A man Edward did not know hurried past him, kicking the knife even further away from Ravel as the man struggled to his feet. “What in heaven’s name is going on?”
Edward groaned aloud, the pain in his side burning hotter as, to his immense frustration, Ravel picked himself up and, with a shout of defiance, ran away from Edward and melted into the darkness.
“Did he get you?” the stranger asked, as Edward slumped to the ground, his back against the railings and one hand pressed tightly to his side. “Goodness. Listen, let me just go get you some help.”
“That house there,” Edward croaked, the pain in his head from where Ravel had hit him beginning to cloud his mind. “Ask for Miss Titania Wells. She will come at once.” The words seemed heavy on his lips, making him struggle to speak clearly as he closed his eyes, hearing the man say something that he could not quite make out.
Doubt and frustration plagued his mind. He had been so desperate to capture Ravel, so determined to finally have him dragged from his security and into England’s strong arms, that to know that he had escaped yet again was utterly devastating. He suddenly felt quite hopeless, blackness surrounding him as he accepted the pain that ran through him. He drew it close to himself. Unconsciousness beckoned him, and he went to it willingly, wanting to lose himself in the darkness completely.
“Carroway?”
The voice of Titania Wells pulled him away from the inky blackness, forcing him to move, to speak, to do something to reassure her that he still lived.
“Lord Carroway!” Titania’s voice was urgent, her hands settling on his face. “Whatever happened? Are you hurt?”
The man who had come to Edward’s rescue muttered something about Edward’s side, and before Edward had the strength to say anything, Titania gasped aloud and let out a soft cry.
“We must get him indoors at once,” she said urgently, grasping his hands tightly. “Get the footmen and the maids and have him brought inside.”
The sound of Miss Merry Wells’ voice then came to Edward’s ears, sounding just as horrified as Titania. Edward groaned, feeling Titania’s gentle hands cup his face as he did so.
“You are injured, Lord Carroway,” he heard Titania say, struggling to get his eyes open. “I will take you into the house. You will be looked after there. I shall send for a surgeon at once.”
Edward forced his eyes open with an effort, looking blearily into Titania’s face as her features slowly came into view. “Ravel,” he muttered, seeing her eyes widen. “He was here.”
“Well, he is not here now,” Titania replied swiftly, as footmen began to hurry around him. “You are quite safe, Carroway.”
The darkness was beckoning him again, and Edward wanted desperately to go into it, but his mind was urging him to remember something of import, to tell Titania something that would make all of the difference once he had recovered. Her hand was now on his, and he held it with as much strength as he could, his mind trying to pull itself out of the fog that held it.
“Knife,” he muttered, suddenly remembering. “Find it. Please.”
“I will,” Titania said gently, squeezing his hand. “I must go now. You will be taken inside, and I will return to you in a moment.”
Edward wanted to say more; he wanted to ask her to stay but his lips would not move no matter how hard he tried. His eyes closed, his body going limp as he gave himself up to unconsciousness, the pain running through his body finally ceasing.
Chapter Fourteen
Titania had been sitting idly by the fire in the drawing room, waiting for Lord Carroway to arrive and feeling such a sense of excitement within her that she had felt the urge to begin to pace up and down the room in the hopes of settling her spirits somewhat.
Having just been about to do such a thing, it had come as something of a surprise to hear that a gentleman was waiting to speak to her at the door of the house and that he was most insistent, stating that it was an urgent matter that required her attention at once.
Hurrying down the staircase, Titania saw the man standing in the threshold, his hat in his hands. She did not recognize him, taking in his short stature, thinning grey hair, and rather thick moustache.
“Yes?” she asked, moving quickly towards him. “Is there something that I can help you with, sir?”
The man looked at her, shifting from foot to foot. “There is a gentleman just outside this door who is asking for you,” he said by way of explanation. “He’s been hurt rather badly, but insisted that I speak to Miss Titania Wells.”
Titania hesitated for a moment, trying to sort out in her mind what the gentleman meant. The warnings about Ravel rang in her mind, making her wonder if this was some sort of plot.
“He’s been stabbed, I think,” the gentleman continued, making to walk towards the open door as though she should follow him. “He was asking for you, Miss Titania Wells, and I said I would fetch you. I think he’ll need a doctor.”
Titania drew in a long breath and looked up at the butler, who was eyeing the man with a good deal of suspicion. “Do attend with me if you please,” she murmured, seeing the butler nod his head at once. “It may be nothing of importance, but I still think that I…” She trailed off as she walked down the stone steps, her heart in her throat as she made out a slumped figure of a gentleman lying back against the railings. His dark hair was brushed over his face as his head remained low over his chest and, with a start, Titania realized that it was none other than Lord Carroway.
“Footmen, at once!” she exclaimed, turning to the butler in horror. “And send for a surgeon. At once. Have a room prepared for him.”
“A-at once,” the butler stammered, his face a little pale.
“And fetch my sister and Mama,” Titania called over her shoulder, hurrying towards the prone form of Lord Carroway, panic filling her. “Tell them it is Lord Carroway.”