Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) (20 page)

He grumbled softly. “I think this episode was not an accident.”

“What are you saying?”

“I think somebody tried to hurt him.” He glanced around the area then came closer.

“Then we should inform Colonel Burwell at once.”

“No, I do not think we should, especially if you were behind this.”

“Me?” She gasped. “Indeed! Why would you say such a thing?”

“Not long ago, you were in my arms making plans to kill him, or have you forgotten?”

In stunned belief, she grabbed the folds of her skirt to keep her nervous hands occupied. Blinking, she fought the dizziness attempting to consume her vision.
Kat wanted William dead?
“I was not even in the foxhunt. How could I have made him fall from his saddle?”

“I heard rifle shots just before he fell.”

She breathed deep, her chest burning with anger. “I, sir, do not have a rifle. I had just left my room when I heard of the accident.”

“Then if it was not you, maybe somebody is after him to get to you.”

“Mr. Kennedy.” She tilted her head to study him. “Why would anybody want to hurt my husband?”

“I know not, unless—” He paused and looked around once again. “Unless it is because you backstabbed them in one of your deceitful bargains. I know from personal experience how well you make plans you do not intend to keep. Perhaps there are other men you have upset lately?”

“That is ludicrous.” She folded her arms and blinked away frustrated tears. “What I think, Mr. Kennedy, is that your pride has been injured due to my rejection, and so you are creating tales to upset me. Either that,” she lowered her voice slightly, “or you are the one who fired shots at my husband and are trying to point the finger at me.” She lifted her chin a notch higher. “In any case, I believe I will have Colonel Burwell look into this incident, since I cannot believe a word that comes from your mouth.”

“I would not do that if I were you.”

“You are not me, Mr. Kennedy,” she snapped.

Anger and fear pushed her forward in haste and she practically ran to her horse.

Whatever made Kat take up with a man like Kennedy? Her sister must have been insane for certain. Perhaps the good Lord took Kat from this world before she could cause any more harm to those around her.

When Mercedes arrived at the Burwell’s manor, she flew up two flights of stairs to her room and stopped abruptly. The colonel paced outside her bedchamber door, his brow creased. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

“Colonel? What is wrong?”

He tried to smile, but there was a slight quiver to his lips. “Mrs. Braxton, the physician does not want anybody in the room until he’s finished examining your husband.”

She twined her fingers together in worry. “Has my husband regained consciousness?”

“Not yet.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. “But all will be made right, soon. You must be patient.”

“Thank you.”

“I am not certain exactly what happened out there, but I shall look into the matter.”

“I think you should talk to Mr. Kennedy. He heard rifle shots just seconds before my husband fell from the horse.”

Colonel Burwell’s eyebrows furrowed. “Are you jesting?”

“I would not jest about a matter so serious. Mr. Kennedy implied someone might have shot at my husband.”

“Then I shall certainly look into it.”

“Thank you.”

The bedroom door opened and Mercedes rushed forward, meeting the physician just inside the room. “How is he?”

“He is resting. A horse stomped on his right shin, and amazing as it sounds, no bones were broken. However, he has a severe sprain. I placed a brace on his leg to help him heal faster. His head wound is not serious, although he did lose a lot of blood. However, I was surprised to see a bullet had grazed his shoulder.” He frowned and shook his head. “I imagine plenty of bed rest and proper nourishment will cure that.” He turned to the colonel. “I suggest Mr. Braxton not be moved for at least a week, just as a precaution, you understand.”

“Quite right.” The colonel nodded. “Mr. and Mrs. Braxton can stay here for as long as necessary.”

“A moment, please?” Mercedes said to the physician. “May I see him?”

“Yes, but allow him to rest.”

“Thank you.” She hurried past the two men and into their room, closing the door behind her. William lay on the bed stripped of his clothes, his only covering the sheet and blanket. His right leg protruded from under the sheets, braced and precisely wrapped. Clean bandages now covered his head and shoulder. The color of his skin almost matched the white strips of cloth.

Her tense muscles demanded rest, and she plunked down into the sitting chair next to the bed. “Oh, William,” she sighed. “What has my sister gotten you into?”

She didn’t expect an answer, but wished she could think of a solution. What if she, or her sister, had committed some offense to upset another man like Brandon Kennedy had suggested? And what if the gunshot had been intentional after all? Staying here another week would be dangerous for them both.

* * * *

William kept his gaze on his wife as the physician finished examining him. Mercedes had remained by William’s side every minute, tending to his needs and comfort. Even through all of this, he didn’t dare believe she had become the wife he’d always wanted. He couldn’t have his heart broken again.

When he’d regained consciousness, his head had throbbed and his leg ached just as painfully, but she’d done everything possible to alleviate his discomfort. So different from the woman he’d married two years ago.

The physician finally pulled away and closed his medical bag, then turned to Mercedes. “Your husband is one fortunate man. His injuries could have been much worse.”

“Thank you for checking him over.” She smiled.

“Just remember what I told you earlier about keeping him still.”

“I will follow your instructions.”

“You have a caring wife, Mr. Braxton.” The physician chuckled as he looked at William.

“Appreciate it while you can.”

William grinned, but he didn’t answer.

Mercedes showed the physician out then returned. “Can I fetch you anything?”

He reached up and brushed his hand over the back of his head, then winced. “Perhaps a glass of brandy to dull the pain?”

She rushed over to the supply of liquor Lady Burwell had brought up earlier, and after pouring an ample draught into a glass, carried it back to him. He struggled to sit. She braced her arm behind him to help, and he breathed in her sweet fragrance. Oh why did he have to become injured now?

