My Favorite Major (Heroes Returned Book 1) (13 page)

“
Questions about Moore’s ability on a field of honor.”

Amelia’s heart constricted. This was all her fault. “Mr. Mason,” she said quietly. Both men’s eyes were on her and she sat up straighter. “Geoffrey Mason challenged Major Moore last night at the theatre.”

Clayworth nodded to the Runner. “Lieutenant Avery witnessed the exchange. Then the fellow began inquiring about the major’s abilities. At least I assume it was the same fellow. I can’t imagine he liked his chances after everything he heard.”

Amelia felt faint once more, and she gripped the arm of her chair. “So he shot him in the back instead of facing him.” Alan had been shot in the back as well. Her poor brother never had a chance, and neither had Major Moore. Tears welled up in her eyes and she tried to blink them back, but they trailed down her cheeks anyway.

“
I am sorry,” Mr. Blackaby said as he offered her a handkerchief. “I understand you’re the major’s betrothed.”

Amelia nodded as she dabbed at her eyes.

“
Do you know why this Mr. Mason challenged your fiancé?”

She nodded again and her tears came faster. “Because of me.”

“
Amelia was engaged to Mason previously,” Clayworth added.

“
Ah, so jealousy, then?” The runner frowned.

“
It looks that way to me.” The earl nodded.

“
But to shoot down a man in Mayfair in the middle of the day. Brazen fellow, this Mason.”

Clayworth heaved a sigh. “I’m worried for Amelia’s safety, so I’m taking precautionary measures.”

“
No taking the law into your own hands again, my lord,” the Runner warned.

“
I didn’t take the law into my hands the last time, Blackaby.”

The Runner narrowed his eyes on the earl. “I suppose I should be having this conversation with Lord Haversham then.”

Clayworth shrugged. “He only shot Brookfield in self defense, as your final report showed. But, by all means, you should talk to him anyway. See if he can identify the fellow who was asking about the major last night.”

Mr. Blackaby turned his attention back to Amelia. “Lady Clayworth said she heard the shot and then discovered the major in the street. You were with her?”

Amelia nodded.

“
And did you see anything, anyone? This Mr. Mason of yours, by chance?”

Amelia winced. She hadn’t noticed a thing. Not one thing. “When I saw the major on the ground, I ran to him. There was so much blood. I could barely breathe. Everything was a blur…”

The Runner glanced to the bed and sighed. “I’m sure it was frightening. But if you remember anything at all, send for me.”

“
Thank you.” Clayworth gestured Blackaby towards the corridor, then he turned back to Amelia. “I’m sending up a tray, and I want you to eat.”

She nodded instead of arguing.

Amelia lifted her head from the edge of the major’s bed to find the beeswax candle on the nearby table was half the size she remembered before closing her eyes. She hadn’t even realized she’d fallen asleep, but her back ached from her awkward position in the chair. She must have been out for quite some time.

Major Moore’s chest rose and fell with each breath he took and she smiled at him. Thank heavens he was too stubborn to die. Now if only he’d wake up. She touched a hand to his brow and drew it back quickly. Dear God, he was burning alive!

“
Oh, Major!” she breathed in alarm.

Amelia rushed to the far corner of the room and tugged the bell pull for a maid. Then she quickly crossed the floor to the injured major and drew back his bedclothes. He’d need another poultice to combat infection.

“
Yes, miss?” a maid called from the doorway.

“
Cold water and a fresh poultice, please.”

The maid rushed back down the corridor and Amelia smoothed a hand across the major’s cheek. “Don’t stop being stubborn. Please keep fighting. Please.”

He groaned, which was the first sound she’d heard from him all day.

“
Philip,” she whispered, relieved to have heard something from him. “I’m going to cool you off and tend to your wound.”

But he didn’t make another sound, not when a footman helped her roll him to his stomach, not when she applied the fresh poultice, not when she smoothed a cool rag across his face. But he
had
made the one sound, hadn’t he?

Exhausted, Amelia dropped back into her chair and rested her chin on the palm of her hand as she stared at the major. Even in sleep and in his pain, he was beyond handsome. Her mind replayed the memory of his kisses, the memory of his touch, and she swiped at fresh tears. “Please,” she whispered, brushing her wet fingers across his cheek, “wake up.”

