“I told you we stayed at inns. We didn’t talk to anyone, except the staff to get to our room.”
“My men chased you to the gates of a home. Who lives there?”
“I don’t know. I was taken to a small cottage, and I never spoke to anyone.”
Captain Dmitriev slapped Charlotte again. “You are lying! Tell me!”
Charlotte couldn’t hold out much longer. Her resolve faded the longer she was tied up. Her strength weakened; she was so tired and just wanted it to be over. As she was about to talk, the barn door opened. She couldn’t believe her eyes; it was Phillip! It was impossible! She had heard the shot. He was dead. It must be her imagination playing a cruel trick, showing her the one person on entire earth that mattered most to her. It seemed she wasn’t the only one surprised. Captain Dmitriev looked like he had seen a ghost.
No one said a word until Phillip spoke, “Let her go Captain, and no one will get hurt.”
“I don’t believe this! You should be dead! Where are my men?” The questions poured out of Captain Dmitriev’s mouth.
“They aren’t going anywhere, so it should be easy to find them. Now, I’ve come for the woman. If you would kindly release her, we will be on our way, and no one else will get hurt.”
The captain regained his composure and said, “I’m afraid that’s impossible.” He shouted an order, and the two soldiers sprang into action. The first Russian got to Phillip, and Charlotte watched them struggle. As the other soldier was about to attack Phillip, the door on the far side of the barn burst open, and Hugh charged in.
Charlotte watched as the men fought, fists flying. While she feared for Phillip, Charlotte saw he had the upper hand at the moment. The fluidity of his movements mesmerized her and his ability to avoid the blows from his opponent. It seemed like he had done this a hundred times before. Phillip was about to finish one of the Russians when Charlotte felt someone cut her ropes. A third man had snuck in and worked on freeing her. He winked and pulled her up behind him once her bonds were loose. Within a few minutes, Phillip and Hugh had beaten and killed both of the soldiers.
Captain Dmitriev pivoted toward Charlotte, only to find the chair empty. It shocked him to see her shielded by yet another Englishman.
Charlotte wanted to run to Phillip, but she held firm behind her rescuer. When she looked at the man she loved, she saw a deathly rage directed at Captain Dmitriev.
“Well played, young man. I presume you have also incapacitated my men outside.” The captain paced back and forth.
Phillip nodded.
“Now, what will you do with me? Kill me or take me prisoner? Those are your only two options.”
“I’m an English gentleman, so I will give you the option, Captain.”
Captain Dmitriev bowed, “How kind. But may I give you yet another suggestion? A fight between you and me. No weapons, no interference. The winner leaves with their life. Simple, really.”
Phillip pondered the proposal. Charlotte could bear it no any longer and slid out from behind her protector. The first thing to catch her attention was Phillip’s shirt covered in blood. She couldn’t tell if it was his or not. The rest of his clothes were torn, and dirt covered his hands and face. He appeared to have gone through hell since she last saw him, and he had done it all to save her.
Phillip’s entire being seethed with fierce determination, but he softened as his eyes fell on her. She stood transfixed by the look of possession and desire that crossed his face. He made his way to her but stopped short of taking her into his arms. He gently brushed her reddened cheek. The skin was still raw, and his touch made her flinch. Rage boiled close to the surface as Phillip demanded, “Which one of them did this to you?”
Charlotte was afraid to speak. She didn’t want Phillip to fight for her honor. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him.
“Phillip, please, enough. Please, let us go,” Charlotte implored him.
He struggled with his emotions, “I have to do this Charlotte, it’s the only way. We won’t be free unless this ends now. I’m sorry.”
With those words, Phillip placed Charlotte into the arms of the man who had freed her. “Take her out, Ethan, and wait outside with Hugh. Only one of us will walk away from this fight. You know what to do if it’s not me.”
Ethan voiced his consent and led Charlotte out the door. She glanced over her shoulder at Phillip, but he kept his back turned away from her. Without saying a word, she allowed Ethan to lead her out of the barn. The bright sunlight hit her eyes, making her wince. Ethan took her a few feet away from the barn, where she waited with the two men.
A crash echoed from the barn. Charlotte could only imagine what was happening in there. She was crazy with worry. Two men were fighting for their lives, and one of them was the man who had stolen her heart. She couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, so she turned to Ethan and demanded, “Why don’t you go back in there? How can you let Phillip in there alone? He could get killed. I thought you were his friend.” She was practically hysterical.
Ethan stepped toward Charlotte. “I am his friend, miss, which is why I’m following his wishes. Phillip is a competent fighter; he will be fine. But, if you think for one moment that I wouldn’t switch places with him, you are wrong.”
“Phillip is stronger than he looks, miss,” Hugh chimed in. “He appears unassuming, but he’s as good a fighter as any of us. Plus, he’s not just fighting for his life, he’s fighting for you.”
