Tempting Danger: Sinclair and Raven series

by Vella, Wendy

  “He told you that?”

  “I know that,” Alice said firmly. “My hearing, for one—”

  “He would care nothing for that if he loved you.”

  “And yet he doesn’t, so I beg of you not to mention it again.”

  “I’m sorry if I have upset you, Alice.” She felt a hand on her back rubbing in small circles and felt the ridiculous urge to cry.

  “We are friends, Kate, no more, and it is best that way.”

  “Very well, I will say no more.”

  Alice exhaled.

  “But—”

  “Must there always be a but?”

  “If you wish to talk, I hope it is with me.”

  “Of course. Now find us some flat pebbles, I wish to skim them. If we are to hide in here until they are finished, I must do something.”

  “Where would I find them?” Kate looked around her at the grass.

  “Start looking.”

  “I have a better idea. I shall sneak back and get us more food, and you start looking.”

  “That is a good idea,” Alice said, thinking of the cherry tarts she had yet to taste. “Do not tarry.”

  Kate scampered off, and Alice started walking, head down, attempting to find something to skim.

  How could Nicholas be so shallow?

  “Is there any possibility that you could give some thought before you speak, Alice? Just a small window of hope that you may show sense.”

  She turned to find him walking toward her.

  “I am eminently sensible.” She turned away and began looking for stones once more. “Go away.”

  “And yet you took one of society’s most powerful woman to task over her claims I was the most handsome and intelligent man present.”

  She shrugged. “It was not true.”

  “I know that!”

  “Excellent, I was worried about your ego briefly.”

  “God’s blood, you are a trying woman.”

  By a stroke of good fortune, Alice found a stone. Bending, she retrieved it.

  A hand grabbed her, turning her to face him.

  “You were risking social ruin by challenging her, Alice. Could you not see that?”

  “I don’t like her.”

  “I’m sure the feeling is reciprocated, but the point here is that you cannot challenge her and not expect her to retaliate. She could have you struck off every guest list in London, were it her wish to do so.”

  He was worried about her.

  “I know to some that is a fate worse than death, but I doubt I will live in society, and I have never been able to suffer fools.”

  “And what of Kate? Do you want her to follow in your footsteps? Be tarnished by your behavior?” he demanded.

  “You’re exaggerating.” She wrenched her arm free, then moved closer to the water’s edge. She skimmed the stone. It sank.

  “Your technique is all wrong.”

  “I suppose not only are you handsome and intelligent, you can also skim stones?”

  “I did not say I was handsome and intelligent, Lady Mueller did. And yes, I can skim stones exceedingly well.” The words were gritted out.

  “Why are you so concerned with my reputation when clearly you destroyed yours at some stage, then retrieved it.”

  He looked uncomfortable as he searched for a stone.

  “Because you are a man,” she said in a flat voice, stating what he would not. “Which is ridiculously unjust. You can do whatever you wish, and you will survive—”

  “Not anything I wish. For instance, I could not ride naked down Bond Street, and nor could I prance about like Nigel and not suffer endless ridicule for it.”

  “That man is clearly a fool or has a considerable ego,” Alice said, pushing the vision of him naked to one side.

  “Both. But the point is, Alice, a woman’s reputation is delicate. You need to take more care of yours. You leave the house unescorted and speak your mind—”

  “As do you and any number of my relatives, male and female.”

  “Who are established in society. You are not.”

  She sighed, because really, what else was there to do? Turning to face him, Alice hadn’t realized how close he was to her. She backed up quickly. Her foot caught and then she was falling.

  “Alice!” He tried to reach her, but too late, she landed in the water.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nicholas couldn’t hide his laughter as he bent to help Alice. “Once again I must rescue you from yourself.”

  He lifted her out of the water, placing her on the grass once more.

  “This is your fault!”

  “I hardly see how when I was simply talking to you.”

  “I wish for you to go away.” Her words were a low growl.

  “The front of your dress looks dry. It is only the rear. I am sure no one will notice,” he said, attempting to placate her.

