He saw the flash from the pistol, felt the searing pain in his side but he kept going, landing against his opponent with such force that they both fell to the ground. Even as the blackness closed in on him he heard voices and the heavy tread of boots on the stone floor. Grace was safe.
* * *
Grace froze as the pistol turned towards her. In that same instant she saw Wolf drop the necklace and throw himself in the way. A shot reverberated around the little church and the two men fell, but although Sir Charles continued to struggle there was no sign of movement from Wolf, whose dead weight pinned his opponent to the ground.
The urgent shouts of the men running into the church broke the spell. Grace flew towards Wolf, helping the men to roll him away from Sir Charles. A red stain was slowly darkening Wolf’s coat and Grace closed her eyes, praying harder than she had ever done in her life that he might be spared.
‘Grace! Are you hurt?’ Loftus was lifting her from her knees.
‘He is innocent,’ she said urgently. ‘Wolfgang is innocent.’
He nodded, scooping up the necklace and the handkerchief that was wrapped around it and putting them in his pocket.
‘I heard enough to know that, my dear. Come out of the way now.’
She sank down on one of the pews as everyone bustled about. Sir Charles was marched away, Wolf was carried to the house, but when Grace went to follow, Loftus stopped her.
‘May I ask what you are doing here?’ he asked. ‘I received your father’s note, saying you had but today returned to Arrandale.’
Grace exhaled. ‘I have a lot to tell you, Loftus.’
Then, in the soft, flickering light of the church candles, Grace made her confession. She related everything, from the moment Wolf had first arrived at the vicarage to their night-time flight back to Arrandale. The only thing she kept to herself were the savage kisses they had shared. Those memories were too intimate, too precious to be divulged.
‘I have been very careless of my reputation, Loftus,’ she said at last. ‘I helped him escape from prison and spent last night alone in the woods with him.’ She raised her chin. ‘I cannot regret it, I did it to save an innocent man. But Idoregret the pain this must cause you. I beg your pardon for that.’
Silence fell in the chapel. Grace hung her head. Loftus really could not be expected to marry a woman who had behaved so badly. She would go home to Papa. If Wolf lived, if he decided to remain in England after all...
She would not think of that, not yet.
‘I cannot deny that I am shocked by your confidences, Grace,’ Sir Loftus began, with heavy deliberation. ‘But I am also proud. You have integrity, the courage to act upon your convictions and I admire that. I am aware that the world would censure you most severely, if your actions should become known, but you shall not hear a word of reproach fromme. And I shall not break our engagement. I have always considered it my duty as a magistrate to see that justice is administered and I am not such a hypocrite to turn away from you when you have followed your conscience. No, my dear, with your permission we shall instruct your father to call the banns next week and we will be married within the month. You shall have all the protection my name can give you.’
She felt his hand on her shoulder, a gesture of comfort and reassurance. To Grace it felt as heavy and confining as a yoke.
* * *
‘He’s stirring.’
Wolf was aware of the faint smell of lavender and a cool cloth wiping his brow. He opened his eyes.
‘Grace.’
The frail whisper must have been his own voice, for she took his hand and squeezed it gently, smiling at him in a way that made him wonder if he was in heaven, being tended by an angel.
‘You are safe now, Wolf.’ She added softly, ‘You saved my life.’
He glanced down at the bandaging around his chest.
‘And who saved mine?’
‘That was Raoul.’ Lady Cassandra came closer, her husband at her side. ‘You should be thankful that he brought his surgeon’s case with him.’
Raoul grinned. ‘I have learned that where there are Arrandales, there is trouble. However, on this occasion your life was not in danger. The bullet skimmed the ribs. A glancing blow merely.’
‘Aye,’ said Richard, coming up. ‘Another inch to the left and it would have killed you. How do you feel, Brother?’
‘Damnable,’ muttered Wolf. ‘Where am I?’
‘In the morning room at Arrandale,’ Grace answered him. ‘The day bed here was more convenient for everyone to look after you than trailing all the way up to your bedchamber.’
