She shrugged it off. Perhaps Freddie had decided Zeus needed the exercise and had taken him to St John’s for the day. She chuckled at the thought of the mess the giant Irish wolfhound would make of Hattie’s soup kitchen.
The clock in the downstairs hall chimed half past the hour of eleven. Taking the tinderbox and some of the kindling from the kitchen, she hurried upstairs to Freddie’s bedroom. If she lit the fire now, it would take the chill off the room before he arrived home. Tonight, she intended to share his bed.
She placed a handful of coins on the top of the mantelpiece. “There. That should cover the cost of the wood,” she said.
Taking the tinderbox, she struck at it a couple of times before succeeding in getting a spark. The dry kindling in the fireplace caught alight and soon a fire had taken hold. She shifted a few small logs into place and sat back on her haunches, watching with satisfied pride as the fire began to build.
She had just put the tinderbox back on the shelf when she heard noises downstairs. With a smile on her lips, she headed to the bedroom door. Freddie’s early arrival home meant they would have more time together. Stepping out onto the landing, she heard unfamiliar voices.
“Where did you say he kept the gold?”
“I don’t bloody know. Anyway, we didn’t come here for that; we came for young Rosemount. He is about to get a nasty lesson in not crossing powerful people,” replied a second man.
Eve stilled. Her heart began to thump loudly in her chest. She hadn’t taken Freddie’s warnings about not being in the house alone seriously. No one knew she was there; no one could help her. Think, Eve, think.
She crept back into Freddie’s bedroom and softly closed the door. “Oh no,” she whispered, noting the lack of a key in the lock.
She had just decided his bedroom might not be the best place to hide after all when she heard the sound of heavy boots on the stairs. Her heart was racing, her mouth dry. Fear of the strangers and what they would do if they discovered her, had Eve trembling.
What am I to do?
Voices outside the bedroom door told her she had little time. Racing across the floor, she grabbed her cloak, and dropped to her knees. She slid under the bed and did her best to throw the cloak over her head.
As the door opened, she silently rued the fact she had managed to light the fire.
“Looks like someone is at home. Nice of them to have lit the fire for us. Pity we won’t be here long enough to enjoy the comforts of home.”
The other intruder gave a guttural laugh.
Eve lay under the bed and listened as the intruders went through all the cupboards. Drawers and clothes were tossed about onto the floor.
Her hands began to shake uncontrollably and her bottom lip quivered. If those men had been sent by the Bachelor Board she would be in grave danger if they discovered her.
The men left the room but stood outside in the hallway. Eve prayed they would leave the house. She had to escape and warn Freddie.
There was silence for a short time. All she could hear was the sound of her heart beating loudly in her ears.
The fabric on the edge of her cloak was roughly pulled away and right in front of her appeared an ugly grinning face.
“’Ello darlin’. Didn’t think we’d find you, did ya?” the man said.
Eve tried to move to the other side, but the second man was there waiting for her. He grabbed hold of her skirts and dragged her from under the bed.
“Stand up,” he ordered.
Eve got to her feet. She was about to make a grand statement about her uncle being the Duke of Strathmore, and her other uncle being the Bishop of London, but the shiny blade in the intruder’s hand put paid to that notion.
He looked her up and down. As he did, his companion came around to the same side of the bed.
“I know her. She is Freddie’s fancy woman. I reckon if we take her, he will come out of hiding. We won’t have to go looking for him.”
“I don’t know who you are, but my family has money. I am certain whatever your employer is paying you, my father will double it to see me safely returned home,” she said. Her father had always taught her money spoke a language everyone understood. All men could be bought—you just needed to establish the right price.
The two intruders exchanged a knowing look.
“Sorry, love. There is nothing your family could give us that would make us betray our masters. After you and your sweetheart’s sudden disappearance, other people will think twice about testifying against members of the board and the crown’s case will collapse. We will be rewarded with a king’s ransom of jewels and all the whores we can use.” He reached out and took a rough hold of Eve. From out of his jacket pocket he pulled a length of rope.
Eve screamed.
A hand came over her mouth. The soft cotton of a handkerchief soaked in ether pressed against her face. She held her breath for as long as she could, but it was no use. Her knees buckled from under her. She silently screamed as the ether took her under and rendered her unconscious.
Chapter Forty-Three
Eve awoke to find herself lying bound on the floor of a moving carriage. Her hands were tied in front of her and her legs were secured tightly together.
The effects of the drug took a little while to wear off, and she passed out several times more. When her head finally cleared and she was able to remain conscious, she remembered the events of the previous night.
She had been kidnapped.
The jolting of the carriage made it impossible for her sit up. After several attempts to gain purchase on the floor, she lay down, sobbing in desperation and fear.
“Oh, Freddie, I am so sorry. I should have listened to you. Now I am going to get us both killed,” she muttered.
She struggled in vain against the ties that bound her hands. They had been expertly applied. No matter how hard she tried to pull her hands free from the bindings she couldn’t make headway.
