by Rebecca King
Will leaned around the side of the carriage to look at Callum and nodded.
“But it is going to knock him out. He is going to be impossible to move if he takes it any in a tavern,” Will said.
“We cannot just leave him in pain,” Mallory cried.
“We will stop, give him some, and then get him settled in the carriage before it takes hold. If he sleeps throughout the journey he isn’t going to be in any discomfort,” Callum said.
“I need to stop for a bit,” Sir Hugo interrupted.
That simple statement was enough to make the decision for everyone. Sir Hugo had said he needed to stop so stop they would.
Callum contemplated how far they had come and how far they had yet to go.
“We could stop at a tavern for an hour. If we change horses, pick up some more food, and then be on our way again, we should be all right,” Will replied.
Callum nodded. “The best we can do is find a village. There must be one around here somewhere. It should be safe enough to stay for an hour because we are off the beaten track.”
“Keep on this road for now. We cannot double back and waste more time. We must carry on and get to the village,” Sir Hugo grunted.
He moaned again.
Mallory struggled to know what to do to help him.
“We keep changing our route to be unpredictable,” Callum replied dryly.
“But you know as well as I do that this carriage cannot move as fast as a man on horseback. Even if we take a winding route, they can circle around us and ambush us,” Will replied.
“Right, we will stop and plan a route that will take us to Cornwall a little more quickly but is still away from the main roads.”
“Good,” Sir Hugo bit out.
It took several more hours before they reached a village. While not huge by any standards, the village they found was large enough to contain several shops, a church, a village hall, a huge village green, and two taverns.
“Let’s go to the tavern at the end of the road. From there we have two routes to take. The last thing we want is to be forced to go back down the road we have just used,” Will called to him.
Callum nodded and eyed the first tavern. It was well kept but tiny and didn’t even appear to have a stable yard out back. Thankfully, the second one did. He pulled into the open yard, and wearily climbed down. Arching his back, he stretched and rubbed his aching backside as he ambled toward the door, which he yanked open with such startling speed that Mallory cried out in surprise.
“It’s fine. We are here. Time to get out if you can,” Callum assured her and held a hand out to help her down.
“I will go and speak to the tavern owner,” Will announced before he ambled off.
Mallory stepped down from the carriage and shivered when the cool night air snatched at her cloak. Callum instinctively stepped closer and slid an arm around her.
“Tired?”
Mallory nodded. She looked up at him and knew he must be exhausted. She was tired and hadn’t done half as much as he had, still he seemed to find the energy to keep going. To her surprise, Callum placed a finger beneath her chin and gently turned her face toward him. Without saying a word, he placed a loving kiss upon her lips that stole her breath and her heart. Mallory rested her hand on his chest and felt the reassuring thump of his heartbeat beneath her fingers, and savoured the wonderful moment.
Bumping her nose gently with his, Callum pressed a kiss to her forehead before resting his chin on the top of her head. They each took a few moments to savour being together while they contemplated what they had survived.
“We will be all right,” Callum breathed.
“I will feel much easier when we are in Cornwall,” Mallory breathed.
Callum huffed a laugh. So would he.
“I live there. Did you know that?”
Mallory frowned at him. “I thought you said that you live in London?”
“I do, for part of the year. When I am working for the Star Elite. But I have a house about ten miles away from Sir Hugo’s.”
“You could join the Cornwall team,” Sir Hugo announced from within the carriage.
Callum jerked and investigated the shadows but couldn’t see him.
“I could, couldn’t I?” was all he said.
Now that life had thrown him a rather delightfully feminine challenge, Callum wasn’t as averse to the idea as he suspected he should be. It made him contemplate the woman in his arms anew and wonder if his life should be different.
Before he could contemplate it too much, Will returned.
“We have rooms for the night. The inn keeper doesn’t live in the tavern, he lives next door. He is happy to give us the run of the upper floor,” he announced. “I have paid him well for some food, which he is sorting out for us now. Oh, and he has some more Laudanum he is happy to let us have as well.”
The carriage began to sway as Sir Hugo awkwardly made his way to the door to peer out at them.
“You look so ill,” Callum breathed when he saw the paleness of his boss’s face.
“Let’s get you inside,” Will suggested and stepped closer to help Sir Hugo down.
Callum immediately moved to Sir Hugo’s other side. Together, he and Will helped their boss and friend into the tavern.
Mallory looked around but the entire place was still and quiet. With no candles lit, the place had an empty feel about it that was a little unnerving.
“When you get into your room, lock your door and don’t open it unless you know it is me or Will. I will knock three times, then two, then one. Don’t answer the door unless you hear that sequence of knocks,” Callum whispered.
“We are going to stay then?” Mallory asked, inwardly unconvinced it was a good idea.
“Sir Hugo needs to rest, preferably without being jostled about in a carriage,” Callum replied.
