Reforming the Duke

by Keira Montclair

  She turned her face up to him and said, “I’m all right. I must have been mistaken.” She took a deep breath, then moved a bit away from Philip, just enough to turn and smile at the dowager duchess. “Forgive me, I don’t know what came over me.”

  “My dear, you’ve had a terrible fright.” The duchess turned to her son. “Philip? Can you not see what is happening? You need to get her away from here. I’m sure she is quite uncomfortable.”

  “I’m doing everything I can, Mother. There! I see one of my footmen.” Philip lowered Sara’s hands, his touch gentle. “Just a moment, my dear, I see Eli.” He turned and shouted to Eli and moved a few feet away to talk to him.

  Don’t leave me, Philip. Please. He could be here somewhere.

  But it would be ludicrous to say the words aloud. No one else had noticed the strange smell. Even so, she kept surreptitiously searching the area to make sure Stinky was not nearby. Her gaze darted back to Philip. He was still there. She urged herself to calm down. The last thing she wished to do was to let Stinky—or the specter of Stinky—ruin her lovely night.

  Philip turned back to them. “It’s just as I thought. There’s something blocking everything up ahead. Eli doesn’t know what, although he suspects someone’s horses might be injured or something. I told him to locate our carriage quickly and lead us to it. We’ll sit inside and wait if we must. Pardon me.” He leaned in close and kissed her cheek. “I will return quickly, love.” He turned again and strode away to catch Eli.

  Sara’s blood rushed to her head as soon as Philip left. The dowager reached for her hand, giving her a comforting squeeze. She realized how ridiculous she was acting, but she couldn’t help it. Something was wrong.

  No longer able to take it, she stepped away from the dowager, intent on walking over to Philip, when she was grabbed from behind and pulled away from her group. She floundered to keep her balance, that awful stench invaded her senses again. She heard a scream but didn’t know if it was hers or Emma’s.

  “Philip! Philip, help me!” she shouted. There were at least four hands on her as she fought. Stinky had a friend. She caught Philip’s gaze as she was being yanked in the other direction.

  “Hey now, what is going on?” one stranger bellowed.

  Stinky’s companion produced a knife, brandishing it at anyone in his path. “You want to get hurt? I’ll stab anyone who tries to stop us.” The crowd parted at the appearance of the weapon, people shifting away from the threat.

  “Leave her be, man. How dare you touch her?” another stranger shouted. He attempted to grab her attacker, but the man with the knife moved too quickly, catching the man’s wrist with the blade. Blood dripped from the wound.

  The people of the ton were not accustomed to physical violence, and it showed.

  “He’s got a knife!” a woman screamed. “A knife!” Her words echoed as the crowd opened up for the villains. Stinky now held a dagger of his own.

  “What are you doing? Help! The lady needs help!” a woman yelled to everyone around her.

  Sara’s ears rang with all the shouting going on. But nobody was stopping her kidnappers. A couple of other people had tried, but each effort had been met with violence, either a fist in the face or a knife wound. Her kidnappers were moving more quickly now, spiriting her away as fast as they could. Fingernails dug into her skin, and Stinky had twisted her arm painfully. She screamed at the top of her lungs, but he only tightened his grip.

  “I told you, gel, not to tell anyone. You’ll pay for this, you will. You went to the duke? I told you, you were gonna be mine before I sell you to me boss. And I take what I want.”

  Sara kicked as hard as she could, and she finally connected with flesh. He slapped her face hard, nearly cutting her cheek with his weapon.

  Another voice ahead of them called out, “You can’t control a tiny female?”

  “Dumb bitch, don’t you be touching me!” He yanked her hair and she screamed louder. “Just for that, after I collect me pounds, I am going back to your shop to tear it apart. Yeh, I’ll start it on fire, I will. I don’t like dollymops that hit. Your new boss will be breaking you of that, he will.”

  ***

  Bloody hell, of all nights to have a jam of carriages. He knew Sara was losing control. Was she right? Was Stinky in the area? He was tall enough to see over most people’s heads, and there hadn’t been anything—or anyone—unusual around them. Still, she’d trembled with fear. Even if her attacker wasn’t anywhere near them, Philip needed to get her inside a carriage, away from the crowd.

