“He followed your miscreant of a brother to London,” the man spat. “It is too late to beg for mercy, Juliana, and even if it weren’t, you are not the Sinclair that had a time limit.”
“I’ll not beg you for anything.” She filtered quickly through her memories for something that might dissuade the man from his path And she caught on her cousins’ deceased sister, Jean. The poor young woman had perished in 1802. “You don’t have to do this. Jean would not have wanted her brothers to become murderers—”
Miles’ nostrils flared, his eyes blazing with vehemence. “Don’t youdarespeak her name!”
Her stomach wobbled.Drat. That had only served to incense him.
“You will answer my questions, or I shall shoot.” She swallowed, focusing on keeping the quaver from her voice.
He jutted his chin in a mulish gesture, his gaze feral. “You have only one shot. What if you miss? What will you have to defend yourself?” He grinned. “Your fate is sealed, and, if you’ll recall, I enjoy watching things suffer.”
Narrowing her eyes at him, she refused to give in to his machinations. He wanted to see her squirm, but she couldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“Why? Why are you chasing me, and what do you want with Jasper?”
The man’s mien was disturbingly clear, as though he thought the answer were obvious. “To kill him, of course.”
CHAPTER21
Leonard stared into the bottom of his empty tankard for Lord knew how long. He’d nursed the one drink for at least an hour and had no desire for another. In fact, the first sat ill in his stomach. He’d eaten, mulling over his regrets, hurt, and anger over Juliana’s deception and rejection.
Marriage was evidently not something for which Juliana pined. He ought to have realized that after learning that she’d fled her home to escape one. And, of course, after their discussion in his library.
Despite how much his body craved hers, he’d best learn to do without. She was correct: he did not wish to sire a bastard, and he could safely presume that she didn’t, either.
The din in the taproom had risen as the ale flowed, and Leo recognized that his time there had come to an end. He required a washing and sleep before he and Juliana set out once more on the morrow.
Suppressing a groan at the pain and stiffness in his body as he stood, Leo made his way out of the taproom and up the flight of stairs. He reached for the rented room’s latch, and swung the door wide.
Leo froze and cursed as he took in the scene. The room was awash with lamplight, and Juliana had her pistol trained on a man standing menacingly by the opened window.
Her gaze swung his way at his entrance, and the intruder took that opportunity to lash out with a kick, knocking the weapon from Juliana’s hand.
Bang!
The pistol landed, spent, on the floor, the acrid scent of gunpowder filling the small space and breaking Leo from his momentary stillness.
“Juliana!” He rushed to her side, dimly aware of the intruder’s flight through the window.
“He’s absconding!” Juliana shouted.
She tossed the bedclothes aside and tumbled from the bed. Leo reached her side just as she leaned out the window, the lose spirals of her hair waving with the breeze.
“Attempt to attack me again, and your life will be forfeit,” Juliana shouted. “You shall never catch me unprepared!”
Leo peered over her shoulder at the man scaling the bottom of the inn’s wall. He hopped to the ground and offered them a mock salute.
“I shall see you soon, cousin!”
Leo reared back, retreating into the room as Juliana straightened.Cousin!
She turned to face him, her expression grim, and he knew instantly that it was the truth.
Disappointment slammed into his chest and made his breath catch thickly in his throat.
“Cousin,” he said flatly. “You knew who your pursuer was from the first, and yet you allowed me to believe differently.” He shook his head and cut off her protest. “You’ve deceived me yet again.” Of course she had. How could he be so gullible?
Juliana’s beautiful green-slate eyes turned beseeching. “No. That is not—”
