Free An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere Page B

supplied, his voice flat.
    Lizzie shook her head. “Not dead. But he was grievously wounded.”
    She did not need to draw them a picture. She knew they could well imagine Edward bleeding on the dry ground. Geoffrey’s face contorted, as though he felt his brother’s suffering.
    No one spoke. Lady Thornborough put one hand toher heart and held a scented handkerchief to her face with the other. The clock ticked loudly in the silence.
    “Go on,” James encouraged gently. “What happened next?”
    “When he saw that two of his fellows were dead, the third bushranger got on his horse and raced away.”
    “Edward and this man Tom killed two bushrangers?” James’s voice was filled with admiration. “Incredible.”
    Geoffrey’s hands clenched. “What happened to Tom?”
    “He was injured, too, but he managed to get Edward onto one of the horses, and rode to the farm as quickly as he could. Eddie was in a bad state. He was bleeding profusely from his left side. Tom had been hit in the thigh and nearly fainted along the way from loss of blood. But he was determined to bring Eddie back.”
    “Why did Tom take him to the farm?” Geoffrey asked. His voice was sharp, holding an edge of accusation. “Surely it would have been better to go to town for medical help?”
    “That was what Tom wanted to do. But Edward insisted on going home.”
    “The fool!” Geoffrey stood and began pacing the room. “He may have brought about his own demise.” He glared at Lizzie. “What kind of man is this Tom? Why didn’t he insist on the proper course of action?”
    Lizzie glared back. “I believe he did the right thing.”
    Geoffrey made a scoffing noise and continued pacing.
    “There was a man on the farm who had medical skill,” Lizzie said, her voice defensive. “He tended to their wounds admirably. But he confirmed what Edward and Tom already knew—that it was futile. No towndoctor could have saved him.” Lizzie wanted to make Geoffrey understand what an honorable man his brother was. “Edward’s greatest desire was to get home so he could say good-bye. There was never a man so devoted to his wife.” Tears stung her eyes.
    “Yes, we can see you loved him, dear,” Lady Thornborough said, patting her arm gently.
    Geoffrey halted his pacing. “We all loved him,” he said. “The fact remains that if you had not taken Edward away from England, he might still be alive today.”
    Lizzie had known there would be a possibility of this accusation, but that did not lessen the sting when it came. She stood up. “Tell me, Lord Somerville ,” she said, placing wry emphasis on his title, “how does it follow that Edward would be alive today if he were here? William never left England. I suppose he had the best doctors money could buy. But he, too, is dead.” She stopped, gasping for breath. She was unused to heavy corsets, and finding air was difficult.
    “Ria, you must sit down,” Lady Thornborough ordered. “You will make yourself ill again.”
    But Lizzie would not sit down. She advanced toward Geoffrey. “Edward was determined to go to Australia. He knew the hard work it would entail—and the risks. He believed it was the way to build a new life. How many men would face any obstacle, and go to the ends of the earth for love?”
    “I certainly have never flung myself off the map for someone else,” James interjected. “It sounds terribly uncomfortable.”
    “The ends of the earth,” Geoffrey repeated with scorn. “For love. What foolishness.”
    At this moment, the memory of Ria and Edward was so vivid that Lizzie could practically see them in the room. How many times had she observed them with their heads bent together, speaking low, smiling and whispering words only for themselves? They had a love few people find in a lifetime, and Lizzie would defend their actions with all her might. “How many people can truly say they are happy? How many women can say they are married to the man they love, desperately and