It started to drizzle and Rina pulled her hood up. She sighed with relief when the coach finally lumbered down the road. It pulled up, coming to a halt in front of her. She paid her fare and climbed in, choosing to sit in the corner by the window. All eyes watched her as she made herself as comfortable as possible on the hard bench. The rig jerked into motion, reminding everyone of the unpleasant ride ahead of them. Rina stared out the window, ignored the curious stares and watched the passing countryside.
Chapter Seven
BLAKE PULLED HIS COLLAR up and cursed the rain. He watched the dark clouds gather, blocking the sun to cast everyone and everything in wet obscurity. Again, he wondered why he was out on a day as this, much less on his way to London. The little fool — whatever possessed her to go to London alone? Blake’s mood turned blacker than the clouds looming above him.
He remembered his grim argument with Rina the last time he saw her, and also the promise he had made to himself to forget her. Damnation, he swore to himself, his anger growing with each miserable minute that passed. His mind raced over the morning’s occurrences.
Despite his determination not to do so, he rode over to see Rina. Once there he found Jenny in tears and Jake about to storm out, his manner near hysterical. Eventually, he managed to make sense of it all; that was when his temper exploded and he took over the whole situation.
Blake all but ordered Jake to stay put; he would go after Rina. He knew he had spoken harshly to the elderly couple, demanding to know how they could allow her to do such a foolish thing. He noticed the look exchanged between them before Jenny answered him. “Lord Roberts, if you knew Rina well enough, you would know she does what she feels she must do. This trip were important t’ her, an’ knowin’ her as we do, she thought nothin’ of goin’ by herself. But you’re right, she shouldna’ be alone, so please, go, an’ make sure our girl comes t’ no harm.”
Would he ever understand what went on in her pretty little head? Probably not — he didn’t understand his own actions anymore. What on earth could possibly be so important she would risk traveling alone? Questions continued to plague Blake as he made his way through the drenching rain to London. The roads were quickly becoming muddy bogs, slowing his progress to a snail’s pace. He knew the rain would impede the coach even more, and if he was lucky, he would arrive in London before she did.
THE RAIN CONTINUED TO fall throughout the day, everyone’s spirits dampened as the coach lumbered along. Rina listened to all the other passengers’ complaints and ailments, only nodded when a reply was required of her. By the time they pulled into the inn the first night, Rina’s patience was gone and she declined to dine with the small group. The men were overzealous in their pleading, but the headache she used as an excuse indeed caused her pain. After she requested a tray taken to her room, Rina climbed the steep stairs, thinking only of the bed awaiting her.
Rina paid no attention to the tall man who entered the taproom, shaking the rain from his hair. Hooded eyes watched until she disappeared down the hall. When he walked to an empty table, he couldn’t help but notice he was not the only one who watched her. All the men, down to the oldest of them, noticed the beautiful, golden-haired girl, and this troubled him immensely.
Blake sat down and ordered; his mood darkened further when he heard the whispered comments passed among them. Foolish woman — didn’t she realize the trouble she caused?
THE NEXT MORNING RINA woke early and went down to the kitchen where they were busy cooking the morning meal. No one else was up and about yet, so Rina had time to enjoy her tea in peace. It wasn’t long until the guests appeared, and soon they were on their way.
The rain persisted, making their progress slow and uncomfortable. Rina thoroughly enjoyed the unusual spell of sunshine they had had of late, but now fall was upon them and with it the miserable rain. Tattershall would soon feel the brisk winds from the cold North Sea and before long, snow and ice would cover the ground.
Rina turned her thoughts to their new purpose and steeled herself against the discomfort. She was taking the first step in starting something that could bring a better life to those she loved. If not, she would know she had tried.
The second day tired her more, and the night was sleepless as dreams disturbed her. Exhausted by the time morning arrived, the new day offered the same monotonous fare as the day before. Finally, the coach pulled into London. The streets were deserted and dark as they bumped over the wet cobblestones, the noise loud in the still night. The rain caused the gutters to overflow and the putrid smell made Rina feel ill. Fog mixed with the smoke laden air, choking and stagnant. Tall gray buildings lined the gloomy, overcrowded streets, the cities mood matching hers.
