Tobias grasped Grayson’s forearm. “Don’t tell her about the duel. She won’t like it.”
“I didn’t think she would, but what were we supposed to do?”
“Exactly. She won’t see it that way. Do you remember last time?”
Of course, he did.
“Grayson! Tobias!” She’d spotted them and let go of the horse to fly after them. She skidded to a halt in front of them, her face drained of color. “You’re both all right. And I didn’t hear any gunshots.” She looked from one of them to the other and back again, as if unable to decide what to do first.
Grayson decided for her. He pulled her to him, crushing her soft body against his own. “Are you well? Did they hurt you?” he demanded.
She shook her head against his chest. “I’m so glad you didn’t hurt them.”
“What?” Grayson held her out at arm’s length. “They all deserve to be shot.”
“I was going to shoot them,” Tobias said. He pointed toward Grayson. “He punched Stubly.”
Henrietta wrapped her arms around Grayson’s waist and squeezed tight. “Thank you.” Then she pulled away, shaking her head and looking left and right. “Do you think anyone has seen anything?”
“Henrietta, it doesn’t matter. What matters—”
“It does matter,” Tobias bit off. “No one can treat you—or any woman—like that.”
“You can’t duel them all, Tobias,” Henrietta said.
Grayson grunted. “He can certainly try.”
“Grayson! Mercy!” Henrietta vented her frustration to the sky. “Listen, the both of you! Someone wants me dead.”
“What?” Grayson and Tobias shouted together.
“A ‘duchess’ according to one of Stubly’s cronies.”
“The Duchess of Valingford,” Grayson and Tobias said together.
Henrietta paced back and forth. “Surely not. She wanted to ruin me with gossip, not kill me.”
“But who else, Hen?” Grayson asked.
Tobias straightened his jacket and tamed his ruffled hair. “Some people are deeper than they appear.”
Grayson put an arm around Henrietta and guided her toward her horse. The thought that someone had hired Stubly to rape her and leave her for dead chilled him to the core. He’d gladly put a bullet in any of Stubly’s vital body parts tomorrow, but only after he learned exactly who the duchess was who wanted Henrietta dead. He had no doubt it was the Duchess of Valingford. Who else? But confirmation would be useful. He wrapped his hands around Henrietta’s waist and lifted her onto Trott. “I’ll escort you home.”
“I’m coming, too,” Tobias said, swinging up onto his horse.
Grayson nodded and mounted the horse behind Henrietta.
“You can’t Grayson. Everyone will see. I can ride Lemon. I’m a little shaken, but not incapable.”
“I know, love.” He kissed each word into the disarranged hair near her ear. “But I need to hold you.”
“You can’t. They’ll see.” She melted into his chest despite her protestations.
“Who will see?”
“Everyone, all of them. They’ll know the gossip is true.”
Grayson pulled her close, unable to find the words to calm her fears. He wasn’t sure there actually was gossip. Something far more sinister had been set into motion.
