by Kelly Boyce
A bit of a lie, but not much of one. She had completed her purpose and would have left within the week to return home at any rate.
Major Gibbons patted her hand where it rested on his forearm, steering them onto an alternate path that was an offshoot from the one that would take her home. She opened her mouth to say something, but he spoke over her, cutting her off.
“Forgive me. I do not mean to imply you were in any way at fault. Of course, the fault lies with Lord Hawksmoor. The man should be flogged for what he did to you. Obviously, he and his brother are cut from the same cloth.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Again, the hair prickled at her neck and she had the sudden urge to pull away from Major Gibbons. If he did not still have his hand covering hers, holding it against his arm, she would have.
“Oh, come now, Miss Cosgrove.” He gave her a knowing look. “I am well aware of what the late Lord Hawksmoor was capable of and of what he had in store for you.”
“I beg your pardon?” Madalene tried to pull her arm away but he held her fast. Her heart picked up speed and fear began to edge its way in as the pathway they were on was swallowed up by a band of trees that led out to the main road. At the end, a carriage had stopped. She thought to call out to them, but the rider was not in his box.
Major Gibbons continued on, taking no apparent notice of her sudden distress. “Lord Hawksmoor—the current one—has such an affection for you, did you know?”
Madalene did not bother to answer as she searched through the trees to find the driver of the carriage. Had he stopped to answer a call of nature? Where was he? They had picked up speed. She glanced behind her. Their boots had left tracks in the newly fallen snow. Why did this bring her relief?
Major Gibbons continued on, speaking as if they were having a pleasant conversation. “That was the reason his brother chose you as our next target, you see. To teach his upstart brother a lesson after he attempted to turn their parents against him over the unfortunate incident with Lady Rothbury. The late earl mocked me, knowing he would get to you first, given his close proximity and access to you. It was an unfair advantage I was less than pleased about, but he underestimated his younger brother’s need to protect you and it spelled his end. I, however, will not make the same mistake.”
His words filled her veins with icy fear and each beat of her heart spread the terror throughout her body. Major Gibbons was Lord T? How could that be?
“What are you talking about?” She managed to yank her hand free and turned to run toward the carriage, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her back to face him.
“We will marry of course.”
“Marriage? Are you mad?” But of course he was. His madness was buried a bit deeper than Phillip’s had been, but it was there. She saw it now and wondered how she had ever missed it. A gleam of malevolence, the same as she had seen in Phillip’s eyes the night he attacked her.
“I will be looked upon as your savior. I will have stolen you from both Lord Hawksmoors and once you are mine, I will do with you what I wish and no law will be able to stop me. As my wife, you will be my property. Mine for all time. You see, unlike the late Lord Hawksmoor, I do not plan on ending you, not immediately at least. I prefer to take my time. To savor my victory.”
Fear overtook her and brought with it the desperate need to survive. She wrenched free from him but when she opened her mouth to scream in the hopes the driver of the carriage would come to her aid, Major Gibbons struck her hard with his fist, knocking her to the ground. Stunned, she could not move as her head spun. Then something was held over her nose and mouth. She struggled, but with each breath the world grew darker until it drifted far beyond her reach.
* * *
Lord Huntsleigh caught up with Hawk by the time he was a few hours from reaching Northill. More familiar with the area, he’d taken several shortcuts that would have served Hawk well had he waited for Huntsleigh in the beginning. But fear had made waiting an impossibility. He needed to reach Madalene before Gibbons did.
Neither he, nor Huntsleigh, had bothered with a carriage, instead opting for the speed of horse and rider. At each opportunity, they’d exchanged horses for fresh ones, whether at inns along the way, or farms they came upon. At one such stop, he’d practically threatened to burn a man’s barn down if he did not hand over a fresh horse. This is where Huntsleigh found him, nearly out of his mind with panic as he explained the situation. The earl’s charm managed to smooth things over and soon they were on their way once again.
To no avail.
“What do you mean she is not here?” Hawk’s words echoed throughout the entrance hall, bouncing off the marble floors and ricocheting against the paneled walls.
“What is this racket about?” Mr. Bowen appeared at the top of the stairs, his eyebrows lifting when his gaze set upon Hawk’s companion. “Spence? What the devil?”
Huntsleigh did not waste time, explaining the importance of finding Miss Cosgrove with all due haste. “Is she here, Bowen?”
Bowen rushed down the stairs, barking questions with each step. “Andrews, have you seen her? Where’s Blackbourne?”
“Lord Blackbourne is at the stables, sir. Mr. Cosgrove offered to show him your new stallion, Ares. As for Miss Cosgrove, I saw her earlier, but—” The butler faltered and his face paled. Before he spoke, Hawk knew what he would say. Gibbons had already gotten to her.
“But what, Andrews?”
“An officer arrived, Major Gibbons was his name. He requested to see her. I let her know. She seemed surprised, but it was clear she was familiar with the man. She told me she would go to him.”
“And did she?” Hawk asked. But of course she did. Why wouldn’t she? She had no idea the monster she dealt with.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Do you know where either of them are now?”
