Chapter Sixty-three

Darlington Hall

One hour later

"Father, you've seen the wound," Elizabeth said for at least the third time. "It's only a gash, a small, shallow little gash. The last thing I want to do is drive off to hospital. We rushed back home rather than call you so you could see for yourself I'm fine. Dr. Benton-Johns will be here in a few minutes, and he will agree with me."

Millicent managed a watery laugh. She stroked Elizabeth's fingers. "You're very brave, my darling."

Millicent swallowed. "If Dr. Benton-Johns believes you should go to hospital, you will go?"

She poked him in the arm. "Get off your worry horse, all is good."

"Only that the van was stolen. He'll come back to me when he has more information." He didn't look happy.

Elizabeth gave him a grin. "Thank you for kissing off the Home Secretary to stay with me. What did Lord Corinth have to say about that impertinence? I mean, I wasn't dead, after all."

Benbett announced, "And finally—Dr. Benton-Johns is here, my lady."

"Yes, sir. Lots of pecans on top."

Elizabeth remembered she'd always loved to hear him talk. His expressions were quite unexpected. She held her teacup between her palms and savored its warmth as Dr. Benton-Johns examined and cleaned the wound with alcohol, well aware everyone's eyes were on his every move. He reassured them all as he worked, aware the young man next to him—an FBI agent!—was eyeing him as if he'd shoot him if he hurt her. He lightly rubbed on an antibiotic cream, pulled the flesh together with Steri-Strips, flattened a small bandage over the strips, gave her a tetanus shot, and held out two bottles of pills. "Your neck will cause you only a modicum of discomfort over the next few days, provided you take two aspirin every four hours. You have a bit of tea left; take one of those antibiotic pills and two aspirin now. They will make all neck unpleasantness dematerialize in short order. No driving and keep your head still for a day and a half." He patted her head, rose, and smiled down at the lovely too-pale young woman he'd known since she was born. "I didn't bring a lolly for you, sorry. No hospital needed. Where are my sticky buns?"

"Yes, and she's given them a statement."

She heard Rome say, "I don't think the rental company is going to like what happened to their Vauxhall Corsa."

Her father said in his firm, crisp voice, "After they hear the news about the shootout, they'll be talking about it endlessly."

Elizabeth laughed. "May I borrow a scarf, Mother? Cover the bandage so a doctor doesn't grab me?"

In a few minutes Millicent was adjusting a lovely Hermès scarf around her daughter's neck to cover the bandage while Rome was in his bedroom reloading two magazines. He wasn't taking any chances.

"I think you'd look dashing in an Hermès scarf."

He put the Range Rover in gear and headed to the road. "I think it's about time we got this done."