She scrambled to her feet again. “Stop!” she screamed, running toward them, but she was too slow. Someone else had already gotten to him.
“Touch her again and I willendyou.”
CHAPTER 22
Alexander’s fist had connected with the man’s jaw before any more words could be exchanged. In front of him, Alexander only saw red where the man’s face was supposed to be.
So close.He had had come so close to something terrible happening.
The man reeled backward from the force of Alexander’s punch, a myriad of curses escaping his lips as he did. He clutched his jaw, trying to steady himself.
“Y-your Grace,” he spluttered out, pathetically. If Alexander was not so furious about what was happening, he would have almost been amused by just how quickly the tone had shifted. “Y-your Grace, believe me. I did not mean harm.”
Alexander wanted to punch him again and break his teeth so that he would never speak properly again. But before anythingcould be done, the sound of pounding footsteps echoed through the trees behind them.
“Your Grace!” Fergus called out, appearing from the path at a sprint, Lewis right beside him.
“Restrain him,” Alexander did not once take his eyes off the man.
Without question, Fergus and Lewis lunged forward. Fergus grabbed the man’s arm, twisting it behind his back, while Lewis took the other.
“You are coming with us,” Lewis grumbled in his low voice.
“I did not mean... to…” the man writhed. Alexander took one last moment to memorize the man’s face, for he would make sure that he never roamed the streets of London as a free man again.
“Shut up,” Fergus said to him, “ye're lucky that His Grace did not bash your head in.”
“You deserve worse,” Lewis chimed in.
“Take him to the constables, Fergus” Alexander ordered his men. “Make sure he is questioned thoroughly, and that his motives are clear to us. Lewis, you stay here.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Fergus said, already dragging the man backward. The man’s protests grew fainter. He turned then, at last, toward Penelope. She was leaning heavily against the bench, her hand pressed to her side.
Next to her, Odette stood, looking more startled than he had ever seen her before. Apollo circled around her, barking and rubbing his coat against her legs. Alexander’s eyes swept over both ladies, checking for any signs of injury . His jaw tightened, and he realized he had yet to speak a word to them.
Nor had they said anything to him.
“Come,” he said finally to Odette. “We’re going home. Lewis, take Odette with you. Make sure she does not leave your sight.”
Odette did not dare protest. She simply kept her head down, and followed the bodyguard without a sound. Perhaps, she had finally learned their importance.
Penelope was still standing in the same position. Alexander willed himself to look at her, taking in her hunched appearance. She pushed herself off the bench to walk towards him, but the slight misstep she made did not go unnoticed by him.
“You come, too,” he said to her, not able to resolve the conflicting feelings brewing inside him. A part of him wanted to make sure she was fine, but another voice in his head made him red with fury at the thought that she had been involved in a situation that had put his daughter’s life in danger.
So he simply turned, caught up to Odette, and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder. His other hand kept clenching and unclenching at his side.
He had comefartoo close to losing them. Yes, them. Because Odette was not the only person he cared about losing anymore.
Penelope hurried alongside him, one hand pressed to her side.
“Alexander,” she ventured quietly. “Please… would you give me a moment to explain myself?”
He halted abruptly, turning to face her.
“You broke every rule I gave you,” he said to her in a voice that he did not even recognize .
Penelope’s lips parted to explain, but he lifted his hand, silencing her before she could speak.
