Destined For A Duke (Completed)

Chapter 9

Lady Malcolm had fainted as soon as she saw her daughter. Lord William took her in his arms and deposited her in one carriage like she she weighted nothing. George quickly followed after with Emma. As soon as all the ladies were seated, William gently pushed Ella.

"Go. I will follow him." Ella blushed furiously. Was her concern that obvious?

"Take a weapon. He's unarmed and we have no idea what those kidnappers are capable of." Ella begged before entering the carriage.

On the way back to the mansion, George held her mother tight. Lady Malcolm was still in the same dress that she was kidnapped in. The only difference was, now it was covered in dirt and it smelled of sweat. George kept on thanking God for the safe return of her mother.

Ella stared at the beautiful Lady in George's arm. She had long blond hair, pale skin and perfect features. She seemed to have lost weight as her dress was hanging on her. Compared to George's subtle beauty, Lady Malcolm was an obvious beauty.

When they reached the manor, the butler was ready to carry Lady Malcolm inside. The doctor was already present. Despite the circumstances, William had the forethought to send a doctor. Upon hearing such commotion, Lady Delton rushed to the main hall.

"My dear! Who is she? What happened to her?" Lady Delton sounded concerned. Emma rushed to her mother's side, in case she decided to do something Lady like, example faint.

"It's Lady Malcolm mother. Someone threw her out the moving carriage in the village fair. Max and William are hunting down the culprit right now." Emma explained in a hushed voice.

No one expected Lady Delton to take charge of the situation but she did. She ordered servants to quickly air a new room for Lady Malcolm. While the room was being prepared, Lady Delton was to be taken to her own private chamber. Lastly, she ordered a fresh pot of tea.

"Tea is a good old remedy for everything. Just add a bit of whiskey too. It looks as if out guest will need something stronger." She followed George, leaving behind two very surprised ladies.

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It was night. Lady Delton was still sleeping and the men were still missing. Lady Delton woke up multiple times from her nightmares but would soon fall asleep after drinking a cup of tea. Doctor was positive that all she needed was some rest.

Ella kept on pacing in the main hall. She was worried about the men. After every half an hour, George would lean over the main staircase to ask for updates. It seemed as if the two of them were the only ones worrying. Brandon was passing time, drinking whiskey. He hated the fact that he missed all the fun of chasing. Emma and Lady Delton were confident that no harm would come to both man.

After midnight, Ella had had enough. She flopped on the sofa beside Emma and Brandon in the library and asked the only question she had been dying to ask.

"How can you be so calm? They were both without weapons, what if anything happened to them?" Ella asked tiredly. Emma's tinkling laugh grated on Gabrielle's fried nerves.

"Don't you know? The two of them are fighters. The one's that everyone bets on in gaming hells. Trust me, they will be fine. It's the man in the carriage you need to worry about. I just hope they keep the man alive for long enough to ask him questions." Emma answered nonchalantly.

"Well if everything is fine, then I am going to bed. See you in the morning." Ella left without a backward glance. Why didn't anyone tell her? She could imagine Max fighting in dirty clubs but Lord William? It was beyond belief.

Ella changed in to her cotton chemise and crept in to the bed. The night was cold despite the fact that summer had almost started. She thought of where Max might be sleeping, if he was indeed alright. She thought of what she would do if something happened to him.

Ella didn't want to accept the fact that she felt something for him. She couldn't name the feeling yet. It was warm and bubbly. Maybe that is how friendships felt like. Like hot chocolate on a winters night. Hmm... food.

Ella didn't know when she fell a sleep or what woke her up. When she opened her eyes, her room smelled like whiskey and sweat. It was colder than when she fell asleep. She tried to cover herself more properly with the blanket when she felt that it was stuck in something.

Ella pulled it several times but it was still not moving. Finally she got up to light a candle. This way she would see better and maybe she would also find the source of the awful smell. As the light from the candle illuminated her bed, Ella choked on her heart.

Her sheets were stuck under a very bloody and battered Duke of Lancester. As she walked closer to him, she realized that he was also the source of the bad smell. Ella tried to shake him, she wanted to remind the drunken man of his mistake.

After several rounds of poking, Ella came to the conclusion that Max was too tired to respond. Giving up on attempting to wake him, she took some sheets and made her bed on the sofa. Just before sleep calmed her, she thought how good it would feel to sleep in Max's arms. They would be strong and protective and she won't have to worry about a thing.

Tada! Another update. Yes, Pretty Amy and Mad Axe are in what's hot list. Two stories making waves at once. Yes!