“I do not know what you are talking about, sir.” How much did Phillip’s friends assume about their relationship, she wondered. Had Phillip told them about their night together? No, he was a gentleman and would not disclose such delicate information. But anyone would have to be blind not to see Charlotte’s feelings, so plainly written on her face when she looked at Phillip.
“Phillip is fighting because he knows you are out here waiting for him. It’s a powerful motivator,” Hugh said, standing on the other side of her.
Charlotte turned away from both men, not wanting them to see the truth on her face. She didn’t know if she should believe what they said. Phillip had been passionate when they shared a bed, but he had never spoken about his feelings, and certainly not of love.
They had been forced into this stressful situation together, which culminated in a night of passion, the likes of which Charlotte had never imagined. She had felt alive for the first time. It had been nothing more than a passing moment; two people caught up in their emotions. It would never amount to anything else. Phillip didn’t want love or commitment. Hadn’t he already said as much? Now, he was fighting for their lives. Charlotte loved him for that, even if he did not reciprocate the feeling.
After what seemed an eternity, the barndoor creaked open. Charlotte held her breath, waiting to see who would walk out. She cried out with relief when she saw it was Phillip. He was alive! Instinctively, she raced to him and threw herself into his arms. Charlotte would have fallen to the ground if he hadn’t caught her.
*******
Phillip’s motivation during his fight with Captain Dmitriev had been Charlotte’s safety. No matter the outcome, he knew Ethan and Hugh would protect her. Captain Dmitriev had been a formidable foe. They were equally matched in hand to hand skills.
During the tussle some old furniture sitting in a corner had been disrupted and fallen. The men had given several blows to the other. Phillip’s nose was more than likely broken, and his side hurt after the Russian had kicked him at the site of his gunshot wound.
Both were bloody and beaten. Phillip knew he did not have much left in him. The captain had landed a critical blow to his knee, causing him to fall. As he laid there, dazed, Phillip saw a piece of broken wood from the fallen furniture. He grabbed the wood and turned just in time to strike Dmitriev across the head. The strike sent the man crashing to the ground. Phillip crawled over and saw blood pour from the soldier’s head. He checked and found the man was not breathing. It was over. He had done his duty and protected Charlott
e.
When Phillip exited the barn and saw Charlotte rushing toward him, he had wanted to proclaim his feelings. Holding her in his arms made his heart swell with love. He wanted to take her away from all of this and forget about meeting with the commander. He wanted to ignore the world around them and find a secluded place where he could take his time exploring every part of her body.
Unfortunately, that was not possible. Phillip pulled Charlotte away from him and checked to see if she was hurt. He had not been able to examine her properly since they had found her. Her cheek was still red from where Dmitriev had struck her. There was a small cut on her lip, and her hair was disheveled. Phillip shuttered to think about what she had experienced. All he could do was pull Charlotte into his embrace, and she didn’t fight him.
“I’m so sorry, Charlotte,” Phillip didn’t know what else to say.
“There is nothing to forgive. We both did what we thought was best. You did what you needed too.” Charlotte looked up at him. “When I heard that gunshot, I thought you were gone. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was so afraid, but I thought about what you would have me do. I did my best. I wanted to make you proud.”
He cradled Charlotte’s face between his hands. “No woman could do more or endure more than you have these last few days. You are the bravest, strongest woman I have ever known.” Phillip didn’t care that they had an audience. He embraced her, branding her with his lips. Everything good in his world stood before him, but in the end, he knew he had to let her go.
Hugh cleared his throat. “As tender as this is, we still have to get to the manor house where the commander is waiting.”
They released their hold on each other. Phillip felt a little lost and out of sorts. He was used to being in total control. It wasn’t like him to be so careless with his feelings, but with Charlotte, he didn’t care.
Chapter 15
The group of friends mounted their horses, with Charlotte seated behind Phillip. Within two hours, they came to the rendezvous house outside of Paris. Hugh and Ethan said the commander would be there, waiting for Charlotte’s information. They entered the house and were immediately taken into a sizable room. In the center of the room stood a table, upon which rested a large map of the continent. Papers were scattered across a nearby desk.
Officers walked in and out of the room, passing by Phillip and Charlotte. The commander sat at the far end of the table. Phillip approached him and waited until Commander Barnes finished giving orders to an officer who stood beside him.
The commander nodded to Phillip. “Well, I see you have finally made it. Is the informant with you?”
“Yes sir,” Phillip motioned toward Charlotte.
Commander Barnes was taken aback. Like everyone else, he must have assumed the informant would be a man. He composed himself and said, “I won’t ask why there is a woman here, but I hope she has the information promised.”