Her feet were a slightly better option. She managed to loosen the rope around her left ankle. She was close to getting the rope to move down her foot when the carriage began to slow.
It moved to one side of the road and came to halt. She listened to the jingle of the reins, bridle, and bit as the driver settled the horses. A sharp whistle rang out, followed by the sound of several pairs of boots on loose stone.
The door of the carriage opened.
She squinted in the bright morning light, catching a glimpse of brown, curly hair before a sack was thrown over her head. Strong, but surprisingly gentle, arms pulled her from the carriage and helped her find her feet.
“Time to attend to your needs. You have five minutes, so make it fast,” spoke a gruff voice.
She recognized the voice as belonging to one of the men who had taken her from Rosemount House during the night.
“Take my arm.”
“I can’t see, and I can’t really hold onto you. My hands are tied,” she replied.
The man swore. Then took hold of her hands and removed the ties around her wrists. Eve rubbed them, glad to be free of the tight bindings.
She was sorely tempted to lift the sack, but a rough slap on her back gave her pause. The sack was made of heavy cloth, and it effectively cut out all but a tiny amount of light. Eve was blind.
“Hold my arm tight then, and don’t try anything clever. I’ve had no sleep and I’m not in the mood for any games,” he said.
He guided her from the roadside and she felt the soft spongy texture of grass beneath her feet. When they had gone a short way, he stopped.
With both hands on her shoulders, the kidnapper stood behind her. “Now, this is how it’s going to work. I take the sack off so you can do your business. You keep your back to me. If you try to turn around things will go badly for you,” he said.
He pulled the sack from Eve’s head and she stood blinking in the bright sunlight. Without thinking, she began to turn, but the sound of a pistol being cocked stopped her. Neither of her kidnappers had done anyth
ing to harm her up to this point, but until she understood a little more of their plans, she would be foolish to risk incurring their wrath.
She turned her back fully to him. It was not the privacy she was used to when it came to her toilette, but with a full bladder she had little option. Lifting her skirts, she squatted down and relieved herself on the grass.
When she was done, the sack was put back over her head and she was guided back to the carriage.
“Turn your hands over, palms upward.”
A small bread roll and a piece of cheese were placed into her hands. With some difficulty she managed to get the food under the sack and to her mouth. Hunger stopped her from complaining about the pitiful size of her meal. A flask was pushed into her hand, and without a word she took it and drained it of the lukewarm tea inside.
“Thank you,” she said, waving the empty flask out in front of her.
It was snatched from her hands.
“Please, you don’t have to do this. I haven’t seen your faces. You could just leave me here by the roadside,” she pleaded.
There was no reply.
With her head covered by the sack, she was reliant upon her hearing to gather any further information about her kidnappers. A second pair of boots scraped on the roadside.
“Is she done?”
The good news was that they seemed to want her not only alive, but in good health. She knew that was a blessing not to take for granted. If they wanted her dead, she would not have made it out of Rosemount House alive.
The penny had dropped not long after she had first regained consciousness. She was being used as bait to get to their real target: Freddie.
What happened to him? Was he still alive, and if so, where was he? Did he even know what had happened to her? She rued her impetuous nature. It was morning, so her family would only now be discovering her disappearance. Even with Caroline telling them of Eve’s secret visits to Rosemount House, they would have little to go on as to her actual whereabouts.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
A guttural laugh beside her was the only response. She was pushed against the side of the carriage and her hands were tied tightly once more. Rope was tied about her waist, holding the sack in place, but at least her feet were left free.
She heard the sound of the carriage door being opened once more and she was lifted inside and deposited without ceremony onto the long leather bench. She held her breath, hoping they were not going to tie her feet and make her lie on the floor once more.
The door was closed and she heard the sound of a key in the lock. There would be no sudden bolting from the carriage even if she managed to get her hands free.
The carriage pulled away from the roadside and continued on.
Eve sat back against the seat and tried to settle her worried mind. She took long, deep breaths. It would be easy enough to let her fears overcome her and give in to the tears, but she was determined to do everything in her power to survive. The one lesson Will had told her from his experience as a spy, was to keep a clear mind. She cursed herself for not having listened to his other advice about avoiding dangerous situations. If she ever saw him again, she would listen.
She came to the conclusion the best thing she could do was to comply with their commands. Soon enough, she would find out who was behind her abduction and no doubt what plans they had for her. Only then could she attempt to do something about trying to escape.
Later that afternoon, the carriage pulled over once more and she went through the same routine with the kidnappers. When night fell, she curled up as best she could on the carriage bench and snatched a few hours of fitful sleep.
On the second morning of her ordeal, she was woken by the sensation of the carriage coming to a sudden halt. There came loud shouting. She froze with fear as the sound of a pistol shot rang out.
“I’ve been shot. I’m done for, oh god!” came the cry of one of her kidnappers.
Eve began to sob. Whomever else was outside on the road meant business.
“Get down!” a familiar voice bellowed.
She pressed her ear to the side of the window and prayed her salvation was at hand.