  He finally spotted Eli again. He hurried toward him, eager to get back to Sara’s side. The longer they were out in the open, the more he would worry about her. He was falling hard and he knew it.

  Falling hard? Hellfire, he had already fallen. The most shocking part of it was that he was happy, dem happy, as Adam would say. He liked having her at his side. This was the best night he had ever spent at the opera, and he knew it was because of her. She was vivacious, beautiful, and intelligent. What more could he want in a woman? At least he finally had his priorities straight. He would have to thank his mother again.

  “Eli, I hope you have good news for me. I want the ladies in the carriage as soon as possible,” he shouted to his footman.

  “Your Grace, it’s a long way back. I don’t know if the ladies can walk that far. We will probably be here for a while.”

  “Is my mother’s closer?”

  “I don’t know, sir, let me go check.” Eli turned to head down the street.

  Philip was about to go back and inform the women of what he had learned, but then he thought of Ardleigh.

  He turned back away for a moment and yelled, “Eli, wait a moment! Look for the Ardleigh carriage as well. Surely they can find room for the ladies in their carriage. Perhaps it’s closer.”

  Eli nodded and took off to do as he was bid. Philip marched back to Sara in time to see her lose her balance as two men in dark capes seized her from behind and ran off with her in the opposite direction. His mother yelled and Emma screamed, but Sara held his focus completely.

  “Philip, Philip, help me!”

  His world crumbled around him. He yelled for Eli and Graham, praying his brother was close enough to help him, as he tore in Sara’s direction, but more and more people moved in front of him to satisfy their curiosity. He felt as if he were caught in a nightmare, because the crowd was parting for the villains but closing in around him. Then he saw a man with a handkerchief wrapped around his bloody wrist, and he realized what was happening. The bastards who’d taken Sara had knives.

  She was in even more danger than he’d feared.

  To his horror, he lost sight of her. He could only track her by following her terrified screams. Time moved in slow motion as he grabbed and shoved his way through the crowd. Men yelled at him as he pushed their wives out of the way, but he didn’t care. He needed to get to Sara. Nothing would stop him. He finally caught sight of the kidnappers again as the men flung off their dark capes before continuing.

  “Stop them,” he shouted. “They’re kidnapping her. Help! Someone stop them!”

  No one ventured near the two criminals, but at least they stepped aside for him.

  He was gaining on them. She fought, kicking and screaming, and one of the men slapped her brutally across the face. Rage and panic consumed Philip, but he forced himself to shout, “Don’t give up, Sara! I am coming. Keep fighting.”

  He stumbled and almost fell, managing to right himself at the last moment.

  “Help! Stop those men! Get the Bow Street Runners. Where are they?”

  But there was no sign of them, and the men kept running, hastening Sara away from him. He finally understood what it was to love, really love, and now he was going to lose her? Absolutely not! He continued shouting to her and Eli and his brothers as he pushed and shoved his way toward her. He raced so hard he felt light-headed, but he wouldn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

  Graham suddenly appeared behind the
kidnappers. Philip, almost upon them, could only watch as his brother grabbed a cane from a bystander and swung it across the knees of the man in front. The man’s resulting stumble gave Philip all the time he needed to reach them. Grabbing Sara, he sent the man who’d restrained her flying into the air. The other kidnapper took off. Graham started to follow but stopped as three Bow Street Runners appeared in front of the criminal.

  Sara grabbed his arms with both hands, hard enough to hurt. “Philip, Philip! Get them away from me!”

  He sighed deeply in relief as he pulled her into his chest. “I have you, love. Everything will be fine now. Are you all right?” His heart nearly broke anew as he listened to her sob into his coat. “Sara, I have you, I won’t let them get you. Please tell me you’re all right?”

  She nodded her head while she continued to hold him in a death grip. Hell, what more could happen to this woman?

  He heard Graham shout, “Over here, Philip.”

  He made his way over to his brother, who’d fetched their mother’s carriage. Graham opened the door and helped him get Sara inside.