“Thank you, my dear.” He took the brandy and gulped it down. He fought back the burning sensation scalding his throat as he handed her the glass.

“I wonder how this could have happened?” she asked.

He furrowed his brow. “I have my suspicions.”

“So, you believe it not an accident?”

“I believe someone shot at me.”

She sat on the edge of the bed next to his good leg. “I hate to say this, but I think Mr. Kennedy is behind it.”

He studied her pretty face, her wide, green eyes still too innocent to be real. He nodded, then winced and moved his hand to his head. “He is at the top of my list.”

“After they put you in the wagon, Mr. Kennedy stopped me. Some of his suggestions led me to believe he knew more than he let on about your accident. He is trying to put the blame somewhere else, though.”

“Yes, I am certain he is.” He covered her trembling hand with his own. “Mr. Kennedy is not a very good sport when it comes to losing, is he?”

“Losing?” She frowned.

“I think if I were in his situation, I would be very upset over losing a woman to her very own husband.”

Her cheeks darkened with a blush. Was there a reason she acted so innocent? Could the reason be what he’d suspected? He stroked her cheek and smiled. “He has lost you, has he not?”

“Mr. Kennedy never had me.”

“Indeed? Several months ago, it appeared that way to me.”

“Please, William, do not think of the past.” She squeezed his hand within hers, her moist eyes pleading with him to believe her words. “Just concentrate on the future. That woman no longer exists.”

Strange, but she’d been saying that phrase since she’d returned from visiting her sister. He wondered if this could be another slip up. “Mercedes? What made you change your mind about me? What happened with your sister to make you come to care for me?”

The sweet smile stayed on her rosebud mouth. “I realized how precious life is, and how I had been throwing mine away. Just like my father, my sister was never happy with her life, and I want to make mine better.” A blush stole across her cheeks and she lowered her head. “I want to be happy. I want to feel love.”

“Do you realize you have never really told me about your family?” He relaxed back against the many pillows stacked behind him, still keeping her hand within his. “In fact, I do not think you mentioned your sister overmuch.”

Unlike yesterday, her face remained unreadable, no signs of panic. “What is there to tell?” she whispered, then cleared her throat. “My mother died when my sister and I were very young, and Father never remarried. His hands were full raising two daughters, though. We lived in a small country home. My father had a prominent business as a merchant for the most part of my life, but as the disease ate away at his mind, he spent his money unwisely. After he arranged for an earl to marry my sister, my father’s condition grew worse.”

“How bad was your father’s illness when I met him?”

“His mind was pretty much gone, but I do not think my sister or I wanted to believe it.”

“How did you feel when I asked for your hand in marriage?”

“I was shocked, to say the least, but only because we did not know each other, nor did you know my father very well. I went along with it to please him since I was not used to disobeying him.”

Strange, after he’d married her, she couldn’t stop disobeying him. Once again, there was a hole in her story. “Tell me about your sister.”

Her expression didn’t waver. “What would you like to know?”

“What is her name?”

She hesitated again. “Katherine,” she said in a whisper.

Shock vibrated through him. “Katherine?” He lifted his brows. “Is Kat her nickname?”

“Yes.”

“The first time I called you Kat, you threw a temper. If you recall, I was comparing you to a wild animal. You were not the pussycat I had thought you were. After that, I called you Kat just to see you react.”

“I know.”

“Why did you not tell me?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps because I was so upset.”

“What is Katherine like? Is she like you?”

Mercedes laughed and gave a negative shake of her head. “Kat is nothing like me. We are as different as night and day.”

With his free hand, he toyed with the curl of hair by her ear. Pain sliced through him from his shoulder, but he tried to ignore it. He enjoyed touching her and didn’t want anything to stop him. “Is she as pretty as you?”

Her face lit up when she blushed. “People say we look alike.”

His heart picked up rhythm. “What do you think?”

She stared at him for a few seconds, then leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I think you need to get some rest. I do not want the physician scolding me for not taking proper care of you.”

She attempted to withdraw, so he grasped her upper arms, halting her. “Do not leave. I have enjoyed carrying on a pleasant conversation with you.”

She smiled. “As have I, but the physician said you need your rest.”

“I will rest, but before you go, I would like a kiss.”

Her green eyes smoldered. “Well, all right, but it can only be a small kiss.”

“Why only a small kiss? What if I want more?”

She giggled. “You have lost a lot of blood, my dear husband, and you are as weak as a babe.”

“I bet I can prove you wrong.” He wagged his eyebrows.

“William...”

He pulled her against his chest, and she gasped. A surge of warming tremors shot through him, making him want more. “Kiss me like you did yesterday morning,” he whispered.

“No, William. Not yet. You must regain your strength.”

“Then just give me a sample of what I can expect when I am feeling better.”

He met her mouth in a soft kiss. She pecked lightly on his lips at first, but he tightened his hold and deepened the kiss. Her sweet kiss ignited flames clear down to his toes. Abruptly she broke away, leaving him gasping for more.

“You are a tease, my darling wife.” Taking her hand, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

The color of her eyes darkened. “I am truly sorry,” she whispered.

“Oh, no, my sweet. Never be sorry for making me happy.” He pulled her closer again and kissed her, but once again, she withdrew.

“That is not why I am sorry.” Her hand stroked his chin. “I am sorry,” she continued, “because I have to stop this before it goes any further.” She laughed and quickly jumped off the bed.