Chapter 37

Lucian had never run so quickly in his life and he was nearly out of breath when he finally slowed as he approached the cave and then drew back when he spotted the body of one of his footmen.

His stomach tightened and he rushed forward to check if the man was dead or alive.

Lucian knelt by his side then noted the breathing as the man’s chest rose and fell, then noticed the blood that trailed down the side of his head from where he had likely been hit.

He rose and then slowly and quietly made his way toward the entrance of the cave only to note that the second footman was also on the ground, and unconscious, the same as the first.

Was Eliza still in the cave? Had she been harmed or had that man taken her?

He lifted the gun, ready to fire if necessary and quietly approached the entrance of the cave.

There was little light ahead and Lucian wished that he would have brought a lantern, but he did not have time to go back and retrieve one. Eliza could be lying in there injured, or worse.

He didn’t want to think about the worst and slowly made his way into the cave, staying in the center so as not to trip over protruding rocks along the side. Lucian remembered exploring here as a child and hoped that his memory of the twists and turns did not fail him.

As he reached the curve in the formation, he paused but a moment and listened.

Yes! Those were voices and one belonged to Eliza. He did not recognize the other, but it was a man.

Lucian took a deep breath and willed his heart to calm before he continued to ease forward ready to duck out of sight before he was seen.

“Now, come along. You do not want to miss the surprises that I have planned for you.”

Lucian stopped and waited. If they came toward him, he could come up from behind and strike the man, just as the footmen had been injured.

“Very well,” Eliza said with resignation.

How long had the two of them been in the cave? She must have been wondering what became of the footmen. And, knowing Eliza, she had likely tried to keep the man there for as long as possible in hopes of rescue. More likely, she was trying to plan an escape since Eliza was not the type of female who wanted to rely on anyone.

“I will take the lantern,” the man said.

“I do not mind carrying it,” she said. “You also have your own.”

If Lucian knew Eliza, she was probably hoping to crash it over his head and take off running. Maybe she hadn’t been given the opportunity yet.

“Very well but stay near and in front of me.”

No doubt that as soon as Eliza reached the entrance of the cave, she would take off running. Hopefully Lucian would be able to knock the man out, or kill him if necessary, so she did not have to run so far.

As he heard their footsteps approaching, Lucian flattened himself against the wall of the cave and waited.

The first to appear was Eliza and he glanced down to note that she clutched her dress, no doubt with plans to lift it high enough to run the moment she got the chance. If he were Eliza, Lucian would throw the lantern at the man’s face then take off running as fast as he could. He then looked to her profile, but she was looking ahead, mouth set with determination and had not seen him.

Eliza was planning exactly how she intended to get away from him and Lucian admired her strength and tenacity. So many others would panic or be reduced to tears, but not Eliza.

Next came the man, but the lantern was held in a manner that blocked his face, which was a good thing because otherwise, he would have seen Lucian.

As the two passed, Lucian stepped away from the wall, lifted his pistol and with all the strength that he could muster, brought it down on the back of the man’s head.

He stumbled forward, the lantern falling from his grasp as it fell to the ground, the glass shattering and extinguishing the light.

There was just enough light from Eliza’s lantern that Lucian could tell that he was unconscious. Just how long he would remain that way was yet to be seen.

“Lucian?”

He glanced up, his eyes meeting her grey ones. As he took a step forward, over the body of that man, Eliza set her lantern aside and, in an instant, she was in his arms.

“I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you,” he murmured in her hair and he held her close.

“Lost me? You would not have lost me,” Eliza insisted.

“What if I had not come after you?”

Eliza gave a shiver.

“I need to keep you with me always,” he said as he tightened his hold.

“I would like to breathe, however.”

Only then did he loosen his arms.

“I do not think you realize the panic and fear…the letter.”

“What letter?”

He told her what came in the post.

She gave another shiver.

“That was why I came after you and then I saw the footmen unconscious...I was afraid…” Lucian couldn’t voice all the fears that had flooded his brain.

Eliza placed a hand over her mouth. “Will they recover? I will never forgive myself if they are permanently harmed, or if they have been killed, because I had wanted to come here.”

“They appeared only unconscious to me as I passed them.”

“We must go and help them.” Eliza turned and started for the entrance.

Lucian didn’t want to let go of her, or let her out of his sight, so he hurried to catch her hand in his and by the time they reached the outside, the other footmen that Lucian had asked to follow him to the cave were just arriving. The two that had been knocked unconscious were sitting, rubbing the backs of their heads.

