Free.
“Sssh, now, sweetheart.” He continued to whisper words in her ear as Violet pressed closer, one large hand rubbing up and down her spine.
Safe.
“Let’s go. We need to get her warm in a carriage and home to her parents,” a voice said from behind her.
Tilly fought the tears and the need to stay where she was clinging to Ambrose. He felt so warm and solid, and he had found her. She tried to make herself let him go, but fear still held her in its claws.
“Tilly, we have you,” Violet said softly.
Ambrose began walking with her still in his arms, and she knew she should make him put her down. Even opened hermouth to speak, but no words came out. They would. She’d be herself again soon—she had to be.
She heard the sound of carriage wheels minutes later, and then Ambrose was climbing inside with her.Move now, Tilly.She tried to, but the arms that held her tightened.
“Not yet,” he whispered in her ear. “Let me hold you.”
She heard the voices of whoever was in the carriage, then felt the blissful warmth as something was wrapped around her. Closing her eyes, Tilly inhaled the scent that clung to Ambrose and felt steadier finally. She was safe with him, with Violet, and whoever else had come to find her.
The carriage rolled on for a while, and then she eased back, making him release her. His eyes were the first ones she looked into. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
He didn’t reply, just nodded. Turning on his lap, she saw she was in the carriage with Alexander Nightingale, Violet, and Charles.
Tilly was aware of the fact that she was draped over Ambrose’s legs. She scrambled off, his hands steadying her as he helped her to the floor. She then moved across to sit between Violet and Charles.
“They hit you?” The words were like a rumble of thunder from Ambrose.
“I’m all right now.” Looking down at her torn and bloodied nails and hands, she tucked them under her thighs.
“Can you tell us everything that happened, Tilly?” Alex asked.
She did, recounting what she remembered. “Those men knew I was involved in The Iris Club.”
“So, to my mind, there are two scenarios for that. The first is, someone wants you to close The Iris Club simply because it is a woman’s club beside a man’s one,” Charles said. “And the other scenario is that someone wants it closeddue to what is beneath, and in achieving that, they would regain access through your secret door.”
“But I don’t understand why they took Tilly,” Violet said. “Surely they must know if something were to happen to her, we would continue doing the work and keep the club running.” Her friend hugged her hard then. “Not that I want anything else to happen to you, of course.”
She could feel his eyes on her. Ambrose was not talking, just watching her, the green depths smoldering with emotion. She looked at his chest and saw the smear of dirt she’d put there on his necktie. Now that sanity was returning, she was fully aware of the way she’d behaved when he’d rescued her.
Had she given anything away? Because while she’d been huddled in that dark crate, she’d come to a realization about how she felt about Lord Talbot. Tilly cared far too much for the man she could never have. Which told her that from now on, she must keep her distance from him.
Excellent in theory, considering you just clung to him and wept all over his clothing.
“One thing you must take heed of from now on, Tilly, is that someone wants you harmed. Therefore, you cannot leave your house unescorted.”
Ambrose had spoken the words like an order. Had she been herself, she might have rejected his right to order her to do anything, but right then, all she did was nod.
Tomorrow she would be strong again.
“I would like to find time over the next few days to talk to you, Tilly,” Alex said, and she knew why. He wanted to know the identity of the person coming through for her, but she could never tell him that.
“Of course,” she whispered. Exhaustion had her eyes closing then, and she leaned on Violet’s shoulder. But she didn’t sleep. She simply rested, safe at last.
When the carriage stopped, it was Ambrose who climbed out first. He then held his hand out for her to join him. Violet followed and then they both walked to her family’s town house with her. She didn’t lean on him, but she didn’t pull away as his hand settled on her back. Tilly would enjoy his strength at her side for perhaps the last time.
Her parents were at the door when she reached it.
“Tilly, oh my dear.” Her mother wrapped her in a sweet-smelling embrace.
