The Duke Goes Down (The Duke Hunt #1) - Sophie Jordan Page 0,87
small yard in front of the house, trying to toss his son from his back to no avail. The smallest children sat in the dirt crying amid darting chickens and a barking dog and a few grunting hogs that had escaped their pen.
Mr. Henry was dragging his wife by the hair, his fingers buried deep in the strands, locked at the roots. She resembled a limp rag doll, scarcely struggling. Blood marked her face, dribbling from her nose. One eye was swollen shut. Her arms curled around her swollen belly protectively.
“Mr. Henry! Stop!” Imogen charged into the fray.
He lifted bleary, bloodshot eyes to Imogen. “Mind yer business, lass! This is a family matter.”
Imogen clamped down on his arm, shaking it in an attempt to free his grip. “Unhand her!”
“Stop it, Pa!” Teddy bellowed.
Mr. Henry whirled around with a roar, effectively dislodging both Teddy and Imogen.
Imogen dropped down to the ground beside the boy.
It was madness. Mrs. Henry was sobbing, pleading with her husband. “Please, please, Archie.”
He gave her another shake by her hair, snarling at her. “Wot did I tell ye about disrespecting me?”
Valiant Teddy was not even close to giving up his defense of his mother. He started lashing out with his legs, kicking at his father. He landed one solid kick to the older man’s knee.
Mr. Henry howled and released his wife, clutching his leg. “Ye little bastard!” He raised a thick arm to strike his son, but Imogen dove in the way, covering the boy, shielding him with her body.
Pain exploded in her back, just below her shoulder. She cried out, arching against the impact.
“Pa!” Teddy looked over her shoulder with a stricken expression. “No! Don’t hurt her, Pa!”
Imogen clutched the boy tighter and braced herself for another blow.
It never came.
There was a loud grunt and scuffling behind her.
She cracked open one eye and then the next.
There was no pain radiating through her body. She was . . . fine. Unharmed.
Loosening her arms from Teddy, she peered around her—just in time to see Perry lowering his fists and standing over Mr. Henry who was writhing in agony on the ground. Clearly Perry had used those fists to knock the man down.
“Perry?” she whispered.
He looked like an avenging angel, his dark hair windblown, his gray eyes like a storm as his chest lifted high and deep on serrated breaths. His fists uncurled, relaxing at his sides as the threat subsided.
He moved from where he stood over the wretched man and crouched down beside her. “Imogen?” He brushed a hand down her face, his gaze assessing her, roaming over her body, searching for evidence of injury. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” she assured him, motioning to Mrs. Henry. “She is the one who needs attention.”
Teddy and the other children surrounded Mrs. Henry. The constable and Mrs. Garry arrived in a wagon and joined the children to fuss over Mrs. Henry.
Perry didn’t leave Imogen’s side. Several minutes passed and he said, “She is well cared for now and you look quite pale.” He pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. “Allow me to escort you home.”
“What are you doing here?” she demanded shakily.
“I came for you and spotted your frantic housekeeper. She told me where you had gone.”
Imogen watched as the constable shackled a foul-tempered Mr. Henry and secured him in the back of the wagon.
Mrs. Garry harangued them through it all, insisting they lock Mr. Henry away forever. “He’s a menace! Not just to his family, but the entire community. What would he have done to my Miss Bates if Mr. Butler had not arrived in time?”
“We will handle him, Mrs. Garry,” the constable gruffly assured her. “This is one time too many for his shenanigans.”
“Shenanigans,” Imogen murmured under her breath. It seemed a very insignificant word to describe the horribleness she had just witnessed. What would have happened if Teddy had not gone for help? If she had not arrived? If Perry had not?
Mrs. Garry helped Mrs. Henry and her children into the house. She looked back over her shoulder and called, “I will tend to Mrs. Henry here. Can you manage, Miss Imogen?”
Imogen opened her mouth, but before she could speak Perry called out, “I have her, Mrs. Garry. Fret not.”
Imogen looked at him sharply. “You have me?”
He stared back down at her. “Yes. I’ll escort you home.”
With a sniff, she started walking, trying not to wince at the tenderness in her back. “I can get home on my own.”