At that moment, the dog bit the driver. The man shouted in pain.
Beck swore colorfully. He faced Elise. “If I help, will you go with Mrs. Banner to London?”
“I will do anything you ask. Please, Mr. Steele,please.”
He stepped back. “Very well. I will help this man Cox. But you leave now. Understood?”
“Yes, sir, I do understand. Please help him.”
“And this damn dog.” Beck kicked back at it.
“She’s mine,” Elise hurried to say. “Tamsyn, come to me. Come.” The dog slipped by Beck andup into Elise’s arms. “She is trying to help. Kit told her to protect me.”
Once in her arms, the dog watched all of them warily.
Mrs. Brunner didn’t appear happy to have the dog, but she didn’t say anything.
“Go now,” Elise pleaded.
And that is when Beck had a suspicion about why Elise was so attached to this man. He was also surprised at his own attitude because he was incensed that some fellow had taken advantage of her. Ever since the Lanscarr sisters had knocked him over the head in a Dublin street, he’d actually felt a bit responsible for them.
Nor did he have a desire to go up the stairs to enter a fight.
Unfortunately, this is what Elise required in order for her cooperation. “Very well. I’ll go save him. However, you are on your way to London, and don’t give Mrs. Banner and Eversonespot of trouble.”
“I won’t, I won’t. Please, Mr. Steele, help him.”
He shut the door. “Are you all right, Evers?”
“The dog just nicked me. No harm.”
“Good. Drive like hell to London. I shall catch up as quickly as I am able.” He untied his horse from the landau and looped the reins around a post.
Elise leaned out the window. “Mr. Steele, you are wasting time.”
Every man should have a woman as dedicated as Elise was to this Kit Cox. Beck didn’t even like the sound of his name. Kit Cox. What a silly name.
He nodded to Evers and the landau took off.
Beck turned back to the inn. He was a man true to his word. He would rescue Cox. He’d also give him a beating afterwards. He didn’t want the man close to Elise ever again.
He marched up the stairs.
The room had gone quiet except for what sounded like the steady use of fists. Beck might be too late to rescue him, but a promise was a promise.
Beck pulled the pistol from his pocket, cocked it, and kicked open the door.
It was as he feared. A heavy man used his fists on Cox’s torso while another man held him. Cox didn’t appear to be conscious, but he also didn’t seem dead. He still stood on his feet.
Beck could say one thing—Cox could take a beating.
“You’ve had enough, gentlemen,” he said, aiming his pistol at the man doing the pounding.
The brute rounded on Beck. “The hell I have. I’m just starting.”
However, his companion was wiser. He let go, and Cox proved he was not done yet either.
Before Beck could respond, Cox came alive. Using his body as a battering ram, he tackled the heavy man, driving him all the way back to a broken window.
