Noble Scoundrel (Peril & Persuasion Book 1)

by Amy Sandas

There was a long pause as he looked down at her from his brawny height. “I recognized Freddie’s description of the two men who’d nabbed him that first night.”

  The answer surprised her. “The members of the criminal gang you rescued him from?”

  Another pause. Shorter this time. “No.”

  An icy chill spread through her. “Tell me.”

  He held her gaze as he replied. “The men who initially took him that night were a couple of small-time mercenaries known to hire themselves out for a variety of tasks. Anyone involved with unlawful business in the rookery would’ve told you Butler and Green knew how to get the job done.”

  Katherine took a steadying breath. “You’re using the past tense, Mr. Hale.”

  He gave a short nod.

  “Why?”

  “They were found in the Thames several days ago.”

  Bile churned in her stomach. “They’d been killed? Because of their involvement with Frederick?”

  “Because of their failure, most likely. Their deaths were a message to future hirelings.”

  “The two men from yesterday?”

  “I’ll keep my ears open for any news.”

  “News...” she muttered quietly as icy dread filled her veins, “as in, more bodies.”

  He didn’t reply to that.

  Katherine wasn’t sure how to process what he’d told her. Though she had no love for anyone who’d do harm to a child and she certainly wanted the men who’d attacked her brother to face justice for their actions, the thought of them being murdered and tossed into the murky river was horrifying.

  They weren’t just up against a kidnapper. They were after a murderer. If their enemy would so easily end the lives of men he’d hired, what would stop him from killing Frederick? Or anyone else who might get in the way?

  “Did you learn anything else?”

  “Only that the person who hired Butler and Green was determined to conceal his identity and he was able to pay well for the deed.”

  Katherine met his hard gaze. “Which suggests they aren’t after a ransom.”

  He shook his head. “It doesn’t appear so.”

  Her earlier frustration returned in full force, warring with the fear inside her. “What other reason could there be? We have no enemies. We barely have any friends. Nearly everything we have is entailed and the man set to inherit isn’t even in England.”

  “I have an idea.”

  Katherine turned at the sound of her brother’s voice to see him standing tall and proud in the doorway. “Frederick?”

  His steady gaze moved between Katherine and Hale as he walked into the room. “Until we know who is orchestrating the kidnappings and why, we are at a serious disadvantage. We need information and I believe the best way to obtain it is to go on the offensive.”

  Trepidation followed swiftly on the heels of her brother’s words. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

  The boy’s shoulders squared in a way Katherine knew well. He was anticipating an argument, which meant she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say.

  “We set a trap and encourage them to try again. Instead of them taking me, we capture the kidnappers.” He turned to Hale. “Then we force them to tell us what they know.”

  Resistance clenched her heart in a tight fist. “Are you suggesting we use you as a lure?” She shook her head in firm denial. “Absolutely not.”

  “If we plan everything properly, I won’t be in any danger at all.”

  “No,” she stated firmly with a narrowed, resistant gaze.

  At her flat refusal, Frederick sighed in frustration and turned to Hale. “It’s the best way to claim an advantage.”

  “Too much could go wrong,” he replied with a heavy scowl. “It’s not worth the risk, lad.”

  “But I’ve got to do something. I can’t just hide away in the schoolroom for the rest of my life.”

  The frustration in her brother’s voice was the same that flowed through her. “I’m sorry, Frederick, but the most important thing is keeping you safe. We’ll figure this out, but it won’t be by putting you in greater danger.”

  His eyes flashed with conviction and determination. “With no other information to go on, it might become our only option.”

  Then he turned and strode swiftly from the room, leaving Katherine with a heavy sense of dread churning inside her.

  “He’s a brave lad.”

  She turned to Hale with a frown. “He doesn’t understand what he’s suggesting.”

  His eyebrows arched. “Doesn’t he?”

