Sinful Possession (8 page)

A crack split the air. It
happened slowly and yet too fast. Harris seemed to stumble, then trip. He had
hit the floor by the time another shot whooshed through the air. When something
hit a tree not far behind them reality registered.

Ash snatched Lila and yanked
her down to the ground. She gave a squeal as he crushed her beneath him. She
didn’t wriggle, instead she seemed frozen in fear. He couldn’t claim to feel
much different.

Their hearts pounded
together, and he drew in a ragged breath as he risked lifting his head to see
his brother. Pain seared him, very real and disturbing, down his leg. Bile burnt
the back of his throat.

Harris remained still on the
ground. He’d been shot. It was too dark to see blood or injury, but Ash knew it
as sure as they were brothers.

“Stay here,” he told Lila
after a few moments of silence.

Had the shooter gone? Or was
he intending to sneak up closer? Whatever the shooter had planned, Ash was not
willing to wait around and let him do it.

“No,” she squeaked, grabbing
his arm.

“Harris is hurt.”

She glanced at his brother’s
body, seeming to now fully comprehend what had happened. “Oh Lord.”

“Stay low, don’t move.
Nothing will happen to you, I swear.”

The grass would provide
cover and the shooter would have to be the best marksman in the world to get to
them with a damned rifle. She’d be safe for the moment.

He crawled on his belly to
his brother, the pain in his leg growing in intensity. He had to take a moment
to check he hadn’t been injured himself but no such luck. Goddamn it. This was
his fault again. People used to say their eldest brother had the curse of death,
but he was beginning to wonder if it was not him.

“Harris,” he hissed, coming
close to his brother’s side. “Harris,” he tried again, lifting up just enough
to view his brother’s face.

“Bugger me that hurts.”
Harris tried to push up to sitting, but Ash pressed him back down. His brother
let loose a string of curses.

“Stay still, you damned
fool. There’s a shooter out there.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“Where are you hurt?”

“My leg.”

Ash released a lungful of
air. A leg wound. Not pleasant, still potentially lethal, but his brother was
alive yet and the Cynfells were a hardy bunch.

“Thank God.”

“You might be thanking God,
but I’m not. It damned well hurts.”

Harris lifted his head and
glanced around only for someone to touch his shoulder. He nearly leapt to his
feet and tackled the person only to realise it was Lila.

“I said stay where you were,”
he ground out.

“I think they’ve gone,” she
said.

“You don’t know that.”

“I’m safer with you.” She
wriggled closer to Harris. “Oh, Harris, are you hurt? Will he be well?”

“I’m better for having you
here,” Harris told her as she gripped his hand.

Damn his brother, flirting
on his deathbed. Ash tugged apart his necktie and felt for the wound on his
brother’s leg. The dull silvery light offered enough for him to view the blood
flourishing across his trousers and the neat hole in them. The pain in his own
leg gave some indication as to where the wound was. He looped the tie around
the top of his brother’s thigh and pulled it tight. Harris let out a muffled
yowl, and Lila cried out. He feared Harris had just crushed her hand. He was in
more pain than he’d like to admit.

“We need to get you back to
the house.”

“Look.” Lila pointed in the
direction of the house.

Over a dozen figures began
to scour the grounds. Holding lit lamps, they had clearly heard the gunshots and
were searching for the shooter. He prayed it was enough to scare him away. When
no shots rang out as the people dispersed, Ash called out.

“Over here.”

Anna hurried over, lamp held
aloft, followed by two of the heavyset men she hired to keep the peace at
Stourbridge.

“Oh God,” she said when she
spotted Harris. She looked to Ash. “Is he harmed?”

“I’d bloody say so,” Harris
said through clenched teeth.

“In the leg,” Ash said,
aware his voice was harsh and strained. “Your men should be careful. There’s a
madman with a rifle out there somewhere.”

“My men are armed. If he is
still on my land, they’ll find him,” she assured him. “We need to get your
brother inside.” Anna turned to one of the men. “Take him to his room and have
the doctor sent for. With haste.”

Between them, the two men
had no problems lifting Harris, though the pain in Ash’s leg throbbed in
response to his brother’s groans of pain. He helped Lila up, and she wrapped
her arms about his waist. He didn’t know if she was doing it because she was
scared or because he needed the support, but either way, he relished the sweet
warmth of her body next to his and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. They
followed the men back to the house, and Ash started his vigil by Harris’
bedside until the doctor arrived. The man sent them out until he’d finished.

Ash paced in the corridor
and pinched the bridge of his nose. The pain in his leg began to subside but a
new pain started up—in his head. He knew well enough what that meant. Bloody
hell, a headache, now? The timing could not be worse. He needed to be lucid and
ready to aid his brother at any time, not laid low by a headache of all things.

