“Elizabeth, you must prepare yourself for the worst,” Li gravely intoned.
Lizzie clapped a hand to her mouth, stifling a cry.
“I can do this, sister.” Annabelle knew she must. It was because of her the Baron had been taken. It was because of her that Lizzie had married the Baron in the first place. “I am not afraid of Finch. I?—”
Arthur roughly hauled her to him. “You’d best fear Finch, Bella. You’d best be deathly afraid o’ that man.”
“Yes,” Li interjected, placing an arm about Elizabeth’s quaking shoulders. “We would all be wise to fear him.”
The room stilled once more, as if every head silently churned.
Li broke the quiet. “Any rescue we attempt shall require careful, detailed thought. Let us now calmly work out a plan.”
Annabelle stared deep into Arthur’s eyes, willing him to trust her, before she turned to her sister. “I am indebted to Mr. Harris for saving me from Finch, Lizzie. And as I am now his wife, I will remain with my husband. It is my choice.”
Elizabeth looked exhausted, but she was not without words. “You will not go intoThe Canary’s Lairalone, Annabelle. I will accompany you.”
“What?” Arthur exploded. “Hell no. Why, in two shakes you’d give Bella away with those bloody spectacles, woman.”
“I shall gowithout,Mr. Harris, and you will refrain from?—”
“Écoutez!”Li’s voice cut like ice. “We must reach Jasper soon.” She crossed her arms. “Time is of the essence, friends; let us not waste it bickering.” Her lips made amoue.“And our plan must be sound.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Harris felt a poke.
“Arthur, wake up.”
He groaned into his pillow. “Blast it, woman, I were finally asleep.” He was exhausted from a night of restless tossing, thoughts of Jasper again being tortured at Finch’s hand making him sick to his gills. “Why pester me now, when?—”
“Arthur, I do not wish to wait.”
He cracked open an eye. “Wait t’ rescue Jasp?”
“To …youknow.” She poked him again.
“Stop pokin’!” He felt cross. “An’ tell me straight what you’re so eager to?—”
She met his eyes with determination.
“Oh no.” He shook his head, furious she was still worrying this bone. “Nope, I won’t. I gave me word, Bella. And naught will make me?—”
Only her hand landed where it shouldn’t, where it gripped his morning arousal.
“I’m yer husband in name only, miss.” He leapt from the bed to hastily don his clothes. “An’ of all times t’ ask…” He shook his head at her, disgusted.
Annabelle’s demeanor and tone shifted fast. “Forgive me, Mr. Harris. I did not mean to offend.” She, too, slipped from the bed, turning her back to him to dress.
“Y’ didn’t offend, ’tis only?—”
“No, I offended your honor and must beg your apology. I am clearly not myself.” He thought he heard her sniff. “It shan’t happen again.”
“Sweetheart.” He reached to touch her shoulder.
“Don’t!” She pulled away. “Please do not pretend affection. You are right, of course. I should never have asked, not with all that has happened.”
“Bella, luv…”
