Tabbie’s brow crinkled as though confused. “Lord Wimbley?”
“Wimbley?” Winters sat forward then. “Never heard of him. Are you certain that was his name?”
“Quite,” Tabbie replied.
“You danced with him.” Winters turned his gaze to Tricia and her blood froze in her veins. How did he know all of this?
“I did.” Her voice was surprisingly calm. She might have patted herself on the back if it wouldn’t have been strange.
“Well, tell us about him.”
“It was only for part of a set. I grew overset and had to step off the dance floor.” She made herself meet his gaze with a steady glance.
“What title does Wimbley hold?” he asked leaning even closer.
“Earl of Wimbley.” She blinked as though it were obvious. But her insides fluttered at the lie.
“The daughters of a duke would know there is no such man.” His smile turned cold, curling his face into hard, frightening lines.
“My husband has no reason to lie,” Tabbie’s voice was softer than it had been before and Tricia suppressed a shiver. If Tabbie was afraid then they truly were in trouble.
“Oh my dear, you both have plenty of reasons to lie. What I don’t understand is why your husband would get involved in something that had nothing to do with him. If I were to hazard a guess, however, I would say that your Lord Wimbley has everything to do with it. Before we’re done, I am sure you will answer all of my questions.”
The carriage rumbled to a stop and the armed man stepped out first, gesturing for Tricia and Tabbie to follow. As soon as she exited the carriage, she recognized her surrounding, though they looked even dingier by day than they had looked at night. They were in the docklands.
Now Tricia knew she should be afraid. Very afraid.
Chapter Nine
Ryker had procured the license with relative ease and returned home. It would be some time before he would hear from Mr. Hart so he settled himself behind his desk, hoping to accomplish some other much-needed tasks he’d been neglecting of late.
But a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts almost immediately.
“Come in,” he called, surprised by the interruption.
The door opened, and his butler stepped in. “A message, Your Grace. It’s from a boy but he claims he was sent by your detective.”
Ryker gestured the man forward and his butler presented him a tray with a folded note, unsealed. “This is the message?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
He picked it up and unfolded the paper. Mr. Hart’s handwriting scribbled across the paper but the words made his blood run cold. For a split second, he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Winters had taken Tricia. But then his mind began working again. If one hair on her gorgeous head were harmed, he’d gut Winters and feed his entrails to the hogs.
“Is the boy still here?” His tone came out sharper than he intended as he stood. His butler took a half step back before composing himself.
“Yes, Your Grace. He waits in the entry. He was told he would receive payment.”
Ryker grabbed his quill, and scribbled another note at the bottom of Mr. Hart’s. “Bring this to the Earl of Sussex at once. No delays.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” And then the man turned and was gone.
Ryker moved swiftly to the entry where a boy of thirteen or fourteen stood in the center, staring at the ornamented ceiling above. Ryker took a deep breath, attempting to regain control of his emotions. He didn’t want to frighten the lad, he needed him now. “What’s your name?”
The boy started and, folding his hands behind his back, answered. “Ollie, me lord.”
Ryker didn’t correct him. “What did the man who gave you that note look like?”
Ollie described Mr. Hart perfectly. Ryker’s shoulders drooped. He’d held out hope that it was all a ruse or perhaps a trap where someone claimed to have Tricia when she was actually safe at home. “That’s a good lad. Where exactly did he give it to you?”
“Down over by the Billingsgate Dock, sir.”
“Did he say anything else?” Ryker fished several coins from his pocket.
“Just that I should hurry, sir. And I did. I ran all the way here.”
Ryker nodded and he handed the boy several guineas as his eyes grew round with wonder. Then he clapped the boy on the shoulder. “We’ll get you down to the kitchen for a meal, too. You come back next week, and I’ll find you a job if you’re interested, Ollie.”
The boy gave an eager nod and Ryker called for his butler as he returned to his desk. He wanted to tear his study apart. Even more, he wished to jump on a horse and chase after her, but he needed to be smart. Much as it pained him to do so, he penned a note to Coventry.
He didn’t know the best place to send it but Luke would and they might need the help Coventry could provide.
Then he penned another, this one longer. As quickly as he could, he outlined what he had learned about the thefts, the marquess, and his own solicitor through his investigation. Then he addressed it to his sovereign leader and called his butler in to see it delivered and to have two horses saddled.
The note was a precaution in case he didn’t make it back from this rescue mission. He wanted to know the marquess would be brought to justice.
He had just finished and barely a quarter hour had passed when Luke barged into his study. “I’ll tear them apart with my bare hands.” No trace of the easygoing rake remained. Before him stood a man harder than any he had ever met.
It didn’t bear repeating, though he felt the same as he thrust the note to Coventry at Luke to read. With a nod, Luke scribbled the address across the top. His butler, always a man with impeccable timing, entered just in time to retrieve it. He handed both letters to the man. “I’ll send them at once, Your Grace.”
“Let’s go.” Luke turned on his heel and began marching out the door.
Ryker followed, noting the several pistols strapped to Luke’s body. He’d holstered his two favorites as well.
“If you were thinking that we might wait until we had more men, I’ll go alone,” Luke warned.
