I'm sorry I can't go with you darling but you know how the rector gets when we don't get behind his latest cause," Audrey said while she straightened Richard's tie.

Wrapping his arms around her Richard nodded "I know but I'll be back by three anyway, it's just a flying visit to sign some papers at Cavendish and get started on finding a Managing Director. Then back here...into the arms of my beautiful wife" he leaned in and kissed her.

Audrey smiled agains this lips. "I'll be waiting, now off you go, John will be waiting for you downstairs" she said giving him another kiss before sending him on his way.

They had decided to keep a chauffeur, it made sense especially with Mrs. Poo living with them, although Richard drove himself most of the time except when catching the train like today.

Later that day

It was an unusually warm afternoon for November, so Richard had told John that morning before boarding the train that there was no need to pick him up later, he would walk home from the station. He was just coming down the drive of the manor when he saw four figures by the front door, suddenly one of them tried to kick the door in.

Richard started jogging towards the manor, stopping just in front of the four men "Hey, what do you think you're doing" he shouted at them.

They turned to look at him, they were big guys, all of them and Richard realising he was at a disadvantage began to back away.

The tallest one of the gang turned to look at Richard and sneered "Oh look it's the lord of the manor himself."

Not giving Richard a chance to respond they pounced on him, hitting him in the stomach and grabbing his arms stopping him from fighting back as they managed to land several blows to his face.

Blood poured from his nose down the front of his crisp white shirt. Two of the men then held him while the other two landed blow after blow to his abdomen.

Falling to his knees Richard tried to catch his breath, but they pulled him back up to his feet, smiling one of them produced a knife.

Richard saw the shimmer of the blade in the fading light and tried to pull his arms free to defend himself but they held him tight.

There was nothing he could do to stop the man advancing towards him with the knife held out in front of him. But to his surprise instead of the stabbing him, the man slashed him across his stomach, tearing his shirt and slicing his flesh.

They let go of him and he fell to the floor landing on his face, where they landed one final blow to his head knocking him out cold.

Audrey was walking back to the manor with the Brigadier and Marjory, both of who she had invited for dinner after a long strategy meeting with the rector on how to raise money for the church roof fund. As they walked they discussed the day's events.

"Are you picking Richard up from the station Aud?" Marjory asked

Shaking her head Audrey replied "No, he said he'd walk back to the manor in fact he should be back by now"

"Ah yes, nothing like a stroll after a long train journey to stretch the legs, what" Brigadier Lemington said.

As they turned to walk down the drive Marjory noticed something in front of the manor, "What's that on the drive"

Audrey stopped walking, she couldn't believe what she was seeing, it was Richard laying on the ground. She took off running as fast as she could towards him shouting "Richard…..RICHARD!…Oh my god Richard"

As she got closer she could see he was laying on his front, his favorite navy suit covered in dirt from the driveway. Reaching him she dropped to her knees beside him and gently turned him over.

"Darling?"

Audrey was shocked at the state of him, his face was covered in cuts and bruises, his nose had a steady stream of blood coming out of it, his lip was cut and there was a nasty gash above his left eye.

Richard groaned at the movement of being turned onto his back "It's ok, I'm here darling, don't move" she pushed his hair back from his forehead.

Marjory and the brigadier stopped beside her breathing heavily from running to catch her up, seeing the state Richard was in the Brigadier looked to Marjory "Marjory quickly go and phone for an ambulance" she nodded and ran inside the manor.

"Au...Audrey?" Richard groaned, slowly opening his eyes.

"I'm here darling, I'm here, don't worry help is coming" Audrey said stroking his face trying to reassure him and herself that everything would be okay.

The brigadier kneeled down on Richard's other side and placed his hand on his shoulder "Try not to move my boy, don't know what damage you've got inside, just stay still the ambulance won't be long"

Marjory came running out of the manor "the ambulance is on its way."

Nodding at her Audrey then returned her attention to her husband "What happened darling, who did this?"

"There...there were...four of them...waiting for me, I...I...didn't recognize them" Richard gasped, his breathing becoming more labored with every word.

"Alright darling, easy, don't talk anymore" she told him

Nodding Richard moved slightly trying to alleviate the pain in his back when he felt a sharp pain along his side and stomach.

Audrey heard him groan "What is it darling, where are you hurting?"

Richard moved his arm indicating his side "My...my side...knife"

Audrey's breath caught in her throat, did he just say knife, quickly she moved his jacket to the side, his shirt was torn and there was blood, a lot of blood.

"Oh God" she gasped.

Taking his hanky from his pocket the brigadier held it out to her "Here Audrey hold this on it, try to slow the bleeding"

Taking the piece of cloth she held it over the wound on her husband's stomach, pressing down to try and stop the bleeding. Richard moaned at the contact.

"I'm sorry my darling, I'm so sorry. just hold on a little longer the ambulance is nearly here" she said tears clouding her vision, she wiped her eyes. At that moment they heard a siren as the ambulance came up the driveway, Audrey had never felt so relieved in her life.