The Untouchable Earl

by Amy Sandas

  Lily struggled the entire evening to keep evidence of her concern from showing in her outward appearance. After several hours, her fingers began to ache from how tightly she clasped them together, and her back burned with the tension pulling between her shoulder blades.

  By the end of the night, Lily was nearly desperate to get home. She could tell by Portia’s tight expression that she felt the same. Neither of them were likely to get any sleep until Emma returned safely.

  It was not a long drive from the Sherbrooke mansion to their great-aunt’s town house, yet Angelique had found enough time to fall asleep. While Portia turned to wake her, Lily accepted the hand of their driver, who also served as groom. She stepped to the ground and turned to provide another hand to Angelique.

  A heavy thud drew her attention, and she turned just in time to see Charles crumple to the ground unconscious as a large, hulking figure swept toward her from the night.

  Alarm spread like an icy wave through her system. Terror froze her lungs. The assailant grasped the edge of her cloak and whipped it over her head. Before she could draw another full breath, he wrapped thick, iron-strong arms around her body, pinning her arms to her sides as he hauled her violently off her feet. Her abdomen fell hard across his shoulder, forcing a harsh grunt through her lips.

  Lily fought to reclaim her voice to scream, but no sound emerged from her throat. Her limbs were paralyzed in her fear. Though light and sound were muffled by the material of her cloak, Lily was still able to detect the scents of wool and woodsmoke.

  Hale.

  He was carrying her away.

  Portia was shouting with panic and fury, but her sister already sounded a long way off.

  Finally reclaiming her wits, she started kicking her legs and thrashing about on his shoulder, hoping to dislodge his hold. But the man was furiously strong, and her efforts had no effect. A moment later, she was dropped to the floor of a carriage. Her cloak had fallen from about her head with her struggles, but the interior of the carriage offered no light to see by. The vehicle rocked violently as Hale climbed in behind her, and the door slammed closed. She caught only another terrifying impression of a broad, hulking form. Hale’s feet were heavy on the material of her cloak, keeping her bound in place as the carriage took off at a dangerous pace.

  “Stay put, little dove. Do as you’re told, and you won’t be harmed. Not by me.”

  Shock and fear held her immobile. Lily closed her eyes against the shadows weighing her down and tightening her chest. Surely, she should do something.

  She thought of her sisters.

  If Emma were in this situation, she would take no action until she had more information. Then she would consider all options, analyzing them carefully for risk and probable consequence, before making her decision. Likely, Emma would simply reason with her captor, convince him of another way to achieve his purpose.

  Portia would do just the opposite. She would be fighting tooth and nail to free herself, regardless of any danger to her person or fear of being thrown from the fiercely rocking carriage.

  Lily forced herself to breathe as tears pricked hot in her eyes. Of the three Chadwicks to be taken, Hale had certainly chosen the right one. Lily was the least likely to fight her way free or to devise a crafty escape.

  The carriage swung wide around a corner, and Lily was thrown against the bench. The collision knocked her breath from her body in a whoosh. After that, Hale braced his feet more securely about her prone figure, effectively cutting off the chance of her tumbling out the door on another reckless turn. Apparently, he didn’t intend for her to break her neck. At least not yet.

  They had until tomorrow to repay the money. Surely, this was a mistake.

  Unless Hale was taking her as added insurance that he would receive payment?

  A spark of hope flared. Do as you’re told, and you won’t be harmed, he had said.

  Perhaps she could not reason her way out of the situation like Emma, or fight her way free like Portia. But she was not completely helpless. She could be calm and give her abductor no reason to add further restraints. She could be patient and cooperative until an opportunity for action presented itself.

  As long as Hale believed his payment would be forthcoming, he would be stupid to risk injuring her while the money was still unpaid.

  Lily simply had to trust in Emma to win enough to repay the loan.

  And in Hale to set her free when she did.