“They will be fine, Eliza.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes,” he assured her, and hoped that he was correct. Lucian then instructed the footmen to collect the man inside and to take him back to the manor and keep him confined and guarded. They were then to send someone for the constable and another for a doctor. He then stood back, an arm around Eliza while they did his bidding. She simply stood quietly, though she seemed to shiver.

“Are you cold?”

“No,” she answered quietly. “I…um…I just…I did not really think that…then he was there…”

“He has now been taken care of,” Lucian promised. “He will not bother you again.”

She gave a nod then blew out her breath. “You are correct. I shall stop being a ninny,” she said.

“You were not being a ninny,” he chuckled. “Come with me.” He led Eliza back into the cave then turned to face her before he braced both hands on her cheeks. “My heart nearly stopped when I saw the footmen.” Lucian leaned forward and kissed her gently. There was no passion or desire, only love. “Do you have any idea how much I love you and the very idea that something could have happened…”

She blinked at him. “You what?”

“I love you. Certainly, you know that.”

The corner of her mouth twitched. “No.”

“I asked you to be my wife today. I want to marry you.”

“You never mentioned love and I assumed it was out of duty.”

His face heated. “I feared your rejection and nobody wants to bare their heart to have it given back.”

“Oh, Lucian, I know that better than anyone.”

He supposed that she did, but he was not going to be a coward any longer. “Eliza, I love you, and I have likely been in love with you for ten blasted years but pretended that I wasn’t.”

Her smile grew larger.

“I will never, ever forget you, in that you have my promise. All I want is for you to marry me, live here, and be my wife.”

Instead of answering him, Eliza threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Oh, Lucian, I love you too, and likely have for ten years.”

Those were the sweetest words that she could have ever said to him and Lucian wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against him.

“I know you lead an adventurous life, and I do not. I hope you can be happy here.”

She pulled back and grinned. “Who says we will not have adventures?”

“I am an earl with responsibilities and an estate.”

“And four brothers and it is time that you stopped being a grumpy recluse.”

Lucian groaned.

“I promise you will have fun,” she whispered.

Likely he would, when he wasn’t worrying about what she might do next.

“Does that mean that you will marry me?”

“Yes!” She grinned and leaned in to kiss him.

“Let us go back to the house,” Lucian said. He couldn’t help but smile. Eliza loved him too. He had hoped to win her heart fully one day, but he already had it.

“Not yet,” Eliza said.

“Why?”

“I have not searched the rest of the cave. Only one side.”

“We will search tomorrow,” he promised. “We are needed back at the manor.”

Eliza looked back then nodded. “Tomorrow.”

Eliza had been shaken by her encounter with Seeton, and afraid because she hadn’t known what had become of the footmen, but she had also been determined to get away.

She would have managed to do it too, if Lucian hadn’t come to her rescue.

At least, she hoped she would have managed to escape.

She’d also never been so happy to see Lucian in her life either. He had come to her rescue. It was the first time anyone had, or the first time that she had ever needed anyone to do so.

Not only had he been there, but he loved her.

Lucian loved her and that was the reason he wanted to marry her, not because they had been intimate, or because she was ruined.

Hand in hand they walked back to the manor, but as soon as they entered, Stella was at her side and pulled her into the sitting room and placed a tea service on the table.

She also asked question after question, then scolded, even though had it been Garretson with her he could have been injured.

Except, he would have been inside the cave with her so Seeton may not have approached, but he would have still waited until she was eventually alone.

Lucian had gone off to question Seeton, a man he had known his entire life. Also, someone he had always thought was odd, or so he had told Eliza when he returned.

The constable had taken him away and would see that he was tried for assaulting the footmen, but there wasn’t much that could be done about the disturbing letters and Eliza had not really been harmed.

They then waited for the doctor to finish examining the footmen, who thankfully would recover.

It was late before they finally dined and then found their beds and Eliza lay there in the darkness thinking about how much had happened that day, from a proposal to near kidnapping.

He loved her!

Nobody had ever loved Eliza before.

She assumed her brothers did as she loved them, but it wasn’t the same.

It also scared her. She’d spent a good portion of her life not letting anyone close because she did not want to be hurt.

Could she trust in Lucian’s love? Just because her infatuation had grown into love did not mean his would last.

Yet, Lucian was not the type of gentleman to reveal his feelings. And, he hadn’t when he proposed. Those words had only been said when he was afraid for her. Those words she believed.

The door to the sitting room slowly opened and Eliza watched as Lucian slipped in and closed the door. He then locked her door to the corridor, slipped out of his dressing robe and crawled into bed beside her. Eliza smiled as his arms came around her.

“I needed to hold you,” he whispered.

“I am glad you are here.”