“We will talk more later. Sleep now.”
“I need to tell you things, Nathan. About him and his men. Westminster Bridge,” she whispered.
“The riots I know about, and also that today he will attempt to assassinate our king.”
“But you must not confront him. I know what he is capable of, Nathan. He is a very bad man. I must come with you simply to identify him, to alert you when he is near.”
“There is absolutely no way you will ever be near that man again, Beth, and you cannot expect me to let you.”
“But you must!” She grabbed his shirt.
“There is no need to worry about this now. Rest for a while, and soon we will talk and deal with Logan,” Nathan said rather than lying outright.
He would not let her near that animal again. She would not leave this house. Her part in all this was done. He would protect her now. She was his and always would be.
He climbed over her and lay down beside her. “Stop talking now and sleep, my love. You are safe.” He stroked her hair.
“And you.” Her fingers clutched a handful of his shirt. “Promise me you will not leave the house without me today, Nathan? I will stay hidden, but I want to be there when you go after Logan as I know you will. I can help identify him.”
“Sssh, everything will be all right.”
He watched her until she was breathing the deep, even breaths of someone who would not wake for some time. He kissed a bruised cheek, then climbed off the bed. He stoked the fire, then left the room. Walter waited outside.
“What do you want, boy?”
The dog stood with his nose pressed to the door.
“If I let you in, don’t wake her. And watch over her until I return.”
He made that sound in his throat that Nathan took for agreement. He then added another rumble, which suggested he was annoyed he’d had to ask.
Nathan opened the door, and the dog padded in softly. He went to the rug at the foot of the bed and turned three circles, then slumped down with a dog-sized sigh. Nathan closed the door with a smile.
Reaching his rooms, he pulled on boots and his damp cloak. Arming himself, he went to the study. His brothers were there, Gabe drinking coffee and the others tea.
“We have just received word from Geraint. We are to meet now, and a plan will be set in place as there is no time to lose,” Gabe added.
“Is Miss Carlow all right, Nathan?” Zach asked as they left the room.
“She is bruised and sore but all right. I have asked Fairfax to call for the doctor as soon as she wakes.”
“Sleep is the best cure for her now,” Michael soothed. “She is safe, and what she went through will in time fade.”
“I don’t see how it can.” Nathan’s tone was clipped. “She was beaten, threatened, and I have no doubt the man who took her down there would have done more had she not escaped. Plus, there is the fear she and her father will be imprisoned.”
“We will ensure that does not happen, and because of her father’s illness and the fact that she has confessed to everything, I am sure she will be safe,” Gabe said.
They moved silently through the house and then down to the front door.
“She wanted to come with us. Said she knew what Logan and his cohorts looked like. That there were things she needed to say to us. As if I’d let her walk into danger again,” Nathan muttered as they left the house. “Walter is watching over her.”
“That dog.” Zach shook his head. “He’s either bloody annoying or bloody amazing.”
“Tonight, he was the latter,” Nathan said.
“Watch over Miss Carlow until my return, Fairfax,” Nathan said to the butler who held open the front door.
“You have my word, Mr. Deville.”