  She closed her eyes as fear rushed through her. Of course Frederick understood. And once he latched onto an idea, he rarely let it go. “I cannot allow it,” she whispered.

  “I know.” Hale’s voice was low and weighted with resolve. “I’ll keep him safe. Trust me.”

  Opening her eyes, she met his gaze and a tingling sensation coursed through her.

  Mason Hale was unlike anyone she’d ever known. He was irreverent and undeniably dangerous. He could make her feel languid and melty one minute, tense with anger and frustration the next. He unsettled her and challenged her and confused her.

  And she had placed the most precious thing in her life right into his large, calloused hands.

  AFTER LEAVING THE STUDY, Mason headed up to the third floor to see how Claire was faring.

  He found his daughter sitting on a rug before the fire of what had once been a schoolroom. An ancient set of toy soldiers lay scattered around the skirts of her pale pink frock.

  It took a bit to convince the nurse it was all right to leave his daughter in his care. Though he appreciated the woman’s loyalty and protective nature considering the fact Claire had experienced little of either in her life, he was never again going to father his child from a distance.

  When they grew bored of playing with the soldiers, they switched to horsey rides. Claire bounced around on Mason’s back, clutching his hair in tight fists as they raced around the toy chest, reading chairs, and sofa, until they were both exhausted. Then they stretched out on the floor as Mason read a book Claire chose from a selection shelved in the corner.

  After father and daughter enjoyed a very fine evening meal in the schoolroom, the nurse returned to get the girl bathed before bedtime. Claire pouted in resistance until Mason assured he’d be back to tuck her in for the night. His daughter had very efficiently wrapped him around her little finger.

  And Mason wasn’t the slightest put out by it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Not long after the first light of dawn began to tinge the sky the next morning, Mason was down in the ballroom awaiting his first student of the day. On the appointed hour exactly, Freddie strode through the open double doors.

  Mason was pleased to see the young duke had dressed in loose-fitted clothing as he’d been instructed.

  “Morning, Your Grace. You ready for this?” Using the boy’s title felt strange after weeks of calling him simply Freddie, but he figured he’d better start getting used to it.

  Freddie gave a nod as he closed the doors behind him. “I hope so, Mr. Hale. I’d like to thank you for suggesting this training.”

  Mason chuckled. “It wasn’t a suggestion, lad. And if you’re not cursing me for it in another hour, I won’t be doing my job right.”

  He’d decided to train the boy after witnessing his frustration over having his idea to bait the kidnappers rejected. Mason could understand Freddie’s desire to take action. It had to be difficult for the boy to sit idle while an undefined threat hovered overhead. Mason always felt more comfortable when taking a fighter’s stance. But he agreed with Lady Katherine’s refusal to use Freddie as a means of drawing their enemy out. Very simply, it was too dangerous.

  There had to be another way. Hopefully, Morley would have some luck digging up information that could help them.

  In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to give the boy a few helpful skills. Not only could it come in handy if someone tried to nab him again,
but he hoped it’d also satisfy Freddie’s need to do something about his circumstances.

  Sometime later, Mason had Freddie wrapped in a bear hug from behind. The boy stood still for only a moment before he took a deep breath, stepped wide with one foot, snuck the other foot behind one of Mason’s while shifting his hips and leaning his shoulders into the bigger man. The swift change in positioning threw Mason off-balance, landing him on his back on the floor.

  He laughed as he got back to his feet while Frederick stared at him, shock evident on his flushed face.

  “I did it. I actually tossed you to the ground.”

  Mason nodded. “Now you see how you can use an opponent’s size against them.” He stepped behind Freddie and placed him in the same hold. “Again. Only this time, I intend to put up a bit of resistance. Don’t let it change what you’re doing. Same principles apply.”

  This time, Mason held on to Freddie as he fell, bringing the boy down with him.

  “Now. Use your head,” he instructed as Freddie began to struggle.

