by Wendy Vella
He did not have much to tell them, only that he was held by two men. “And neither of them was Mr. Zavorski," Harry added.
"His name is Boleslav," Nick added. "He is not a very pleasant man, Lord Harrington, and my friends and I have found out many bad things about him, so it is fair to say I am glad we were able to get you away from him, and that my wife is not in his clutches. It seems that whoever took the translations that Grace was working on was disposed of by Boleslav, and then he kidnapped you to finish them."
Grace felt the tension in her husband. "He killed a man?" She whispered.
"We believe so, yes."
"But what was on those papers?"
"Our information is that they were instructions for a series of robberies that were
written in some kind of code."
"God good," Harry said.
"But how will we stop him from trying again, Nick?"
"There are other translators in London, but as you have started and are now aware that they are more than just words, our fear is that it is you he will continue to target, as you know much about him." This came from Lord Vereton, who until then had been silently watching them converse.
"Therefore, we think it is best that both you and my wife leave London, Lord Harrington," Nick added. "I have a hunting box, tucked on a quiet piece of countryside that we shall stay in until these men are caught."
"What!" Grace looked at him. "But I don't want to leave London."
"Why not? I will come with you, as will your cousin and dog," Nick reasoned. "It is for the best, Grace. There, I will be able to protect you better, while Leo, Jacob, and Marcus, along with some other men, find Boleslav."
"Capital," Harry said loudly. "I love the idea of a trip to the country, Grace."
"You will come with us?" She looked up at Nick, who was watching her closely.
"Of course. Did you believe I would send you alone, or with someone else to watch over you?"
She had thought that actually, but did not say the words. "All right, as long as we are all going, then I see no reason to refuse."
"I would have simply carried you had you not agreed," her husband then said, his eyes steady on her face.
"Capital," Harry said again, and Grace had the feeling that her cousin realized there was now more than animosity between her and Nick, and was more than happy about that fact.
Plans were made and they were to leave early the next morning. Lord Vereton took Harry to his house to collect his things, and then they all were to stay at the Attwood townhouse. Grace retired early, after their evening meal, leaving Nick and Leo, as the marquis insisted she now call him, to discuss everything. Harry had long since found his bed, tired from his ordeal.
After a bath, Grace climbed into her bed yawning. It had been a trying few days, but tonight she would sleep knowing that Harry was safe and under the same roof as she and Nick. The fire cast a soft glow around her room, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy.
Would Nick seek her bed tonight? She hoped he did, as she wished to sleep wrapped in his arms, warm and safe. Grace let herself drift to sleep with the memory of last night in her head.
Something roused her, a noise in her room. "Nick?" She pushed herself into a sitting position.
"No, Lady Attwood, and if you wish for your husband and cousin to remain unharmed you will come quietly."
The man Nick had called Boleslav now stood beside her bed, and in his hand was a pistol.
"You have caused me much trouble, Lady Attwood, but it will end tonight. Now get out of bed slowly and walk to the windows."
"I am in my nightdress!" Grace hissed. "Surely I must be allowed to dress?”
"There is no time, as your husband could enter at any moment."
Throwing back the covers, Grace grabbed the shawl she had thrown over the foot of the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders before pushing her feet into slippers.
"Now move to the windows as I have said, Lady Attwood."
He was too big for her to think about overpowering, plus he had a gun, and unfortunately Nipper had chosen to remain downstairs with Nick, so he would make no noise to alert anyone as to what was happening.
"Am I to jump?" Grace said when she reached the windows and threw them open.
"There is a rope. You will climb down and my men will be waiting."
It is three stories,” Grace gasped.
"My men will catch you should you fall." These words were accompanied by a prod in the back by the gun. "Now hurry please, I have no wish to meet your husband or his large friend."
Lifting her skirts, Grace stepped onto the ledge and looked over. It was dark below but she saw three men, and the rope that was attached to the small balcony. A cool wind brushed over her and Grace thought furiously of what her next move should be. She had no wish for Nick to come running into the room and Boleslav to shoot him, yet she did not want to go with the man. Something told her he would not let her go, even when she had done as he wished.
"Move." She was prodded again, so she swung her leg over the edge and gripped the rope in her hands. She was not even sure she could do this; climb down and not fall. Was she strong enough to hold her weight?
"There are knots, they will help you down, and I shall follow."
Grace started slowly, clinging to the rope every time she moved lower. Her hands burned, as did her thighs, but she was making progress, and focused solely on reaching the bottom. Everything else, she shut out of her mind. Once she was at the bottom she would find a way to alert Nick, for now she had to concentrate on not breaking her neck.
"Move!"
"I'm tired," Grace snapped at the man above her. "My hands hurt, and as I have never done such a thing before, you must allow me time to get down."
"We do not have time, now move, Lady Attwood."
She did as he asked, every muscle in her body aching from holding her weight.
"Let go now, my men will catch you."
"Certainly not!" Grace said, but her hands lost their grip and she fell. Hands caught her, and then she was placed gently on her feet. Her shawl was handed to her, and she took it with hands that shook.
