Chapter 23
That miracle came in a very unlikely form.
Simon’s grip on her hand was starting to hurt; the tension in the carriage was unbearable and the cruel edge to their captor’s smile wasn’t aiding her rising panic. Belle did not know how long they’d manage to go on like this. She refused, however, to die at the hands of this man.
It could be possible to jump him, but with Simon’s tight grip on her hand, she imagined he’d yank her back at even the slightest movement. He held onto her almost as if he expected her to act rashly. This, of course, did nothing to stop her from plotting an escape anyway.
Then, to their surprise, the carriage suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Had it not been for De Roux’s snarl of “What the devil!” Belle would have believed this to be their end.
De Roux rapped on the roof. When nothing happened, he shot them a glare, menace in his eyes. “No matter, this will have to do.” He swung open the door and stood to exit the carriage, his pistol never wavering from Belle. “Get out, slowly. And do not motion danger to the driver or I’ll shoot him dead,” he hissed.
Belle swallowed down her terror. She’d be damned if she cowered in fear. If Death came knocking at her door, he’d be met with bravery and foolish behavior. Yes, there would certainly be some of that. But something unexpected happened then, something so unforeseen that Belle would look back on it in marvel for years.
Belle had started to rise, half crouched to exit the carriage when Lord Beaverstoke suddenly appeared behind her stinky-breathed terrorizer. Before the surprise could even register on her face, the funny-looking lord wacked De Roux over the head with a piece of wood.
As De Roux crumbled to the ground, blood dripping from the side of his head, his pistol went off. Belle and Simon both glanced up at the gaping hole in the carriage roof before settling their shocked eyes back on the collapsed figure.
With a flash of movement Lady Lucinda appeared in the fray, snatching the weapon from De Roux’s clutches and pointing it, unwavering, at his head.
“Lady Belle! Lord Westfield! Are you both all right?” The lady’s voice penetrated their shocked daze.
Belle shivered when Simon’s unsteady hands tightly gripped her waist. “Belle, are you hurt? Tell me you’re not hurt.”
Belle plopped down on his knee and took his face in her hands, murmuring, “I am unhurt, truly.”
His shoulders dropped with relief. “It’s over then.”
Belle nodded, glancing at Lord Beaverstoke. He stood over the body of the man who’d tormented Belle for so long, his glasses askew on his nose and a satisfied smile coating his face.
She shook her head in disbelief. However unlikely, Lord Beaverstoke and Lady Lucinda had saved the day. It seemed rather impossible for it to be over so quickly without a fight, without begging or without any climax really—yet, here they stood, free and unharmed.
Belle glanced at up Simon, noting he also gazed in incredulous fascination at the couple who’d saved them.
“Thank you,” Simon murmured. “Your bravery saved our lives.”
Lady Lucinda beamed. “We could not sit by and do nothing—especially after we saw you being held at gunpoint. So we decided it was our duty to rescue you.”
“How on earth did you manage it?” Belle asked, relieved yet still a bit dubious.
Lady Lucinda glanced lovingly at her heroic lord. “Well, we rode out on our horses to gain some ground on you, then we stopped the carriage by flashing notes at the driver—he had no idea what was going on, mind you! Seems when he was inside the Inn, a gentleman, or rather thisperson,” she shook the gun at De Roux’s prone form, “had explained that you two were ready to continue northward and he simply did so when he returned and heard your signal for departure.” Lady Lucinda turned towards their driver. “Isn’t that right, sir?”
The driver nodded at Lady Lucinda before sheepishly turning towards Belle and Simon. “My apologies milord, milady. I ’ad no idea bout the bad business.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” Belle responded, for none of it was the poor man’s fault, after all.
“So!” Lady Lucinda exclaimed, garnering their attention once again, “In any case, when the carriage stopped, we rescued you! A grand plan, was it not?” Lucinda cried with excitement, waving her arms around with a flourish.
“Careful dear,” Lord Beaverstoke admonished, taking the pistol from her with gentle hands.
“Oh! Right!”
Belle managed a small smile for their rescuers. “Thank you, Lady Lucinda, and you, Lord Beaverstoke. I will forever be in your debt.”
“Oh, no need to thank us, it was quite fun! More fun than I would have thought for an elopement.”
Lord Beaverstoke gave a single nod.
“So, what ever are we going to do with him?” Lady Lucinda asked, waving a hand the weasel on the ground.