Blake stood in the window of his room and watched the coach lumber into the empty yard. So his little she-fox finally made it to London. He watched as all the men fell over each other trying to be the one to assist her. Jealousy pushed its way into his thoughts and his disposition grew dark and dangerous.
Rina smiled tiredly at the young man who helped her from the coach. An uneasiness inside of her surfaced, as if someone watched her. She glanced up and saw a man standing at a window of the inn, his face shadowed and unrecognizable. With a shiver, she disappeared inside to the warmth and dryness the building provided.
SHE WOKE LATER THAN intended; most of the night spent tossing and turning until exhaustion finally took hold in fitful sleep. Rina felt refreshed after breaking her fast and started for the place Jake told her about. An old friend would give her a good price for her jewelry and she was anxious to complete her business. The rain continued to fall, but Rina pulled her hood over her head and set out. It would be a long walk, but she looked forward to the exercise after three days cooped up in the coach.
Despite the weather, the streets came alive as coaches, wagons, and horses rumbled by. Smoke continued to hang low over the city and burned her eyes. She stepped carefully among the people in the crowded lanes, the skirt of her dress heavy with mud and muck. Rina walked on, past shops filled with bright and tempting wares. Tantalizing smells drifted on the air — breads, tarts, custards, biscuits, scones, and sweets of all sorts. It mixed with the tangy aroma of bitter ale, brewing tea and coffees, and some hot chocolate for those with a sweeter taste. People as varied as the products lined the streets, some crowded into shops to escape the rain while others braved the dampness and cold.
Every once in a while Rina stopped; something in a shop window catching her eye. Slowly, she noticed a tall, darkly-clad gentleman in the distance. As she continued on her way, she caught sight of him several times, always far enough away she could not see him clearly, yet, was strangely familiar. When Rina arrived at her destination, she forgot about him and entered the small shop, a bell overhead ringing. Promptly a tiny, elderly man appeared and smiled at Rina pleasantly.
“What may I help you with, young lady?”
“Would you be Elmer Jackson, sir?”
“Yes, I am,” he said.
“My name is Rina, Jake Tidwell’s niece. He told me you are an old and dear friend of his.” The old man’s face lit up and he stepped from behind the counter to take her hand in his.
“Yes, yes. Jake and I go back a long way. Why, I never realized he had a niece,” his smiled broadened and a twinkle lit his eyes, “Especially one so beautiful. How is Jake?”
“As cantankerous as ever,” laughed Rina.
“That’s Jake all right. Now what brings you all the way to London, my dear?”
“I have some jewelry I need to sell and Jake assured me you were the man to see.”
Rina’s smile made Elmer wish he was twenty years younger. “Yes, indeed, I am more than happy to help you. Do you have the jewelry with you?”
Rina pulled the leather bag from her cape and removed the necklace and earrings. Elmer’s eyes widened when she handed him the expensive pieces. He examined them closer and muttered to her. “It is truly a fine set. I must admit I am a surprised at the quality.” He glanced u
p into Rina’s eyes, the same deep blue as the sapphires he held. Yes, they would bring them out to perfection. What a shame she had to sell them.
Rina misunderstood his look, believing there to be doubt in it.
“They were a gift, from someone special.” Sadness overcame her and her voice quivered. She drew a deep breath and looked away for a moment. “Would it matter if I had stolen them?”
The question caught Elmer off guard and he studied the young woman, calm beneath his scrutiny. “No, it doesn’t matter where you got them. If Jake sent you, I would ask no questions.”
“Thank you. I will take whatever you think is fair.”
When Rina left the shop, she felt empty and depressed; a part of her past was now gone for good. She hadn’t expected to feel so emotional and stared blankly down the street, unaware of the man who still watched her. After a moment, Rina noticed several people staring at her. She pulled the hood of her cloak up and started down the street. She walked only a short distance and decided to stop in a small cafe for tea. Deep in thought, Rina never noticed her pursuer go into Elmer Jackson’s shop.
