteady, but I'd rather walk home than stay here."
Keeping his arms around her, Daniel looked over her shoulder. "I'm going to escort Lady Wingate home, Mayne. Do you need me to send for anyone?"
"No. Samuel's offered to fetch Rayburn, and Nelson can stay with me, if that's all right with Lady Wingate."
"Of course."
When she and Daniel reached the opening in the hedges, Carolyn couldn't stop herself from taking one final look behind her at Lady Walsh.
"What did she say to you, at the end?" Daniel asked.
"I'll have my revenge… even from the grave I'll see you dead.'" A shiver ran through Carolyn, and Daniel wrapped his arm more firmly around her shoulders. "I have no idea what she meant."
"It doesn't matter. She's dead, and can do nothing to hurt you or anyone else ever again."
Twenty minutes later a frantic Katie opened the door to Carolyn's town house. After assuring the maid that her mistress was well, Daniel instructed her to arrange for a bath. Then he lifted Carolyn in his arms and strode down the corridor toward the drawing room.
"I'm perfectly fit," she felt compelled to point out, even as her arms gratefully twined around his neck.
"Of course you are. You are a fierce tigress. Carrying you is a completely selfish act on my part."
He entered the drawing room and pushed the door firmly closed with his boot. Then he walked directly to the fireplace and gently deposited her on the settee. He sat beside her and took her hands.
She slipped one hand free and brushed her fingers over his cheek, almost giddy from delight in touching him. "You're pale."
He gave a weak smile. "I don't think I'm quite recovered from my fright. Actually, I don't know if I'll ever fully recover." He brought her hand to his mouth and pressed a fervent kiss against her fingers. "I almost lost you. I cannot even begin to describe how I felt when I realized you'd been lured into the hands of the killer. When I didn't know if I'd reach you in time. When I saw you struggling with that madwoman. I haven't prayed in a very long time, but I called upon every saint I could recall." He pressed her hand against his chest. "And my prayers were answered."
The steady beat of his heart beneath her palm brought a lump to her throat. Dear God, she loved him so much. And they'd nearly lost each other, a shocking reminder of how precious life was. And love. And how neither should ever be wasted. She loved him. And even though he didn't love her, even though she risked making a fool out of herself, she had to tell him.
Not quite sure how to begin, she cleared her throat. "You saved my life."
"I can only be grateful I wasn't too late and had the chance to do so."
"You have my deepest gratitude."
He frowned. Hesitated. Then said, "I don't want your gratitude, Carolyn."
"Oh," she said in a small voice. This wasn't going particularly well.
"I want your love."
It was her turn to frown. "I beg your pardon?"
"I want your love." He drew then released a deep breath. "Carolyn, I love you. So much I can barely sit still." He gripped her hands and looked at her through such serious eyes she realized with a shocked jolt that he was in dead earnest.
"I recall the first instant I saw you," he said softly. "Something happened to me in that moment. I wanted you, but there was something more… something I couldn't name because it had never happened to me before. You were the most exquisite woman I'd ever seen. Your smile, your laugh, captivated me, and I wanted nothing more than to spirit you away from the crowd and have you all to myself." A half smile quirked one corner of his lips. "That was the night you and Edward announced your engagement."
Carolyn felt her eyes widen. "I… I had no idea."
"Well, thank goodness," he said dryly. "As you know, we saw each other occasionally over the years, but I made a concentrated effort to stay away. Edward was my friend, and I didn't like myself for desiring his wife. For being unable to keep from doing so."
He reached out and brushed his fingers over her cheek. "But even though months or years would go by between the times I saw you, I never forgot you. Do you recall the painting in my drawing room?"
"Over the fireplace? The woman in the blue gown looking out at the garden?"
"Yes. I bought it because it reminded me of you. Of that first time I saw you. You were wearing a blue dress, and I always liked to imagine myself as the man in the painting, the one you were looking for. The one who was waiting for you."
Hot moisture stung her eyes. "I had no idea your regard was of such long standing."
"Actually, neither did I. Carolyn, I have a confession to make."
"Even though it's nowhere near midnight?"
"Yes. I attended Matthew's house party because I knew you were going to be there. I knew I desired you, but once I saw you again… it was just like that first time. Like I'd been struck by lightning. It took me quite a while to figure out what was happening to me because I had nothing to compare it to. I always thought my heart was my own, but I was wrong. I lost it ten years ago to a girl I didn't even know who announced she was marrying another man."
He leaned forward and brushed his lips lightly over hers. "I know you said you didn't want my heart, but it's yours just the same." A sheepish smile touched one corner of his mouth. "It appears it always has been."
A half laugh, half sob escaped her. Wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face in his neck and bawled.
"Bloody hell," she heard him say, and she sobbed even harder. "Good God, I didn't mean to make you cry." She could feel him frantically patting his jacket in search of his handkerchief.
"Here," he said, pressing the square of white linen into her hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you, at least not now. After all you've been through today-"
"Don't you dare…" She gave her nose a mighty blow. "… apologize. Or even think of taking back what you said. Because I won't let you."
He studied her for several seconds then nodded. "You have that fierce look about you again."
"I should hope so. What sort of man tells a woman he loves her and then
apologizes
for it?"
He pondered, then said, "I'm stumped."
"Actually that was a rhetorical question, but no matter. The point is that I love you, too."
He went perfectly still. He swallowed audibly then said quietly, "Carolyn, when I said I wanted your love, I meant I wanted you to give it freely. Not feel coerced into saying you love me because I said it to you."
She framed his face between her hands. "My darling Daniel, I give you my love freely. Without reservation. I wanted to tell you how I felt but was too afraid. I had a wonderful marriage with Edward and honestly never thought I could find that depth of feeling again with anyone. But you proved me wrong. My attraction to you, my feelings for you, began at Matthew's house party and have grown and flourished since then. In fact, I have a confession of my own. I knew it was you I danced with at the masquerade. You who kissed me."
He turned his head and lightly kissed her palm. "I'm delighted to hear it."
She hesitated, then said, "I'll always cherish what I had with Edward, but I want to make new memories. With you."
He turned his face and kissed her palm. "Please know I don't resent your love for Edward, Carolyn. I'm just deeply grateful and thankful that there's room in your heart for me as well."
"Edward owned my heart when he lived. But now I give it to you. Freely and completely."
Her breath caught at the flare of love that blazed in his eyes. "And I will cherish it. Always." Without another word, he lowered himself to one knee before her. "Carolyn, will marry me?"
Her heart filled to overflowing and she wanted nothing more than to accept. But first she had to remind him. "I… I can't give you a child, Daniel."
The tenderness in his beautiful blue eyes melted her. "I don't care. And I have two greedy younger brothers who will be delighted to hear it." He raised her hands to his lips. "
You
are what is important to me, Carolyn. Children are a lovely gift, but not absolutely necessary. You, however, are like air-absolutely essential."
Her lips trembled. "You do always seem to know the right thing to say."
"Does that mean the answer is yes? You'll marry me?"