Raven (Gentlemen of the Order 2)

Her digits were as cold as ice.

“Hold on, Sophia!” he cried.

And then a loud curse and the crunching of booted footsteps on the gravel marked Sloane’s arrival. He darted to the water’s edge and dropped down next to Finlay.

“It seems I’ve arrived just in time,” Sloane said.

“Sophia is in the moat, but she should be easier to grab now I’ve pulled her closer to the bank.” And Sloane had a slightly longer reach.

“I’ve got hold of her wrist.” Sloane gritted his teeth in steely determination. “D’Angelo, we’ll haul her out on the count of three.”

D’Angelo counted, and they used all their strength to drag Sophia out onto the bank.

Finlay quickly turned her onto her back. Relief brought tears to his eyes when he saw her heave a breath. Her lips were blue, her face deathly white, almost grey. Her body shook from being submerged in the moat’s icy depths. The worst was over, but he had to get her out of the cold, had to warm her limbs.

“Are you all right?” he said, frantically rubbing life back into her cheeks and arms and hands.

She blinked water from her eyes and nodded. “Yes, b-but I’m so cold, Finlay.”

Finlay pressed his lips to hers, the chaste kiss conveying the wealth of love in his heart. “I’ll carry you upstairs. You need a hot bath and one of Mrs Friswell’s tisanes. What about Maud?”

Sophia sighed and shook her head before conveying her thanks to Sloane and D’Angelo. “I’m r-relieved to see you alive, M-Mr Sloane.”

“We heard the gunshot and the blood-curdling scream,” Finlay said.

“Goodwin tripped the wire on the spring-gun and took a ball to the thigh. The fool scrambled to his feet but later collapsed and caught his head in a mantrap.”

Finlay hissed in sympathy, for it was an unpleasant way to meet one’s end.

Sophia brought a shaky hand to her mouth, but made no reply.

“I need to get Sophia inside.” Finlay crouched and quickly scooped her up into his arms. A chill often led to infections in the chest, worse besides. “But in short, Maud shot Archer dead, then drowned in the moat. I shall pen a statement while the facts are still fresh in my mind, but only once Sophia is settled.”

Sloane nodded. “We will do the same. I’ll alert the local magistrate, and D’Angelo will take statements from those present while we await his arrival.”

Finlay couldn’t think about dealing with the magistrate, not when the woman he loved shivered in his arms. “Will one of you sit with Jessica? Explain what happened and reassure her Sophia is well and needs rest.”

Sloane accepted the task. “Though I’m not sure how to tackle the matter of Dr Goodwin’s gruesome end.”

“After everything that’s happened, I expect she would appreciate the truth.”

The rumbling of carriage wheels along the drive had them all staring at the gatehouse. Blent had removed the chains on the gates to enable Sloane to enter the property earlier.

The unmarked carriage passed through the gatehouse and entered the forecourt. Ashwood’s coachman tugged the reins and brought the carriage rattling to a stop. Ashwood, Daventry and Sir Malcolm all vacated the vehicle.

“It occurred to me that you might need Sir Malcolm’s assistance,” Daventry said. “We’d have arrived sooner, but he was called to another case.”

Finlay sighed again with relief.

Daventry would deal with everything.

“I’m taking Sophia inside, Sloane will explain what’s occurred but don’t enter the woods without him.”

Finlay carried Sophia into the house while Sloane and D’Angelo gave the gentlemen a brief recount of events. He’d barely crossed the threshold when Jessica and Mrs Friswell hurried towards them.

“Sophia!” Tears streamed down Jessica’s face. “Oh, Mr Cole, will she be all right?”

“I’ll b-be fine. I’m just wet and c-cold.” Sophia cupped Jessica’s cheek. “Stay with Mr Blent and pour him a brandy. The p-poor man has had a terrible fright.”