  She looked mad as a snake now, and he was in her firing line. Nicholas found he quite liked that. She would never stroke his ego like some.

  He should walk away. His feet didn’t move.

  “I blame you entirely for my current predicament, Lord Braithwaite. Please keep your distance from me in future.”

  “That seems unfair when I did not lay a finger on you. You stepped backward into the water all by yourself.”

  “Hideous man. I wish nothing further to do with you,” she squelched by him.

  Nicholas had taken her away from Lady Mueller because the woman held grudges and her sights were clearly set on Alice for daring to question her. Of course, Alice had not accepted his criticism, as he’d known she wouldn’t.

  He followed, admiring the wet material of her dress clinging to her lovely bottom and shapely legs.

  “I had not realized what a bad sport you were, Alice.”

  She spun to face him, green eyes alive. Her beauty was there in every line of her face. Every expression and gesture. How could she believe she was not the equal of those like Eden and Lady Levermarch? She was that and so much more.

  “You antagonized me with your words and... and…”

  “Nearness? Come now, friends should be able to speak openly with each other, surely?”

  Her mouth snapped shut as she struggled to contain her anger. Surely a herculean effort for one who usually spoke the first thought that entered her head.

  “Speak your mind, Alice; it is not healthy to keep all that venom inside you.” Why he felt the need to antagonize her, he had no idea.

  “You”—she pointed a finger at him—“are no friend of mine. Furthermore, you are spending far too much time with Cam,” she then stomped away.

  Nicholas stayed where he was and wondered what the hell he was supposed to do with Alice Sinclair. He’d woken believing he’d put her from his head, the infatuation had passed. Clearly that was not the case at all.

  Nicholas turned and skimmed the stone in his hand.

  “Four, Alice!” he called after her. She replied with something foul that made him laugh.

  Following her, he watched the women in her family gather around, helping her dry off.

  “Hello, Nicholas.”

  “Hello, Rose.”

  “Miss Lutton is looking lovely today, don’t you think? I’ve heard she is well versed in running estates. Apparently her father leans heavily on her.”

  Nicholas looked at Miss Lutton, who was pretty but did nothing for him, and then back to Rose.

  “She told me she thought you were exceedingly handsome.”

  “Did she? That was very nice of her. I seem to be getting all the accolades today.”

  Alice was now standing with Wolf, still looking spitting mad. She kept shooting him fulminating glances.

  “Lady Mueller is a foolish woman with far too much money and time on her hands, unlike Miss Lutton.” Rose patted his hand and walked away, leaving Nicholas shaking his head.

  He was clearly being targeted by the matchmakers in the family. He mulled over what was to be done about t
hat as he collected Freddy.

  “I like her.” Benjamin Hetherington said, stopping his mount beside Nicholas.

  “Rose? Yes, she is a lovely lady.”

  “Not Mrs. Sinclair, but Miss Alice Sinclair. She’s nice. Alex told me what she said to Lady Mueller. Not many women would be willing to speak up against that shrew.”

  “She should not have spoken to a lady of her situation in such a way.” Nicholas swung himself into the saddle.

  “Rubbish. She has enough titled and powerful people at her back to do so. It’s refreshing. I am sick of those who bow and scrape to people like Lady Mueller.”

  Nicholas thought about that as he urged his mount back up the hill.

  He saw her then. Alice, lying broken and bloodied on the ground. The vision filled his head suddenly, and then it was gone.

  Nicholas had never had a vision while he was awake before. It terrified him. He instantly searched for her.

  “Anyone for a gallop!”

  The words came from Lord Ryder, and then suddenly there was a thunder of hooves and they were off.

  Alice! He had to find her; she was in danger.

  Nicholas felt the blood race in his veins as he nudged Freddy’s flanks, and seconds later he felt the muscles bunch and release beneath him and they were galloping.

  James whooped by him in a very undukish manner, with Max on his heels before Nicholas could yell at them to stop. Lady Levermarch was not far behind. He could still not see Alice.