  She held tightly to her hope. As long as she did nothing to tip the scales against herself, she would make it out of this. She had to believe that. It was all she had for the moment.

  Finally, the carriage slowed. After another turn, it came to a stop.

  When her abductor moved to scoop her up again, she did not resist. Once out of the vehicle, he hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her in long, lumbering strides. Her arms were still pinned in the twisted folds of her cloak, but her head was uncovered for the most part. She was able to determine that they were heading along a narrow alley between two identical brick buildings. Everywhere she looked, the way was lined with dark, encroaching shadows.

  Hale made no effort to rush or disguise what he carried, leading Lily to believe he felt secure in their new location, which in turn made her feel distinctly less so.

  Coming to a halt, her abductor knocked heavily on a door. Whoever opened to him must have been expecting them. An icy chill swept her blood as no words were spoken, not even to question the body thrown over his shoulder, and Lily was carried inside.

  Keeping to her plan, Lily resisted the urge to struggle as she was carried up a narrow flight of stairs. They turned down a wood-paneled hallway lit sparingly by widely spaced candle sconces. The floor, covered in a plush ruby-red carpet, passed swiftly under her gaze as Hale took long strides down the hall. By the time they turned into a room, Lily’s ribs were bruised from bouncing about, and her arms had started to go numb from their awkward positioning.

  The door closed behind them just before she was dropped onto the floor in an unceremonious heap. With a brief scramble of limbs, Lily twisted her arms free of her cloak and pushed herself to a seated position. Sweeping her tousled hair back from her face, she saw she had been brought to a modest-sized study, well lit by candles. The room was decorated in an excessive baroque style, heavily gilded and swathed in burgundy velvet and gold brocade.

  Not at all what Lily would have imagined as the lair of the rough-hewn Mr. Hale.

  “Is this the girl?” a woman asked. Though her tone was clipped and impatient, she spoke with a cultured, melodious cadence.

  Lily turned to see a woman, surely not much older than Emma, leaning elegantly against a large carved desk. The lady wore a gown of shimmering black silk accented by blood-red beads scattered around the hem like flames licking up from the floor. Her face was artfully painted, though was not overly garish, and her blond hair was piled atop her head in a skillful mass of curls, leaving several glossy ringlets to fall gracefully over her bared collarbone. A fortune in rubies and black pearls swathed her throat.

  She gazed narrowly at Lily through a stream of silver smoke that eased from the tip of a thin cigar propped between long fingers. Her eyes were a vibrant green and seared Lily with an impression of calculated intelligence.

  The lady in black was stunning in a way that made Lily feel immediately out of her depth. Confusion crept in to join her fear. What role could this dramatic creature have to play in her plight?

  “Who else would it be?” Hale snarled in annoyance.

  “You may want to mind your tone,” the woman admonished mildly, though a note of steel had entered her voice. “I am taking a significant risk for you, Mason. I can still change my mind.”

  There was a silent pause as the two stared at each other. Lily could not see Hale where he stood behind her, but she could feel the fury and impatience emanating from him. Th
ough the lady in black glanced away first, subtly shifting her attention to where Lily sat prone on the floor, she gave no impression of being cowed by the much larger, gruffer man.

  “Release her so I can see what I am getting.”

  Hale scoffed. “There was no need to tie her up. She’s just trussed up in her cloak. She’s a timid one.”

  “Hmm. That may prove to be good or bad,” the woman replied thoughtfully. Then she gave a careless wave of her cigar. “Stand her up. I can hardly examine her if she remains in a heap on the floor.”

  Lily stiffened, resisting the urge to scramble away as Hale stepped in front of her.

  No longer concealed by shadows, he was revealed to be as intimidating as Lily had suspected. He was tall and solidly built, with impossibly wide shoulders. His nose was large with a prominent bump, and his eyes were deep set beneath a scowling brow. A short beard darkened his square jaw. He may have been handsome if his features were not so rough and intimidating. Long hair the color of dried hay was pulled back into a queue at his nape, with several loose strands falling across his squarish features. He was much younger than she had expected, but no less frightening, despite the fact that he kept his eyes averted, almost as though reluctant to meet Lily’s gaze.