Mallory looked at Will who was trying to help Sir Hugo through the door but wasn’t having much luck. Callum hurried over to them to help but before he disappeared, pointed to the room beside Mallory, who was standing at the top of the stairs.
“You use that one.”
Mallory looked at the door in question. Curiosity made her nudge the door open and peer inside. She didn’t expect the bed chamber to be as welcoming as it was. While the tavern owner might not live in the tavern, the rooms had been prepared to accept guests and for that Mallory was relieved. The bed was made and looked so soft and inviting that she ached to be able to climb into it. On the other hand, she didn’t think she was going to rest until they reached Cornwall.
“Where will you be?” she asked when Callum re-appeared.
Callum stepped into the room.
“Sir Hugo is along the corridor as you saw. Will is in the room at the top of the stairs and I am next door to you. Will and I are going to take turns on watch. Do you need anything?”
Mallory shook her head. She eyed the empty room with trepidation. For some reason she was reluctant to be on her own. She looked at Callum with eyes that were slightly pleading.
Callum sighed and stepped closer. He could understand her concern. It was an unfamiliar place and she had been through so much already that he didn’t doubt she was going to live in fear for a little while.
“Time will ease the worry,” he assured her. “Now that Melrose is dead, it is only a matter of time before his men are rounded up and put behind bars. Those that aren’t won’t pose a risk to you because they aren’t getting paid anymore. As for Melrose’s partners in the ton, they have bigger problems now that the Star Elite is after them. You will be all right here. We are keeping watch. Nobody knows we are here because the gates have been closed, and the horses hidden in the stables. Will is seeing to them now that Sir Hugo is in his room. There is nothing to worry about. Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day because we aren’t going to stop unless we need to change horses. Sir Hugo is going to have to lie on the floor for the next leg of the journey, but will be far more comfortable
, especially if we dose him up with Laudanum before we leave.”
“I know,” Mallory whispered.
Callum stepped toward her. Mallory looked so lost and alone that he couldn’t help but feel guilty that he had to leave her.
“There is a risk during the entirety of this journey, Mallory. We will do our best, but all we can do is hope that Fate is on our side,” Callum whispered as he eased her into his arms.
He knew it was a foolish thing to do but had to hold her. He needed her to know that she wasn’t alone in all of this. What he did know was that he had feelings for the woman in his arms and those feelings were deep. They were so instinctive that he was helpless to fight them. They swirled around him and in a way made him stronger, but at the same time they made him question everything; who he was, what he was, what he wanted from life. Everything that he thought he knew and understood was now in doubt, and that was confusing.
“When we reach Cornwall, we need to take some time to sit and have a proper conversation,” he announced.
“About what?” Mallory leaned back to look at him.
“Us.”
Mallory felt a strange fluttering sensation surge through her. Following it was nervousness and unease.
“Oh?”
“Have you decided what you are going to do once you get to Cornwall?”
“Well, I thought Sir Hugo might be able to tell me. I don’t have any money, or even a change of clothing.” Mallory looked ruefully down at herself.
“Sir Hugo is going to want you to stay with him,” Callum announced.
Mallory’s head shot up.
“Oh, I cannot do that.” She shook her head. “His family have enough to deal with now that Sir Hugo has been injured. He is going to need to rest and recuperate with his family around them. I would be intruding.”
Mallory was so adamant that she wasn’t going to do it she tried to move away, but Callum stopped her.
“Like I said, I have a house in Cornwall.”
Mallory blinked at him. Colour flooded her cheeks.
“I couldn’t stay with you either.”
“And why not?” he demanded, his brows aloft.
Mallory shook her head. Inwardly she quaked at the thought that he was being serious. But honesty was in the steadiness of the gaze he levelled on her. He meant every word.
“Because I would ruin your reputation,” she burst out only to mentally wince at how that sounded.
Callum grinned. “I am a big boy. I am sure my reputation can survive a little bit of scandal.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Mallory countered somewhat breathlessly. “That wasn’t what I meant at all.”
“I promise not to ruin your reputation,” he began.
Much.
Callum mentally blocked out the contrary voice that left him in no doubt he was going to set himself up with a whole load of trouble should he encourage her to stay at his home, but he couldn’t rescind the invitation. He wouldn’t. He wanted her to stay with him.
“But people will know and talk about it.”
“Not many will,” Callum countered.
“How can you be sure?” Mallory demanded.
“They don’t know you.”
Mallory scowled.
“I know you were swept out of your life and thrown into a life of turmoil and confusion. I know that you have had your life stolen and need some time to be able to regain the confidence of knowing you are safe going about your business. However, I also know that you need help to get your life back together. Part of your healing process is being able to pick up the pieces of your life and carry on.”
For the first time in a very long time, Callum began to feel nervous. He was an investigator for the Star Elite. Someone who faced challenges and life or death decisions every day, but they never shook him as much as this conversation did.
“Do you have any idea where you want to live when this is all over?” he asked when Mallory stared thoughtfully at his chest, and seemingly forgot he was waiting for her to talk to him.
