“No, Mama. I am perfectly splendid!”
She paused. “Perfectly splendid?” She stared at him, then shook her head. She gave a shaky laugh, wiped a tear away, and repeated, “Perfectly splendid?” She laughed again and hugged him. “How can you be perfectly splendid?”
“I am, Mama. I foiled Count Anton all by myself!”
“You did? But I thought—” She threw a puzzled glance at Gabe then turned back to her son and hugged him again. She drew him to a settee, saying, “Tell me all about it.”
She’d turned away from him. Gabe had expected it, but it didn’t make it any easier. He watched the joyful reunion between mother and son. She was like a bear or a wolf in defense of her cub. She would have killed for him.
He’d promised to protect her child and he’d failed. So she turned her back on him. Perhaps, if he’d rescued the boy in some heroic fashion…but Nicky had done it all by himself.
And Gabe couldn’t regret that—he was proud of the lad, as proud as if Nicky were his own son. The boy had shown courage, initiative, and endurance. He’d dealt with a thoroughly nasty situation with a marvelously cool head. And he wasn’t an experienced rider. To tackle a long ride in the dark, alone and on an unknown horse, was a feat to celebrate.
Harry had come in behind her. He and Gabe watched Nicky telling his mother about his adventure, then exchanged glances. Gabe couldn’t stand to see the pity in his brother’s eyes. Harry knew how Gabe felt about her. There was a narrow balcony that ran the length of the inn, and Gabe took himself out onto it to watch for Count Anton. He wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
Count Anton would be desperate now, with witnesses to his perfidy. He had nothing left to lose. And desperate men did desperate things.
A shrill whistle from below came a few minutes later. He interrupted Nicky’s story. “They’re coming,” he said. He couldn’t quite look her in the eye. “Go out on the balcony, please. If there is a fight, I need you both to be out of harm’s way.”
She didn’t look very happy about it, but she nodded and moved outside, taking Nicky. She wrapped them both in the large fur cloak, just as Ethan, Luke, Rafe, and Nash arrived and took up a defensive stance.
A few minutes later Count Anton, accompanied by half a dozen men in uniform, stormed into the inn.
“Where is the prince?” Count Anton scanned the room.
“Safe,” Gabe told him.
The count sneered. “Give him up. He belongs to us. You are outnumbered.”
“I think not,” Gabe snarled. He’d lost almost everything he’d cared about tonight and this man was the cause of it.
The count glanced at the sword Gabe was wearing. “We shall see if you can fight like gentlemen.” He gave an order and the soldiers drew their swords. Gabe and the others did likewise.
“Stop this at once!” Callie stepped into the room. Nicky followed.
Instantly the soldiers bowed. “Princess Caroline,” their captain said. “You are safe.”
“Get back outside,” Gabe told her furiously. “Dammit, woman, will you learn to follow orders for once in your life!”
“Do not use that tone of voice with the princess, swine!” the captain of the soldiers roared.
“I will use any damned tone I like if it will keep her safe! Now for the last time, Callie, get out of here. This is going to get ugly!”
“I won’t have any more fighting,” she ordered. “I don’t want you hurt! I don’t want anyone hurt.” She looked at Count Anton. “Except him.”
She pulled out the pistol and pointed it at Count Anton.
With a roar of exasperation, Gabe snatched the pistol from her. “If anyone is going to kill that devil, it will be me,” he told her furiously. “Now get outside before one of these idiots hurts you.”
She gave him an angry look and stepped back, pushing Nicky behind her. But she still didn’t go outside. Gabe glared at her.
“Princess, did this thug hurt you?” the captain of the soldiers demanded.
She frowned at him. “Of course he didn’t. You are Captain Kordovski, are you not? I cannot believe that a captain of the Royal Zindarian Guard is involved in such filthy business as this.”
“What filthy business, Highness? We have come to rescue you.” The captain glared at Gabe.
Gabe glared back. “Will you stop bandying words with this bandit and get back outside!” he told her.
