The Consolation Prize (Brides of Karadok #3) - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,113

Rose down.” Her brother nodded and advanced to the top. Armand heard him rumble something but did not catch the words.

Rose’s voice carried down to them clearly. “He was a bad man,” she said mutinously. “He kicked Abelard.”

Una made a choked sound. “He wanted us to die together,” she said wonderingly. “As some sort of grand gesture.”

Armand did not answer, could not. “No fainting,” he called down to Walker, who was waiting at the midway point. “You go down and we’ll follow.”

Glancing back up he saw that Otho was still crouched beside Rose, as though talking some sense into her. Perhaps he did not want to risk all of them on the steps at the same time. Armand kept his grip on Una’s waist. They followed Walker’s descent cautiously, five steps or so behind him at any given time.

When they finally reached the bottom, Armand waited with bated breath for the sick feeling of relief to subside, so he could once again breathe easy. Watching Una raise a shaky hand to her face and swipe her eyes made something inside him snap. Suddenly he felt a tide of feeling so strong, that he grabbed her upper arms in a biting grip, and yanked her forward against his chest, holding her tight and breathing deeply against her hair. He met Walker’s gaze over the top of her head for an instant, before the other man nodded. Armand responded in kind and then it seemed the spell of heavy silence around them was lifted.

An impromptu smattering of applause broke out among their household huddled around the foot of the tower. Armand glanced over and saw someone had spread their cloak over the dead body.

“Armand?” Una asked in muffled tones from against his chest. He squeezed her harder, not willing yet to loosen his hold of her.

Approaching footsteps made him look up to see Otho and Rose had reached the bottom. Otho’s expression too was foreboding in the extreme. Strangely enough, that fact made Armand feel a little better. Once they stood on the ground, Otho crossed his arms and stepped back, allowing Rose to get swept into first Janet and then Mrs. Brickenden’s capable arms. Rose had a look of bewilderment on her face when she was hailed as Una’s savior.

“Where’s Abelard?” Armand heard Rose ask plaintively. Peter stepped forward with the little dog and Rose cheered up at once, reaching for him.

“I should like to check on Abelard too,” Una said in a small voice. “He was injured trying to protect me from Waleran.”

It took a ridiculous amount of effort for Armand to relinquish his grip and permit her to take those two steps from his side and run her hands over the little dogs squirming body. “I think his side is bruised,” she said in a low voice to Rose, her hand hovering over his ribs. “Here.”

“Just a little sore,” Rose agreed. “I can put my Granny’s remedy on it and bring the swelling out.”

Armand’s gaze met Otho’s. “Let’s get them back to the house now,” he suggested. Otho nodded and Armand reached for Una, tugging her resolutely into in his wake. He was irritated to find a crowd following close on their heels, all babbling with barely suppressed speculation. He sped up, and felt Una struggling beside to match his pace.

“Armand—”

“Not a word Una,” he cut in tightly. “I’m warning you.” He tightened his grip involuntarily on her and heard her gasp, before forcing himself to relax his hold. The contact helped. Just a bit. It made the taste of death recede. He knew instinctively he had to keep his hands on her until his murderous mood dissipated.

“I am quite well,” replied Una softly, shooting him a troubled look.

“No, you’re not,” he growled angrily. “Someone just tried to kill you and I nearly let them!” He was almost shaking with fury.

“It’s not your fault—,” she started, but when she caught sight of the expression on his face, she lapsed into bewildered silence. There was a wary look in her eye, which was probably why she was holding her tongue now. She wasn’t stupid.

He stopped abruptly and swung her up in his arms. “Stop struggling,” he warned her grimly, though she hadn’t made any move to resist. Once they reached the house, he turned to confront the crowd. “Everyone,” he announced loudly, and the conversation hushed at once, as everyone looked at him expectantly. “Walker and Otho here will brief you as to why this man wanted to end your