Lila held his hand while
Anna swung looks their way. Damn, as if Anna didn’t have enough to deal with.
Every move he made was one of error recently and now his brother was paying for
it.

“He will be fine,” Lila
assured, squeezing his hand.

He could not help be touched
by her selflessness. She must have been terrified. Perhaps it had even brought
back memories of the attack. And yet her thoughts were only of him and his
brother. It simply reminded him he did not deserve a woman like this. Kissing
her had been a mistake.

One he would dearly love to
repeat over and over and over. But he would not. He had to have some kind of
control over himself.

The doctor emerged from his
room, and they all rushed forward. “Well?” Anna and Lila demanded.

The man gave small sound of
annoyance. “His leg should be fine. I’ve removed the bullet and as long as no infection
arises, it will heal. He shall need plenty of rest but the chances are he might
have a limp.”

Ash grimaced. If his brother
limped for the rest of his life, he’d never forgive himself.

“If he becomes hot or
restless, send for me,” the doctor continued.

Ash turned away to try to
absorb the information. If infection did strike, his brother could lose his
leg. Worse, he could lose his life. As much as Harris failed to understand him
sometimes, he couldn’t imagine life without his twin. They’d been born together,
grown up together. All his childhood memories, and too many of his adult ones
really, involved Harris. His chest grew tight and the pounding in his head
worsened. His vision began to shimmer, and he cursed under his breath.

Lila wrapped a hand around
his arm and coaxed him to face her. He could hardly make out her features past
the crescent of blurriness crossing his eyes.

“He will be well, I just
know it.”

He shook his head. Here was
a woman who had survived two murder attempts and still managed to stay positive.
He could not manage the same, particularly not with the pounding pain in his
head. For Lila, he had to stay strong. For Harris too.

“Ash, you look pale,” she
commented.

“I am fine,” he snapped. “Tell
my brother...Never mind. I’m going to my room.” He stormed off.

How could he bear the two
women looking at him with such sympathy? Throwing open the door, he kicked it
shut and flung himself on the bed as his vision faded to a mess of movement
that made him feel sick. He twisted and reached for the chamber pot before his
stomach gave way, and he retched until it was empty. How could he have them see
him so weak when he was meant to be a strong, protective man?

He closed his eyes and hoped
his brother would understand why he wasn’t by his bedside. As soon as the
headache was gone, he would be back by his side. The strain must have brought
it on.

He threw an arm over his
eyes and felt the lethargy that always came with his headaches creep over him.
So often, moments of stress seemed to make him ill. What sort of a man could
not deal with the stress of life? He hated his body for being so weak
sometimes. Hated himself for letting them bring him so low.

Ash didn’t wish to sleep. He
wanted to be at his brother’s side. But the thickness in his head meant he
could hardly move. His muscles were heavy as though someone had tied weights to
them, and if he tried to move his head, the world spun and his stomach lurched.
Better to stay hidden away than let anyone see him like this, even his brother.

His brother who currently
had a hole in his leg thanks to him. Hopefully Lila and Anna would see to him.
Lila would do a good job of looking after him. She was that sort of a woman.
All heart. She deserved someone better than a man with a weak one.

“Where’s Ash?”

Lila glanced at Anna. What
could she say to Harris?
Your twin brother prefers his bed to being at your
bedside?

Lila took his hand and eyed
his clammy skin. The morning light had begun to flicker through the thick
curtains, spilling tiny streams of light over the bedding. Anna had accompanied
Lila for most of the night with the exception of checking on the search party
and ensuring their security was tight. No one would get into the house, she
assured her.

But Ash had remained in his
room. She’d even been so bold as to slip in, fearing for him after going
through such a traumatic experience, but he’d been asleep. She could hardly
believe it. His brother had been shot, and the man was sleeping. How was it
even possible? Fatigue had made her mouth dry and her eyes itchy but there was
no chance she could sleep for a moment while Harris was still in a great deal
of pain and his future was uncertain.

“He is abed, is he not?”
Harris asked with a wry, but slightly pained, smile.

“I believe so,” she replied.

“It does not matter. After
all, I have two lovely ladies to take care of me.”

He swung a glance Anna’s way,
and Lila noticed the spark of admiration there. If she was not much mistaken,
it was possible Anna might be attracted to him too. She would not blame her.
These brothers were handsome indeed, and if she had never met Ash, she was
certain Harris would be easy to fall for.

“I shall check on him soon,”
Lila said. “He was very concerned for you.”

Harris waved a hand. “My
brother is the way he is. As soon as anything exciting happens, he vanishes. He’s
done it for as long as I can remember. Thankfully I’m not ready to utter my
last words yet.”

