Kidnapped and Bound: Kidnapped, Book 2 by Blushing Books Read Free Book Online Page A

James.  This was the man who had sat to the left of the Viscount and suggested I be brought to task with a mounting by one of the grooms in the stable.  He held a pistol in his hand.  Lord Drake did not see as he was talking to the soldier who was bringing him a horse.  The man turned as he spied us both and aimed his pistol at Lord Drake in anger. 
    “You will not get away with ruining my business, sir,” he shouted.  Lord Drake turned to answer the rebuke but I knew the bullet would come for my rescuer.  I could not bear the thought.  I owed Lord Drake a debt and I found myself afraid I would lose him.  Quickly I pushed him away but I had made the mistake of putting myself in the way of harm and in the path of the bullet.  I cried out with pain when it dug hard in to my shoulder.
    My whole body sank, but Lord Drake caught me before I fell to the ground.  He lowered me to the grass, his hands atremble.
    “Lady Gerard, you are hit.  Why did you do that?  Why did you do that for me?” he questioned, frantically sliding the velvet away from my wound, which was seeping blood.
    I could not answer him.  The pain was unbearable, tearing at my shoulder and insides without remorse.  I was faint despite my efforts to rally myself and sit.  Lord Drake knelt, cradled me against him and shouted for help.  As I began to slip out of consciousness, James managed to take flight in to the woods and evade capture with his accomplice, quickly pursued by soldiers and men.  Lord Drake replaced the velvet covering over my wound and pressed down in an attempt to ease the bleeding as he and the soldier yelled for a physician.  His handsome countenance and dark eyes looked upon me with heavy concern, and he stroked my forehead as he called my name in the hopes of reviving me.  It was not to be, and I fell into darkness in the safety of his arms.
     

 
     
Chapter Five
     
    I awoke to find myself in a four-poster bed.  The winter sun was streaming in through a tall window.  I felt comfortable, but when I turned to the side to view the room in more detail I heard myself moan with a little pain and closed my eyes tight.
    “Hush.  Lay still,” a soft male voice told me from the side in a whisper.  I felt the touch of his fingertips upon my forehead, stroking and soothing my pain away.  Slowly I opened my eyes and looked up to find myself locked in the gentle gaze of Lord Drake’s beautiful dark eyes.  He smiled at me.
    “Good, you are awake.  You must be hungry,” he said, moving to sit on the side of the bed next to me.  He did not stop his caress and I was more than thankful for it.
    “Where am I?”
    “You are at my home, Mallory House in Buckinghamshire.  I carried you here after you were seen by a physician at your aunt’s, three days ago.”
    I tried to sit up.  I was confused.
    He caught the back of my head, gently he laid my head back down on the pillow and held me down.
    “You were shot, madam.  Luckily, the wound was not heavy and simply caused a fever.  You have been in and out of consciousness.  The injury is healing well but you are weak and need food,” he commanded.
    I stared at him, fearful suddenly, remembering the events of what I mistakenly believed was the night before and then the last three days.  Vaguely, my memory had recorded his tender care throughout my delirium as he applied cool compresses to my brow through the days and night.  Each time I awoke, he appeared to be tending me, making me think he rarely left my side or allowed the servants to assist me.
    “Why did you move me from my aunt’s?  All I wanted to do was to go home, sir, and you have denied me the right of comfort from my friends.” I was affronted and at that moment more than a little suspicious of Lord Drake’s motives in bringing me to his home.
    “Shhh,” he ordered and put a finger to my lips.  “I will explain all to you, if you promise not to be afraid and to trust me without question.” He was