Chapter 23

Leah was so glad to see Harlan that she could have easily forgiven him for taking ten years off of her life when he'd startled her like that. But when he explained his next move, she wondered if he hadn't gone mad. "You can't be serious!" Her eyes were wide and she hoped he could see the pleading in them. "That's a terrible idea."

He lifted a brow. "Might you have a better suggestion at the moment?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but stubbornly, nothing was forthcoming. "Oh, very well," she grumbled. "But I don't like it."

"So you said." He looked intently at her. "Wait for my signal."

She nodded, but her stomach was in knots thinking of what he was about to do. She told herself to be strong, but the nervous flutterings in her stomach were almost making her sick. "I'm ready."

"Good." His gaze lingered, and then he grasped her chin and brought her to him for a kiss that was full of passion and all the wonderful things that he made her feel inside. He broke apart with a serious look, and then he rushed off toward the cellars.

Leah leaned her back against the stone and closed her eyes momentarily. Taking a deep, restorative breath, she set out after Harlan. She looked around the corner just as he opened the door to the cellars, his pistol at the ready. She held her breath, but there was nothing to indicate there was any danger—

The pop of a pistol rang out with deafening proportions throughout the chamber. Immediately, Leah was rushing toward the entrance, her only thought to get to Harlan before Bernard could finish what he'd started.

When she burst into the cellars, she saw Harlan crouched down behind a large wooden cask, the scent of fermented wine almost overpowering from the hole that had been shot into the side of the leaking barrel.

"Get down!" Harlan shouted a warning to her as she turned her head to face Bernard who had a pistol trained directly on her head.

Time slowed, then stopped completely as she held her breath and raised her arm, the hilt of the knife in her grasp poised and ready to fly. She wasn't sure her aim would be as true this time, her hand was trembling so badly, but she had to try. It might mean the difference between life and death.

From the corner of her vision, she saw Harlan stand up, and suddenly Bernard's focus shifted from her to him. It was a stalemate between two enemies and Leah knew that only one of them would live to see the light of a new day. She intended for that man to be Harlan.

Before either one of them could pull the trigger, Leah released the knife in her grasp, watching as it sailed through the air toward its intended target. At nearly the same time, Bernard and Harlan both fired their weapons.. The reverberating sound of two pistols going off caused Leah's ears to ring, the smoke from both barrels creating a swirling fog of chaos to ensue.

Time suspended and then Leah saw Bernard fall to the floor. She started to rejoice, but when Harlan did the same, that emotion abruptly turned into horror. She rushed over to him and fell to her knees beside him. She was grateful to see that he was alive and breathing, but there was blood seeping from his arm.

"My God," she said in a shaky voice. "You've been shot. Again!"

"And by the same man," Harlan noted, and then winced when he tried to laugh at his own joke.

Feeling slightly dizzy, she glanced over at the assassin where he remained oddly still. "Do you think he's—?"

Harlan's gaze met hers, and there was a tight line about his mouth that she wasn't sure was attributed to pain or awareness. "I wouldn't miss from this distance."

Leah felt sick. She had not been a fan of Bernard by any means but thinking that someone's life had been snuffed out right in front of her wasn't something she was terribly comfortable knowing.

"Find the queen," Harlan said weakly.

She hesitated, her first thought was for him. She might respect the monarch, but she didn't love Victoria the way she loved him. "What about—"

"The queen," he reiterated firmly. "Secure the Crown first."

Reluctantly, she moved from his side and started to inspect the expansive cellars. As she did so, she was careful to keep her focus diverted from the lifeless body that lay in the midst of the ruined wine, his blood mixing with the ruined alcohol to create an unwelcome combination.

It didn't take much searching before Leah discovered the queen, tied up in a wooden chair in a corner of the deepest recesses of the cellar. There was a gag around her mouth that Leah quickly removed. "Your Majesty, are you hurt?"

Victoria's dark head slid from side to side, and Leah had to admire her courage and strong countenance under such a terrifying ordeal. "No." As Leah began to work on the bindings to release the English monarch, the queen asked, "Is the villain…"

Her shaky voice was the first indication that she might be overset. Considering her age, Leah decided that it wouldn't be terrible if she allowed her a moment to consider the ramifications of this night. "He is, Your Majesty," she confirmed quietly. "I'm afraid that it couldn't be prevented."

"I see." She nodded her dark head. As her bindings fell free, Leah stood back and allowed her the chance to get up with some sort of dignity. Victoria rubbed her wrists to gain some of the feeling back into her limbs, or perhaps it was an unconscious gesture of freedom. Either way, Leah waited until the woman spoke. "Are there any others?"

