Free Rory by Julia Templeton

just glad you’re okay. My heart sank to my stomach when I heard the news you’d been injured. Poor Lillith, she wanted tocome with me on horseback, but I insisted she travel by carriage.”
    He had gotten here in an incredible amount of time. “You traveled through the night?”
    “I haven’t slept for two days. Well, aside from a half an hour nap, but that was while I was waiting for a change of horse.”
    “I’m touched, Vic. Honestly, I didn’t expect you for days.”
    “You’d do the same for me, and well you know it.”
    It was true. He’d move heaven and earth to be by his brother’s side in a time of need. “I have no idea if they’ve been able to locate Sinjin and Katelyn, but I understand Mother and Father have been alerted.”
    “This is the last thing Mother needs.”
    “Yes, well, then let this be the last duel, Rory. Honestly, you need to put this life behind you. The surgeon said that had the bullet hit one inch to the left, you could have died.”
    “Then I am lucky for that inch. Trust me, brother, it is nothing more than a flesh wound, really.”
    “Flesh wound, my ass. And what is this about going out this evening? How very foolish.”
    Apparently Edward could not keep his mouth shut.
    Victor pressed a hand to Rory’s forehead. “You’re perspiring and are exceedingly pale. Should I call for the physician?”
    “Stop it,” Rory said, pushing his brother’s hand away. “You are hovering already.”
    The intensity left his brother’s eyes and he laughed under his breath. “I suppose I am.”
    “Go to bed. I am tired, and I am sure you are as well.”
    “Before I leave you, I want you to consider staying here. Living here with us. Lily and I talked about it on the way to Wales. Now that this has happened, she will be even more adamant you stay.”
    “Sinjin said I could stay at the townhouse.”
    “It is being renovated.” Victor folded his hands in his lap. “Plus, you asked to come here in your darkest hour, which means you want to be here … with me. And Lord knows someone needs to keep their eye on you … and Sinjin has a baby on the way.”
    He looked awfully full of himself, but Rory had to admit that he liked the idea of moving in with Victor, especially with a certain beautiful blonde underfoot. Rory sat up straighter. “If you insist, then, yes, I shall stay.”
    Victor grinned wholeheartedly. “Good, but there is one condition of staying with me.”
    “And what would that be?”
    “You must keep your hands off the servants. Lily insists.”
    Damnation.
    “Shannon is excellent help and a complete innocent, or I am hoping she is still innocent.”
    “Of course she is still innocent. She has proven herself to be a stellar nurse in my time of crisis.”
    “Do not touch her, Rory. You will only break her heart, and Lillith would be most displeased. She has grown quite attached to the girl.”
    Rory ran a hand through his hair. “What do you know of her?”
    “Not a lot. I believe Lillith said she and her brother come from Scotland.” He scrubbed a hand over the shadow of a beard that covered his jaw. “Come to think of it, she mentioned that there was a bit of a discrepancy on where exactly. When asked where in Scotland they hailed from, the boy said Edinburgh, while the girl said Inverness.”
    “Did Lillith not think that was odd?”
    “She didn’t push them for an answer, and honestly, they’ve been such excellent help that she didn’t want to frighten themaway with too many questions. Let’s face it, everyone has secrets.”
    Indeed, he was right. Not wanting to get Shannon or her brother into trouble, he nodded. “Go to bed. You look horrible.”
    “Says the man who took a bullet to the shoulder,” Victor said, mussing Rory’s hair. “I can take a hint. I shall leave you alone for the night.” He leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of Rory’s head. “I love you, Rory. I hope you know that.”
    Rory smiled, surprised by the unexpected