"Get her to the carriage," Mr. Boleslav said as he landed on his feet beside her seconds later.
Grace was then lifted and thrown over a shoulder before she could try to flee, and as her windows faced the gardens, they were soon running down the hill toward the gate at the bottom.
CHAPTER NINE
Nick should let his wife sleep. He shouldn't be opening her door and making his way toward her bed, but he was. He hadn't even taken the time to go to his rooms and undress; such was his need to see her. He would hold her, he thought, just sleep with her in his arms. Surely he could do that.
He saw the open window then and frowned. Why would she open a window and have the fire lit? Panic gripped him as he looked at the bed and saw it was empty. Running to the window he looked out and saw them, running down the garden toward the gate at the bottom. In the moonlight he could see Grace over the shoulder of one of the men.
"Leo!" he roared, running back through the house. Continuing to rouse his friend as he ran, Nick took the stairs two at a time, and made it out the French doors off his office seconds later. He sprinted down the grass hill, to reach the gate as the carriage door slammed shut. Running as the carriage started to move he leapt into the air, managed to grab the back, and held on, hauling himself upwards until he was balanced. Looking behind him he saw no sign of Leo, but he knew his friend would find him, Nick just had to keep Grace safe until then.
The carriage picked up speed when it left the street. He watched for landmarks and hoped Grace was all right inside. How the hell had they got her out of the house without him noticing it? He went cold, realizing they must have made her climb out the window; it was the only way he would not have seen them.
Nick closed his eyes at the thought of her falling. He had underestimated the Russian, believing he would not come for her again, here, knowing that Nick w
as now on to him. Especially as they had found the house Boleslav had held Harrington in, and taken three of his men whilst rescuing Grace's cousin.
The carriage swung around a corner at speed, and Nick bit back a curse as he felt his hand slip, but he managed to hold on. They were leaving the busy streets of London, but it was some time before Nick felt the carriage begin to slow and he noted they had entered a village. The carriage rolled by some cottages and then turned up a driveway that was rutted and narrow. The dark concealed him as he jumped from the back and followed on foot, watching as the carriage pulled up in a clearing outside a house. The doors were thrown open and soon Grace appeared.
She was struggling against the hands that held her. Dressed only in her nightwear, she at least had on her slippers and a shawl. She was saying something in Russian, her words clipped and angry. The man who was presumably Boleslav grunted something back.
They carried her into the house and she fought them every step of the way.
"Good girl," Nick whispered, making his way through the shadows toward the house. The moon was high, which would alert whoever was watching if he stepped out into the open, so he stayed where he was until he knew how many people Boleslav had put outside to guard the house.
He saw one at the front, and making his way round the rear of the house, he found another. With no gun or knife, he would need to be quick to disarm them. Waiting until the man had turned, he made his move, running across the grass and leaping, catching him from behind and throwing him to the ground. Once there, he knocked the man unconscious. Taking his gun he then searched him and found a knife. He slipped both into his waistband then headed around the building and did the same to the guard at the front.
Opening the front door slightly, Nick listened. He heard no voices, so slipped inside.
He checked the downstairs rooms, but found no one, and began to make his way up the stairs, stopping when he heard voices. One was Grace's, but she was still speaking Russian, so he had no idea what was being said. He could hear another voice, again presumably Boleslav, but was unsure if he had any other men up there with him.
He then heard the sound of footsteps, and hurried back down, managing to hide beneath the stairs as two men reached the bottom. Hoping they were the only two in the house, he waited until they had moved to another room, and once again started back up. Light was coming from only one room. Turning the key, he unlocked the door and slipped inside.
Grace was seated at a table under a lamp with some papers and a pen before her. Her eyes went wide as she realized who had entered, but thankfully she remained silent. Placing a finger to his lips Nick walked softly to where she sat and cupped her face, before lowering his head and kissing her softly.
"Nick," she whispered against his lips, and he heard the desperation in that one word.
"Shh, sweetheart." He lifted her from the chair and into his arms, holding her close for precious seconds before placing her on her feet. He then went to the window. It was nailed shut. Smashing the glass would be too loud, so they would need to leave the room and find another, which hopefully had a window they could climb out of.
Taking her hand he then led her to the door, opening it he looked out, and saw the hall was empty, so he motioned for her to follow. He then locked the door behind them.
Taking Grace's hand, he led her toward the only other room on that floor. He entered and headed for the windows. They were not nailed shut, and opened with a bit of force. Looking out, he gauged the drop to the ground, which was not great, but still enough to hurt Grace if she fell.
"I'm going first," he whispered in her ear, “then you follow, and I will catch you from below."
She nodded, but said nothing further, and he brushed another kiss over her hair before helping her out onto the roof. Nick then lowered himself over the edge and dropped to the ground. Once there, he motioned for Grace to follow. She didn't hesitate, doing exactly as he had and then letting herself fall into his arms.
He heard a shout then, and realized that someone had entered the room and found Grace missing.
