The man was seething with anger. He waited half the night for the Duke to leave, only to see him riding out with Arabella and a group of men. His plan was to have the note delivered and have the bitch walk into his trap. He knew she would come alone if it meant saving the boy. Now after all his well laid plans the brat had escaped. He'd kill the little bastard when he caught him. Just as he was about to go out and look for him, he heard hoofbeats. He ran into the forest and hid in a copse of tree's, as he watched to see who was coming....

Arabella was exhausted. They had been searching for hours and still no sign of Jemmy's whereabouts. The Duke had asked her a few times if she wanted to turn back, but she just couldn't do it. He had to to be here somewhere. If the man intended to lure her to him, then it stood to reason he wouldn't be too far away. So she pushed on, she had to help him, he was just a little boy. What kind of madman would hurt an innocent child. A cold shiver ran down her spine. Then a voice called out, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Over here!" Cried one of the men. Arabella and the Duke spurred their horses in his direction. When they reached his side he said he seen someone run through the trees, "I believe its the boy, your Grace," he furnished.

Arabella began calling out to Jemmy. She slid off her horse and began running through the forest.

Jemmy heard Arabella yelling for him, he turned around and started running towards her screaming her name. The sound of a gun shot ripped through the air. Suddenly there was an eerie silence. Arabella fell to the ground.

"The Duke dropped to his knees beside Arabella, she had been shot. Jemmy kneeled beside him with tears streaming from his eyes, murmuring how he tried to get to her before the bad man did. Alexander watched as the color drained from Arabellas once rosy complexion. He pulled off his cravat and pressed it against the wound on her shoulder. The red blood seaped through the snowy white linen.

"Is she going to die, asked Jemmy?" In a barely audible sob.

"No!" Jemmy, she is not going to die," snapped the Duke. He felt like an ass as he watched the small boy recoil in fear. "I'm sorry Jemmy", he said. "I'm just afraid for her myself." Then he said, not really to anyone particular, "I will do everything in my power to help her, I swear on my life."

The men had pulled a mattress from the old shack near by. They tied ropes to each end to make a litter for Arabella. Alexander lifted Arabella into his arms and placed her upon it. Then he ripped off a part of her hem and tied it around her shoulder. Once secure, he tied the makeshift ropes to his horses saddle. Marcus took Jemmy up in front of him. Then as quitley and as quikly as they could, they headed back towards the Abbey.

For the first time in years, Alexander lifted his face towards the sky and prayed.

The man was on the run from a very narrow escape. Shooting that bitch with everyone around was not the wisest thing to do, but he was desperate. He was running out of time, and he had to get back to France before someone suspected him. The only problem was that now he had to wait and make sure she died this time. He also needed to kill the boy, he couldn't risk him recognizing him. He would most likely never see the brat again, however he didn't want to leave any loose ends untied. He would have to walk to the next coaching inn, he grumbled. There he would wait until he heard something. He could lay low there. No one would suspect him of anything, after all he was a gentleman.

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