"Two more," Leah admitted. "A maid locked in the pantry and my brother, Henry, is secured in my sitting room. I regret that he took any part in this nightmare. I apologize profusely on his behalf."

"You were not any part of it," the queen said in a regal tone. "I don't expect you to offer recompense for his sins. Come. Let's get out of this drafty cellar and return to more comfortable surroundings."

Leah couldn't agree more. "Of course, Your Majesty. I quite agree."

As they returned to where Bernard had fallen, Leah noticed that his body was no longer there. Signs that he had been dragged somewhere were evident in the trail of dark wine. She also noted that Harlan was nowhere to be found. She knew that he'd taken care of the body for the queen's sake, but she would like to know where he'd gone.

Keeping her innermost thoughts to herself, Leah did as Harlan would have expected and escorted the queen back upstairs.

The palace was soonin an uproar as the servants had finally been apprised of the circumstances that had taken place this evening. As soon as the queen appeared, she was whisked away from Leah and rushed to her chamber. Wellington was there and made an attempt to inquire to Leah's welfare as she sank down onto a nearby chair in the middle of the hallway, still attired in her nightdress and robe, both of which were filthy with a mixture of grime from the cellars, as well as wine and blood.

"I shall be well enough after a restorative bath and a change of clothes," she said. "But I'm more concerned about Harlan."

The duke frowned slightly as he was joined by the rest of Harlan's men. They must have overheard the exchange and come to investigate. "What happened?"

She released a deep sigh and glanced about before she recounted the events in the cellars.

"I see." Wellington was stone faced as he absorbed this information.

"I will go look for him," Hugh interjected. "I'm sure he's taking care of—" He stopped and looked grimly at Leah. "Mr. Bernard."

"I'll go too," Benjamin said firmly, and together the two men departed.

Wellington also took his leave to check in on the queen, leaving Leah alone with Lucas. "Here we are alone together again," she noted in a sorry attempt at a jest. However, she was too weary to actually follow through with a good dose of laughter that was certainly needed.

"Indeed, we are," he remarked softly, and then he glanced out the large windows that faced the east. "The sun is just starting to make an appearance."

"No wonder I'm so tired," she said, her head falling against the back of the chair.

"Once the queen has been settled, I'm sure that the servants will attend to you."

Leah waved a hand. "I'm perfectly fine. To be honest, I'd rather just go home—" She stopped abruptly, because she realized she didn't have anywhere to go that she could confidently call home any longer. "How strange that I don't seem to have one."

"Harlan might take offense to that statement."

"Why?" Leah asked. "Has he said something to you to make you think that? Because he hasn't spoken a word to me."

"Stubborn bastard," Lucas grumbled, before he looked at her directly. "Now that the threat to the queen has been silenced, he will speak with you, I'm sure of it."

"I just need to be patient?" she guessed.

Lucas offered a slight smile. "I always knew you were an intelligent woman."

"I have my moments." she shrugged. "I wonder how Agnes is faring."

"Hugh told us that she is safe with a relation in Nottingham." Leah's brows rose and she sat up a bit straighter at this news. "He wouldn't allow Lindquist the chance to retaliate against her should he escape, so he ensured she was protected."

Leah reached out and took his hand, giving it a friendly squeeze. "Thank God for that," she murmured. "I shall be indebted to his kindness on her behalf. I truly believe that she is without fault in all of this."

"I am inclined to agree with you," he concurred. "With the fate that will befall your brother after this, at least your mind can rest easy knowing she will not suffer at his hand."

She closed her eyes. "I can't believe he was the one we were after all along. Family or no, he was a traitor to the Crown, to his very country."

"And he will pay the price for his crimes, likely with his life," Lucas added gently.

After that, they fell silent for a time, until Leah's appointed ladies' maid approached her. "Miss Lindquist, your chamber is ready if you would like for me to assist with your bath. The queen was most insistent that you be taken care of posthaste."

"That was kind of Her Majesty," Leah said with a slight smile as she opened her eyes. She glanced toward the corridor that Hugh and Benjamin had traversed, but there was no sign of them yet—or Harlan.

"Get some rest," Lucas said gently. "I will inform you the moment Harlan returns."

She looked at him, and the weariness she'd been trying to keep at bay swamped her with a yawn that caused her jaw to crack and her eyes to water. "Thank you." She stood and after a slight wobble, she waved a hand at the maid. "You mentioned a bath?"

The girl smiled broadly. "Yes, ma'am. And some of that rose scented soap you have enjoyed so much."

Leah put her hands together in the semblance of a prayer. "Heavenly."