“I wasn’t.” Ryker stepped in front of Luke leading the way to the back door and the barn beyond. “I took the liberty of having two of my horses saddled for us.”
“You’re going to have to keep your head,” Luke growled. “I don’t know that I can keep mine.”
“I’ll try my best.” Ryker’s chest tightened again. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to ride and then he wanted to hurt people.
But the thoughts wouldn’t stop. He’d only just found her. And though he’d tried to tell himself she was a sound decision, the truth was, it was so much more than that. She’d drawn him in from the second he’d laid eyes on her. Tricia made him laugh, caused him to ache with longing. Bloody hell, he was in love with her and he hadn’t even told her. Why hadn’t he shared that with her?
And now, someone was trying to take her away. As he climbed in the saddle, a low growl rumbled deep from in his chest. Winters had no idea what fury was coming for him.
The two men set out, tearing through the streets of London.
While they made it to the docklands with amazing speed, it seemed to take an eternity.
Approaching the Billingsgate dock, the two men dismounted and found a post to hitch their horses.
Mr. Hart materialized from the shadows. “You’ve made it in good time.” His eyes swept over the two of them. “But I wish you’d brought more men.”
“More are coming,” Luke’s voice vibrated with anger. “How many men do we have to face?”
“I’ve seen six.” Mr. Hart gestured toward one of the warehouses lining the street. “They’ve brought them there.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hart.” Ryker said. “I wonder if we might take the six without too much trouble.”
Mr. Hart grimaced. “My fear is there are more I haven’t seen. I am peeking through windows, but I can confirm both ladies are safe.”
<
br /> Ryker breathed a small sigh but Luke took two steps forward. “Let’s get them now before…”
“Sussex,” Ryker grabbed his arm to stop him. “You told me to keep my head. I am telling you that we put them at risk if we barge in there without enough men. It gives the assailants too much time to hurt them or leave with them if we can’t subdue them quickly.”
“Damn it all to bloody hell,” Luke growled out. “That’s my wife and my child.”
“I know.” Ryker rested his hand on the other man’s shoulder. He gave it what he hoped was a comforting squeeze. “We’ll get them out.”
They began searching the outside, noting the entrances, peeking through the windows. It calmed Ryker further when he spotted Tricia and Tabbie sitting on a bench side by side in the large open room of what looked to be an abandoned factory, their hands clasped. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see any more as he ducked down to avoid being spotted by one of the armed guards.
But she was there, and she was safe. Everything would be fine, he was sure of it.
He heard the sound of several horses coming down the street, and Ryker froze, hiding himself from view. He’d only counted six men as well, but if these were reinforcements for Winters then he and Luke had a much more difficult job.
But a quick glance had him sighing in relief. It was Coventry with three other men. “I came as quickly as I could.” He jumped down from his horse with a sprightliness Ryker wouldn’t have expected.
“And you’ve brought reinforcements,” Luke replied, pulling the horses down the block where they weren’t likely to be noticed.
As the men slipped into the shadows, Ryker began whispering a plan. They were going to get their women back. Sussex would have his wife and child home where they belonged, and he would have his chance to tell Trish that he loved her.
Chapter Ten
Tricia held her sister’s hand. Mr. Winters, the driver, the two armed men, and two more stood in a semi-circle facing them. Dear Lord, how were they ever going to get out of this?
“I’m sorry I wanted a pasty,” Tabbie murmured, her voice oddly rough with emotion.
Tricia looked at her sister. “This is not your fault.”
Tabbie nodded, but Tricia could see a tear slipping down her sister’s cheek.
Her sister was pregnant and emotional. With a breath, Tricia realized it was her turn to be strong. She turned to Mr. Winters, “May I ask a question?”
He looked slightly surprised and it gave Tricia a moment’s satisfaction to have caught him off guard. “I suppose.”
“Did you know that we’d be at that shop?”
“Happy coincidence,” he shrugged. “And to be fair, I don’t really care about you at all. It’s her that I needed. But you might have a few tidbits of information.”
Tricia started in surprise. He didn’t seem to understand that she was a much larger part of this than Tabbie. What else didn’t he know?
“Now, let’s continue talking about Wimbley. Who is he really?”
Tricia sat in silence and Tabbie followed suit.
“Tut tut now, ladies, silence will not do.” He gestured toward another man who promptly pulled a long knife from his belt.
“We’ve already told you,” Tricia held up her free hand. “He is the Earl of Wimbley. Lord Sussex knows him from his gentlemen’s club.”
Mr. Winters stepped closer, the man with the knife following. He was the rough type with hard eyes and hands like anvils. But then her attention was drawn back to Winters again. “And you expect me to believe that he encouraged a man you’d never met to escort your sister to a formal event?”
“Oh but we did meet him,” Tricia cried. “In the very same shop we met you this morning. It’s the toast of London.”
That last comment may have been a bit too much, Tricia thought, but didn’t say more.
“They don’t know anything,” another man griped. “Stupid women.”
Actually they were smart enough to know when not to correct a man. “You sent word to the marquess?” Winters returned.
“Aye. But ye better hope he thinks this is a good plan and not a foolish one. It’s a dangerous path you’ve started down.”