“That’s a fine job,” Ash’s
voice came from the doorway. “I have little intention of hearing them, and no
doubt you’d go on forever.”

“I am very well, thank you,
brother,” Harris replied with a slight grin.

Lila stood and came to Ash’s
side. “Your brother seems to be doing well,” she said. “You are lucky. You
should have been here. What if it had been worse?”

He glanced at her, and she
noted the redness rimming his eyes. His skin had a sickly cast to it, and his
clothes were rumpled. Had he been drinking perhaps? Was that it? He’d drunk
himself into a stupor and could not awaken? She swallowed. It was odd, she had
not thought him the type to indulge. Turning to alcohol seemed too weak a habit
for a man like Ash.

“I am here now,” he said
quietly before moving to take up the seat beside his brother’s bed. “Are you
still in pain?”

“Not really. Nicely dosed up
at present. These ladies can attest to that.”

“I’m sure they can. I hope
you remembered to hold your tongue at least a little.”

Harris laughed. “I can
hardly be to blame if the laudanum was addling my wits now, can I?”

“If I know you,” Ash said
wryly, “you used it as a fine excuse to scandalise them.”

“He’s been fairly well-behaved,”
Anna put in though Lila saw the smile tease her lips. The truth was Harris had
been rather amusing during the night after taking the laudanum.

“You shall have to stay here
for a while,” Ash said. “I hope that is not a problem.” He directed the
question to Anna.

“Of course not.”

“Ash, you need to leave.
Lila isn’t safe here,” Harris said with a surprising firmness to his voice.

“We cannot leave,” Lila
declared. “No, I will not even consider it.”

Ash lifted a hand. “He’s
right, Lila. If Newton has discovered you, you’re not safe.”

“My security is excellent,”
Anna said stiffly.

“But with so many people
coming and going, it would be easy for him to slip in, Anna,” Ash said.

She shifted on her feet and
folded her arms. “I know.”

“We must leave.” Ash
directed this at Lila this time.

“But—”

His brother nodded in
agreement. “I have little intention of dying, Lila. Hopefully by the time this
mess is over, I shall be healed and ready to dance with you at your next ball
while the killer is behind bars.”

Lila blinked at the two men
several times. Why should either of them care for her welfare more than their
own? Who were these men? “But—”

“No more buts,” Ash
commanded. “We’ll leave as soon as we are ready. We’ll be taking your carriage,
Harris.”

He chuckled them winced. “I
did not expect anything less. Where are you to go?”

“I thought about the house
in Kent. I know Julian is in Warwickshire at present so it will be empty.”

“There might not be any
staff in attendance,” Harris warned.

“We won’t need anyone to
look after us.”

Lila watched this exchange
in a sort of dazed manner. They were to go all the way to Kent to escape a
killer while leaving Harris behind? This really was not at all the summer she
expected. And she certainly did not anticipate Ash choosing her safety over
staying with his brother.

“He’ll be fine,” Ash assured
her.

Damn him, how did he know
that was what she was thinking?

“I will be, Lila.”

“He’s in good hands,” Anna
assured.

Damn them all.

Ash stood and cupped a hand
over her shoulder. “I would not leave him if I did not think he wouldn’t be
fine or that you were not still in danger,” he said quietly.

“But, Ash, you cannot leave
your brother for me.”

“He understands. Now, why do
you not pack up the gowns Anna gave you, and I shall have some breakfast sent
to your room? We have a long journey ahead.”

She swung her gaze between
all three of them and realised yet again, she had little choice but to go along
with their plans. Once again, she was at the whim of others.

“Very well then.” Lila spun
away and stomped back to her room.

She gathered up the few
gowns she’d borrowed and paused to peer out of the window at the new day. There
was no sign of the shooter. Sunlight streamed through the oak trees lining the
land, flickering and glinting through the leaves. This day would prove a
beautiful one it seemed. How odd that God would see fit to bestow a lovely day
upon them when there was a killer out there who had injured Harris and wanted
to kill her.

Somehow she had managed not
to think on that night, on how close she had been to dying. But slowly, the
beautiful field became a dark park. The sunlight no longer welcomed, but
shadows lurked and a man’s scream split the air.

“Lila?”

She whirled.

Ash strode forward and
clasped her arms. “You’re shaking.”

Glancing down at her hands,
she realised she was indeed shaking. “Will you never knock?” she demanded
unsteadily.

“I swore I would protect you,
and I will,” he vowed, ignoring her scolding. “Don’t be afraid.”

She swallowed, tempted to
deny it. Had she not always been afraid? Afraid of not fulfilling her family’s
expectations? Afraid of failing at every turn? And yet, with Ash, she had not
been afraid. There had been no fear of speaking her mind or behaving awfully
unladylike. And she’d felt utterly safe with him until last night. But even
then he had thrown her to the ground and prevented anything from happening to
her. She really did trust this man with her life.