  With a quick snap, the back of Freddie’s skull connected with Mason’s chin at the same time he kicked his heel back into Mason’s knee. Both of which caused him to grunt in pain as his hold weakened. Freddie took swift advantage to scramble away.

  Once free, he turned back to assess Mason’s position. Grasping the boy’s ankle, Mason gave a swift tug, which had the boy flopping onto his backside.

  “When you get free, you run. Always,” Mason barked. “The state of your opponent can’t be your concern. Your only goal is to escape and avoid further capture.”

  “Yes, sir,” Freddie muttered painfully as he rubbed his backside.

  Rising from the floor, Mason reached down to offer a hand. “Again.”

  Freddie leapt to his feet with a grin. “You won’t trick me this time.”

  Chuckling, Mason rubbed his jaw where Frederick’s head had made solid contact. “I’ve got an infinite number of tricks, my boy. Never underestimate your opponent. They won’t hold back, so you can’t either.”

  The young duke nodded and squared his shoulders.

  Mason flashed a grin. “Now...let’s see just how hard-skulled you are.”

  He worked the boy for nearly two hours before sending him off to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The lad had earned it. His focus had been unwavering, and though he didn’t have much muscle yet, he was naturally athletic, and more than anything, he was willing to push himself.

  He couldn’t say the same for his next group of trainees.

  Shortly after Freddie left the ballroom, Mason had three footmen lined up before him, displaying expressions that varied from eager to wary. Through lessons in various boxing drills, wrestling holds, and a few street-fighting techniques, it became clear that the young one who frequently squared off against five older brothers had some raw talent, another one of them would eventually manage well enough with further training, but the last wasn’t going to work at all.

  By the time Mason dismissed them, the young men were red-faced and soaked in sweat. Mason, however, had barely warmed up. Once alone, he threw himself into a vigorous training routine. If he overwhelmed his body with the pain and exhaustion of physical exertion, he might find a way past his tormenting hunger for a provokingly haughty female.

  Just the thought of her had his body hardening. And he suspected his desire for the woman would only get stronger. Unfortunately, even another hour of rigorous training did nothing to lessen his more prurient physical need.

  Not much later, he was luxuriating in an extra-large bathtub that had been brought up to his bedroom. Freshly scrubbed and smelling of citrus and spice, he rested his arms along the top of the tub and propped his foot against the opposite end. Tipping his head back, he closed his eyes to soak up the warmth and luxury afforded by the steamy, scented water.

  He could grow accustomed to baths like this...though there was one thing that could make it better.

  Closing his eyes, he imagined soft female hands smoothing over his skin. Massaging the muscles of his shoulders and back, soaping up his limbs, and working through his hair. Fine fingertips circling his sensitive scalp. He could practically feel the silky fall of dark auburn hair sliding over his shoulder from behind as an elegant hand smoothed down the planes of his chest...then abdomen...continuing below the surface of the water.

  The scent of an unknown flower mingling with female arousal would surround him as she teased with the soft press of her lips to the side of his throat. Then the sultry murmur of her voice telling him how badly she’s been wanting to touch him. Touch all of him.

  He hardened with such force it was almost painful. He reached under the water to run his palm down his stiffened length. With a groan, he pressed his head against the rim of the tub and took himself fully in hand.

  For a second, he felt a slight, barely perceptible twinge of shame for using thoughts of Lady Katherine in such a way. But as his cock pulsed in his fist, he disregarded the noble sentiment. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.

  AFTER A SLEEPLESS NIGHT of tossing and turning and worrying, Katherine made her way down to the breakfast room. Nearing the bottom of the stairs, she was surprised to find a man wearing the clothing of a dockworker standing in her front hall. Apprehension rushed through her as she came to an abrupt stop.

  Spotting her at nearly the same time she saw him, the man swept his woolen cap off his head to hold it in both hands behind his back. Wizened brown skin crinkled with discomfort as he shifted his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other.

  “May I help you?”

