Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance (27 page)

Another scream ripped from her lips as she turned to run. She heard Asher land on the pavement with his feet. In her dress, she couldn’t outrun him, but perhaps she could get help.

She took a few more steps when Barrett suddenly stepped twenty feet in front of her. A cry of relief left her lips as she sprinted towards him. But he barely glanced at her as he raised his pistol. She turned her head back to see Asher pointing a gun at Barrett’s chest. Reaching him, she didn’t think, she just threw herself, like a shield, over his body. She heard two guns go off at the same moment.

A searing pain ripped through her left arm. At the same moment, she heard Asher cry. She looked back to see him lying on the ground.

“Is he dead?” Piper swayed and Barrett wrapped an arm around her to steady her. He buried his face in her hair.

“I think so.” He leaned away slightly and looked down at his chest. Piper could see the flash of metal and Barrett reached into his clothes to pull out a bullet.

“Are you shot?” Her voice trembled with fear.

“It barely broke the skin. What were you thinking jumping in front of me like that? You could have been hurt, my love.” He pulled her back against his body.

“If I hadn’t, you would be dead. I couldn’t let that happen.” She was suddenly feeling weaker. She laid her head on his chest.

“What are you talking about, Piper?” His other arm wrapped around her and it put pressure on the wound. She jerked involuntarily. “Piper?” His voice came out in a whisper. Piper could hear his fear but she felt incredibly calm. She looked down at her arm to see blood pouring down it.

“I need a bandage,” she said weakly. She swayed a little.

“Bloody bullocks, Piper, your arm!” In an instant he had her in his arms cradling her. He moved to his horse and then swung them both onto the animal. Piper cried in pain.

“I’m sorry, my love. I will be as careful as I can but I need to get you to a doctor.” She closed her eyes leaning against him in the saddle.

“Back to Sybil’s?” She drifted far away in her mind.

“Piper, stay with me.” He gave her a gentle shake. His voice trembled. Where was his usual growl? “I’m taking you to my ship. It’s just up ahead. Stay awake. Okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed but she could feel herself slipping into darkness.

He kissed the top of her head. “What will you wear to our wedding?”

“What?” She focused in a little bit.

“What dress will you wear when we are married?” His arm tightened just a little. She winced at the pain but her head was clearer.

“I-I hadn’t thought aboooout it.” Was that her voice slurring?

“Where do you want to have the ceremony? My house?” He kissed her head, her cheek.

She wrinkled her nose. “Your house is cold.”

A small laugh rumbled in his chest. “Can’t be there then. Maybe Sybil’s?”

She blinked a few times. “Your boat.
The Destiny.
It should be there.”

“Oh, that’s good. Good girl. Keep talking. Who will we have? You, me, who else?”

“Sybil and Aunt Lizzie, my mother if she is well enough. Anyone from your….” She felt the darkness coming again.

“Please Piper, don’t leave me. I can’t be without you. Stay with me, keep talking.” His voice trembled and Piper looked back. In the time she had known him he had never sounded weak or scared.

She reached her good hand up to his cheek. Her fingers lightly skimmed the stubbled skin. “I would never leave you. I can’t. Even if I wanted to…” And she finally slipped into darkness.

TAMING A DUKE’S RECKLESS HEART

CHAPTER TWENTY

Barrett sat next
to Piper as Ethan’s ship doctor bandaged her up. She had been unconscious for over half an hour. “Why isn’t she awake?” he ground out.

“She lost a good deal of blood. It’s normal for the body to shut down to heal. The good news is it doesn’t seem to have hit the bone. If she can avoid infection, she should live.” The doctor used his stethoscope to listen to her heart. “She’s got a good strong heartbeat, it’s a good sign. You were lucky I was there.”

“Hmmm.” Barrett didn’t take his eyes off of Piper. He wasn’t ready to congratulate this man yet.

“The paste I’ve put on the wound should stop the bleeding and help avoid infection. Just keep an eye on her.” The doctor stood. Barrett stood too.

“You’re not leaving yet.” He was six inches taller and significantly heavier than the other man.

“But sir, there is nothing I can—“

“You’ll stay until my ship doctor arrives. You’ll be paid for your time.” Barrett swung his eyes back to Piper. Her face was ghostly pale. Her skin blended into the sheets. A red stain was spreading on the bandages.

He felt grief rising in his chest but he pushed it back down. He couldn’t afford to grieve. He had to stay strong for her now. His hand reached for hers, her skin felt cool. He leaned over and put his ear in front of her mouth to feel her light breath on his face.

She had been right. If she hadn’t stepped in front of him, he would be dead. The bullet would have gone into his chest. She had saved his life.

Barrett choked on his grief. Even if he could live in this world without her, which he couldn’t, he could never live knowing she had given her life for his. All this time, Piper thought she didn’t have anything to offer him. Why didn’t she see she gave him so many things no one ever had? To think, he almost hadn’t asked her to marry him. If she lived, he would spend the rest of his life treating her like a queen. He didn’t deserve her.