However, she had to look back at the empty hallway one last time before the door to her chamber shut behind her. She worried greatly about Harlan, but it eased her mind knowing that he wasn't mortally injured. He had another scratch—as he would call it—and although he'd done his best to remove the body so the queen would be spared the gruesome sight of a corpse, Leah was disheartened that he hadn't returned for her.

She wondered if this was the sign that their brief affair had run its course. While her heart would forever despair losing a man like Harlan, she wasn't going to beg him to stay with her, even if her soul was bleeding at the thought of ever leaving him. She was sure that Agnes would offer her a place to stay, especially now that her brother wouldn't be coming home again. And there were some things that she would like to retrieve, like her precious valise with her most cherished, personal belongings.

But for now—sleep.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Harlan turned a bleary eye to Hugh. He was leaning against the outer wall of the palace. A cold sweat was still dripping down the sides of his face. Considering the way he was feeling at the moment—exhausted, injured, and several emotions he couldn't yet name—he wasn't in the mood to humor Hugh. "Resting," he noted dryly. He waved a hand at the body lying a short distance away. "It was no easy feat to drag Bernard out here in my current shape."

Hugh tooknote of his wounded appendage, which had finally ceased to bleed quite so profusely. Nevertheless, Harlan's arm was coated red. "Benjamin, take care of Bernard, would you?" Without a word, Benjamin walked over and tossed the body quite effortlessly over his shoulder. Once he had disappeared around the side of the building, Hugh dropped down beside Harlan. "I meant what are you doing out here, when you should be with the woman you love?"

Harlan clenched his jaw and turned away. "I told you before I don't need you dictating my life."

"Even if I think you are being stubborn and might lose the one thing you've always wanted?"

With a muttered obscenity, Harlan got to his feet. His head spun, but he was determined to have his say. "Sod off. What was I supposed to do? Pour out my romantic heart to Leah over the top of a dead man while the queen looked on and clapped with joy from the side?" He snorted in disgust. "I did what I needed to do. My job is done."

"I suppose that is a fair point," Hugh returned reluctantly. "But that doesn't excuse the fact you caused her to worry unnecessarily about you. I saw the pain in her expression, heard the concern in her tone. The least you could have done was ease her mind by letting her know you were taking care of Bernard and that this was your final mission for the Home Office." When Harlan didn't reply, Hugh's brows drew together. "You are tendering your resignation, aren't you?"

"I thought I was, but now…. I don't know." Harlan shoved a hand through his hair with his good arm, his injured one hanging at his side and stinging like the devil himself had ripped a hole in it. Neither this conversation, nor the pain, went very far in improving his mood.

Hugh got to his feet and set his hands on his hips. "I can't believe you would let Leah down like this."

"Perhaps I'm doing the opposite. Perhaps I'm protecting her, and other people, from men the likes of Bernard. Who else is going to stop men like that? It's not as if there is a line of men hoping to risk their lives for the Crown. Most serve in the military and then move on to other prospects."

"Which is what you should be doing," Hugh interjected.

Harlan clenched his jaw, his mind tortured with thoughts of this evening as his patience came to an end. "You weren't in that cellar tonight! You didn't see the pistol pointed at Leah's head and feel your stomach drop to your feet thinking that you failed in every way possible, feared that you could never be with her again, and that the child she might be carrying would never know his father."

Hugh's eyes widened and he paused before he said, "She's increasing?" Rather than back off as Harlan had hoped he might, Hugh actually stepped closer. "Have you lost your mind?"

Personally attacked, Harlan ground out, "What are you talking about?"

"You have the chance to be a father, to secure the family you always wanted, that you had been denied as a child, and you would allow your own flesh and blood to suffer the same consequences?"

Harlan's head was starting to pound. Until then he hadn't allowed the ramifications of his actions to fully penetrate his mind. Or his heart. For years, he'd admired his father to the point he'd allowed his entire life to be consumed by the need to prove his own worth to Wellington and the other men who had fought so valiantly beside his sire. But try as he might, Harlan always felt as though he had fallen short of the mark, although he had been commended for his work in the field.

It suddenly made him wonder if it would ever be enough. If he was only trying to chase the same glory that his father had achieved, and trying to honor his mother's memory, perhaps he would never feel as though he was adequate enough. There was only one person who had ever made him feel as though he was the hero he always wanted to be.

Leah.

He'd been absolutely blind until now, but thankfully, he had a friend like Hugh who was determined that he see the truth, and not the fa?ade.

He opened his mouth to retort, but all at once dizziness swamped him with a vengeance. Spots danced in front of his eyes and he tried to hold out an arm to catch himself. But it was no use.

He fell to the ground.