The Formidable Earl (Diamonds in the Rough #6) - Sophie Barnes Page 0,65

up his hands. “I just came to talk.”

“About what?”

His gaze darted to the pistol, then back to her face. “Your misguided attempt to pin your father’s sins on someone else will destroy my family’s reputation.”

“Seems suspicious to me that you happened to leave Town right before his arrest.”

He stilled for a moment. “What?”

“My father came to you for help but you were gone.” She took a deep breath. “Where were you?”

Setting his jaw, he gave her an angry look. “That’s none of your business.”

“My father was innocent,” Ida said while gripping the doorframe behind her with her free hand.

“You’re his daughter. Of course you would think that.” He moved closer still.

Ida retreated through the parlor door. “Stop there or I’ll shoot.”

“God damn you, girl. You’re not good company for an earl. Can’t you see that? You need to be gotten rid of, and since Fielding isn’t capable of it, I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands.”

Ida’s mind raced. Two attempts had already been made on her life. He was one of the suspects. When she’d failed to grant him entry, he’d forced his way in and now he was saying she had to disappear. Her hold on the pistol tightened. “I must insist you leave. Fielding will not like finding you here.”

Don’t panic.

Keep a clear head.

Guthrie’s words of advice marched straight to the front of Ida’s head, bringing calm reassurance with them. She steadied her aim and took a deep breath.

“Then it’s probably best if we make this quick.” Mr. Nugent reached inside his jacket pocket and began retrieving an item while closing the distance once more.

Ida pulled back the trigger and fired.

Mr. Nugent’s mouth fell open, Miranda screamed, and Ida knocked her shoulder against the parlor door.

“What the bloody hell?’ Mr. Nugent howled as he stumbled against the wall. “I—argh—you damnable little hussy!”

Ida stared at the spot where she’d shot him. Blood was starting to pool beneath his trousers. She’d deliberately aimed for his leg, hoping to make him immobile without threatening his life.

“Dear me,” Miranda muttered. She peered past Mr. Nugent and straight toward Ida. “Forgive me, miss, but what do we do now?”

Ida’s heart, which had been eerily calm throughout the entire ordeal, began to race. “I suppose he needs to sit. Can you fetch a chair while I keep an eye on him?”

Miranda rushed back to the kitchen while Mr. Nugent proceeded to groan between curses. His eyes were squeezed shut in pain, his one hand clasping his left thigh while the other remained in his jacket pocket. His shoulder offered support as he leaned against the wall.

“I think we need his lordship’s help with this mess,” Miranda said when she returned with the chair. She placed it directly behind Mr. Nugent so he could drop onto the seat. “As reluctant as I am to leave you alone right now, I should probably try to find him.”

“Show me your other hand,” Ida told Mr. Nugent. Eyes flashing with raw hatred, he retrieved a piece of paper and held it toward her. She stared down at it and frowned. “A promise note. For ten thousand pounds?”

“I thought you might appreciate the blunt. In exchange for leaving Fielding alone.”

“Idiot,” Ida muttered. “I thought you had a weapon. Why the hell did you not say something?”

“I didn’t expect you to actually shoot me.”

Ida stared at him for a moment in dumbfounded disbelief, then turned to Miranda. “Go. Find Lord Fielding. And come back as quickly as you can.”

With only a fleeting moment of hesitation, Miranda sprang into action. Shocked and slightly nervous about the possible repercussions for her actions, Ida waited for her return, praying she’d bring Simon with her. Dear God. She shouldn’t have acted so quickly. She should have waited to make sure Mr. Nugent actually posed a threat. But he’d been approaching and with everything else she’d recently been through, she’d panicked.

“I’m sorry,” she said, “but you broke in. How was I to know you just meant to bribe me?”

He answered with a snort and attempted to put pressure on the wound, determined, it seemed, to ignore her from that point on.

It felt like hours before Miranda returned. She was flushed and out of breath, but at least she’d found Simon. He strode through the door as if on a mission to save the world, took one look around, and promptly closed the distance between them so he could pull her into his arms. “Ida.” His voice warmed the top of her head while