  His heart pounded, and fear gripped him. The desperation to find her was absolute.

  Up ahead was a row of trees; he saw her then. Everyone else went right. She went left. Crouching low over Freddy’s neck, he soon drew level.

  “Stop, Alice!”

  She ignored him and crouched lower over her horse’s neck. She got in front of him briefly.

  “Danger!” She heard him and began to slow her horse, much to Nicholas’s relief. Neither of them saw the bird until it was too late. It flew up in front of Alice’s horse. Stopping suddenly, she flew over its head. Nicholas tried to control Freddy, but he bucked, and Nicholas hit the ground hard enough to make his teeth rattle.

  He scrambled to his feet, desperate to reach Alice. She lay a few feet away unmoving. The exact scenario of his vision, without the blood.

  “Alice!”

  Running, he dropped to his knees beside her. Gently, Nicholas turned her over, so she was lying on her back. Pressing fingers to her neck, he felt a pulse.

  “Thank God.”

  He pulled off her hat. A trickle of blood ran down her forehead.

  “Just a small amount, not like the vision.”

  Parting the hair on her head, he found a deep gash. Pulling out his handkerchief, he pressed it to the wound to blot the blood.

  “Alice, open your eyes for me now.” He kept talking as he ran his hands over the rest of her head. “Come on, Alice. I need you to look at me.”

  Fear unlike anything he’d ever experienced gripped him as he looked over her head and saw the rock she’d landed on. His hands shook, and his heart thudded hard as he wondered if her stomach or chest had impacted with it. Could she be bleeding inside?

  He’d known this was going to happen.

  “Alice, please wake up.”

  She was pale and still unconscious. Lowering the handkerchief, he ran his hands over her body to check for any other injuries. Her wrist was sitting at an odd angle. Pulling off his necktie, he slid it around her neck then tied the ends together.

  “Help, someone!” He roared the words as loudly as he could, but knew it was unlikely anyone would hear him.

  Easing her wrist into the sling, he watched for any sign of movement, but her eyes stayed closed.

  “It’s all right, sweetheart, I am here, and your family will arrive soon.”

  Shrugging off his jacket, he draped it over her body. Bending over her, he kissed a cheek, then whispered in her ear that she had to wake up. The sound of hooves had him lifting his head. Someone was coming.

  “Alice!” Wolf arrived first, pulling his great black beast to a halt beside them and leaping from its back.

  “Birds flew up in front of her horse, she fell,” Nicholas said. “She has yet to regain consciousness. She has a deep cut on her head, and her wrist, I believe, is broken.”

  The rest of the family arrived. Dev, James, Eden, Cam, Max, and Lilly, who immediately crouched beside Alice’s head. “How is she?”

  “Unconscious, Lilly. Help her.”

  “It’s all right now, brother. We will care for her.”

  “Dev?”

  “Here, Lilly.”

  “Move to her feet, Nicholas, and let the family in,” Lilly told him. “They can help her.”

  He quickly did as directed, unsure how they could help, but willing to do whatever it took. Apollo moved closer, his lips in Alice’s hair. Nicholas knew the animal meant her no harm, but he was so big and Alice so slight.

  “Easy, Apollo, she will be all right,” Wolf told him. The horse didn’t move, just kept his lips on Alice’s head, occasionally blowing a breath of air on her.

  “What do you see, Dev?” Cam asked him.

  They were all around Alice now. Nicholas rested his hands on her ankles, simply because he wanted to touch her. Needed to know if she twitched. He looked at each of the family, and when he reached Dev, he noted his eyes were unnaturally bright.

  “Her color is weak, and I see some blood inside her, Lilly.”

  “Alice.” The word was a ragged whisper from Wolf.

  Nicholas felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see James above him. Max stood to his side, looking down at Nicholas with worry for Alice in his eyes.

  “What you are about to see will shock you, cousin. Have faith in them and know that what you are witness to is magic of the very best kind.”