“He will,” Winters huffed even as the sound of several horses outside penetrated the quiet within. “See,” Winters gestured toward the door. “There he is now. We’ll use them as a carrot to make sure Sussex—”
“That’s strange,” another called who had gone to the nearest window. “I don’t see him or anyone else.”
“No matter. He’ll come soon.” Winters waved the other man’s comment away but a second joined the first at the window.
“Where’d they go?” he asked peering out the window.
“We’re at the docks. People come and go all the time,” Winters huffed.
“Not now. The river is low.” A third began moving toward another window.
Winters was about to reply when the door was flung open. In the span of a second, all hell broke loose.
Six men at least came crashing through the door and began firing weapons. Tricia covered her mouth so as not to scream when a hand gripped her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Ryker’s voice made her wrench her head around and there he stood. She would have cried with relief and happiness but he was already hauling her to her feet and then she pulled Tabbie up too.
“Don’t look back,” he yelled over the noise as he ushered them through a large space in the back of the warehouse, through a back door, and into an alley. She clutched his hand with all her energy, wanting to be close to him now.
But Ryker didn’t stop. He continued to a street and down another alley and out to another street.
“Luke,” Tabbie cried as it became clear they would not stop and wait.
“He knows where to meet us.” Ryker began pulling them again.
Tabbie stopped a second time. “What if he’s hurt? What if—”
Ryker gently started them moving again. “He is a strong man. Right now, we have to think about you and your baby.”
Tricia felt her heart swell with tears and, quite honestly, joy. She was worried for Luke, of course, but her sister was safe as well as the baby, and Ryker was being painfully gentle with her sister. She was going to marry a good man. “Don’t worry, Tabbie,” she soothed. “Luke is…very manly. Just think of all the scrapes he’s likely gotten himself out of.”
“A family trait?” Ryker gave them a small grin as he kept pulling them until they’d reached the alley where Tricia had first met Ryker.
She huffed even as she snuggled her face into his shoulder. “Tease,” she admonished as he wrapped an arm around her. He still held Tabbie’s hand too and Tricia didn’t know if he was still comforting her or making sure that she didn’t go racing back to the warehouse.
“Troublemaker,” he gave a soft laugh into her hair. “I am so glad you’re all right.”
“Me too,” she looked up at him then. “But I would like you to know, this had nothing to do with me. Winters didn’t know my connection to you or that you were involved.”
“Luke,” Ryker drew in a sharp breath.
“Yes,” Tabbie nodded her head as tears spilled over her cheeks. “Somehow, they knew Luke and another man were at the ball.”
“They were questioning us on who Wimbley is,” Tricia added.
Ryker pursed his lips. “We should have known that even in costume, Sussex would be recognized. He’s too well known.”
But they stopped as the sound of tapping shoes came down the street. Tucking Tricia and Tabbie behind him with their backs to a wall, Ryker pulled out both his pistols. But it was Luke who entered the alley and Tabbie pushed past Ryker to race to her husband.
He caught her up in his arms as the two embraced. Ryker took the opportunity to spin around and catch her up in his arms.
Happiness and relief washed through her as he held her close, their bodies pressed together, his lips finding hers.
“I knew you’d come,
” she finally murmured between kisses.
He smiled against her lips. “I’m glad you have such faith in me.”
“That and I saw Mr. Hart.” She pulled back a little to give him a teasing grin.
“That certainly did help.” He kissed her again long and slow.
She nearly forgot what she wanted to say but when he finally lifted his head she blinked her thoughts back into focus. “But you would have come anyhow, I know you would have. You’re always there when I need you. It’s one of the reasons I love you.” She couldn’t hold back the words, her feelings overwhelming her in this moment.
“I love you, too,” he whispered. “More than I ever thought possible.” Than he kissed a trail across her jaw to nibble on her ear. “Let’s get you to your father’s side. Then I will deal with Mr. Winters.”
Hope and love filled her even when she thought of her father. Ryker was filling her with an optimism she hadn’t felt in months. He was the right man for her. She gave a nod and together they walked back to Luke and Tabbie.
It took longer than Tricia would have liked to return home. They had to find a hack for hire. The driver was smart enough not to ask why Ryker and Luke insisted upon riding on either side of the carriage. But Tricia could hear them talking to one another, at least enough to know that Coventry had taken the kidnappers who had survived and brought them to the Bow Street Runners for questioning.
Ryker would return to assist in the interrogation himself, while Luke was to remain with the women.
She also caught something about a late supper but couldn’t make out the details. Tabbie was leaning against her shoulder and blocking one ear with her coif of hair.
“Are you all right?” she asked her sister.
“Fine, but I feel a bit worn out,” Tabbie replied, closing her eyes.
Tricia wrapped her arm around her sister’s shoulders. It was still early in Tabbie’s pregnancy and Tricia felt a niggle of fear. “I know you are worried about Father, but you are to rest this afternoon. The baby has to come first.”
“I agree,” Tabbie’s voice sounded strained. “You’ve done a marvelous job of holding up under all this, Tricia. You’ve grown so much. I’m proud of you.”
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