certainty he had always felt in battle suddenly claimed him and he moved forward.
* * *
Daniel exploded into action without warning. In less than a minute three men lay at his feet, with barely a noise, hardly a movement. Amethyst had never seen someone fight like that before, the grace of his fury unwinding into a lethal force, the strength of his fists and body simply obliterating any resistance.
Tenderness took over as he brought his sister into his arms, checking her for other injuries and holding her as she shook violently without making a sound.
‘You are safe, Caroline. We are here to take you home. Did they hurt you elsewhere?’
‘No. They asked me to have a drink with them. I know I should not have said yes, but I couldn’t find Gwen or Andrew and so I agreed. They brought me upstairs and I knew then...’ She couldn’t go on and her brother bent to lift her into his arms.
‘Tell me if anyone so much as looks at us, Amethyst.’ He made no effort to keep his voice down as he retraced his steps.
Finally they walked out through the front door and into the evening, the soldier in her husband so very clearly seen. No one spoke. No one touched them. No one moved in the stillness of the oncoming night, save them.
Then the horses were before them, whickering at their presence. Amethyst held her knife ready until they were mounted. Daniel threw his cloak around his sister and wrapped her in tight.
‘Get on your horse, Amethyst.’
She did it in one quick movement and he tipped his head, gesturing a direction as he spoke.
‘They won’t follow.’ The strength in the Earl’s voice was comforting. His hair in the oncoming darkness had fallen loose and lay across his shoulders and he had collected a bruise on his cheek from one flying fist. He had never looked more beautiful to her or more distant.
* * *
Much later Daniel called her to his library. Each of the injured young people had been seen to by the doctor and sent to bed and all were expected to have made a good recovery by the morning. Her father had long since retired, but Amethyst had stayed in the downstairs salon reading just to make sure that there was no more trouble.
The Earl was standing at the window as she walked in. He had changed his clothes and now wore a shirt and a loose cravat. His jacket was draped across a chair nearby and he held a drink in his hand.
‘Can I offer you something?’
Amethyst shook her head.
‘Will you sit for a moment?’
He motioned to two chairs positioned before the fireplace. The grate held the warmth of low embers.
‘Caroline was lucky. The doctor said the burn on her arm was superficial and he has dressed and wrapped it. Her fearfulness may take a little longer to recover from, of course, and I doubt she will be venturing anywhere on her own in the foreseeable future. But there is nothing...that she can’t recover from.’
‘What about Andrew Howard? How is he faring?’
‘A little worse. He has a substantial wound on his leg and a large bruise on the back of his head. I have sent word to Lucien who will come to look him over, no doubt.’
‘And your mother?’
‘Has been informed of the happenings. Unfortunately, I suppose she will also descend upon us.’ Drawing a hand through his hair, he continued speaking after a few seconds of silence. ‘She is a woman whom life has disappointed and as such goes to great pains to make sure others feel the same way.’
‘So she won’t like me?’
‘Probably not.’ He didn’t mince the words and for that she was grateful. ‘But she does not like me much, either, so we should be about even.’
Shocked, Amethyst looked straight at him. ‘But you are her son.’
‘She hated my father with a vengeance and I suppose I remind her of him.’
‘And Nigel didn’t.’
‘He was more persuadable and usually did exactly as she wanted. I was less biddable, but families are complicated things and I have long since ceased trying to understand mine.’
Amethyst waited as he took a drink. The bruise on his cheek had swollen and was threatening to close up his right eye.
‘Where did you learn to wield a knife?’
Shocked by his directness, she was mute.
‘Every other woman of my acquaintance would not know how a blade fits within their fist. But you do. Why?’
She wanted to tell him, she did. She wanted to spit out all the horror of her first marriage in one unbroken line of thought, but this was neither the time nor the place. Not yet. She needed to get to know him better first.
‘The docks are dangerous and I was often there at night.’
She didn’t know if he believed her or not as he leant forward.
‘You surprised me, Amethyst, and that is something not many people have managed to do before. Do you carry your blade now?’
‘Yes.’
‘Could I see it?’
With only a little hesitation she brought the leather sheath from a deep pocket and laid it on the table between them. To keep a knife on her person in the safety of his home must alert him to some of the things she would rather keep hidden. She also knew that she no longer wished to lie to him.
Picking up the scabbard, he extracted the knife, the multiple grooves on the handle which allowed a better grip taking his attention.
‘A double-edged stiletto blade and well balanced, too. Does your father know you carry it?’
She shook her head. ‘It would only worry him.’
At that he laughed. ‘I am your husband and it worries me. But for now we will leave it at that. I have a request that you might be able to help me with over the next few days. Both of my sisters are...in need of some backbone, for they whine too much and they think too little. Their journey up to Montcliffe today surprised me, however, and made me think there still is a chance to rescue them from my mother’s influence, if you like. The thing is, Amethyst, I want them to be more like you.’
‘Like me?’
‘Stronger. More certain. They have taken on my mother’s propensity to complain about nothing and it is wearisome and unattractive. Perhaps with a little coaching and some hours spent in your company they might see the value in pursuing a different path, a braver direction.’
‘Should I take this as a compliment, my lord?’ Amazement gave Amethyst’s words a quiet lilt. ‘Most gentlemen of the ton want docile wives who think only of the things your sisters are probably fond of.’
‘Which is why most marriages in high