Andrews swallowed. “I…I did not care for her to be with him in the room without the benefit of a chaperone, given the damage already done to her reputation.” He glared at Hawk. Under different circumstances Hawk may have responded to such an inference, but bigger matters were at hand.
“What did you do about it?”
“I may have lurked near the doorway, sir. That is when I heard Major Gibbons request that she take a walk with him outside. That there was a matter he wished to discuss with her.”
Hawk pinched the bridge of his nose. This grew worse by the second. “Please tell me she took a chaperone on this walk with her.”
“She did not.”
Hawk opened his eyes and glanced behind the butler. Mrs. Cleary lurked near the door that led to the dining room, her hands fisted together and pressed into her stomach.
Mr. Bowen stepped forward. “What do you know, Mrs. Cleary?”
“I suggested accompanying her, sir, truly I did. But she was adamant that she did not require such. She promised they would stay in the open along the pathway where everyone could see them. I suspected he might have had a mind to declare his intentions given he had come all this way, though Miss Cosgrove did not seem happy at the prospect.”
“If Major Gibbons is as deranged as his sister believes,” Huntsleigh said. “He is not likely to take her rejection well.”
Bile curdled Hawk’s stomach. “Nor will he allow it to be an obstacle to his intentions for her.”
“Did you check the steward’s house? Perhaps she sent Major Gibbons on his way and simply returned home,” Mrs. Cleary suggested, her voice hopeful, though the wringing of her hands brought Hawk little comfort.
Huntsleigh shook his head. “That was our first stop. The house is empty save for the maid who indicated neither Mr. nor Miss Cosgrove have been home since the early morning hours.”
Mr. Bowen issued orders like a well-seasoned general. “Andrews, send word to Cosgrove and arrange to have fresh horses saddled and brought to the front of the house. Mrs. Cleary, inform my wife what has occurred and do your best to keep her from fretting. Tell her it is under control.”
; Hawk wished such were true.
Mr. Bowen turned his attention to Hawk as Mrs. Cleary re-appeared briefly with her employer’s heavy coat. “You know Major Gibbons better than the rest of us. What do you think his plan is?”
Hawk forced the fear to the back of his mind. He needed to keep a clear head. Madalene’s life depended upon it.
“His letter indicates whatever he plans for her will be done within the parameters of the law, keeping him safe from prosecution. I can only guess his first order of business will be to marry her. As his wife, he will have carte blanche to do whatever he pleases.” A factor his brother had never bothered with, considering himself above the law.
“He will not be able to force a marriage here. They will need to leave the area, perhaps he plans a run to Gretna Green,” Huntsleigh suggested.
Hawk nodded. “Likely, but with nightfall so close, he’ll never make it. He’ll need to stop somewhere until first light.”
A cold burst of air hit Hawk in the back and he turned around to see Lord Blackbourne enter the home. He looked at the three of them and stiffened immediately, his expression growing dark as if he sensed the weight of what had happened. Mr. Bowen quickly brought him up to date on events.
“An inn will be too risky,” Hawk said. “It would afford Miss Cosgrove the ability to enlist assistance in breaking free. He’ll look for somewhere else. Somewhere more secluded.”
The butler spoke up once more. “Major Gibbons indicated he had made arrangements to stay at a nearby cabin that was rather rustic in nature.”
“The hunting cabin,” Blackbourne stated. “It is in the direction he’ll need to head. Do you know if he has any familiarity with the area?”
“The man consults with the Prime Minister on matters of strategy.” Hawk said, the reality of what they were up against—what Madalene was up against—sat like a heavy stone in his gut. “Likely he has a cleverly calculated plan to ensure his success.”
Blackbourne slapped his gloves against the palm of his hand. “Well, then we must ensure his failure, hm? Let’s go, men. We have a lady to save.”
Hawk watched the men file out the door one by one, and brought up the rear. It appeared he was not in this fight alone. An odd yet ultimately comforting sensation. He had not expected to have men at arms ready to fight the battle with him, but he did not argue their dedication to the cause. If he meant to stop Gibbons before he did harm to Madalene, Hawk would need all the help he could get.
He only hoped they weren’t already too late.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Madalene’s head pounded as her brain attempted to break free of her skull. She tried to open her eyes but even that was too much. Instead, she moved to press her hands against the sides of her head, only to discover her wrists were bound together in front of her.
Surprise froze her and fear rippled through as the memory of what had happened drifted back in spurts and starts. She had been walking with Major Gibbons, certain he intended to declare his affections and possibly propose. But things changed. Major Gibbons changed. His affable manner took a dark turn. She’d tried to run, to call for help and he’d hit her.
She moved just enough to let her fingers gingerly touch her cheekbone where it throbbed. Pain lanced through her and she drew in a sharp breath, swallowing it just as quickly so as not to let Major Gibbons know she had awakened.
Where was he?
She listened for any clue. Something across the room. A fire crackling. Warmth pressed against her, pushing out the chill. The fire must have been burning for some time. How long had she been unconscious?