“I will be well,” she
assured him as his concerned gaze searched her face. “You should be with your
brother.”

“My brother is too busy
flirting with Anna to notice my presence. I will see him before we leave. Are
you sure you are well? Shall I get some tea sent up? Your food should be here
shortly.”

She nodded. “Will you eat
with me?”

He shifted on his feet a
little. He’d done his best to avoid time alone with her before their kiss, and
it seemed he would do the same now. But why? He had spoken some of the most
charming words she had ever heard last night. Of course she had received
compliments aplenty during her time in London but none had been as genuine.

“What are you afraid of?”

His brow furrowed, and he
dropped back a little. “Nothing.”

“I am afraid of everything,”
she said softly.

“I told you—”

“I didn’t mean the killer.”

“What could you possibly
have to fear, Lila?”

She squeezed her hands
together. Why did it feel necessary to tell him these things? Because it might
open him up? Perhaps. But why was it so important to her to understand the man?

“Failing. There are a lot of
expectations upon me.”

“You mean marriage.” His
eyes dulled slightly.

“Yes.”

He gave a tiny laugh. “Lila,
you will never fail there. No doubt when we return to London, all eligible men
will be clamouring to offer for your hand. You forget, I have seen how men
react to you.”

“To me...” she said softly. “But
that is the thing. It is not me. I’m not sure they see the real me. It is all
manners and etiquette.”

He nodded slowly. “Everyone
puts on a front, Lila.”

“Even you?”

“Even me. But underneath
those manners and that charming smile is a bold, courageous, intelligent woman
and any man who does not see worth in that is a fool.”

Her chest warmed a little
and she took a step forward. “What sort of front do you put on?”

Ash backed away and disappointment
weighted her chest when his expression shuttered. “My charming manners, of
course,” he said dryly. “Why do you not freshen up, and I shall see what has
happened to the morning meal?”

He spun on a heel and left,
shutting the door behind him. She stared at it for a while and traced the gilded
square pattern of the panels with her gaze over and over. What was that man
hiding? He really was a riddle.

Further disappointment made
her stomach feel as though it was filled with stones when he failed to join her
again for breakfast. She picked at the tray of food and drank a little tea,
extra sweet in an attempt to wake her up, but hunger evaded her in spite of the
long night. By the time she had given up completely, the girl who had helped
her dress the past couple of days arrived to assist in tidying her hair.

Lila sat on the stool and
peered into the mirror as Beth set to work.

“You should be a lady’s maid,”
Lila commented and then slapped a hand over her mouth. Had she just offended
the beautiful, red-haired young woman? “I did not mean—”

Beth smiled her
understanding. “I was once. But my husband was a horrible man and told my
employer I had been stealing for him when I refused to...well...”

“Forgive me.”

Beth shrugged. “These things
happen. Miss Anna offered me shelter and work. I do very well for myself here,
and we are looked after, unlike we would be on the streets of London.” She gave
a shudder. “After the Ripper and other things, I’m grateful to be in a place
like this. Just like you are grateful to Lord Ashton I imagine.”

Lila did not respond and
used her fingers to trace circle patterns on the vanity table.

“I think Miss Anna likes him
very well.”

She snapped her gaze up to
meet Beth’s gaze in the mirror. “She does?”

“Oh yes. I do not blame her
though everyone says he is too lazy for the likes of her. Miss Anna works all
hours, but Lord Ashton cannot even be counted on to climb out of bed for most
social events. At least that is what they say.”

Lazy? Was that what he was?
Would he really have opted just to sleep rather than tend to his brother? She
had assumed drink, but she would not say as much to Beth. And did Anna really
like him? There had been a few moments where they had seemed close but she had not
had the chance to question their relationship. What if his reticence was
because he really had feelings for Anna and had never intended to kiss her?

Lila thanked Beth and gave
her a quick embrace before she took her scant belongings downstairs. Beth had
not been as she had expected. Neither had Anna really, but the woman, in spite
of sharing a sleepless night with her, was extremely private. Was it possible
she was in love with Ash? And how did he feel for her?

Her stomach bunched, and she
pressed a fist to it as she stopped by Harris’ room. Surprisingly, Anna had
remained at his bedside. Lila would have thought the woman had too much to
attend to if what Beth said was correct. From what she had seen of her, the
owner of Stourbridge worked every moment to run this empire of hers. There was
certainly something to be admired about that. Anna was her own woman, doing
whatever she pleased, and Lila certainly envied her freedom.

Harris grinned when he saw
her. “Leaving me already?”

“You gave me little choice if
I recall.”

“Your safety is our priority,”
he intoned.