“That won’t be necessary,” said Harlowe. “I won’t be staying long enough to enjoy it.”
He closed the parlor door behind him and swept the room with a critical gaze before honing in on Melody. “Samantha has been taken.”
“So I’ve heard.” Her comment must have surprised him, for he raised both eyebrows. “I ran into Marsdale after posting my letter to you. He gave me the details.”
“Did he say whether Croft has been contacted yet by O’Leary?”
“Who’s he?”
“The Irish cutthroat who took her.”
Clearly she had a lot more to learn about what had occurred. “No. Marsdale was on his way to Croft to offer his help. I’ve no idea what he discovered when he arrived.”
“Of course not.” Harlowe glanced around the stuffy room. “I’ll tell Lady Heathbrooke’s butler to let her know you’ve been called away for the evening. An emergency matter at Clearview House. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
While happy to help Samantha, Melody wasn’t prepared to blindly follow the man who’d ordered Samantha returned to him after she’d helped her husband escape execution. Her change in allegiance had been made clear, and Harlowe had not taken kindly to it. Understandably so, since Samantha was part of his biggest secret. A secret that could be revealed to the world any moment, should Samantha choose to speak out about the Nightingale Project.
Consequently, Melody had no doubt Harlowe meant to eliminate her. Torn between the man who’d saved her from a wretched existence and the woman she loved like a sister, she carefully asked, “What are you planning?”
“Since time is of the essence, I’ll elaborate in the carriage.” He turned for the door. “All you need to know right now is that I have discovered Samantha’s location and that you are going to help me save her.”
“Why not leave her be?” When Harlowe spun back to face her, a questioning look in his eyes, she said, “After all that has happened, I would imagine you’d want to rid yourself of her.”
If he confirmed this, she’d have no qualms about following through on her own plan to leave England for good. She’d only returned in order to find the closure she felt she needed. Not only with Harlowe and Samantha, but with Marsdale.
Mostly with Marsdale.
It would be harder now that they’d kissed. A foolish act she ought to have fled from as soon as she realized what was about to occur. He’d probably have expectations now. Expectations she wouldn’t be able to meet.
She meant what she’d said. She would not be his mistress.
Better to return to Italy rather than suffer the pain of watching him marry another. In leaving, she would be setting them both free, in a way.
Harlowe stared at her, the question she’d asked filling the space between them. And then he said, “She is my most valued agent. Her abilities are second to none. My intention, therefore, is not to rid myself of her, but rather to get her back.”
“How do you mean?”
“This is a rare opportunity for me to save her, to make up for the mistakes I made in the past, and to win back her trust. If I succeed, our differences will be resolved, the Nightingale Project restored in full. That is my plan.”
“Very well.” Melody took no issue with this, though she doubted it would lead to the happily ever after Harlowe envisioned. For that to happen, the outcome of this rescue mission would have to trump Samantha’s love for Croft, and that was unlikely.
A point she chose to keep to herself in favor of helping Samantha. She followed Harlowe into the foyer where he explained matters to the butler. Concern filled the servant’s expression, but rather than insist they check to see if Lady Heathbrooke could spare her companion for the evening, he promised to pass the message along.
A knot formed behind Melody’s breastbone as they left the house. She’d never been involved in an active mission before. Since being installed as Lady Harlowe’s companion, she’d spent most of her time relaying information through coded messages. The only fighting she’d done this past year had been at Reed’s Boxing Club when Samantha was using the place as a means by which to cross paths with Croft.
They’d convinced him to help them set up a training center for women, so they could learn to defend themselves. Melody had enjoyed the exertion, but after spending the last six months mostly sitting or strolling about, she wondered if she even had the stamina to keep up with a skilled opponent.
“You’re worried and rightfully so,” Harlowe was saying, “but remember, your training is far superior to that of anyone you’ll encounter tonight.”
“I haven’t picked up a weapon in years,” she muttered.
“Trust yourself, Melody. You’ll know what to do once you’re in the moment. All the drills I had you do has made combat second nature to you. As instinctual as breathing.”
She prayed he was right. “How many men will we be facing?”
“Eight, if I’m not mistaken, but they’re mostly muscle. None are as capable as you and your sisters.”
Eight was still a high number when they were only three. “Where is she being held?”
