If He's Noble (Wherlocke Book 7) (Paranormal Historical Romance)

by Hannah Howell

  Watching her leave, Bened shook his head and, as soon as the door shut behind her, said to Jenson, “That is a woman who should have been chained in Bedlam years ago.”

  “I think I would have preferred her to be shot,” said Jenson. “She could have escaped Bedlam.”

  Seeing how pale Jenson was made Bened want to ask just what Carl could do with his knives, but he bit back the question. “True. She trusts you to not let me go, does she?”

  “She does. I could not go against her before because it would put at risk everyone I care about but a young girl recently told me that I must, so I am to find my spine and just do it. I must save you.” The man hurried behind Bened, crouched down, and began to untie the ropes around his ankles.

  “Stay calm,” said Bened when he could feel the trembling of the man’s fingers.

  Jenson moved to untie his wrist from the arm of the chair. “She threatened my brother and his whole family. Then she threatened my precious little girl. I sinned, you see, and she was born but her mother died. My brother and his wife care for her while I work. I never thought that wretched evil woman would even notice such things.”

  “She is working on a long plan, Jenson. An old one and has the patience and tenacity to keep at it.” Once his arm was free, Bened untied his other wrist by himself and happily accepted his clothes from a pale Jenson. “She has been working on it since the day the baron married another woman and not her. She took the second son but has always planned to be the baroness, to have the manor and all that comes with it.”

  “Her ladyship and the babe she carried . . .”

  Bened nodded, wincing as he donned his shirt. “And she may have killed the baron as well. Hello, Bevan,” he said as his brother climbed in through the window.

  “Almost shot that bitch, but she stopped before I could bring myself to kill a woman,” said Bevan.

  The sound of shots being fired made Bened start for the door but Bevan grabbed him by the arm. “Best to give them some time.”

  “And who are them?”

  “Your lady, Morris . . .”

  “Primrose is shooting people?!”

  Bevan hurried after Bened as he stormed out the door. “I do not believe she is out there killing anyone. We just planned to keep the men busy while I got you out of here and I do not think charging out the front where the shooting is is the best way to go.”

  “There must be a back door.”

  Even as they started to the back of the house they heard someone rush in through the front door. They ducked back inside the room Bened had just been released from and waited. It annoyed Bened to hide but he was wise enough to know an unarmed man did not stride out into the middle of a lot of people shooting at one another. He had to wait until things quieted down and pray that Primrose came out of it all unharmed.

  Primrose did not need any more urging, nodded in complete agreement with Lilybet’s words, patted Boudicca on the head for luck, and followed her brother and the other men. Bevan had slipped away earlier to go around to the window of the room Augusta had put Bened in while she, Morris, and Simeon now sneaked up on the men who were proving to be very lax in their guard on the house, laughing and drinking ale as they lounged in the shade. Perhaps they thought there was no threat to worry about now that Augusta had Bened but she was pleased to be a part of proving them wrong. Just as they had discussed on the way, they spread themselves out in the trees in the hope of making the men think there were more attackers than there actually were.

  Primrose took a deep breath and fired the first shot, hitting one man in the shoulder. She loaded her pistol as Morris shot another. As Morris reloaded, Simeon fired. Her aunt’s men fired wildly back and Primrose could feel her heart pounding with fear so hard and fast she was surprised she could catch her breath as she fired again and got a man in the leg. With four men wounded, the others decided leaving was the best plan but then Augusta suddenly walked out of the house. Primrose could see her brother take aim at the woman but Augusta was no fool. She heard the gunfire, saw her wounded men running away, and raced back inside the house just as Simeon fired. His shot hit the side of the door just as her skirts cleared it.

  Seeing that her aunt’s men were completely intent on getting themselves away, Primrose raced for the house. Shots echoed behind her and she hoped none of her people had been hurt as she struggled to find her aunt inside the warren of a house. The slam of a door drew her gaze to the far back of the house, and she ran that way as fast as she could only to look out the door and see the figure of her aunt disappearing down the lane toward the inn.