He fell to his knees and pressed his cheek to her hand.
Please
, he begged in his mind.
Please let Piper live
.

He raised his head and looked at her perfect, beautiful lips. He could kiss those lips for a lifetime and never get enough.

A tear slipped down his cheek. Barrett tried to remember the last time that had happened. He hadn’t even cried when his father had passed, though he had wanted to. But he couldn’t lose her.

He heard a commotion out on the deck but he ignored it. He took a deep breath. He pulled his pistol from his belt and held it in his hand. The door opened and he turned just enough to see Dr. Thompson and Ethan walking in. He tucked the pistol back into his belt.

The other doctor started to speak, but Barrett cut him off, “You’re dismissed.” Ethan nodded to his doctor and the other man left.

Without a word, Dr. Thompson began to work on Piper. He unwrapped the other doctor’s bandages and wiped the gunk on the wound away. “She’s lucky. It’s a clean shot.”

“How did this happen?” Ethan’s voice shook slightly.

“Asher tried to take her again. She stepped in front of a bullet meant for me. It would have hit me in the chest. She saved my life.”

“She wouldn’t have needed to save your life if you hadn’t gone chasing after her,” his mother’s said as she walked in the room.

Barrett looked at his mother. He loved her but he would abide her meddling no more. “We are engaged. I will not let another man take what is mine.”

“You shouldn’t be engaged to her. You are acting recklessly. Letting your heart lead you down the wrong path. It’s already been decided. You will marry Penelope and Tom will marry Piper, if she lives.”

Barrett could feel white hot anger sear through his body. She thought to marry Piper to his brother? He would never let her out of his sight again. They belonged together. He took a deep breath to keep calm. “Mother, you have not begun to see reckless. Whatever you are thinking, any plans you are making, you will stop this instant.”

“I am the parent. I will make these decisions—“ She stopped abruptly as Barrett dropped his face two inches from hers.

“I will marry Piper. You acquiesce or you will never see me again. The estate will never see a penny. I cannot be miserable the rest of my life to please you. Tom is marrying Penelope. I will not hear another word.”

“You fool,” her voice shook. “You would cut out your family for a woman?”

“Call it whatever you want. I call it love. And I will not be without her. You can say I am reckless but I must follow my heart.” He turned away then and walked back over to the bed.

“Barrett, is everything all right?” Piper called weakly.

He carefully lowered himself to her side. His fingers gently brushed back her hair. “Everything is fine, love.”

“Where am I?” Her voice cracked and Dr. Thompson handed him a glass of water. Barrett lifted her head and gave her a sip.

“On my ship. Shhh. Just rest. Would you like some more water?” She nodded and he brought the glass to her lips again. He set the glass down and began to stroke her face. Her eyelashes fluttered closed and he felt his breath catch again. He wanted her to stay conscious. “Piper?” Even he could hear the fear that laced his voice.

Her eyes opened again. “I’m just resting. It hurts.” But she gave him a weak smile.

“Next time, promise me you won’t put yourself in harm’s way.” He bent down and feathered kisses across her forehead.

“You know I will. I could never let anything happen to you.” His lips found hers and gave her the softest kiss. His thumb continued to stroke her cheek.

“It is my job to protect you,” he growled out.

Her smile broadened. “I know you will.” She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.

“I’m going to give her laudanum. Sleep will help her recover.” Barrett nodded. The doctor stepped next to her and he stepped back.

He hadn’t even heard Penelope and Tom come into the room but they all stood watching. His mother turned and left.

Barrett would deal with her later. Right now, he needed to get ready. He turned to Ethan. “Get Sybil and Piper’s mother if she can make it. Bring everyone on the ship.”

Ethan nodded once. He stepped up to his friend. “Whatever you need.”

He slapped Ethan on the back. “I need Piper’s family here to help pull her through.”

Ethan left and Barrett sat with Piper as she fell back to sleep. He turned to Dr. Thompson.

“What do you think?” He tried to keep the tremor out of his voice. He had been bolstered by Piper’s momentary wakefulness but with her back in slumber he was growing more anxious again.

“Infection is what you have to worry about but she is young and strong. The bullet went through cleanly. I’ve stitched the wound closed. We will keep it clean. Change the sheets, change the dressing. If she makes it through the next forty-eight hours without a fever, she should be good.” Barrett sat next to her. The captain could quarter everyone. He would stay by Piper’s side.

He sat for hours watching her sleep. Food was brought in. He ate little. Mrs. Baker joined him for a brief time. She looked terribly frail after her illness. Barrett left Piper’s side to bring a chair over for the other woman.

“Your Grace—” she began.

“Call me Barrett,” he cut her off. He was having trouble being polite with Piper ill. He took a deep breath to steady himself.

“Barrett, I know you have done your best to keep Piper safe,” her voice faltered.

“Not good enough. I waited too long to ask Piper to marry me. I should have seen sooner.”

Her hand gently touched his arm. “The right path is hard to see. Even I have made mistakes.”