He ran his fingers down her cheek. “Are you all right, Adeline? Talk to me.”
“He wanted to take me back to my father. He wanted…” Adeline rushed over to her bag and snatched it up.
Malcolm swore under his breath. “I didn’t think he’d be after us so quickly. George said he could handle your father.”
Adeline studied the man who had come to her rescue. Fair-haired and dressed like a gentleman, it was the club he held so casually that caught her attention.
This man was not who he seemed. “Thank you for coming to my aid. I don’t know how I can repay you.”
“I do. You see, I also have an interest in the contents of your bag. Can I please see it?”
Adeline clutched it to her chest. “Absolutely not,” she said.
“I must insist.” The man pulled a small pistol from his pocket and cocked it.
Malcolm’s long arm reached for her and pulled her to his side. He held out a hand. “Let’s all be reasonable.”
The pistol pointed straight and steady at Malcolm’s chest. “Pass me the bag,” the man demanded.
Adeline stared at the barrel of the pistol and then up at the elegantly dressed thief’s face. His eyes were gray as a stormy day but held no malice. His gaze was steady and confident, like a man used to being obeyed. He would not back down, she feared. She would bet that this was not his first time holding someone at gunpoint.
She glanced at Malcolm, who vibrated with anger next to her. His green eyes blazed with it.Oh dear. There was only one way to protect him from acting rashly and getting himself killed. Adeline threw her bag over to the man with the weapon.
“Thank you for being reasonable, Lady Amberley.” He crouched slowly, keeping the pistol trained on Malcolm, and opened her bag with the other hand.
“How do you know my name?”
“Your father is not the only one looking for the contents of your bag, my lady. And I am not the only one following you today.” He straightened with the porcelain statue of Artemis in his hand. To her horror, he used the butt of the pistol to smash the statue.
“No!” She surged forward, but Malcolm’s strong arm wound around her waist, keeping her against him.
The thief reached into the hollow cavity of what was left of the statue and pulled out a roll of parchment. He unrolled it, glanced quickly at what it said, then let it roll back up before tucking it into the inside pocket of his jacket. He slid the pistol back into a leather holster under his arm and then grabbed his club from the ground. He tipped his hat again. “Good day.”
“Wait, that’s all you want from the bag?”
“Yes.” He glanced down at her carpet bag. “I don’t deal in stolen items…anymore.”
He didn’t want the golden crosses? Was he simply going to leave? “You are not going to shoot us?”
The thief laughed low and gravelly. “You’re good friends with Lady Hartwick, correct?”
Adeline nodded.
“I wouldn’t dare. Oh,” He looked directly at Malcolm. “He’s not the last of them. Two more are waiting at the Red Fox Tavern for him to return with your lady.” Then he turned and strolled out of the garden. Taking a left on the street, he disappeared.
Adeline slumped back against Malcolm. Her head was spinning. She had almost been murdered. Her father knew she had taken the artifacts. He had sent strangers, thugs, after her.
The thug at her feet groaned.
Malcolm took her hand, guiding her around the man on the ground. Malcolm scooped up her bag, and then quickly led her back to the street. He turned left and began to stride down the walkway.
“Malcolm, where are we going?” she asked.
“To the inn.”
“The inn is the other way.” She pointed over her shoulder.
“Damnation,” he muttered. They changed direction. Malcolm was walking far too fast for her short legs, but she didn’t dare complain. She wanted to get to the safety of her room as soon as possible. Plus, based on the stiff set of his shoulders and the scowl on his face, she was in big trouble.
