Bella grasped Derrick’s arm. “A robber?” She couldn’t believe such a thing would happen in this part of town.
Derrick’s hard hand on her shoulder pushed her down. “Stay there.” As he bent to remove a gun from the leather-covered box under the seat, a bullet whizzed over their heads, striking the hood.
Her heart galloping, Bella crouched as Derrick fought to pull up the panicking horses. They sidled and reared, dragging the curricle closer to where the robber stood.
She clutched the edge of the seat, listening to Derrick implore the robber to put his gun down.
“I’ve a bullet for you too, madam,” the man yelled, ignoring him. She watched in horror as he strode forward, closing the ground between them, his pistol pointed straight at Derrick.
As another shot bit into the side of the curricle, frighteningly close to her. Derrick cursed. Bringing the horses under control, he held the reins in one hand and aimed his pistol at the man who reloaded only a few yards away. “For God’s sake! Stop right there! Drop the gun or I’ll shoot.”
A white handkerchief hid the lower part of the tall, dark-haired man’s face. He was close enough for her to see his eyes burned with an inner fire. At this range, his next shot could hardly miss. She shuddered at his hoarse curses and watched helplessly as he took aim again, this time at her.
Derrick fired just as the frightened horses reared and the curricle lurched sideways. His shot was deadly accurate. The robber fell to the ground, his pistol flying away over the road.
Bella covered her face with her hands. “Dear heaven!”
“Stay here.” As if sensing the danger had passed, the horses quieted. Derrick tied off the reins. He leapt down and ran to fall to his knees beside the still body.
Bella couldn’t stay in the curricle. She had to see this madman for herself. She stood beside Derrick as he removed the man’s disguise. He was young and well dressed, not what she imagined a robber to be like. A red stain spread over his chest. Derrick groaned.
“He’s dead?” Bella’s voice was little more than a whisper.
“Yes. I just wanted to wing him. If the carriage hadn’t moved…. Dammit it. Hector, you fool,” he muttered hoarsely.
She put her hand on Derrick’s shoulder, feeling him shudder, yearning to comfort him. “You know this man? Who is he?”
“My cousin, Hector.” His voice was gruff with grief as he covered the man’s face with a handkerchief. “He wasn’t in his right mind. I’ve been trying to help him. And now I’ve failed him.”
“You couldn’t do anything else,” Bella reasoned. “He would have killed you. And me.”
“Yes. He would have shot you too.” He looked up at her, his eyes dark with pain. “I couldn’t take that chance.” He sighed heavily. “I’ll take you home.”
Her teeth chattered. He took her arm. “You’re shocked. I wish I could take you back home, give you some brandy, but I have to deal with this.”
Her distress was more for him than herself. She wished there was something she could say to comfort him, but there was nothing.
Derrick drove to Eaton Square in silence. Stopping outside her house, he helped her down. He raised her chin to study her. “Will you be all right? I must go back.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll slip in through the servants’ entrance. If I meet a servant, I’ll say I’ve been for an early walk.”
“Try and forget this distressing business, Bella. I’ll deal with Lord Maudling.”
Bella watched him drive away. She felt rooted to the spot. She had to get her knees working. It was growing lighter as the day dawned. Her knees had begun to tremble, and a sob lodged in her throat as she hurried down the path. They had both come so close to death. She walked through the kitchen door and climbed the servants’ stairs. She was halfway up the main staircase when a shape appeared in the gloom above her.
“Is that you, Bella?”
Her grandmother waited on the landing.
“Yes, it’s me, Gran,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve been for a walk. I’ll see you at breakfast.” As she hurried past, Gran grabbed her arm.
“Come to my bedroom, young lady.”
Clamping her lips to stop from crying, Bella obeyed.
In her bedroom, Gran motioned to a chair. “Sit.”
She sniffed, weak with shame and distress, and sank into an armchair.
In her dressing gown, Gran put her hands on her hips. She suddenly appeared taller than her five feet two and a good deal stronger than Bella had given her credit for in the past. Any notion of crying deserted her.
“Now. Would you care to tell me where you spent last night?”
“I’m sorry, Gran. I didn’t want to involve you. I thought you’d be asleep.”
“Old people don’t sleep so well. I got up during the night and went to check on you. Can you imagine how distressed I was when I discovered your empty bed?”
“Yes. It must have been dreadful. I’d best tell you the whole story.”
Gran folded her arms. “I believe that would be wise.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN