She shot him an indignant look. “I was waiting for you, of course. Oh, your poor face.” She examined his face anxiously. He wasn’t a pretty sight, Gabe surmised ruefully. One eye was swollen shut. It would make a devil of a shiner. And from the way the rest of his body ached and stung, he was a mass of cuts and bruises.
She, on the other hand, looked so beautiful it made him ache, and not from any bruises. Her lovely green eyes scanned him.
“What’s the verdict?” he asked softly.
She bit her lip. “You look, you look…”
“Heroic?” he said hopefully. “Intrepid? Valiant?”
“Dreadful!”
“Oh,” he said, dampened. “So why do you need to wait for me in a cloak?”
“You didn’t think I’d leave without thanking you, do you?”
Gabe frowned and tightened his grip on her. “Leave? Leave for where? You’re not going anywhere.”
She tried to shake off his hand. “Of course I am. Count Anton—my enemy—is here. Those were his men at Tibby’s cottage. I have to leave before they discover me.”
“Nonsense! Stay here. I will protect you.”
She gave him an incredulous look. “You?” From the look on her face Gabe gathered he was a less than reassuring sight.
“These,” he gestured to his injuries, “are just superficial.”
She gave him a look that said she didn’t believe him, but was too polite to say so. “Thank you for your offer, but really, it is imperative I leave as soon as possible.”
She was utterly determined to go, he could see. “Very well, wait until I can get cleaned up. It won’t take long.”
She jerked her head back and stared at him. Her face was just inches away. “Wait? Why wait, when I can thank you and take my leave of you just as well now?”
“Because I’m not traveling all bloodied and in a mess, that’s why.” At her look of confusion he added, “You don’t imagine I’m letting you and that boy travel on alone when there is a pack of vicious thugs after you, do you?”
She stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. “No, thank you. It is very kind of you, but it’s not necessary. I could not ask you—”
“You’re not asking me, I’m telling you.” His arm tightened around her.
Her green eyes narrowed. “Mr. Renfrew, as I’ve pointed out before, you have no authority over me. It’s kind of you to be concerned, but it really isn’t your business what I do or where I go. I don’t wish to quarrel with you, so—”
“Good. Then you will wait.”
“No. I am my own woman and—”
He turned his head. “Ethan, are you still here? Good. Take that luggage and lock it in the cupboard down the hall. Lock everything in there—that hat, too—and give the key to me.”
“You will do no such thing, Mr. Delaney,” she said instantly. “It is my luggage and I intend to depart as soon as practicable.”
“Ethan, go.”
Ethan grinned. “Yes, sir, Capt’n Renfrew.” He picked up the valise, tucked the bandbox under his arm, and picked up the hat.
“Unhand those items at once!” With some difficulty she untangled herself from Gabe and ran to wrest her things from Ethan.
Gabe grabbed her cloak and when she pulled up short, he twirled her around, snatched her hand, and tucked it into the crook of his. “Let us discuss this,” he said and propelled her toward the sitting room.
She resisted. “There is nothing to dis—” she began, then noticed with amazement his sudden ability to walk unaided. “You fraud! You can stand perfectly well without me!”
Immediately Gabe had a relapse, one that necessitated his arm clamping hers to her side, while he held tightly onto her other hand.