The loud bang of a body being pushed against the outside of the carriage had her fearing the rescue attempt had gone awry. There was silence for a time. She put her ear tentatively to the window one more and listened.
A key was placed into the lock of the door, and fresh air hit her skin as the door opened. Hands worked at the ropes around her waist and the sack was pulled from her head.
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” she whispered as she caught sight of her rescuer.
“No, just Freddie,” he replied.
He made quick work of the bindings around her hands. The second her hands were free, she threw her arms around him and promptly burst into tears. He held her tight.
“Oh, Freddie. I’ve never been so frightened. I thought they had killed you, and they were going to shoot me in some lonely field and leave my body for the crows!”
Her imagination had had several days to come up with all manner of explanation as to what the kidnappers had had in mind for her. She had managed to keep the worst of her fears at bay until now, but no longer.
“It is alright. You are safe now. I found you,” he said.
The wave of relief which washed over her made her feel lightheaded. She lay her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. She had barely slept for two days.
“What about the men?” she asked.
Freddie kissed her forehead. “One of them bolted as soon as I arrived. I did manage to get a pistol shot in his direction, I think I hit him. The other I gave a crack over the head,” he replied. Taking Eve by the hand, he helped her to climb out of the carriage. She kept a tight hold of his arm as she swayed with giddiness once she was fully on her feet. There was no sign of the kidnappers.
“Either I didn’t hit him hard enough or his accomplice came back for him,” said Freddie.
Eve was too overcome with relief and sudden fatigue to discuss the merits of Freddie’s rescue attempt. She was free from her bonds and safe with him. Nothing else mattered.
“Come on, let’s get as far away from here as we can. Who is to say they don’t have other accomplices who could come to their aid?” asked Freddie.
Eve squeezed his hand. Freddie led her over to his horse that was tethered to a nearby tree. He soon had both of them on the horse’s back and riding away from the carriage.
As they rode, Eve let her head fall forward. With her arms wrapped around Freddie’s waist she let more tears fall.
A few miles down the road, they came across a small farming village. In the middle of the village was a coaching inn. Freddie rode into the yard. A stable hand took the reins of Freddie’s horse and they both dismounted.
“We shall stay here for tonight. I expect you could do with some sleep and to wash the dust from the road out of your hair,” he said.
As they reached the door of the inn, Eve pulled back on Freddie’s hand. She ushered him to one side. “I don’t have any money. They took me from your bedroom. All I have is the clothes I am standing in.
I doubt that the innkeeper will extend us credit,” she said.
Freddie smiled. He leant forward, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. She wished desperately that he would. After all that she had endured, she ached for him to take her in his arms.
“I have money. Thomas came to see me in London the day before you disappeared. I am back somewhat in favor with my parents. I am flush again with funds. Fear not, my love. You shall eat within the hour and sleep in a proper bed with me tonight. I shall have word sent to your family.”
The innkeeper was more than happy to accommodate the young wedded couple who arrived on his doorstep asking for a room. His son, a strapping big lad, brought a metal bath up to Eve and Freddie’s room and soon had it filled with warm water. Eve looked longingly at the tub and the small bar of soap which sat on a nearby table. She co
uldn’t wait to bathe.
After he was gone, Freddie took an exhausted Eve and stripped her naked. He helped her to stand in the bath and with a fresh cloth began to wash her. “Let me attend to your needs, my love. I have a particular gift for the lady’s toilette,” he said.
His hands tenderly washed the grime and fear from her body. Butterfly kisses were trailed up the back of her leg and along the small of her back.
It was late autumn, but she shivered not from the cold. She was alive. She had never felt so much alive. Her hero had rescued her from an uncertain fate. And now she was standing before him while he tended to her needs. The only need he had not met was the slowly building sexual heat within her body. Every stroke of the washcloth sent tremors of expectation through her.
When she was clean, he helped her from the bath. He slowly began to dry her damp body. He wiped her face, then wrapped the towel around her, and pulled her to him. He held her face in his hands and their gazes met.
‘I am sorry I didn’t listen to you. I put us both in danger,” she said.
“We will talk later. Just know that I would die before I let anything happen to you. You are my world,” he said.
His lips descended upon hers in a fiery kiss that confirmed his words. No man would ever kiss her like Freddie did. She belonged to him. Only him.
He pulled her roughly against him. Through the thin towel she could feel the hardness of his erection.
Her fingers slipped down to touch the front of his trousers. She gave a gentle squeeze of his manhood, his appreciative groan telling her his mind and hers were as one.
He released her from the kiss and stepped back, taking the towel with him. “Let me finish attending to your needs, my lady.”
The gruff edge to his voice matched the passion shining in his eyes. Freddie knelt before her and once more placed butterfly kisses on her body. When his tongue touched the outside of her mound, Eve gasped. His fingers gently opened her to him, and his tongue swept inside. Her breath shuddered as he speared into her with strong, deep strokes. Her hands rested on his head, his hair entangled in her fingers.
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