Finding Love

Chapter 22

There was shoving and pulling. Mr. Taylor stepped away from me to the back of the room unsure of what to do. Looking for a way out was more like it. But trapped he was. The other man that pushed me in walked over to the door and shoved it open. John pushed him aside and rushed to my side. While helping me stand he noticed Mr.Taylor and Ezra did as well. Now walking into the room. 

"Are you all right?" John asked. Ezra went right up too Mr. Taylor and punched him knocking him to the ground. 

"Joseph!" John called out. Then came in Joseph and George.

"The street runners are here." George said. Joseph taking my weight. I didn't notice I was not fully standing but John was holding my weight, now Joseph.

"Take her home and put her to bed." John said to Joseph. He walked me out of the room and out to the night air which helped me clear my head. Behind us came George. The three of us got into the carriage and on the way home we went. 

Once home we went up  to my room where Joseph stayed by my side and George went to another room. Moments later when Joseph was able to help me sit down. George walked in with Margret to help me get dressed. 

"Are you all right?" She asked me in concern and rushed to my side. 

"To be honest I am not quit sure but I know I have to get out of this dress." with those words my brothers walked out of the room. Once out of my dress and into a sleeping gown and a black robe over it I walked down stairs after asking Margret for tea and biscuits. 

I walked into our sitting room finding George walking back and forth not nervously just thinking. Joseph was sitting on the chair looking at a book. But he wasn't reading it his eyes were focused on the floor beyond the book. 

"What are you doing? You should be in bed." George said coming towards me and checking my hands and face. 

"I think I am a bit better now. I asked Margret for tea. Not sure what happened tonight. What did happen?" I said 

"The Taylor's heard about the wedding." George said

"Mother got the word out of your wedding to the Duke." Joseph said putting his book down 

"And Mr. Taylor Sr. went and tried to bribe Ezra to letting you marry Younger Mr. Taylor, but it was not serious." George said

"It was just a distraction for the men that the Taylor's paid to get to you." Joseph continued 

"What happened to them?" I asked Joseph and George looked at me like I was crazy. We all heard the back door open and we rushed out of the room to find John and Ezra walking into the house from the back garden.

They walked in laughing. 

"What in Heaven sake happened to you too?" I said 

"We were dealing with the problem." John answered back walking towards our sitting room  

"What happened?" George asked and joseph started pouring port. 

"Well the street runners arrested the men they paid some got away. But Mr. Taylor begged Ezra not to arrest them and he didn't exchange that they leave London." John said while Joseph passed drinks and Margret walked in leaving a tray of tea. After thanking her she walked out of the room. 

"So that's it no more Taylors?" I asked.

"No more Taylors." Ezra said. I noticed the few looks the men gave each other but I ignored them just thinking of the possibly of having no more Taylors around. No more side glances no more threats. No more secret to be exposed and that cant hurt Ezra in the future of his Title. No information that cant be used against him. I was glad. Finally coming up out of my thoughts I noticed George and Joseph were gone, and now John was standing to leave. 

"Where are you going?" I asked putting my tea down. 

"It seems that you and the Duke need to discuss somethings with out my presents." He said walking out of the room. I looked over and noticed Ezra looking at the ground. My heart ponding now that the Taylors are gone there is no need for him to marry me just needs to marry someone and any women would be so lucky to marry him. 

"Alice" he said moving closer to sit next to me. "I want to give you the chance to say no, incase you don't want to marry me. Now that the Taylors are no longer a threat to you or your family you are free to choose. I will not hold you back what ever your choice my be."

"Ezra have you not noticed that I have fallen deeply for you. I would marry you if my entire family was against it and I would be shunned from society. My feeling don't change just because there is no more threat."

His hand went up to my face and moved a bit of hair that had fallen and kissed me. This kiss was different then the kisses we had shared before this was soft and warm. I was being kisses like this man was trying to tell me loved me too. When we did pull away he said "How did I get so lucky to have you?" 

"You were crazy enough to fall for the women dressed as a man"