  This was the man from whom her father had accepted a loan?

  Hale hardly looked to have the means to provide such a hefty sum. Yet, clearly his appearance was deceiving, for ten thousand pounds was a small fortune.

  It stunned her to think Edgar Chadwick had been acquainted with this rough character. But then, her father had become a different person after her mother’s death.

  Hale continued to avoid her gaze as he grasped her upper arms in his large hands, making her cringe at his grip, and hauled her to her feet. He tugged at her cloak and tossed it aside, then brought her around to stand in front of him. The intimidating weight of his hands on her shoulders effectively kept her in place for the lady’s view.

  Lily was silent throughout Hale’s rough handling. Biting her tongue against the urge to resist the direction of his heavy hands, she remained devoted to her plan to give no cause for further restraint or violence. It had worked so far, since she was now free of her cloak’s restrictive binding.

  Still, she was not so stupid as to think she was safe. Not by any means.

  The lady in black brought the cigar to her mouth and drew a long inhalation as she tilted her head and settled her green gaze upon Lily. Then she exhaled a steady stream of smoke from between her lips. Glancing at Hale, she gave a subtle nod. “Leave us. I wish to talk with the girl alone.”

  “The money. I need it now.” His voice was a tight growl.

  “You will get it once I verify that she is what you promised.” Her tone softened as she gave an added assurance, “No more than an hour.”

  Hale hesitated a long moment. The tension in his hands transferred through Lily’s body. This was a man who did not restrain his physical reactions, and the pure strength in him was enough to frighten anyone.

  Anyone but the lady in black, apparently, as she waited patiently for his acquiescence.

  “I’ve got no other options,” Hale finally stated. His tone had gone thick and heavy.

  “I know,” the lady replied. “I will help if I can, but I have a business at stake. Now leave us.”

  Lily thought for sure he would continue to refuse. There was no denying the man’s determination or desperation. But then, with a low, agitated huff, he lumbered from the room. His departure did little, however, to ease the atmosphere.

  Once they were alone, the lady in black curved her reddened lips into a smile. Lily detected little true warmth in the expression.

  Hale no longer held her in place, but Lily still felt immobile. Insistent fear clouded her brain, making it difficult to wade through the details of her situation. She no longer believed she was to be held as insurance on repayment of the loan. Hale was clearly not planning to wait until tomorrow for Emma to come up with the money. Something had changed. Whatever the cause, it was enough to instigate an abduction off the street. Yet, Lily struggled to comprehend the purpose in Hale bringing her here to this woman.

  One thing was blatantly clear—her situation was becoming more sinister than she had first suspected.

  Lily quickly scanned the room, looking for any possible means of escape. But there was only the one door through which they had entered and nothing else she could see that might give her the upper hand.

  “You are a quiet one, to be sure. But timid?” The lady in black spoke in a soft tone, bringing Lily’s attention swiftly back to her.

  After stubbing out her cigar in a brass ashtray, she slowly approached Lily. As she grew nearer, it became clear that she was quite a bit older than Lily had first thought. Fine lines accented the outer corners of her eyes and bracketed her full mouth. Tipping her head to the side, she asked, “Do you speak?”

  Lily took a shallow breath. Pride held her chin firm and her gaze steadily forward as she formed the necessary words. “Why am I here?”

  The lady smiled. “You shall understand soon, my love.”

  The endearment was disconcerting.

  Then the lady began a slow perusal, walking around Lily first this way, then that, examining the details of her appearance from every angle. Her expression was critical as her gaze swept over Lily’s face and hair. But her lips quirked upward at the corners when she boldly passed her glance over the full curves of Lily’s bosom and hips.