  Deciding she would never catch up, Primrose went looking for Bened and found Morris and Simeon instead. “She escaped out the back, Simeon, and I last saw her going for her carriage.”

  “Then her men were right to run or she would leave them behind,” said Simeon.

  “And we are very lucky that they did not find what she was offering worth fighting hard for, not when half their number got wounded so quickly. Fine shooting, Primrose,” said Morris.

  “Thank you but I think I would rather not recall it right now. Have never shot a man. Never even shot an animal.” She looked around the surprisingly large house. “I need to find Bened now.”

  “Then you are in luck for there he is.”

  Primrose saw Bened striding toward her with Bevan right behind him and a man she recognized as Jenson hurrying to keep up. She ran toward him and he caught her up in his arms. Despite her joy over his apparent good health she felt him wince a little and stepped back, holding his arms as she looked him over.

  “They hurt you,” she said, “but I cannot see where.”

  “A few slaps with a cane and an aching head from the blow that took me down. I will be fine.”

  “Well, I will be sure to look over both things if only to put some salve on those cane wounds.”

  She hugged him again, careful to do so gently. Bened held her close and looked over her head at the others. A man with guinea gold hair and strikingly blue eyes glared at him and Bened sighed. It appeared Simeon had been found. Although Bened was pleased for her and very pleased he had been rescued himself, he was sorely disappointed at the fact that there would be no more long, sweet nights of lovemaking.

  Primrose finished tending the cane marks on Lilybet’s back and sat on her heels to clean off her hands. “She did a nasty job on you. You must have made her very angry.”

  “I did. Had no intention of telling her what she wanted to know. Did find that I can lie beautifully when inspired, though.” Lilybet exchanged a grin with Primrose. “She is a very angry, selfish woman, you know. She will not stop until someone stops her permanently.”

  “I know.” Primrose sighed. “How did you find Simeon? I swear I have been over half this country looking for him.”

  “He was in the alley at the side of my house. I see things, you know.”

  Primrose nodded. “Like the woman Chloe the Wherlockes told me about.”

  “Well, I do not know of this Chloe but suspect she is much like me. I saw your brother and that he needed help, even where to find him. I also saw that I had to go along with him on the rest of the journey and that would help me find my mother’s family.” She glanced at Morris. “I have.”

  “He is but one of many. And I mean many.” She was not surprised to see Lilybet’s eyes brighten with hope and pleasure. The woman had been alone for a long time and, she did not know it yet, but that would never be the way of it again.

  “It will be good to know people who can understand what I am.”

  “Do you have any plans other than that?”

  “None. I will solve the problem of what to do to live when I know where that will be.” Lilybet smiled. “I am not worried.”

  “Because you would know if there was trouble ahead.”

  “Not always when it concerns myself. I only see things that change what steps I take when I am involved in another’s problems. Such as happened this time. I have been wanting to m
eet others of my mother’s family for years but the sight I had concerning your brother was the first time I was shown a way to do that.”

  “Well, that seems mightily unfair.” She smiled when Lilybet laughed. “Just let me know when you wish a little more salve. Those cane marks may not be open wounds but they are painful and badly hurt the skin.”

  “I will be sure to let you know. Although it pains me to admit it, your salve is much better than mine as it heals faster and eases that pain better. You might ask your brother if he wants some. He took a battering before and as he escaped that woman.”

  “If you wish it, I can write the receipt for the salve so you can make your own.”

  “I would like that. Thank you. And, if you could ask Lord Morris to come and tell me something of the Wherlockes, that would be wonderful.”

  Primrose sent Morris over to Lilybet and noticed her brother frowned when he saw the two of them talking so easily, Morris sitting next to Lilybet. Then she took Boudicca for a walk. She was just turning around to return to their camp when Bened appeared. She smiled in greeting but discovered she suddenly felt cautious. He had been paying her very little attention since they had rescued him and she was not sure why.

