The man had hardly been able to stand without groaning. How did he expect to help?
For many years, Lydia’s governesses had called her headstrong and foolhardy. She’d never agreed, but she was certainly proving them right in that moment as she pushed out the door behind him and into the chaos beyond.
As her eyes adjusted to the scene, she saw Charlie rush into the fray and Sir Henry take a hit to the side. The coachman had joined as well, making the fight three to two, but the two were larger than any of the men on their side, and meaner too, it seemed. Her eyes jumped across the fighting men, and she suddenly felt the extent of her helplessness.
She took a step back toward the carriage. What had she been thinking even coming out? She was more a liability than anything. One boxing lesson and she had—what?—thought she couldhelp?
Charlie took a blow to the head, and he bellowed in pain and anger. “Haven’t I had enough to deal with from you idiots?” he yelled, returning the punch.
Lydia grabbed the door handle, but a hand closed around her wrist.
She yelped, jumping back, freezing when she saw the man who’d grabbed her. “Mr. Frank Colbert?” she asked in shock.
“Miss Faraday, come with me.”
Her head swung from him to the fighting men. “No,” she said, shocked he’d even suggest it. “Can’t you do something? Help somehow?”
“I would not be much help to your friends, but I will help you. Let me take you away from this... vile scene.” His hand tightened around her wrist. She was too busy watching Charlie fall to his knee to notice.
Charlie’s assailant closed in on him.
Lydia screamed, “Do not hit a man when he is down!”
Mr. Frank Colbert pulled at her arm. She pulled back. He pulled harder, near dragging her to his carriage, which had appeared beside theirs.
Charlie took another blow to the head, but the coachman came up beside him, fighting off the thug long enough for Charlie to get to his feet.
“Stop!” she yelled at Mr. Frank Colbert, finally prying her eyes from the fight and fixing them on the man.
Colbert continued to pull her, taking her by the upper arm now. “It is for your own safety, Miss Faraday.” He pushed her bodily into his carriage, jumping in after her.
Chapter 35
“Wake your master,” Lucas demandedof the butler.
The man looked back and forth between Colin and Lucas and seemed to decide that he would prefer Lord Colbert’s wrath over theirs. He nodded his head once then fled up the stairs. Lucas and Colin pushed into the entrance hall, closing the door behind them.
The room was lit by candles but only a handful. Shadowy portraits hung on the walls, and the decorative designs on the carpet danced in the flickering light.
“Think the man has any brandy?” Colin said.
“For what?”
“Medicinal purposes.”
Lucas raised a skeptical brow.
“Mostly I just want ta drink a bottle of the lord’s finest then smash the empty glass over his head.”
Lucas chuckled at that. He was in a surprisingly good mood for someone bent on confronting the man responsible for his brother’s beating and convincing the clearly bloodthirsty lord to stop his rampage. But he was finally doingsomething, and it was glorious.
Part of his mood may have had to do with a certain woman and their shared kiss, too. The sooner he completed this business, the sooner he could return to her.
A thunderous voice sounded at the top of the stairs. “Who in the blazes is calling at this hour?”
“I suppose the brandy will have to wait,” Lucas said to Colin.
“Shame.” Colin spread his feet, clearly cautious after his run-in with the Heatherdown thugs.
