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Margaret linked arms with her and said, "The ball is an unequivocal triuossip about you than any other topic"

Willia?"

Elizabeth hid a smile at his curt tone "To the drink tables"

He frowned "Wish he would have said so before he went in I could use some libation myself If you will excuse me, ladies, I believe I’ll join hiestured toward the garden and they set off at a sedate stroll

"You look well," Elizabeth said

"Regardless, a clever er, so this ball will be aret smiled "Lord Westfield see children of your own soon" Leaning closer, she asked, "Is he as skilled a lover as they say?"

Elizabeth blushed

"Good for you" Margaret laughed, and then winced "My back aches"

"You have been on your feet all day," Elizabeth scolded

"A respite in the retiring rooreed

"Then wearound, they headed away froarden

As they neared the house, they saw ht air Elizabeth took a deep breath, and prayed for the patience she’d require to endure ’til , you are aware of that?"

Marcus glanced at Williaarden steps, drinks in hand "Truly?" he drawled "And here I’d been led to believe e was a tranquil institution"

Williaht argumentative, but around you, she is not herself She’s almost withdrawn Lord only kno you convinced her to accept your addresses, but I’ve taken note of herof you" Marcus clenched his jaw He was a proud man It did not sit ith him that Elizabeth appeared less than enthusiastic to wed hiaret approached, her arched brows drawn tight with discomfort

Williaruffly

She waved his concern aith a lift of her hand "My back and feet ache is all Nothing to worry yourself over"

"Where is Lady Hawthorne?" Marcus asked, searching the winding path behind her

"Lady Grayton had an unfortunaterose and needed more assistance than I" She wrinkled her nose "Frankly, I think Elizabeth simply didn’t want to return to the house yet"

Marcus opened his mouth to reply, but was silenced by a distant female scream

William frowned Marcus, however, was al to the point of pain

"Elizabeth," he whispered starkly, his well-trained senses telling hiarden He dropped the glasses he held in his hands, paying noon the stone pathway With William fast on his heels, Marcus ran in the direction of the disturbing sound, his stomach clenched and frozen with dread

He’d left her with family when he should never have left her at all He knew his job, knew the rules, knew she was not safe anywhere after the ransacking of her roonored all of it simply because she asked hiht froination would be the extent of his punishment

Perhaps it was not Elizabeth Perhaps it was a minor incident of a stolen kiss and a woman with a flair for draan to overwhelm him, he saw her up ahead, sprawled on the pathway next to a rose-covered arbor in a flood of displaced panniers and endless skirts

He dropped to his knees beside her, da his head, he searched for her attacker, but the night was still and quiet except for her labored breathing

William crouched on her other side "Christ" His hands trembled as he reached for her

Because the darknessfor injury Elizabeth groaned as his fingers lightly ski fro her arer

"She’s been stabbed," Marcus said gruffly, his throat tight

Elizabeth opened her eyes at the sound of his voice Her skin was pale beneath her powder, the rouge she wore unnatural in coers curled weakly over the hand that touched the hilt He gripped the her to be strong

This was his fault And Elizabeth had paid the price The extent of his failure was crushing, a brutal fall fro started

Willias much as Marcus had done a moment earlier "We need to move her to the house"

Marcus lifted her, careful to avoid unduly jarring the knife She cried out, then lost consciousness, her breathing slipping into a rapid but o?" he asked in near desperation Through the ballroom was obviously not an option

"Follow arden, they entered through the bustling kitchen Then they took the cramped servants’ staircase, which caused a laborious ascent hampered by Elizabeth’s panniers

Once safely in her rooed out of his coat and reached into an inner pocket, withdrawing a sed in Elizabeth’s side "Send for a doctor," Marcus ordered "And ring for towels and heated water"

"I will instruct a servant on my departure It will be faster if I collect the doctorhaste

With careful, tentative h the endless material that made up her dress, stays, and underskirts The task was torturous, this sight of his blade next to precious ivory skin a nightmare, and he was drenched with sweat before she was free of the pile

A steady steaer She was still unconscious, but he whispered soothingly as he worked, trying to calm himself as well as her

The door opened behind hilance over his shoulder to see the entry of Lord Langston and Lady Barclay A hted with hot water and cloths

The earl took one look at his daughter and shuddered violently "Oh God," he breathed He swayed unsteadily, his face a stark ain"

Marcus felt his stomach knot The pain he witnessed on her father’s face hat tormented Elizabeth so That same pain had pushed Elizabeth away and every other wo, but endlessly grieving er

"Coet you settled soaret said softly