“No. What I do know is that I cannot go back to the life I used to live in. I don’t think I would ever feel safe walking down those streets again,” Mallory whispered. “Of course, I know I am not safe walking down any street, but in that village, and after everything that happened-”
She shook her head. Words couldn’t convey the depth of fear that she knew would accompany her should she ever go back to that village, to that stretch of road.
“One day, you might find the strength to return there. For now, it is best if you start afresh, don’t you think? In a new county, in a different part of the country?”
Mallory’s lips twitched. “Like Cornwall?”
“It’s nice there. The moors are inland but if you would prefer to live by the sea there is a nice, sprawling house that isn’t too large that you can rattle around in if you would like?”
Mallory squinted at him. “Are you asking me to live in your house with you?”
Again, she felt wildly thrilled yet at the same time incredibly anxious at what was hidden beneath his apparent determination to get her to stay at his home.
“My future isn’t part of your job, you know. Your mission ended the day I was delivered to the safe house, or didn’t Sir Hugo tell you that?” Mallory asked.
Callum suspected that Mallory and Sir Hugo had been talking while they had been in the carriage together.
“Yes, he told me, but I am a man, and it is sometimes difficult to separate work from life. They go together.”
Mallory’s anticipation faded. “I don’t want you to feel that you should keep looking after me. I know I said that I didn’t think it was right to stay with Sir Hugo, but I am sure there are other places I could stay. You don’t have to feel obliged to provide for me, you know.”
“I don’t feel obliged to do anything I don’t want to do,” Callum assured her.
“You want me to stay with you.” It wasn’t a question.
“No.”
“No?” Now Mallory was starting to get confused.
“No. I want you to stay at my house. I will stay at a friend’s house. It is just down the street from mine, but close enough for me to be able to call in on you and make sure you are all right. I must stay in Cornwall for a little while but will then need to return to the investigation. There is still a lot of work to do to close Melrose’s entire operation down. I, personally, need to know you are going to be all right while I am away.”
When Mallory spoke next her voice was a husky whisper. “Personally?”
Callum smiled gently. “Definitely.”
The air thickened. The distance between them narrowed. Callum’s head started to lower but he was prevented from doing anything more than looking ruefully at Mallory when the dull thud of Will’s boots climbing the stairs interrupted him.
“I have to get some rest. Will is taking first watch.”
Callum snuck a look at the door, which was slightly ajar. Making the most of the last few moments he had alone with Mallory, he dropped a quick kiss onto her lips and quickly stepped away, just as Will appeared in the doorway.
“Everything’s locked down. Get some sleep,” Will ordered.
Callum nodded, and winked at Mallory before he made his way to the door.
Mallory smiled. “Stay safe.”
Callum realised then that her worry wasn’t for her own safety, it was for him. She was concerned about him; Callum. It was so sweetly touching that he couldn’t help but smile. It was the first time that someone, anyone, had truly worried about his welfare while he was in an investigation. His colleagues worried all the time, but that was because they were up to their necks in an investigation. Mallory’s concern was more personal.
“I promise I won’t take unnecessary risks. None of us do. We will do our best to make sure we are safe,” he whispered.
“I wasn’t doubting you.”
“I know. I will see you in the morning.”
With that,
Callum left the room before he did something rash, like asked Mallory to spend the rest of her life with him.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Out in the hallway, Will turned to look at him.
“What?” Callum demanded when he saw the frown of concern on Will’s face.
“Things are moving,” Will muttered. “Out front.”
Together, they made their way to the front rooms of the tavern which overlooked the main street. At first glance, all was still and quiet.
“It might have been a cat or something, but everything is a little too still out there,” Will murmured.
“I have been a little concerned at just how unhindered our journey this far has been,” Callum confessed.
Will nodded. “I think we should both stay up, for the next hour or two at least.”
Callum wholeheartedly agreed.
“The gates are bolted?”
Will nodded. “The tavern keeper hasn’t returned like he said he would.”
“Damn. I wonder if we have been set up?” Callum raged at the very thought.
“Do you think we should just leave now? I can drive. You can get some sleep.”
“I won’t sleep. We are going to be even more vulnerable than we are here if we travel anywhere right now. At least here we have food.”
Will slowly shook his head. “We still have some food left in the basket Phillip packed. It is in Sir Hugo’s room. The tavern owner was going to bring us some more but hasn’t.”
“So, we have a little food, but our transportation out of here isn’t available at the moment, and we have shadows moving about us,” Callum hissed. “How much shot do you have?”
Will dug around in his pockets and revealed two heavy bags of shot.
“I have about the same,” Callum said.
“The best we can do is keep watch front and back. There is no side alley so the gates are going to be the only way into the yard, and we can see them from here,” Will said.
“Yes, but we are visible to anybody out on the street,” Callum countered.
“I’ll keep watch over the street,” Will announced, taking up position beside the window closest to the yard doors.