Melancholy settled heavily on Rina, an emotion she rarely allowed to control her. But the sleepless nights and tiring trip had taken a toll. She wandered listlessly from street to street. Time slipped by unnoticed. A thick, heavy fog swirled about, finally bringing her out of her dazed reverie. There were no longer a lot of people about, and Rina realized she didn’t know where she was. She looked about for a hired hack, and finding none, she drifted down different streets with hopes of running across one. But, instead, she ran into trouble.
Two men stumbled down the street toward Rina and stopped in front of her. Wanting to avoid a confrontation, she tried to go around them, but one stepped directly in front to stop her. He reeked of alcohol, his clothing was stained and dirt smudged his coarse face. His short, thick frame swayed unsteady on his feet but it was the man who stood at his side causing her to take a step back. He was a veritable giant and towered over them both, his wide grin revealing missing teeth.
“What have we here, Ralph? Looks lost, don’t she?” The short man’s lascivious stare made Rina’s stomach churn, drool literally spilling from his mouth as he licked his lips.
“Maybe we best help her, huh, Mack?” Ralph walked up behind her and yanked her hood from her head. “Uuhh, she’s pretty.”
“Yeah — a real beauty, mate. How ’bout you let us buy you a drink, girl?”
Rina stared straight into Mack’s beady black eyes, her voice steady and unwavering. “Get out of my way.”
“Aw, come on darlin’, you’re not bein’ very friendly. Is she, Ralph?”
“Naw,” Ralph said, staring at the gold ribbon shimmering in her hair. He reached up his filthy hand to loosen it.
At his touch, Rina whirled around and brought her knee up, swift and accurate into the big man’s groin. He doubled over from pain. In the next second Rina pulled her knife and turned on Mack, her look ferocious. His face lost all color as he stared into her cold, hard eyes. Her voice steel, she muttered, “Make one move and you’ll never be fit to have a woman again. Do we understand each other?”
The pressure of her knife on his crotch brought sweat to Mack’s upper lip and he sobered immediately. He nodded in mute agreement, the fear in his eyes telling her he believed her threat to be genuine. A hack turned the corner and rumbled by, and Rina turned to hail it, jumping inside before either man had sense enough to move. When the hack pulled away, Rina closed her eyes in relief. Mack’s curses followed after her, the vulgar words sending a shiver through her.
Blake stopped short when he saw Rina jump into the hired carriage. As he had since their arrival in London, he followed her, always good distance away so she wouldn’t spot him. When the two men accosted her, Blake started to run, but before he could reach them, she was safely spirited away. He looked at the hunched over giant and the man cursing at the disappearing coach in surprise. How the hell had she managed to escape them?
A slow grin touched his lips, suspecting her penchant for carrying a hidden dagger had something to do with it. And, from the way the groaning giant held his balls, he shouldn’t have worried at all. She certainly knew how to cripple a man in an instant. Blake longed to stay and teach these bastards a permanent lesson, but caution prevailed. He needed to make sure Rina made it back to the inn, safe and sound, so reluctantly, he followed.
Once assured Rina was in her room, Blake went to his own. He stretched out before the fire, a drink in his hand. On the table near him lay her necklace and earrings. He glanced at the jewels and wondered where Rina had gotten them. Perhaps they’d been a lover’s gift? Blake leaned his head back against the chair, recalling the feeling he experienced when those two drunks approached her. Had it been fear? God, he would certainly be relieved to see her safely back at Tattershall. Yes, it would be good to get home and be free of the troublesome wench for good.
RINA LAY IN BED and stared at the ceiling, sleep evaded her, her mind full of self-imposed recrimination. How could she have allowed herself to get so tied up with her emotions as to actually lose her way? Rina squeezed her eyes shut, as if to block the image of Mack’s evil, dark eyes. Without realizing it, her hands clamped over her ears in a useless effort to quiet the memory of his curses and shouts when the coach pulled away. An involuntary shiver swept through her, his words echoing in her dulled mind.