  “You have finally found your brother, so what are your plans now?” he asked as he slowly backed her up against a tree.

  “We go to my uncle’s. Now it will be more for advice than for protection, though.”

  “Your aunt is still out there. Her plans are still in her head and heart. Do you not think she is a danger now?”

  “She will always be a danger. Even if she decides she cannot win the game she will turn her mind to making us pay for that. In her eyes it will be all our fault. Yes, she is still a danger and I think even Simeon understands that. She is forcing us to see her dead.”

  “I would not fret over that too much. It truly is a matter of her or you and Simeon, and she already has a lot of blood on her hands.”

  “That is true. I also know I do not share in her shame. I did not make her do this. It is her own greed that pushes her. Yet, she is family and by being such, she shames us all.”

  “No, how you deal with her is where the shame could be but I know you will stop her.”

  He bent down and kissed her, savoring the sweet taste of her on his mouth. Primrose wrapped herself around his as best she could and let the desire he could stir with his kiss sweep over her. She wanted him and knew some of that fierce need had been bred by her deep fear of losing him to her aunt’s murderous plans. When he ended the kiss she gave him what she prayed was a smile of invitation. If the way his eyes narrowed were any indication, it had worked.

  “This could be risky,” he murmured as he undid the back of her gown and tugged the top down far enough to give him access to her beautiful breasts.

  “How odd. That actually made me want it more.”

  “Naughty, Rose.” He bent his head to kiss and suckle at her breasts, enjoying her soft cries of delight as he did.

  “I am feeling a bit naughty.” She slid her hands down his back and caressed his backside, loving the way that made him rub up against her.

  Bened began to tug up her skirts until he could slide his hand between her legs. They both murmured with pleasure when he found what he was seeking. To his delight, Primrose slid one of her hands around to the front of his breeches and undid them. When she slid her small soft hand inside and wrapped her long fingers around him, he knew he would not be able to enjoy this play for long. He was too hungry for her.

  Primrose gasped in surprise when Bened picked her up and urged her to wrap her legs around his waist. Then she felt the hard length of him rub against her and sighed. She might not be certain how this was going to work but she was more than eager for it to do so. Then he kissed her and slowly began to join their bodies. At first they moved together in a slow, almost lazy enjoyment but then passion began to drive them and the lovemaking grew fierce. Primrose hung on to him tightly as he drove them both to completion and continued to hang on after they ceased trembling from the force of their releases. She idly wondered if she had yelled and alerted the ones in camp to what she and Bened were doing. She suspected she would probably worry about that later but, right now, joined with Bened, wrapped tightly in his arms, she did not care.

  Reluctantly, Bened eased free of her body and began to tidy their clothing. They had only shared a bed twice but he already missed that time of just holding each other with ease and no need to quickly dress and then act innocent. He had to wonder why some people found such things exciting. He was far more excited by the thought of not having to leave her side.

  And then he knew. He was well and truly caught. When a man wanted to wake to the same woman’s face every morning, to spend a lot of nights holding her close, he might as well buy the ring. All he needed now was some confidence that what she felt for him was more than friendship, gratitude, and desire. Nice as those were, and he welcomed them, they were not what one could build a happy future on.

  Once they were fully dressed, he helped her tidy her hair, plucking out a few pieces of bark. A soft yip drew his eyes down and he realized they had both forgotten the dog. He picked the little puppy up and handed her to Primrose.

  “It is a good thing she is too attached to you to go exploring on her own,” he said.

  “True but she is a dog and something could have caught her attention. I need to get a leash for her. She is so tiny even a hawk might mistake her for dinner.” She rubbed her cheek against Boudicca’s soft fur and glanced up at Bened. “You know this area better than I do; how much longer before we reach Uncle George’s?”

