Page 61 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

…

Loverly examined his timepiece. He’d been steadily drinking and checking the time for what seemed like hours. Patience had grown stiff sitting in the chair with her hands tied behind her. He’d done that when he went outside to relieve himself, but hadn’t bothered to untie them once he’d returned. When she had asked him to, he’d ignored her.

From the stench coming in through the window, they were near the water. If she did escape, she would probably be murdered before she could find a hackney. She had finally come to the realization that it had not been one of her better ideas to sneak away from the footmen. On the other hand, if Alex had only explained to her that she was in danger of being snatched off the public streets, she wouldn’t have done it. Once she was freed of this unspeakable man, she would certainly let her husband know how angry she was over his treatment of her.

Until then, nothing could change what had already happened. All she could hope for was that Alex came for her with a plan other than handing over money. Her stomach tightened when she thought of the possibility of being murdered in front of her husband.

“All right, Your Grace. It’s time to go.” Loverly stood and swayed, placing his hand on the back of her chair to steady himself. She turned her head from him as he leaned over her and breathed into her face. “Don’t think to give me any trouble. I have my very large knife and a surprise for His Grace.”

She stomped on his foot when he wrenched her from the chair.

“Ouch. You little bitch.” He backhanded her across the face. She stumbled, but his grip on her arm was tight enough that she didn’t fall. Tears streamed from her eyes, and her cheek felt as though it were on fire. “Move.” He pushed her in front of him.

They walked down a narrow, rickety flight of wooden stairs. With her arms tied behind her, she had to go slow since her balance was off. It appeared the building where he’d housed her had been abandoned. Loverly stumbled behind her, and all she could imagine was him losing his footing and crashing into her, sending them both tumbling down the stairs to end with broken necks.

Once they were in the night air, she attempted to look for any means of escape. Thick fog blanketed everything in gloom. Loverly continued to push her forward, farther into the mist. She stumbled a couple of times on the uneven stones. “Stop here.”

After a few minutes, Alex appeared out of the mist, walking slowly, carrying a satchel. “Let her go, Loverly.”

Instead of releasing her, the man whipped out his knife and, holding her against the front of his body, held the weapon to her throat. “Not bloody likely, Your Grace.”

In the scant light cast from the window of what must have been a tavern, she saw Alex’s jaw tighten. “As much as I would enjoy spending time with you, Loverly, my wife looks in need of assistance. I would like to get her home.”

Loverly pulled her closer, practically cutting off her air supply. “I am sure you would. However, there is the little problem of the money.”

Alex held up the satchel. “It’s all here.”

…

If he lived a hundred years, Alex would never recover from the sight of Patience, with her bruised face.

Loverly was a dead man.

“Drop the bag and walk away.”

“You must think I am a half-wit to consider leaving the money and walking away from my wife. You let her go and I’ll toss the bag to you.”

“Now who is acting the fool?” He shook his head. “No. So sorry, Your Grace, but I get the money first.”

Alex had to bide his time. Cam, Hawk, and Templeton had arrived an hour before him so they could get into positon before Loverly appeared. They were out there somewhere in the mist. The plan had been for one of them to attack Loverly from behind while another one grabbed Patience. They were all carrying pistols, including Alex.

What troubled him was the knife. He had to let his cohorts know about the weapon at Patience’s throat. One slip and his wife would be dead. “Loverly, at least take the knife away from Her Grace’s throat while we work this out.”

Loverly shook his head, causing Alex to catch his breath as the knife moved and Patience whimpered. “Not a chance. I hang onto your wife until I have the money in my hand.”

“I don’t care about the money. I give you my word that I will slide the satchel to you once you release her.”

“Ah yes. The word of a gentleman. Or is it the word of Major Alexander Pemberton of His Majesty’s service? Wasn’t that your title when you dragged me back from America and held me prisoner in that ship’s cabin for weeks? Well, this time when I disappear, I won’t be so easy to find.”

“You were hardly easy, Loverly. It took me a year to find you.” Anything to keep the man talking. Somewhere out there, Cam, Hawk, and Templeton were listening and getting ready to take Loverly down.

“Well, no point in sending anyone this time. They’ll never find me. But I’m tired of all this chatter.” He nodded to the satchel on the ground. “Give me the money. Now.”

Alex reached for the bag just as Loverly grunted. The knife clattered to the ground, and he fell alongside it.

“Patience!” Alex shouted as she stood there for a moment, stupefied, then raced toward him, flinging herself into his arms. She sobbed against his chest, babbling something about sorry, will never do it again. He crushed her to him and inhaled her scent, closing his eyes at having her in his arms.

Cam appeared from the mist and kicked the knife away from Loverly, who was already coming around. He lunged for the knife, but Cam stepped on his hand and scooped the weapon up.