"Then, my dear," James said, his grip on her arm tightening ever so slightly, "we shall have justice, and perhaps..." He trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging tantalizingly in the air between them.
Selina's breath caught in her throat. She knew she should not ask, should not encourage this dangerous flirtation between them. And yet... "Perhaps what?"
He stopped, turning to face her fully as the footman opened the carriage door. His eyes blazed with an intensity that made her knees weak. "Perhaps we might explore whatever this is buddingbetween us, without the shadows of the past looming so large."
For a moment, Selina forgot how to breathe. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of them, standing on a London street, teetering on the precipice of something both exhilarating and terrifying.
Seven
James felt the tension coiling in his gut as the carriage rattled down the cobblestone streets of London. Beside him, Selina sat ramrod straight, her fingers twisting the fabric of her skirts. The silence between them crackled with unspoken words and mounting apprehension.
As they neared Grosvenor Square, James caught Selina's eye. "Are you certain you wish to proceed with this?" he murmured, his voice low and tinged with concern.
Her chin lifted, a spark of determination igniting in her gaze. "I have come too far to turn back now."
He nodded, admiring her resolve even as worry gnawed at him. Hawthorne was a formidableopponent, one who may have already proven his willingness to resort to murder. The weight of Selina's safety pressed heavily upon James's shoulders.
The carriage wheels groaned as they rounded a corner, before lurching to a stop. James's gaze darted to the windows. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he took in their location.
"Something is... off," he muttered, more to himself than to Selina.
Selina's hand went to her chest as she peered out the window. "Dear Lord.”
"Stay," James replied, his hand instinctively moved to the pistol concealed beneath his coat. He turned to Selina, his gaze intense.
He handed her his second pistol. "Do not open the door for anyone. If someone should barge in, shoot them. Do you understand?"
Her lips parted in protest, but James cut her off with a gentle yet firm touch on her arm. "Please, Selina. I could not bear it if harm befell you."
A flicker of surprise crossed her features, followed by a softening of her expression. "Very well. But do be careful. I have grown rather accustomed to your company and should hate to lose it."
A wry smile tugged at James's lips. "Do not worry yourself over me, pet."
With a final nod, James stepped out of the carriage, his senses on high alert. The air was thick with foreboding, and as he approached the front of the carriage, he could see the man who’d stopped them.
“What is the issue,” he called.
A blur of motion caught his eye. Two burly men, faces obscured by dark kerchiefs, burst from the shadows flanking the road.
"Selina, stay inside!" James shouted, his hand raising his remaining pistol.
But before he could aim, the first ruffian was upon him, meaty fists swinging. James ducked, the blow whistling past his ear. He pivoted, using his attacker's momentum against him, and drove an elbow into the man's solar plexus.
The second assailant lunged for the carriage door. Selina's scream pierced the air, mingling with the sound of splintering wood as the brute wrenched it open.
James's heart thundered. He had to reach her. Had to protect her. But the first ruffian, though winded, grappled him from behind, pinning his arms.
"Unhand me, you cur!" James snarled, struggling against the iron grip. His mind raced,calculating angles, leverage points, anything to break free.
Inside the carriage, Selina's voice rang out, sharp with defiance. "I will shoot!"
A resounding thwack echoed, followed by a pained grunt from the second attacker. James allowed himself a fleeting smile. His Selina was no wilting flower.
His Selina? The unbidden thought startled him, but there was no time to dwell on it. With a grunt of effort, James stomped hard on his captor's instep, then snapped his head back. A satisfying crunch signaled contact with the ruffian's nose.
The grip loosened, and James wrenched free. He spun, fists raised, ready to continue the fight. But the attacker was already staggering back, blood streaming from his face.
"James!" Selina's cry galvanized him.
