The Dowager Countess (The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book 2) Sahara Kelly (book club recommendations TXT) 📖

stitches out when everything’s healed won’t be fun, but otherwise? Good as new.” He looked at Giles as he stood and stretched. “He won’t be cooking breakfast tomorrow though.”

Giles waved it aside. “No matter.” He looked back at Evan and finally released his hand. “He will survive. That is the most important thing.”

Gwyneth touched his shoulder. “You were deeply concerned, Giles.” Her words seemed to act as a catalyst, bringing his focus back to his surroundings.

“Indeed.” He rose. “Evan is one of us. Of course I am concerned, as I would be were it any of our family.”

“Of course,” she agreed.

But she had to wonder, as they cleared up the room and Giles finally left with a last look at Evan, now bandaged and asleep, if there wasn’t perhaps a little more to Giles’s reaction than he was letting on. She hadn’t imagined the fear she’d glimpsed in his eyes.

“Gwyneth?” Gabriel stood by the door. “Are you coming? He’s out for a while, and I doubt he’ll move much.”

“Royce? Jeremy?”

“Royce is cleaning himself up, and Jeremy’s going downstairs to see how things are progressing. The storm has passed, so they’ll be going back outside in a bit.” He looked at her. “You should probably change your gown…”

She stared down at the drying stains and grimaced. “You’re right. I’ll be down in a little while then.”

He nodded and left.

She moved to Evan’s side, comforted by the rise and fall of his chest. He was pale, but when she touched his cheek, she felt warmth and it relieved her to know he was resting. She knew that the next few hours would be important, since a fever might develop, but he was a healthy man—as she realised only too well—and she prayed that his constitution would stand him in good stead.

She dropped a tiny kiss on his lips and then left, promising him in a whisper that she’d return before too long.

It was a simple task to slide from her stained garments and replace them with a plain cotton day dress, tying the ribbons beneath her breasts and all the while thanking God that Evan was safe.

She re-pinned her circlet and hurried back downstairs to find the hall almost empty.

Trick and Jeremy were there, involved in what looked like an intense conversation, which ceased as they saw her approach.

“Is everything all right?”

Jeremy nodded. “Yes. But we’re both concerned about the gunman still being in the vicinity…”

“As am I,” she agreed. “But first things first. He has one gun. We have many people to protect.” She crossed the hall to the front door and opened it, looking out on the rain-drenched driveway. “Has everyone gone home?”

“Not at all.” Jeremy came up behind her.

“My wife and mother-in-law have everything under control, my Lady,” sighed Trick. “They’re a force to be reckoned with. I hadn’t truly realised that until now.”

“He’s right. Giles is out there now, but Mrs B has him completely outmanned. She’s already ordered the dismantling of the tents and assigned men to that chore. The women are cleaning up any leftover bits and pieces from the grass and another contingent is packing the wagons.”

“We were going to have dancing,” sighed Gwyneth.

“And we still are,” Jeremy grinned. “The musicians are on their way and you’ll see that Mrs B is clearing away a goodly sized bit of lawn, but leaving the odd chair or two and some benches. Smart lady that she is, it’s on the far side to the ballroom. There’s also a wagon on the way with a few more from the village hall.”

“That woman is astounding,” agreed Trick. “We could have wiped out Napoleon years ago if she’d been in charge.” He glanced at Gwyneth. “Evan?”

“Doing very well,” she smiled, noting his relief. “Royce removed the bullet and he’s stitched up, bandaged and sleeping off what looked like a whole bottle of brandy.”

“I am so very glad,” said Trick. “A bad thing, my Lady. A very bad thing.”

“I know. So does Giles. We must get to the bottom of it, and soon.” She let her gaze wander over the front lawn. “Keep an eye open, if you would, Trick? And make sure Jane is safe? I don’t know who is behind it, but it is certainly connected to Wolfbridge, as are you and your wife.”

He nodded and gave her a little bow. “Yes. And we are here for you always, Lady Gwyneth. Please remember that.”

“I will. Now go and find your bride. I’m sure she can use another pair of strong arms.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he muttered.

She and Jeremy laughed as he left.

“He loves that woman to the edge of madness,” said Jeremy, standing just behind Gwyneth.

She allowed herself the luxury of leaning back against him. “She’s lucky.”

His hand slipped around her waist and he held her close for a few moments. “We all love you, you know that, don’t you? We can’t help it. And if anything should happen to you…” His arm tightened, and his voice trembled a little.

“I know.” She touched his hand at her waist. “I love you all too. And it won’t. As long as we’re careful and sensible.”

“Ugh.” The lighthearted Jeremy returned and she felt his lips on the back of her neck. “Where’s the fun in that?”

She smiled at his jest, and he released her as several women saw her at the door and waved.

It was time to end this day as it had begun…with laughter and music. But lingering thoughts of Evan lying upstairs with his shoulder in a thick bandage haunted Gwyneth’s mind and heart.

Because she couldn’t avoid the knowledge that if not for Evan, she would be the one lying there. And she might not have been so lucky…

Chapter Twenty-Nine

In the days that followed, Gwyneth found