To Desire a Wicked Duke (Courtship Wars)

Tess swallowed the tight knot in her throat. She had not expected the threat to Ian to affect her so strongly. The danger was over now, but he could have been killed.

It was a terrifying thought.

Tess shuddered. She could have lost Ian just as she had lost Richard.

“Are you all right?” Fanny asked at her elbow.

“I am fine, just a little cold,” Tess lied.

As if sensing her lingering horror, Fanny tried to reassure her. “I had faith that Rotham would prevail. He is accounted a crack shot.”

The courtesan’s confidence soothed Tess marginally, but she wanted to see Ian for herself, to touch him, to convince herself that he was unharmed.

They made their way down through the castle to the courtyard, which by now was lit by lanterns, but they remained with Ned in the shadows, not wanting to expose him to his former colleagues’ wrath.

They had to wait for another long interval before the armed militia appeared with their prisoners. Banks was groaning in pain and unable to support his own weight, Tess saw. Evidently he had been shot in the upper leg, for his thigh had been bandaged.

She watched as the thieves were loaded into a wagon that had been brought around from the stableyard to transport them to Fowey. Then their arms an

d legs were bound to prevent their escape.

Yet she only felt able to breathe once Ian joined her a few minutes later, even though his focus was on Ned rather than her.

Ned had supplied the names of all the thieves already, but Ian asked him to confirm the culprits. “Do those men account for all of Banks’s gang, Mr. Crutchley?”

Ned scanned the prisoners. “Aye, yer grace, that’s the lot.”

In response, Ian gestured at the militia lieutenant, who gave the command to proceed.

As the wagon rattled away, guarded by a dozen mounted troops, Ian’s gaze at last turned to Tess. “I trust now you understand why I didn’t want you involved tonight?”

“Yes,” she conceded, drinking him in. “For several moments there, I feared you had been shot.”

A humorless smile curled his mouth. “Banks fired and missed—but in actuality, I am glad he attempted to shoot me, since assault on a peer will only cement the other charges against him.” Ian gestured after the departing wagon. “I mean to accompany the prisoners to Fowey, to see they are properly secured for the night. It will likely be an hour or two before I return. Why don’t you retire? There is no need for you to wait up for me.”

“Very well,” Tess agreed, managing to keep her voice even.

Ian gave her an intent glance, as if trying to divine what she was thinking, before turning away and mounting his own horse.

Repressing the urge to follow him with her gaze, Tess went inside the castle. The entire household was awake, waiting anxiously to hear the results of the operation. Upon learning of the successful conclusion, Mrs. Hiddleston clapped her hand over her heart. “Thank heavens for the duke, capturing those criminals. We can all sleep safe in our beds now.”

The housekeeper was particularly solicitous of Ned, and when he had been put snugly to bed, she turned her motherly concern on Tess.

“Would you care for a glass of warm milk, your grace, to take the chill off your bones?”

Tess declined, however, deciding that something stronger was warranted. After all the turmoil, she felt too restless to retire, so when castle staff began to settle down for the night, she accompanied Fanny and Basil to the drawing room, where they poured glasses of wine and discussed the case against Jolly Banks and his cohorts. Since Basil had been a law clerk for several years, he ventured a prediction.

On the morrow, the thieves would be arraigned by the Justice of the Peace and conveyed to Falmouth, where they would be jailed until the next assizes were convened. If indicted by a grand jury, they would go to trial immediately. Since the lieutenant of the militia had made the official arrests, the Crown would prosecute the crimes, but the victims of the thefts could bring charges as well. And a conviction for assault against the Duke of Rotham would bring the most serious punishment of all.

“At the very least, Banks will be imprisoned for a very long time,” Basil assured Tess. “He may even be transported or hanged. And Crutchley’s testimony will not be needed, since the thieves incriminated themselves. His cohorts will likely never know that he turned on them.”

Tess felt a surge of relief, knowing that Ned would be safe. His future was still uncertain, but she hoped to persuade him to accompany her when she left Cornwall for home. Thanks in large part to her cousin Damon, Viscount Wrexham, there now was a hospital in London where Ned could get much better medical care than here, not only for his physical wounds but for his mental ones as well.

A few moments later, Fanny changed the subject to her own future. “Would you mind very much if I returned to London soon, Tess? I am nearly finished with my novel, and I need to tie up any number of business matters.” Fanny shared a loving look with Basil before adding, “We want to be married as soon as possible. We have already waited far too long for our chance at wedded bliss.”

Of course they were eager to begin their married life together, Tess thought to herself.

“Certainly, I don’t mind,” she assured her friend. “In truth, it is time I considered returning home myself. There are countless details that impact my organizations which have been left unattended because I am not there to deal with them myself.”