Chapters (22)
Everything slowed and seemed to take an eternity—except for Earnshaw’s pace toward the far end of the ward. At the last moment, when he was close enough to Juliette to run her over, he skidded to a halt.
“Stop, Mr. Earnshaw.” Juliette’s voice was calm, but her eyes were wide, the faint moonlight from the windows gleaming off the whites. “I cannot let you leave.”
Daniel could hardly believe his eyes when the accountant froze, but Daniel did not stop running, cannoning into Earnshaw and tackling him to the ground. The impact hurt, but he ignored the pain. He pressed his knee into the accountant’s back, wrenching the man’s hands behind him and pinning him to the floor like a trussed chicken. Only then did he look up to see Juliette aiming a pistol at Mr. Earnshaw.
“Where did that come from? I didn’t know you were armed.” He almost shouted, so scared had he been. “I told you to stay out of it!” Dash it all—he was shouting.
“Good thing she didn’t, or we might have lost our quarry.” Sir Bertrand came up from behind, and Daniel spared him a glance.
“Are you hit?” Juliette asked, rushing to her uncle’s side.
“A mere scrape. Fortunately, Mr. Earnshaw’s aim tonight was not as steady as when he shot Mr. Montgomery.” Sir Bertrand frowned, plucking at his sleeve. “He has managed to ruin a perfectly good jacket, however.”
Juliette’s face paled, and she wobbled her way to a chair. “You’re bleeding.”
Daniel clapped the darbies onto Earnshaw’s wrists, making them good and tight. “Stay there, or I’ll cuff you to a bedframe.” He pushed himself upright and went to Sir Bertrand.
“That looks like more than a scrape.” Daniel shed the dressing gown and reached for Sir Bertrand’s cravat. “You’d best let me wrap that up.” Without waiting for permission, he wound Sir Bertrand’s upper arm with the neckcloth. “We’re in a hospital, after all, but perhaps you would prefer to treat this at home?”
“Absolutely. Juliette, some fortitude, please. I am fine, and you performed creditably. I’m glad you took my advice and did not go out without a weapon.”
Daniel shook his head as he retrieved the gun Earnshaw dropped after firing it. “Is this the gun you used to kill Montgomery?” Owen Wilkinson had been correct when he’d surmised the killer had used a muff gun.
Earnshaw said nothing.