“
You’re Miss Pritchard,” a soft voice came from the doorway.

Amelia looked up to find an auburn-haired beauty standing just inside the major’s room. She nodded her answer.

The woman stepped closer to the bed, a strained expression upon her face. “Cordie sent for me. I’m the Duchess of Kelfield.”

The air whooshed out of Amelia’s lungs. She’d never considered that this particular lady might call. “You’re Olivia.”

The duchess agreed with a nod. “Has there been any change?”

Not in nearly seventy-two hours. “No.” Amelia stumbled to her feet, protectively guarding her major from the woman. “He’s moaned a bit, but he’s much the same.”

“
Cordie says you’ve refused to leave him.”

“
I’m afraid to do so.”

“
Well, don’t worry. I won’t ask you to,” the duchess said. “But do you mind if I join you for a while?”

Amelia gestured to the chair on the other side of the bed. And though she would rather not share the major’s sick room with the duchess, she also knew he’d rather have Her Grace attend him than have Amelia’s company. “Of course.”

The duchess walked around the foot of the bed and then dropped into the empty seat. Her hazel gaze fell to Major Moore, and she brushed a tear from her eye. “I never thought to see him like this.”

Neither had Amelia. “He was trying to protect me,” she muttered more to herself than to the duchess.

But Her Grace heard her, because her eyes flashed back to Amelia, kindness reflected in their depths. “You blame yourself, but it’s not your fault, Miss Pritchard.”

“
If I’d never come to London…”

“
Then you’d have never met Philip, and you’d have never made him smile.” The duchess smiled through her tears to make her point. “And by all accounts, you did bring a smile to his face, Miss Pritchard, a much needed smile, and for that you will always have my gratitude.”

“
You still love him?” Amelia knew the answer without asking; she could see the affection in the duchess’ eyes as she gazed at the ailing major.

“
I will always love him,” the lady confirmed. “I’ve known him my entire life. A more honorable man doesn’t exist. But if you’re asking if I am in love with him… No, Miss Pritchard.” She shook her head. “I am desperately
in
love with my husband, and I am sorry to the depths of my soul for any pain and heartache I’ve inflicted on poor Philip. That was never my intent.”

Amelia wasn’t certain what to say to that, so she simply sighed and returned her gaze to Major Moore’s handsome face.

After a moment of silence, the duchess sat forwards in her seat and claimed one of the major’s hands. “You need to wake up, Philip. Miss Pritchard is going to worry herself into an early grave if you don’t open your eyes.”

Amelia gaped at the duchess. Was she trying to lay guilt on a dying man? That was hardly a charitable thing to do.

Her Grace winked at Amelia. “Anything to break through to him,” she explained. “I’ll use any trick necessary. Cordie says he is quite taken with you. You might be the only one he will wake up for.”

But if he was going to do that, wouldn’t he have done so already? Amelia blinked back more tears. “He loves
you
. If he’ll wake for one of us, it’ll be for you.” And though it hurt her heart to admit as much, she also knew it was true. She rose from her spot and started for the corridor, the first time she’d left the room since the major had been brought inside Clayworth House. “Excuse me.”

“
S-s-s,” came from the major’s bed.

The duchess gasped and leaned over the bed. “Did you hear that?”

Amelia had heard it and she rushed back to the major’s bedside. His eyes were still closed, but he had most definitely made a sound. There was no question about it. There was even a witness this time.

“
S-stay,” he whispered so softly, she wasn’t sure it was even real.

Her Grace grinned and swiped at more tears that trailed down her cheeks. “He wants you to stay. He spoke. Did you hear him? He wants you to stay. Don’t you dare go anywhere.”

But were his words for her or for the duchess? Amelia didn’t even care. He
had
spoken. Her heart lifted a hundred fold as she sat on the edge of the bed beside him. “Major?”

“
Stay,” he said a little louder and his eyelids slowly lifted.

Philip’s mouth was as dry as parchment and his eyes hurt. But clearly he was dreaming. There was no other reason why both Amelia and Olivia would be together by his bedside. What a very strange dream. Why was Amelia still trying to leave him? Hadn’t he talked her out of that nonsense?