“You whorin’ bitch. You’ll regret this. I’ll find you and enjoy plantin’ myself between your moist li’tle legs yet. I’ll find you, slut, an’ me cock will split you in two!”
Jumping from the bed, Rina moved to stand in front of the fire. She added a piece of wood to warm the chilled room and stared into the flames. She could not shake the feeling of dread inside her, the feeling she had not seen the last of those two. Rina knew they would meet again — she was certain of it.
“It seems violence and death is to be my companion, happiness never to touch me in life.” The words were but a whisper, the dark room silent, except for the crackling of the fire. Its light cast shadows on the wall and Rina felt its warmth on her face and through the thin nightgown she wore. Out of nowhere, a pair of golden eyes filled her thoughts.
“And how do you fit into my future, Blake Roberts? I want desperately not to love you. My future belongs to a promise — it cannot belong to a man. You make me want you with every fiber of my being. I yearn for your touch and my lips hunger for your kiss. You call me witch, and yet it is you who has cast a spell on me. For the first time, I want to know what it is to be a woman and have a man make love to me. Damn you — damn you for coming into my life. For making me want something I can never have.”
Rina turned and slid back into the large bed, only to toss and turn again. When she managed to get a little exhausted sleep, it was filled with troublesome dreams. Finally, morning dawned and she crawled out of bed to prepare to leave, dark circles under her tired eyes.
The rain grew worse and poured down in solid sheets of cold water, the roads muddy and dangerous. The coach made its way slowly out of London, the strong horses struggling through the thick mire on the roads. The day droned on, and by late afternoon exhaustion finally overtook Rina. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall of the jolting carriage.
The coach stopped once to allow another person on board, his horse tied to the back. The rain battered down in drenching torrents, making it impossible for a man to travel on horseback. Rina did not bother to look. If she had, she would have been shocked to find Blake Roberts across from her, his face angry as he stared rudely at her.
Rina did not move for the rest of the day’s trip, choosing to remain in her own private world. Once in a while, she drifted into a restless, uncomfortable sleep. Once the coach had stopped for the night, she continued to feign sleep until the coach completely emptied before going into the inn. Though her stomach was empty, food held no temptation and she went straight to her room. Only the bed she crawled into made her smile,
and sleep instantly overtook her.
Blake noticed the dark smudges beneath her eyes and her pale face. After acquiring the room next to hers, he asked for a bath to be set up after his meal. The taproom was crowded and noisy as Blake stretched out by the fire. He had ridden most of the day in the cold, pouring rain and looked forward to a hot bath. Plates of steaming food were set before him and the wine he ordered soon dispelled the chill from his bones, more so than the roaring fire. The inn wasn’t fancy, but the food hearty and good. Once he had eaten his fill, he leaned back to smoke a cheroot and finish his bottle of wine. The guests slowly disappeared, each seeking their own room and comfort. The hour was late and Blake knew his request for a bath meant extra work for the staff, but, they would be well compensated for it. Finally, the inn keeper informed him everything was ready and he went to his room.
RINA SLEPT DEEP, SOUND. Exhaustion had sent her into a heavy, dreamless slumber.
The moonlight from the window revealed her sleeping figure to the four silent shadows creeping into the room. They saw her hair spread out in a halo of gold, streaks of copper flickering beneath the flames of the fire. The rain spattered against the windowpane and she looked peaceful.
A rough hand clamped over Rina’s mouth, while another jerked her awake, her arm twisted painfully behind her back. To her horror, evil black eyes glared at her, only inches away. A wicked grin spread across Mack’s ugly face when he saw the anger in her cobalt eyes. Behind him, Ralph stood, an unseen third man held her from behind, and a fourth stood guarding the door.
“I told you I’d find you. Were easy, the cab driver told me where you disappeared t’. Now we’re goin’ t’ show you what you missed out on yesterday when you made the mistake of pullin’ a blade on me. No one, especially no whorin’ li’tle bitch is goin’ t’ make a fool of me. By the time we be done fuckin’ you, you’ll be wishin’ you were dead.”
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