  “How is she?” Graham asked as they followed her inside. “Who in blazes were they, Philip? I have never seen those men before. But I supposed they are probably the chaps who injured the two horses in front to stall everything.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I’ve never seen them before either.” He shook his head. “One of them has accosted her before. The other must be his boss. Apparently, her late husband owed quite a bit of money, and the debtor sent one of his employees to harass her.”

  He brushed her hair away from her face as her sobs started to subside. “Sara, have you ever seen the other man?”

  She shook her head, but she managed to gather herself enough to turn to Graham. “Thank you for your assistance, Graham,” she said, hiccupping out the words.

  Philip peered over her head at his brother. “Do me a favor and find the Bow Street Runners and make sure they caught them both.”

  Graham practically leaped out of the door. “Nothing I would rather do. I might happen to lose control of one of my fists while I am talking to them, too.” His brother winked at him and departed.

  Chapter Thirty

  To Sara’s surprise, Graham stuck his head back in the door a moment after he’d taken his leave. “You’re in luck, things are starting to move.”

  “I am taking Sara to the Ardleigh house. After you speak to the Runners, send Mother to the ducal carriage. Wait up for me.” Philip waved his brother on.

  Sara’s sobs finally slowed enough for her to be able to speak properly. “Thank you, Philip. I was so frightened.” The carriage had begun to move, but she barely noticed it. Her attention was fixed on Philip. On the familiar lines of his handsome face.

  “So was I, my love. My heart was in my throat when I turned and saw you in their hands. The look in your eyes sliced me in two.” He rubbed slow circles across her back and then gently took hold of her chin. “May I take a look?” He checked her face for bruises. “Are you in pain? I’ve never experienced such rage as when I saw him slap you.”

  “My arm is sore, but I’m all right. He wrenched my arm a few times, but I was so scared, I did not take much notice. It’s sore now, though not intolerable.” She managed a feeble smile as she gazed up into his eyes. They’d been warm before, but now there was something more there—a glimmer of strong emotion she couldn’t properly interpret.

  He kissed her forehead, her nose, and then her lips. “I love you, Sara. I have never experienced such a gut-wrenching episode in my life. I fear you have captured my heart completely.”

  “Oh, Philip!” She threw her one arm around his neck and hugged him. “I love you, too. I am so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”

  “You haven’t caused me any trouble. Stinky and your deceased husband have caused both of us problems, but none of this is your fault.” He brushed the back of his fingers across her cheek. “Hopefully, this is the end of it. Stinky should be apprehended by now and behind bars. I want you to be able to put this behind you.”

  Sara was elated. Was it true? Did he really love her? She had so hoped he would return her feelings one day, but she’d never imagined it would happen so soon. She stared at the man she loved. Rubbing her thumb across his bottom lip, she smiled and said, “Kiss me. I want to forget about what happened and just think about us.”

  Philip growled as his mouth descended on hers in a hot, possessive kiss. His tongue swept into her mouth, and soon Sara was lost to everything but Philip. She loved this man with all her heart. The kiss deepened as they reveled in the taste of each other.

  Suddenly, the door of the carriage flew open. Sara jumped and turned to see Phoebe’s wide eyes gaping at her. They had arrived already? She hadn’t even noticed the carriage stopping.

  “Gadzooks, Sara! Are you all right? We heard terrible stories about you being kidnapped and beaten. What happened? Get out of the cold and inside. Your Grace, do move her, please!” Phoebe fussed.

  “Thanks to Philip and his brother, Lord Graham, I am safe. I may be a bit bruised, but I’ll be fine in a couple of days.” Philip set Sara down from the carriage as gently as if she were a china cup.

  “Brentwood, you had a most exciting evening, I hear?” Ardleigh stood to the side of the door and ushered everyone inside.

  They stood in the foyer, removing their wraps as the butlers and the footmen ran to do Phoebe’s bidding. She ushered them into the sitting room and covered Sara’s lap with a blanket. Philip sat next to her, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her in tight to warm her. He was much more comforting to her than the soft covering on her lap.