  “Two days. Unless the weather turns on us, it is an easy pleasant ride.” He hooked his arm through hers and started to lead them back to camp. “I was happy that you had found Simeon, but not happy, if you understand what I mean.”

  “I do.” She grinned at him. “Simeon is usually a very playful, fun man but he appears to have become very somber and responsible all of a sudden.”

  “I may not have a sister but I understand what troubles him. He is now the head of your house. You are his responsibility and I am not making it easy for him to deal with it.”

  “I am not some young girl preparing for a debut. I am three and twenty, nearly four and twenty and many consider me a spinster. He needs to understand he cannot rule my life.”

  Deciding the faintly militant look she wore was perfect to return to the others with, Bened did not argue. Such facts would not mean much to a young man who suddenly found himself the head of a household with an unmarried sister. It was a heavy burden but he had no intention of easing it for the man by staying away from Primrose. After the truth he had just faced, he knew that would be impossible.

  When Simeon saw Bened follow after Primrose, who had taken her ridiculously tiny dog for a walk in the woods, he started to get to his feet only to be yanked back down by Bevan. “That is my sister he is sniffing about.”

  “And he is my brother and I know him well. You need not worry.”

  “No? Do you think he has gone out there to pick up after that silly dog?”

  “Bened is one of the most serious, responsible men I know. Everyone in the family calls on him when they need someone to protect a person or find someone or help them track their enemies. He has made his fortune, and a fortune it is, protecting the idiot sons of the gentry and investing his pay smartly. He is not some courtier out to make a quick conquest and then walk away. Leave it be so whatever is building there can be finished.”

  “So I am just to sit back, smile, and let him ruin my sister?”

  “I do not see her being ruined, but, yes. Sit back and stay out of it. This is an easily upset process we are watching here, you know.”

  “No, I actually have no idea of what you are talking about.”

  “The slow uniting of two people who are perfect for each other.”

  “Exactly,” said Lilybet as she sat down on the other side of Simeon.

 
; “Have you seen the future for them?” asked Simeon.

  “Not so clear I hear wedding bells but I have seen this dance before and if you, as her much-beloved brother, go barging in and yank them apart, you could prove a large blockade to what is a very natural mating dance.” She smiled when Bevan nodded. “Come, look me in the eye, and try to tell me honestly that, if you met the one you wanted to spend your life with, you would feel no strong desire.” When he just glared at her she laughed. “Exactly. The moment I saw the two of them together, I may not have seen anything but I certainly felt the rightness of it. She is not some young miss, either, m’lord.”

  Simeon sighed. “But she was a sheltered, innocent, and well-bred woman.”

  “Let it go, m’lord. I will be blunt then. You do something to make Bened walk off now and you risk losing your sister. Oh, she may still live in your house but she will have stepped away from you, for as each lonely day passes she will think on the reason why she is lonely.”

  “Well, damn.”

  “That says it much better than what I was spewing,” said Bevan.

  “I have seen it all before. The woman meets the man she is meant to be with but bows to the wishes of her family and marries their choice. What she ends up with is pure misery. She is not lying with the man she truly wants, not having the babes she dreamt of, not living in the home she had imagined having, and all through that, if she is particularly unfortunate, she will see the one she walked away from go on with his life, giving his heart to another, as well as that house and those babes.”

  “That is a horrible fate.” Simeon frowned. “Wonder if something similar is what has left my aunt such an evil twisted mess of a woman?”

  “It certainly did not help but she had that evil seed inside her from the beginning. From what I heard, she did not love your father, she loved his title. No, she is a bad example of what I was talking about. She is just one who was born wrong, in heart and mind.”

  Simeon was still thinking about what Bevan and Lilybet had said when he watched Bened escort Primrose back to the camp. He studied them and realized there was some truth in what the others had said. He could see a match there. In their eyes he could see the softness of affection as well as the heat of desire. His sister had never had a season and there had been few dances or beaux.