  Shocked at his cousin’s words, all Nicholas could do was nod.

  “Make a connection, everyone,” Dev said.

  “My hunch is that we include Nicholas, and as Essie is not here, we need his strength,” Cam added.

  What were they talking about?

  “Christ, Alice.” Wolf leaned over to kiss his sister’s cheek.

  “Come now, Wolf, she needs your strength,” Dev said.

  “Take my hand, Nicholas.”

  He didn’t hesitate, instead gripping Cam’s hand tight. Now was not the time for questions. Now was about Alice. Whatever this was, he would do as he was told and hope it was enough to help the beautiful woman who lay motionless before them.

  He watched as Dev held Cam’s other hand and wrapped his fingers around the back of Lilly’s neck. Eden held Nicholas and Wolf, who in turn held Alice’s limp hand.

  James kept his hand on Nicholas’s shoulder, silent in his support.

  “All right, love, but only until she wakes,” Dev cautioned Lilly.

  A surge of power gripped Nicholas suddenly, and his hands began to tingle.

  “Don’t break the connection, Nicholas.”

  “What’s happening, Cam?”

  “Explanations later, now you need to focus on Alice.”

  He watched his sister pull off her gloves and place her hands on Alice.

  “Christ, she moved,” Nicholas rasped.

  She kept twitching as Lilly’s hands moved over her head and down to her chest, then lower to the stomach.

  “Open your eyes, Alice,” Dev demanded. His eyes glowed like the brightest gem as they focused on her.

  “Come on, sweetheart.” Wolf’s words were raw. Apollo swung his large head away from Alice briefly and nudged his master before returning to her.

  It was almost as if Lilly was healing with her hands. How was that possible? He couldn’t be seeing this, surely? It was beyond comprehension.

  Slowly color began to fill Alice’s cheeks and then her lashes fluttered.

  “Enough now, her color is stronger.” He watched Dev break the circle and ease Lilly’s hands off Alice. He then took her
into his arms, and she slumped against his chest.

  “Lilly!” Nicholas leapt to his feet and moved to her side.

  “She will be all right, the healing just exhausts her,” Dev said.

  “Alice?” He looked down at her, and her eyes met and held his. Something passed between them that he couldn’t identify and then she broke the bond by closing her eyes once more.

  “She will be all right now also.”

  “Oh God, Lilly,” Alice said in a raspy voice. “You healed me, didn’t you?”

  “Well, it seems you are indeed part of the circle, Nicholas,” Cam said. “We are not all present, but I felt your power. If I was in doubt before, I no longer am. You are definitely one of us.”

  “I d-don’t understand what just happened... any of it.”

  He felt shaken, as if he had woken from a disturbing dream. First the vision and now this.

  “You will, but not now,” James said.

  Nicholas had just witnessed something he would never be able to understand. But what shocked him more were the feelings running through him as he looked down at Alice Sinclair. Her pain had been his, and the thought of her not regaining consciousness, unbearable.

  Christ, he was in trouble.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alice felt every jolt and every twitch as she rode before Wolf. Nicholas was at her side, silent, somber, and shocked.

  Lilly had healed her, and he had witnessed that. How did they explain it to him? Would he be repulsed and turn from them with the realization of what they could do?

  Dev had Lilly before him, in his arms, and her eyes were closed as she slept. Exhausted from the healing.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Why did you take the opposite route to everyone else, Alice?” Wolf questioned her.

  She had no answer to that, so she simply apologized once more.

  “She cannot be blamed for the bird flying in front of her horse, Wolf.” Her guilt increased as Nicholas defended her.

  What had gone through his head when he’d found her lying unconscious on the ground? He’d yelled at her to stop; she’d ignored him. Then he’d roared that there was danger. Had he not done so, the damage to her could have been irreparable. She had hurt him too. The guilt intensified.

  “But the point is, she was where she should not have been yet again. I went one way, so she went the other. It was reckless and irresponsible.”