  Lily remained still in the center of the room, her head high and her manner unflinching as she endured the inspection. She had never in her life felt so vulnerable, so violated, though the lady never touched her. It was all she could do to hide the trembling in her limbs as she stood resolute.

  Finally, the lady in black came back around to face Lily. “You want to know why you are here?”

  “I assume it has something to do with a debt my family owes.”

  There was a pause before the lady replied. “That is essentially correct.”

  When she said nothing more, Lily gathered her courage to press further. “Mr. Hale gave us until midnight tomorrow to repay the loan. My sister will have the money,” she insisted, hoping to convince this woman there was no need to keep her.

  The look she received was almost pitying. A chill of foreboding coursed through Lily’s blood.

  “Does your sister have the money now?”

  Lily’s throat tightened. “No.”

  “Mason can no longer wait until tomorrow. He and I have arranged a way for him to obtain the funds tonight.”

  Foreboding slid toward panic. “What sort of arrangement?”

  The lady in black turned and glided toward a liquor service set against a wall. “Have a seat, my love—there is much to discuss.”

  Two ornate red-velvet armchairs were set before an unlit fire. An intricately scrolled table stood between them. It was all so very civilized—the epitome of elegance. The juxtaposition between the graceful setting and Lily’s perilous situation sparked a flame of anger in her center. Nothing was as it seemed in this place. Despite the lady’s glossy manners and smooth tone, the underlying shrewdness she possessed was undeniable.

  Lily slid a swift glance toward the closed door. If she bolted for it unexpectedly, she may reach it before the other woman could properly react. Beyond the door was the narrow hall then a flight of stairs to the alley entrance. If she lifted her skirts high in her hands, could she outrun anyone she encountered? But once on the street, which direction would she take? She hadn’t the slightest idea where in London they were.

  And if she ran and they caught her again…

  A sinking feeling claimed her. There were far too many unidentified elements waiting beyond the door.

  Portia would have run, but Lily could not justify the unknown consequences of such an action.

 
Praying she might still encounter a better opportunity to secure her safety, Lily approached one of the chairs and took a seat on the edge, folding her hands in her lap. The woman had said they would talk. It certainly would not hurt for Lily to gain a better understanding of what she faced.

  The lady returned with two wineglasses and handed one to Lily. “Here.” When Lily hesitated, the woman gave an encouraging tip of her perfectly coiffed head. “Take it. You will need it for what is to come.”

  “Why? What is the purpose in my being brought here?” Lily asked.

  A smile curved the woman’s painted lips as she lifted her own glass to take a long sip. She offered no reply to Lily’s question. She just stood, waiting for Lily to accept the glass she offered.

  Taking the wine, Lily nearly gasped at the unexpected sight of a black dragon tattooed on the pale skin of the lady’s inner forearm. The serpent’s writhing image extended from her inner elbow to where its long tail wrapped her wrist like permanent jewelry.

  It was fascinating and unsettling.

  To distract herself from the serpent’s image, Lily sipped from her glass. The red wine was heavy and acidic on her tongue, but it slid smoothly down her throat, spreading warmth through her chest. There was almost an immediate thaw to her chilled fingers, and her courage bolstered.

  “Good girl,” the woman said as she settled into the adjacent armchair with the subtle rustle of black silk. “What is your name?”

  Lily eyed the woman cautiously, but answered. “Lily.”

  The lady in black smiled. “Lovely. You may address me as Madam Pendragon.” She gestured with an elegant sweep of her hand. “You are currently a guest in my establishment and under my protection.” The lady’s smooth smile stiffened. It was a subtle shift and may not have been noticed by Lily at all if not for the red paint that accentuated every movement of the woman’s lips. “At least…until you come under someone else’s protection.”

  “I do not understand.”

  Pendragon did not reply at first, but made a graceful gesture of her ringed fingers, indicating Lily was to take another drink of the wine. Lily did so, hoping to encourage further explanation.