  “Uh, yes, ma’am. Uh, no, that is.” Pushing a scarred and roughened hand over a scalp covered in short white curls, he made a face of obvious distress. “I’m here to see—”

  “Me.” Hale’s voice boomed loudly from behind her on the stairs as he descended in long strides.

  When he stepped past her, Katherine’s expression must have revealed something of the swift and intense reaction his presence sparked in her body, because he smiled down at her with that arrogant knowing grin.

  Gathering her composure, Katherine gave him a look of mild curiosity. “A guest of yours, Mr. Hale?”

  “An old rival from my early days in the ring.” He continued across the hall and took the other man’s hand in a hearty grip.

  Seeing the two of them standing next to each other, Katherine wondered how they would have matched up in a bout. Hale was taller and broader, but the other man—older by at least fifteen years—possessed a calm sort of competence. He looked like someone who’d been tested to his limits only to push himself far beyond them.

  Hale turned with a smile as he placed a hand on the other man’s shoulder. “This is Jack Newton, known by most as the Lethal Hook. One of the best fighters I’ve ever faced.”

  The older man gave a rough but quiet snort. “I couldn’t beat you.”

  “Of course not, old man. They couldn’t have called me the Undefeated if you had,” Hale laughed. Then he tilted his head toward Katherine. “And this is Lady Katherine Blackwell.”

  The poor man started then gave a hasty but very effective bow. “M’lady, sorry for the...uh, unexpected intrusion.”

  “Not at all, Mr. Newton,” she replied quickly before tossing an arched look toward Hale. “I assume your presence is about to be explained.”

  A grin widened his mouth before he replied. “Jack here is going to assist me in training proper guards for the house.” He looked back to his friend. “Any takers?”

  “Aye.” Jack nodded. “Two. Smart and loyal. Good fighters, but not made for the ring. They’ll do well.”

  Hale clapped the other man on the back. “Perfect.”

  “Are you adding to my staff, Mr. Hale?” she interjected with a tilt of her head.

  “My staff,” he corrected. The challenge in his eyes was a visceral thing. An intense little push and pull.

  Did he think she wouldn’t agree to it?

  It almost looked like he
wanted her to argue with him.

  She responded with a casual lift of her brows. “I will leave you to your work, then.” Looking past him, she smiled at Mr. Newton. “It was lovely to meet you, sir.”

  “And you, m’lady,” he replied with another bow of his head.

  Before turning to continue to the dining room, she cast a casual, almost dismissive, glance over Hale.

  Unfortunately, with his back now to his friend, he had the freedom to stare back at her in a way that was far from casual or dismissive. The potency in his darkened gaze angled straight through her center. Her lips parted as she sucked in a swift breath. As his gaze dropped to her mouth, the hard bunch and release of the muscles in his jaw made her belly flip.

  Right when she thought she’d gotten the upper hand, he snatched it back again.

  Turning away, she crossed the hall to the breakfast room, feeling his gaze warming her back the whole time. As she stepped out of sight, she could have sworn she heard his low-textured laughter.

  Rather than irritating her, the sound warmed her insides even more.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The stacks of journals, most of them worn and faded, took up nearly half of the desk in Katherine’s study.

  Before leaving Lincolnshire, Katherine had instructed a servant to gather their father’s extensive collection of volumes from his study along with some of the personal items of both parents she wanted to keep near. The large trunks came with them to London and were safely kept in the empty master bedroom. Katherine had suspected that at some point she and Frederick might like to go through everything.

  After breakfast that morning, when she’d gone to retrieve them from her father’s belongings, she hadn’t realized there would be quite so many. With ransom likely eliminated as a motivation and her brother’s idea of setting a trap not even being considered, Katherine was left with very few avenues of investigation. All she could do was hope her father’s journals might provide some clues or direction. Now, seeing all of his work collected in one place, she realized the extent of the task she’d set for herself.