The harlot shut and locked the door behind them as Darwood led Sephy toward the kitchens where the back entrance was located. Freedom was so close at hand that she could feel it, but she dare not shout victory too early, for fear that they would be caught trying to escape.
She waited until they burst out into the mild night, and then she took her first deep inhalation. Fresh tears of relief stung her eyes. “Hurry,”the viscount said urgently, to which she complied. Keeping to the shadows at the back of the house, they had just returned to the street when the alarm was sent up behind them.
“Stop her!” Her mother’s wild screech split the night air, causing Sephy to take flight. Darwood kept pace beside her, and together they ran until they finally reached the sanctity of the carriage. They climbed inside just as the sound of footsteps could be heard in pursuit.
The coach jerked into motion before the door had even fully shut behind her, butshe didn’t even think of the danger, her focus was centered on one man. The moment she saw Hunter, she threw herself into his arms with a sob. “I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” she whispered.
“Itold you that Iwould never leave you,” he said firmly, as he stroked a comforting hand down her back.
Sephy closed her eyes. She wanted to believe that, but how could she know for sure? She reluctantly pulled back and turned to face the countess. She reached out and took the lady’s hand in hers with a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Charlotte.”
“It’s what friends are for,” she returned softly. “And you have been a genuine one to me through the years.” Tears shone in her eyes. “I just wish your mother had opened her eyes to what was truly important. I would have given everything for her.”
Sephy’s heart went out to Charlotte, but sherelaxed against Hunter, who held her close to his warm, firm chest. She yearned to turn back the clock to the moment when she was curled up next to him in bed, where she could always believe that it would be that way forever, instead of the uncertainty that she currently faced. He might have devised a plan to free her, but where did they go from here?
As they stopped in front of the duke’s townhouse, the place she had long thought of as home, they stepped to the ground just as the click of a pistol pierced the air around them.
Hunter instantly shoved Sephy behind him as he faced off with Lord Gregory, who slowly exited the hackneybehind themand trained the gun on him with a steady hand. “You have something that belongs to me, Falcourt.”
“Miss Welton is my mistress.”
“Shewasyour mistress,”Lord Gregorycorrected. “As of this evening, she is my property. She is mine in exchange for her mother’s debts.”
“Then it appears youchose a losinghand, Lord Gregory,” Hunter said evenly. “Because Miss Welton isn’t going anywhere with you.”
The man dared to laugh. “You don’t think so? Perhaps we should speak to the queen and see which man she will side with on this matter. I guarantee it will be me, for she has quite enjoyed my company of late to that of the insane man running our country.”
Hunter stilled. “You’re having an affair with Queen Charlotte?”
“Don’t look so surprised. It was how I’ve managed to move about London without any trouble.” He held out a hand. “Now, come along, my dear, unless you wish to see your lover’s blood spilled all over the street.”
Sephy knew she would never forgive herself if anything happened to Hunter. She stepped to the side and held up her hands in surrender. “You win, Lord Gregory.”
She started to move forward, but another click of a pistol came from her right. Darwood had his weapon trained on Lord Gregory, having exited the vehicle from the opposite side. “I’m afraid I also can’t allow this transaction to take place.”He smacked the side of the coach, which took off. “And if youmustpersist on this course,rest assuredthe countesshas been sentto fetch the watch.”
Lord Gregory didn’t appear concerned. “Your efforts will be futile. I told you I have the queen’s confidence.”
Darwood lifted a brow. “Do you? Because the last I heard, you had fallen out of favor with her. She doesn’t appreciate being tossed aside for other women, which seems to be quite a habit with you.”
For a moment, Sephy noticed thatLord Gregory’sconfidence slipped slightly, but he recovered easily enough. He grinnedtightly. “If that’s the case, then I should be leaving England.” He turned back to her. “But not without what I came for.”
Hunter’s back visibly stiffened in front of her. “Over my dead body.”
Lord Gregory shrugged. “That can be arranged. You’ve dogged my heels for years. Frankly, I’ll be glad to be rid of you.” As he lifted the gun with malicious intent, Sephy screamed and ran in front of the duke with her arms outstretched.
Someone fired. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the impact of the steel ball tearing through her skin, possibly ending her life right then and there, but the only thing that followed the shot was the acrid scent of gunpowder that filled the air.
She opened her eyes to see the viscount’s pistol was smoking, while Lord Gregory clutched at his bleeding arm, his pistol having fallen from his useless fingers.“You bastard!” he snarled at Darwood, but when he would have made a move to retrieve his weapon, Hunter rushed forward and kicked it far out of his reach, and then delivered a punishing blow to his jaw, which sprawled him out on the ground, where he lay still.
***
Hunter returned to Sephy,andshe collapsed in his arms. As Darwood joined them, he reached out and clasped his shoulder. “Thank you, Avion.”
The viscount merely nodded. “It was rather fulfilling to play the hero. I could certainly get used to it.”
Hunter couldn’t help but laugh, and it felt wonderful to do so.
A short time later,the countess returned with several men from the watch, who carted Lord Gregory’s limp form away.
