Page 88 of Broken

Lord Carrington strode forward, pistol in hand, and nudged the fallen man with his foot.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Giles should have thanked his friend immediately, but he was too anxious to hold Lilly. He lifted her to her feet, and then kissed the breath out of her.

The sheer terror of the past moments could only be assuaged by the joy of holding her close against his chest, feeling her warmth in his arms. He did not turn away from the spectators. He did not pretend to feel anything but the utter relief of the moment.

Lilly was safe and whole, still here with him. If she had died, Giles did not know what he would have done. Those moments when the pistol barrel was aimed at her chest had almost stopped his heart.

Giles pulled back and breathed deeply, allowing Lilly to do the same. He rested his head against hers and their breath mingled hot between them. He held her up off the ground and Lilly wiggled her legs slightly, rocking them both. “You’re safe. You are safe now.”

He twisted so Lilly would not have to see her cousin’s body removed or see the pain cross Carrington’s features as the truth of his actions slowly registered. The servants, perhaps noticing Carrington’s stricken expression, rallied around him and led him to the house.

Giles pressed his lips to Lilly’s again, gently this time. He tenderly swiped the tip of his tongue across her lower lip, tasting the warm sweetness of her mouth and the gentle response she gave him. Her hand lay against the side of his face and her fingers traced the edge of his ear.

He loved this little bundle of trouble, and the relief of finding the one person he adored above all others sent him a little wild.

“Ahem.”

Giles lifted his head to find his butler waiting.

“The fire is under control,” the butler croaked. “A few of the neighboring families heard the warning bell and arrived in time to see what transpired. They wish to speak with you, and with Lord Winter.”

Giles quickly glanced around, discovered his future-father-in-law had moved to the front steps of the house and appeared to be guzzling spirits again.

“The viscount is badly shaken, milord. You should speak to him soon.”

“I will come directly.” Giles smiled down at Lilly. “We have guests. I suppose I shall have to behave now.”

Here at Cottingstone, they had lived in a fantasy where no one could see what they did. It had allowed Giles to get to know Lilly better and fall in love with her. He did not want to force her into a marriage with him if she hated the idea, but he would have to be far more circumspect now.

After dropping Lilly to her feet, he held out his arm for her to take. After the first few paces, he noticed a limp to her step. Giles slowed so his butler moved past them. “Are you hurt?”

“I fell down the stairs,” she told him. Her prompt response was a nice change from having to pry answers out of her.

“Should you be walking at all? Where exactly does it hurt?”

Lilly tugged on his arm and Giles lowered his head closer to her lips so she could whisper her answer. His eyebrows shot up, and she giggled at his reaction.

“Something to look forward to tending. How delicious.”

Lilly might have blushed at his remark, but he could not tell in the dark.

Dithers waited at the steps and prevented their progress. “The smoke is still very strong throughout the house, milord. There could still be embers burning beneath the rubble of the study. Perhaps the stable would be more comfortable and safer for Miss Winter tonight. At least the air would be fresher. She could be quite comfortable in your traveling carriage.”

“No thank you. No carriages.” Lilly shuddered. “Some hay in the stables will be good enough.”

Giles took a pair of blankets and a lantern from Dithers, then led Lilly toward a clean corner of hay. He swiftly made as soft a bed as he could and lifted her onto it, then draped her with the second blanket.

“Not comfortable enough by far, but it will have to do for one night. Mrs. Osprey is already settling in nearby to keep you company, and I will send your father along in a little while.”

He brushed a few long strands of hair back from her face and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. She was safe now. There was no longer any threat to her from Barrette.

Lilly clutched his arm. “Will the manor recover?”

“She might be a little scorched on one side, but I am assured the damage can be repaired easily enough. Barrette seemed intent on driving everyone from the house, not burning Cottingstone to the ground. The worst of it was out long before I found you, but I need to ensure the embers are all dug out. I am so sorry you have to sleep out here. Stay warm. If you need anything, ask Mrs. Osprey.”

“I’m sorry.”