She nodded. “Of course. I will tell no one.” She looked at Nathan. “I couldn’t let him hurt you, Nathan. Not after what I’d already done to you.”
“Beth.” He sighed. “I would have you unharmed before myself.”
“And yet I feel differently.”
Nathan cupped her cheek softly, all his anger now gone in the face of her courage.
“So you let him hurt you instead of me.” He kissed her softly on the lips.
“I would have given it to him if he promised to release us though, Nathan,” she whispered. “But the truth is I don’t think he ever would have.”
“He will be punished,” Nathan said
“I hid the book in the hotel. It’s in the lining of the sofa in the hall outside his rooms.”
Gabe spoke to the hackney driver, and soon they were traveling back to the hotel. Once there, Zach got out. Pulling his hat low, he ran to the hotel and disappeared through the doors.
“Should he go alone?”
“He can look after himself, Miss Carlow,” Gabe said.
“Can he fight like you?” She looked up at Nathan.
“We can all fight like that.” Michael smiled gently at her. “And do many other things, so you are safe with us.”
“I am so very pleased about that.” She rested her cheek on Nathan’s chest again.
His eyes met his brothers’, and he knew what they saw. Rage, a deep smoldering anger that only revenge could soothe.
Zach returned minutes later, and the hackney started rolling down the street once more.
“I believe this is what you wanted?” He held up the blue book for Beth.
“Yes, that’s it. I think someone should speak with Mr. Valentine about his reckless regard for the secrets continued within those pages. He should leave it in a locked drawer from now on. Although perhaps not, as I did pick the lock in Lord Russell’s desk.”
“You can now pick locks? I’m not sure if I’m impressed or terrified,” Nathan attempted to smile, but it was just a baring of his teeth.
“Don’t worry, we will be having a conversation with Mr. Valentine,” Gabe said ominously.
Fairfax had clearly stationed himself in the hallway, and the door was opened before they stepped from the carriage as they arrived at the Deville townhouse.
Nathan heard the hiss of Beth’s breath as he helped her from the carriage. Each step to the house obviously caused her pain. Now she was safe and no longer fearing for her life, she was stiffening up. Someone would pay for her suffering, and it would be Nathan who meted out the justice.
Turning her to face him as they entered the house, he looked over every inch of her he could see, cataloging each bruise and cut. His finger brushed the finger marks on her neck. Dirt and the stench of the sewers covered her clothes. Her hair was damp, and she was shivering, no doubt a combination of the cold and shock after the night’s events.
“I’ll kill the man who did this to you.”
Chapter Thirty
“No, I don’t want that.” Beth cupped his cheek in her hand.
“And yet justice will be done.”
“Nathan—”
“You found her!” They turned to watch her mother hurry down the stairs, horror growing on her face with each step as she saw her daughter. “What did he do to you?”
“She is hurting, Lady Carlow. Be gentle,” Nathan said when her mother reached her.
