Diana started, then began a frantic search of Callum.
Daring stood, his eyes travelling up and down them both. “We heard the shot. I repeat, why didn’t you wait?”
“Lady Abernath was about to complete the exchange…” Vice started.
“I had her under control,” Diana answered, only half listening. She found the spot on his arm where the blood was staining his sleeve. “Take off your coat.”
“I’m fine,” Callum gave her an easy smile as he stroked her cheek. “It’s barely a flesh wound.”
“Take it off,” she insisted as she tugged at the lapels pulling the fabric down his shoulders.
“Honestly, Sin got it far worse when I split him with my blade.” He shrugged off the coat to show her the small tear in his shirt. She pulled the rip wider to see that he truly had a tiny wound on his arm.
Sin, carrying his daughter, came to inspect the wound. “He’s right.”
Daring snapped open the carriage door. “Vice, you drive Exile, Diana, Sin, and the child to my house. Bad and I will take our friend here to the Bow Street Runners. Then we need to discuss how we plan on protecting the Chase women. This is twice that Abernath has entered someone’s home and staged an abduction.”
Everyone nodded and Callum wrapped an arm about her waist, pulling her tight to his side. “I won’t let anything happen to ye.”
Diana believed him. Strong as she was, she’d let her guard down with this man and he cared for her anyway. “I know.” She gave him a soft smile. “Thank you.”
“The steps we’ve taken aren’t nearly enough. It’s time to get far more serious.” Daring scrubbed his face.
Exile nodded and then helped her into the carriage and as he sat, she snuggled into his side. She’d never wanted a man to protect her before. But now that she had him, she wasn’t sure she wanted to let him go. That made her pull back. Callum had never promised a future. In fact, he’d been adamant that he couldn’t marry her.
Unlike Charles, he’d never made her false promises. And what she did next was her choice. But she already knew what she wanted to do. She’d be his, even if that was for just one night.
Exile helped Diana out of the carriage and into Daring’s home. Tomorrow, he would propose, in front of Diana’s parents. Tomorrow, he’d read Fiona’s letter and respond inviting her to London to participate in a season. With the help of his friends, he’d surely find her a suitable match.
But tonight, after what had happened, he had no intention of leaving Diana alone.
Tucking her under his arm, they entered the house, Sin just behind him with his daughter. Minnie stood waiting, her hands clasped together as she nibbled her lip. Next to her, Jack stood with his arm about Emily.
Minnie cried out as she saw them, rushing to hug her cousin. Reluctantly, Exile let her go.
Assessing Sin, the usually handsome man seemed haggard as he held the sleeping child in his arms. “You should stay here. Go to bed.”
Sin gave him a look of surprise. “I thought for sure you’d want to murder me after all this.”
Exile shrugged. “If it had been my child…” He wanted to express that he understood. “Ye’ll be safer here anyhow. I’ll convince Vice and Bad to stay and there will be multiple men here in case anything should arise.”
“I think it’s a fine idea,” Diana added. “Minnie, you wouldn’t mind if Sin stayed?”
“Heavens no.” She reached for Sin’s arm. “Let’s get you upstairs and tucked into a room. Emily, write to our parents telling them that Diana is staying again. Tell them the party is going very well and we’ll be too late for her to return home.”
Emily nodded. “Of course.” Then she looked to Diana. “I feel responsible. I—”
“You aren’t.” Diana gave her a smile. “Don’t even think it.”
“Jack.” Minnie turned to Emily’s husband. “Start assembling the staff, I’ll need to speak with them about the guests.” Then Minnie turned back to Exile. “I trust you’ll keep Diana safe while I’m gone.”
“Ye have my word,” he answered, pulling her close again.
The moment that Minnie disappeared, Exile started up the stairs, looking for a quieter sitting room. “Why did Minnie just leave us alone?” Diana asked as they entered a lovely room.
Exile sat, pulling her into his lap. “She kens that tonight the normal rules dinnae apply.”
Her nose brushed his and a tingling shot straight to his groin from just the light touch. “They don’t?”
“No.” He grimaced, a look of exaggerated pain. “I was shot while protecting ye.”
She leaned back, looking down at him, her lips pressed tighter. But she couldn’t quite hide her smile. “A tiny wound if ever I saw one.”
He stroked her cheek. “Ye told Lady Abernath yer secret. She can use it as a weapon against ye.”
Diana shrugged. “Funny thing. I don’t care what she does with the information. I guess I never did. I believed I wasn’t worthy of anyone’s love because of what I’d done. It was always about me.”
Exile shook his head. “How can ye be so damned intelligent?”
She dropped her nose to his again. “Let me tell you, if I am so smart, that you aren’t responsible for your cousin’s death.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “Saving ye tonight, in some strange way, makes me feel better. Like I lived when he died to do some good in this world. All this time, I felt like he should be alive and I should be dead because he deserved it more.”
Diana took several ragged breaths. “You’re a fine man, Callum. I wouldn’t love you if you weren’t. Stop trying to live the life he would have chosen and follow your own destiny.”
He stopped and looked deep into her eyes. The words were so simple, but they rang with a truth that took his breath away. This whole time he’d been so focused on how Ewan would have been Earl, who Ewan would have cared for and helped. “I…”
“Everything all right?” Minnie asked, entering the room. She didn’t even blink at the fact Diana was in his lap when she sat across from them. “I didn’t want to ask before, but what happened tonight?”
Exile listened as Diana relayed the events of the evening, Minnie gasping a number of times. “So Lady Abernath is still at large?”
Diana nodded. “And Grace and Ada are in even more danger than we imagined. Abernath isn’t just bad, she’s unhinged.”
Minnie nodded. “We have to tell our parents the full extent of what’s happened. If we don’t…”
“I know.” Diana looked in Callum’s eyes, her own scrunched in pain.
He stroked her cheek. “Ye should go to bed. It’s been a trying evening.”
Bed? Sleep was the last thing she wanted but then he raised his brows giving her a side stare. Suddenly Diana realized he wasn’t actually discussing sleep. “You’re right. I am exhausted.”
Emily walked back in the room. “Exhausted? Don’t go to bed yet. I was so worried and I’ve hardly even seen you.”