As soon as the panel swung open and he spotted Elizabeth standing in the doorway, his heart dropped to his feet. He drew in a shocked breath.
And for a moment, horror crashed over him as time seemed to stand still.
She stumbled towards him, her face ghostly pale, her hair wild and…
He looked downward.
His heart twisted.
Her feet were bare and bloody. He grabbed her into his arms, cradling her up against his chest.
“You’re safe,” he said. “You are safe.”
“Tom… Tom,” she gasped on shuddering breaths.
He swung the door shut quickly with a kick of his boot, he cradled her in his arms and strode forward back through his lavish foyer, shouting for servants.
He did not generally shout. But with her in his arms, feet bleeding, heart pounding… shouting felt warranted.
And a feeling he hadn’t experienced in decades crashed through him.
Fear.
Fear swept over him with dark wings.
What if he lost her?
He shoved the thought aside, focusing on the feel of her body pressed to his.
A maid rushed forward.
“I need hot water, I need tea, I need food, I need wine,” he instructed rapidly. He started for the staircase. “I’m going to need linen and a bath.”
Tom glanced back over his shoulder. “But first send for the Duke of Blackwood and I want my strongest men to go guard the doors.”
The maid nodded quickly and without hesitation headed off. He did not doubt that she would be able to take care of such things.
All of his staff were incredibly capable.
All of them knew what it meant to lock the house down. They had had it happen on rare occasions when some lord lost their wits and they were forced to be particularly careful for a period of time until he could be reasoned with.
Or a London tough thought they could try to take Tom’s territory.
Tom forced himself to stay calm so that he could be steady for her.
Slowly, determinedly, he carried her up the stairs to his own chambers.
He opened the door, then carefully walked inside the cold cavernous chamber. He would have to have a fire started.
It was chilly at this particular hour since he had not come home to rest. No, he had come home to wed, but here his bride-to-be was, in his arms, and at this moment he did not know what to say.
She looked shocked. As if someone had bludgeoned her, and he was afraid, for there was a trickle of blood at her temple.
He’d send for a physician next to be certain she was well. But her eyes darted to his and there she was, clever, furious, and… determined now that she was with him.
“What happened to you, my love?” he said.
Her eyes narrowed and crackled. “My father threatened to lock me away in one of his estates in the North.”