She opened her eyes to slits. The room was shrouded in shadows. The sun’s descent from the sky almost complete. Dim light permeated the room from two lit candles set on a small table. They were in a cabin. Rustic, but obviously used recently, as it was devoid of the dust and cobwebs one would expect from somewhere abandoned by its occupants.
“Ah, I see you have awakened my dear. My apologies for the abrupt end to our conversation earlier, but I did not want to risk you causing a scene and bringing the entire household running to your aid. Such an outburst was completely unnecessary. You are in no true danger, after all.”
The rope binding her wrists together said otherwise, but she refrained from arguing. She needed to gather as much information as possible so that she might devise a plan to get to safety. She swallowed back the fear rising in her throat. She couldn’t allow herself to be overcome.
“Where are we?”
“A hunting cabin. Lord Blackbourne’s to be exact. Perfect little place for hiding out until morning light, don’t you think?”
She did not. She did not want to hide out, or do anything, with this man. She just wanted to go home. To find Hawk. To tell him she was sorry for refusing him and that yes, yes she wanted his protection. What she would not give to have him envelop her in his arms and keep her warm and safe.
She had been so determined to have his love, not his protection. Pride had made her a blind fool. His dedication to her, his need to keep her safe—those things had come from his heart. Hawk had seen the danger lurking in broad daylight. He had sensed it where she did not. He understood the madness far better than she and had dedicated his life to ensuring it never harmed her. Not purely out of guilt, but out of love. Why hadn’t she seen that before? She should have said yes to his proposal. Even if she was uncertain of his love, she had never been uncertain of his friendship. And she certainly did not doubt the passion that had sprung up between them.
She had accused him of rash behavior, but she was no less guilty. Now, her hasty refusal of his proposal meant she might never get the chance to tell him the truth. That she could think of no greater future than to be his wife, his confidante, his lover and his friend. To reveal to him how completely he’d captured her heart. How deeply she loved him. Needed him.
He would live the rest of his life steeped in the guilt of not saving her without ever understanding the fault was hers. She could not allow that to happen.
“What are your intentions? Why have you brought me here?”
But part of her already knew. She understood enough to know how the game played out.
“I brought you here to end the challenge the late Lord Hawksmoor set down. To become the victor.” He crossed the room, which given the size of the cabin took but a few strides, and knelt in front of her. She leaned away from him, hating his nearness. “You do know about the game, do you not?”
“I have some knowledge of it, yes.”
“Hm, indeed I suppose you do.” Major Gibbons chuckled and Madalene forced herself not to lash out and kick him in the ribs. She had a clear shot, but the heavy quilts he’d thrown over her weighted her legs down and would have slowed her strike, giving him ample time to catch her leg and likely bind those as he had her wrists. She needed to keep her legs free. To let him think her helpless.
Major Gibbons reached out and caught a lock of her hair, twisting it lightly around his finger. The proper bun she’d crafted hours ago had come loose at some point, leaving her hair falling about her shoulders and down her back. She held her breath and kept still, afraid of what he might do if she pulled away or showed her true disgust at his touch.
“Lord Hawksmoor—the first, not the current—was rather ham-fisted in his approach to our challenges. He thought his charm was enough to coax the lady chosen, but honestly, it showed no finesse in my opinion. Once he had her in his thrall he would simply have his way with her and toss her aside. They always protested his advances, but he claimed to like that part of the game the most. Said it made the thrill all the more potent to feel their fear as he—” He stopped. Perhaps some of her horror had escaped in her expression, she did not know. “Well, enough of that, hm?”
Fury at what the women they’d preyed upon had suffered burned in Madalene’s chest. She well remembered the fear, the glee in Phillip’s face when she had tried to fight him off. He had originally attempted to charm her, but his efforts had fa
llen flat. She wanted nothing to do with him after seeing how he treated his younger brother, the man who had won her young heart so completely. Not that Phillip had needed her to be charmed. He called her a throwaway. Said no one would care what happened to her and would likely not even notice when she was gone.
Gone.
He’d had every intention of killing her after he’d had his way. Would he have enlisted Major Gibbons to assist him in disposing of her body? In concocting the belief that she had simply walked out the door one day, never to return? He assumed no one would question her disappearance. But he had not counted on his brother. Hawk would have noticed. He would have known she would have never left without saying good-bye. He would have looked for her until he had answers.
She knew this in her heart. Had known even then that something stronger than she had words for bound them together and still did. When she’d called out for help, it had been his name she had yelled. The thought of him finding her lifeless body, tossed in a creek or dumped in the woods had angered her and spurred her to fight harder, but she was no match for Phillip’s superior size and strength.
But Hawk was.
He had saved her life by ending his brother’s and then dedicated every day since to finding the other man his brother threatened would come for her. Even after Hawk had been banished from the family home, he’d continued his search for Lord T, the letters sent by Major Gibbons taunting him the entire time.
If this was not an expression of his love for her, she did not know what was. Oh, why had she not seen it earlier? What she wouldn’t do for one more chance. To change her answer. To tell him she understood.
Major Gibbons snapped his fingers in front of her face causing her to jerk, the curl he had wrapped around his finger pulling at her scalp.