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you, but it was all I saw.’
    Harry nodded and looked grim. ‘Forgive us, Amelia. We expected something might happen, butnot like this…on such a night. What kind of a man would attempt murder on Christmas Eve?’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Amelia stared at him. Her wrist stung where a thorn had penetrated her glove and she was feeling a little sick inside. ‘Why did you expect something to happen?’
    ‘Come, get inside the carriage, ladies,’ Harry said. ‘We must take you home. Gerard will explain later. He is coming now…’ He glanced at the earl, who had gone after the assassin. ‘Any luck?’ Gerard shook his head and Harry swore.
    ‘Amelia, forgive me for pushing you into the holly,’ Gerard apologised. ‘I knew I must act quickly—but have you been hurt?’
    ‘A mere scratch,’ Amelia told him. ‘Had that ball found its mark, I might be dead.’
    ‘I think it was meant more as a warning to me,’ Gerard said. He climbed into the carriage with her and Emily. Susannah had gone with some of the other ladies and Harry. ‘I received a threat this morning, when I returned from our walk, Amelia. It was somewhat obscure and I was not truly certain of its meaning, though I had an idea that I was being warned to stay away from you.’
    ‘To stay away from me?’Amelia stared at him in dismay. ‘What can you mean?’
    ‘I think someone had guessed that I meant to ask you to marry me—and whoever that person is he has decided that he does not wish for the marriage to go ahead.’
    ‘He would rather see me dead than as your wife?’Amelia’s hand shook and she felt cold all over. ‘Who could be so evil? I do not understand who would do such a thing.’
    ‘Your brother threatened you,’ Emily reminded her. ‘He warned you against renewing your acquaintance with the earl.’
    ‘Is this true?’
    Amelia met Gerard’s concerned look. ‘Yes. Michael has warned me that you are interested only in my fortune many times. I told him that I did not believe you to be so mercenary—and he did tell me that I would be sorry if—’ She broke off and shook her head. ‘I cannot believe that my brother would try to shoot me like that.’
    ‘He knows that if you marry me he would no longer have a chance of claiming your fortune for himself. I am sorry to say that there are some men who would stop at nothing where a large amount of money is concerned.’
    ‘Michael is a bully—but I am not certain he would murder for gain.’
    ‘At the moment he is our most likely suspect.’ Gerard reached for her hand and held it. ‘Do not fear, Amelia. You will be protected. I have already set measures in hand to have you watched all the time. I had not thought it necessary while we stayed at Pendleton. I imagined that you might be at risk once we announce our engagement, but my men will be in place by then.’ His expression was grave. ‘Unless you wish to withdraw in the circumstances?’
    ‘I refuse to let anyone dictate to me!’ Amelia liftedher head proudly. ‘Whoever this person is, the threat would not go away if we postponed the announcement of our engagement, Gerard.’
    ‘You are as brave as I imagined.’ Gerard squeezed her hand comfortingly. ‘I had planned to tell you all this after Christmas. I did not want to spoil the celebrations for Susannah and her guests—but I am afraid that this unpleasant incident will cast a shadow over things.’
    ‘Can you not let people think it was merely a poacher or some such thing?’
    ‘At half an hour past midnight?’ Gerard smiled. ‘I could try, Amelia, but I doubt I should be believed. We might tell everyone that it was an attempted robbery.’
    ‘That would be much better—and it may even be the truth,’ Amelia said. ‘You say that you were warned, Gerard—how exactly were you warned?’
    ‘I was sent a doll that had been mutilated. A note in the wrappings said that if I cared for her I must stay away from her.’
    ‘Could that not have meant