  “Oh my word, Sara,” Phoebe said, still standing. Her every feature spoke of agitation. What a dear, dear friend. “What more could happen to you? Ardleigh, how can this happen? This must stop!”

  “Lady Ardleigh, please sit down,” Philip said softly, although the lady began pacing instead. “Fortunately, my brother, Graham, came along at the right time and helped me stop the two men bent on kidnapping Sara. They should be in the hands of the Bow Street Runners as we speak. I sent Graham to follow up on it and report back to me. I’m hopeful this will be the last we hear of Stinky and his men. We have all had a terrible fright, but we should finally be able to put this matter behind us.”

  “Did they say anything to you, Sara?” Ardleigh asked, settling himself in a chair across from them. “Do you know what they want? They could not have expected you to have any money on you.” Something about his manner told her he had his own suspicions, but she doubted he would tell her. In his way, he was as protective as Phoebe.

  Sara glanced at Philip. “I…I remember some things Stinky said. The other man never spoke. Stinky was very angry with me.”

  “Why? Saints above, how could anyone be angry with you, Sara?” Phoebe stopped pacing long enough to ask her question.

  “He was angry because I was with you.” She turned to Philip again. “Because I told you about him.” As she spoke, memories of the incident cascaded back into her mind. “I…I think he said something about selling me. Yes, that was it! He said he would be selling me to his boss!”

  “Did he give you the name of his boss, Sara?” Philip asked, his tone tense. All three of them stared at her, awaiting her answer.

  Her hands trembled. “No, I didn’t hear a name. What could he have meant by that?” He’d said it with such menace. She glanced first at Philip, then at Ardleigh and Phoebe.

  No one answered her. Phoebe’s hand went to her throat.

  “What is it?” Sara looked Philip in the eye. “What does he intend to do to me? I don’t understand what he was talking about.”

  Still, no one spoke.

  “Philip?” Tears gathered in her eyes again.

  “Here now, it really isn’t pertinent, is it? The man has been apprehended. He will never bother you again.” Philip held her hand and leaned over to brush a soft kiss on her brow.

  Phoebe ran o
ut of the room and reappeared quickly, holding something. “Sara, I can see your arm is bothering you.”

  “Yes, I confess it’s starting to throb.” She held it gingerly in her hand, pinching her fingers again in an effort to distract herself from the sharp pain. “I was jostled quite a bit.” Her headache was also about to burst through her eyes. Perhaps some medication would help.

  “Jostled?” Philip said. “That awful man wrenched and twisted it several times. I’m sorry not to have asked you about it sooner.” He looked to Phoebe, his expression anxious. “What can we do for her?”

  “Here, I brought the sleeping draught the doctor left for you last week,” Phoebe said. “I think you should take a bit. Let me put a few drops in your tea.” Phoebe took the cup of tea the butler had brought at her request, offering it to her, and stood by while Sara took a few sips.

  “Thank you, Phoebe, for all your kindness. You and your husband have been wonderful to me.” She placed the cup back on the side table. “Philip, I thank you for a lovely night at the opera. It was wonderful until the chaos outside.”

  The warmth and love—yes, love—in his eyes comforted her more than the draught in the tea. He got to his feet and offered Sara his arm, then proceeded to escort her to the stairway. He must have wanted to speak to her alone, for he waved Phoebe away. When he reached the bottom step, he turned Sara back to him.

  “Please try to get some rest, even though this has all been so unsettling.” He gave her a chaste kiss. “Remember I love you. If you need me, just send a messenger for me. I’ll call on you tomorrow.”

  “Thank you for everything: the opera, the necklace, and for rescuing me. I love you, too.” She glanced up at Philip. The look in his eyes was so comforting. Duncan had never looked at her in such a way.

  ***

  “Bloody hell! How could such a thing happen?” Philip paced back and forth across his breakfast room as he spoke with his brothers the next morning.

  Graham folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t know, Philip. He was in the hands of the horse patrol when I last saw him. I don’t know how they lost him. The one ran off before the patrol got there. I surely don’t know how they could have lost the second one.”