"Run!" he called, lowering her to the ground. She did, heading for the front of the house with Nick on her heels. The carriage had been moved and he knew they would have no time to find it, so he took her hand and headed down the driveway. There were ruts, and they both stumbled, but soon reached the bottom. Turning right, Nick then started running once more, leading them back into the little village.
Stopping at the first house he saw, he slipped around the back and found a good-sized stable. Opening the door, he pulled Grace in behind him.
"We need a horse," he said, releasing her. She followed as he made his way along the stalls until he found a large bay that would be strong enough to carry them both back to London.
Finding a bridle and saddle, he quickly slipped them on, and led the horse outside toward the street.
"Hurry, Nick, they will be following," Grace whispered.
Picking her up once they were on the street, he threw her up into the saddle, then climbed up behind, settling her into his lap.
"Dear lord, they're coming."
Nick didn't look behind him as she said the words. Digging his heels into the horse’s sides, it sprang forward and he let it have its head as he heard the wheels of the carriage grow closer.
Grace dug her fingers into Nick’s forearms and held on. Her body was pressed to his, and his thighs held her secure. Dear lord, she could not believe he had come for her so soon. When she'd seen him walk in the door, her heart had nearly stopped. Her large handsome husband had found her and she had never been so terrified to see anyone in her life. She feared they would find him and in some way hurt him, and it was then Grace realized just how much this man had come to mean to her.
"Hold on!" He was crouched over her as the wind rushed at them, catching Grace's hair and whipping at her clothes. He then turned the horse and headed for some trees. She could hear the carriage, the rattle of the harness, and thunder of hooves behind them, as they reached what appeared to be a forest. Nick didn't slow the horse, just galloped between the trees, and as the first branches tore at them she heard the sound of a gunshot.
"Nick!" Grace cried as his body bent over hers.
"I'm all right, turn and press your face into my body!" he roared. "Hold on to me."
She did as he asked, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her face into his chest. She could feel the thud of his heart against hers as he continued to race them through the trees. Minutes later they burst out once more onto a road. Looking around him, she saw the carriage, now some distance behind them, but still following.
"It's farther back now!"
Nick grunted something but she had no idea what and then he was once again heading for the forest.
"The horse is not fit, and slowing," he said into her ear. "We will need to find somewhere to hide until they find us or it can run again."
They being the Lords of Night Street, Grace guessed. Once again she felt trees tearing at her hair and clothes and then Nick was pulling the horse to a walk. Grace kept her face pressed to his chest, her arms around his body, as they moved deeper into the forest. She was safe here in his arms, and so was he in hers… for now.
They walked for a while and listened for sounds of those who followed them, but heard nothing. Still, neither she nor Nick spoke as the horse walked softly through the trees, regaining its breath for when they needed it to run once more.
She felt his lips in her hair, and his large warm hand on her back as he stroked her slowly, and she did the same to him, slipping her fingers under his jacket to touch the tense muscles.
"We will make our way out now," he said after a while. "Be alert."
The moon was still high, and Grace looked down the road as they slipped out of the trees and saw no sign of a carriage, but she kept silent. Nick pressed his heels to the horse’s sides and it once again sprang forward, and soon they were galloping down the road. It was as they approached London t
hat she heard the thunder of hooves and rattle of harness once more.
"They've found us, Nick!"
"So have the others!"
She looked forward, through the horse’s ears, and saw three horses coming toward them. The Lords of Night Street, Grace thought. They were galloping, guns raised as they flew past Nick and Grace. Nick stopped when he came to a small fence.
"Get behind it!" he said, lowering her to the ground before he turned and headed back to meet the carriage with his friends.
Grace gripped the wood as she watched him ride, ignoring the pain as it bit into her already sensitive palms. He stopped beside his friends, who had spread across the road, before the now stationary carriage.
"No!" She pressed a hand to her heart as she watched Nick jump from his horse, pistol raised as he ran toward the carriage. Leo joined him, while Marcus and Jacob stayed on their horses, guns pointed at the driver. Nick reached for the door handle and wrenched it open, anger evident in his every move. Grace crept forward slowly so she could see and hear what was happening.
"Out, before I have my friends open fire on the carriage," Nick roared. "Now!" he added.
Grace held her breath as Mr. Boleslav stepped out.
"I should shoot you now for what you've put my wife and Lord Harrington through," Nick growled.
"But you will not," Mr. Boleslav said slowly. "Because unlike me, you are a good man, and murder is not something that would sit easily with you, Lord Attwood."
"Yes, but I can still make you hurt," Nick snarled. Grace watched her husband walk forward and smash his fist in the man's face, who then fell to the ground heavily.
"We will finish this, Nick. Take your wife home now," Lord Vereton said, gripping his shoulder, in case he was tempted to punch Boleslav again.
He turned and started back toward her, scowling when he noticed she had left the safety of the fence.
"I told you to stay there."
She didn't stop to think when his frown darkened, just ran at him. His arms opened as she drew near and she leapt at him.
"Grace," he whispered into her neck. "Let's go home."