“Let’s go,” Cosette uttered fiercely. She grabbed Charlotte’s hand and turned around—to find Danior standing in their path. He rubbed his chin. “I should be upset with you both, but for some odd reason, I’m not.”
“I’m sorry,” Cosette said, and she meant it. Charlotte nodded her agreement.
He sighed. “Come on. At least I can offer you a ride back to your coach, though I shouldn’t grant you any favors. God knows Vano will never let me live this down.”
~ ~ ~
Cosette and Charlotte rode together as Danior led their mount back to the carriage. When they arrived, Quinn was there, the horse he’d led away tied back in place.
Quinn started to bring a musket up to his shoulder, but Charlotte held up a hand. “No! Hold yer fire! We have th’ tablet.”
She slid down to the ground, and Cosette followed. “Where is Motshan?” Cosette asked, knowing that Danior had sent his brother back here.
About that time a muffled sound came from the interior of the coach, along with a sound that seemed suspiciously like a kick. Cosette rushed to open the door to find the gypsy tied up inside.
She was surprised to hear Danior laugh richly behind her. “Would you look at that? My fearsome brother trussed up like a pheasant.”
The glare Motshan shot his brother was one worthy of murder. She had no doubt that once they made it back to camp there would be a firm exchange of words—and maybe even fisticuffs.
Cosette untied his wrists, but it was Motshan himself who ripped out the gag in his mouth. He stormed off without a single word.
Cosette climbed inside the coach, eager to return to Shadowlawn. Charlotte joined her a moment later, but before the door slammed shut, Danior blew them both a kiss. “La revedere, ladies. Perhaps our paths will cross again someday.”
He shut the door and the coach jerked into motion.
A short distance away, the carriage stopped and Davien joined them. Cosette instantly went into his waiting arms. “We got it,” she whispered.
“I know.” He brushed a gentle hand down her hair. “I was watching from the trees. I was about to intercede when you started to unpin your bonnet, and then I became as entranced as the rest of the assembled, so I waited.”
“I’m relieved it worked,” Cosette sighed. She leaned her head into the crook of Davien’s arm. “I don’t want to do anything like that again.”
“Agreed,” Davien said grimly.
Charlotte set the tablet on the seat beside her. “At least it wasn’t fer naught.”
“Indeed,” Blackburn agreed. “The next thing we need is to locate your friend the seer.”
“I know where she is,” Charlotte returned. “I wouldna have suggested it if I hadn’t.”
Cosette looked up at the duke’s strong, chiseled jawline. “I don’t care to search London in my underclothes, so if it’s all the same to you, I’ll stay at Shadowlawn until you return.”
She could tell by the way Davien’s eyes darkened that he didn’t care for that idea. She saw the restless movement of the beast inside of him. But he surprised her by kissing her forehead and saying, “We shouldn’t be long. I’ll leave Quinn with you while we travel on horseback.” He turned to Charlotte. “You can ride, can’t you?”
She crossed her arms and looked as if she might actually be offended. “I grew up in th’ Highlands o’ Scotland, Your Grace. I can probably sit atop a horse better than ye.”
Davien snorted. “Point taken.”
Cosette fell asleep, comforted in Davien’s warm embrace. When they returned to Shadowlawn, he gently lifted her in his arms and carried her to their chamber, where he laid her down on the bed. Cosette didn’t think she’d ever been so weary in her life. The last few hours had been draining. She had no doubt that she would sleep like the dead until they returned.
“Sweet dreams, my dear Cosette.”
She felt a smile touch her mouth; for they were the same words he’d uttered to her the first night he’d brought her to Shadowlawn. That night she’d feared she’d faced her demise, only to find that it had become her salvation.
~ ~ ~
“So where does this woman live?” Davien asked as he mounted one of the black stallions. Charlotte was already in the saddle and ready to go.
“Let’s just say it’s th’ part beyond th’ Tower.” She urged her horse into a canter, leaving Davien no choice but to follow.