“She does, sir. Her cousin, Nikoli, was the original informant. There were some difficulties with him getting to us, so he relayed the information to Miss Bradley.” Phillip didn’t want to state the entire truth, at least not with Charlotte present. The pain of her cousin’s death was still raw, and he didn’t want to cause her more discomfort. “I promise you, Commander, she is a competent young lady.”
“Very well, shall we?” Commander Barnes motioned to the map. He waited for Charlotte to approach the table.
Phillip watched but didn’t step any closer. There was nothing more he could do. This was Charlotte’s task. It was up to her to report her cousin’s secrets. She spoke with confidence about the routes and pointed to locations on the map.
As he listened, Phillip realized the full extent of what Charlotte had to remember. She had never shared the information with him, so he was unaware of its magnitude. As she spoke, her voice grew stronger and more certain.
When they finished, Charlotte looked exhausted, as if the last of her strength had been depleted. Phillip wanted to go to her side and carry her away to a place where they could be alone. That was not possible since this was where their paths would separate. She would go home to her family and friends, and he would continue to help with the war effort.
Commander Barnes’ voice broke through Phillip’s thoughts, “Thank you, Miss Bradley. Your sacrifice and hard work will make it possible for us to hopefully turn the tide in our favor and end this war. Now, I’m sure you are ready to go home.”
“Yes, Commander. I’m sure my mother has been a nervous wreck since she found me missing.”
“Understandable. You can leave as early as the day after tomorrow. I will have a coach take you to the port, and you can be back in London within a few days.”
At the mention of home, relief washed over Charlotte. Of course, she wanted to go home, Phillip thought. She had been through more than most people could imagine. A part of him wanted her to stay. He wanted to explore her body again and hear her moans of pleasure as he brought her to orgasm. His cock throbbed in agreement.
“Phillip.” He turned to face Commander Barnes. Phillip did not realize he had been staring at Charlotte for the last few moments. “I will need a full report from you about your adventures as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
An officer led Charlotte out of the room. Phillip watched her leave, then turned his attention back to the commander.
For the next hour or more, Phillip, Ethan, and Hugh filled the commander in on the details of their journey. Phillip recounted the first part of the trip until he came to where his friends found him. Phillip sat back in his chair and listened as Ethan and Hugh reported the remaining details.
Commander Barnes listened to the recounting. Finally, he asked, “Are you sure there was no one left from that Russian unit that could have gotten away?”
Phillip shook his head, “Not unless they had broken off while Charlotte and I were separated. I guarantee there were no survivors.” Ethan and Hugh nodded their agreement.
“Well, I must send messages with this new information. You three are to stay here until I give you your new orders.” The commander dismissed the trio, who made their way to an adjoining sitting room. Shortly thereafter, they were notified that the evening meal was ready.
They made their way to the dining room, and Phillip noticed Charlotte was not present. It still surprised him that her whereabouts mattered so much too him, but they had become inseparable over the past several days. Now, he instinctively looked for her when she wasn’t there. Phillip felt a swift sense of sadness that their time together had ended.
Ethan asked, “Is Miss Bradley joining us?”
The maid answered, “No, sir. She asked to have food sent up to her room. She said she would wash up and go straight to bed. Poor thing looks like she hasn’t slept in days.”
Phillip felt ashamed because he had set such a grueling pace to get here. Charlotte would no doubt sleep through the night.
Once they had finished their meal, Phillip wrote letters to his sister and parents. He liked to inform his sister, Tabitha, about his safety. She knew about his escapades, and she worried about him. When Phillip finished his letters, he strolled the gardens. It was a pleasant evening and the last of the sun’s rays warmed his skin, but it couldn’t penetrate the cold emptiness within. All day his thoughts had gone to Charlotte. He wanted to check on her, but he knew it would not be proper. She was no longer his responsibility.
Despite the chaos of the past few days, Charlotte had brought Phillip a sense of peacefulness. When he was with her, the nightmares that had plagued him for so long disappeared. Even when they had slept outside, the feel of her wrapped in his arms had kept his demons at bay. Her presence had the power to soothe his soul.
When they had made love, it had been like nothing he had experienced before. He had thought himself in love with Lisette, but the feelings he had for Charlotte were twice as powerful. He didn’t know what to do.
Phillip felt unworthy of Charlotte. He had scars, inside and out. Hi
s heart had been turned to stone by Lisette’s betrayal, but Charlotte was slowly softening it. Phillip wasn’t sure if he could trust the happiness he felt when he was with Charlotte. After spending the last two years closed off from everyone and everything, except for his work, he wasn’t sure if he could live a normal life at this point. Exhausted from the day’s events, Phillip retired for the night.
The next day at breakfast, Phillip noticed Charlotte was absent again. She must be asleep still, he thought, or perhaps, she was trying to avoid him. Later in the morning, he looked out the library window and got his first glance of Charlotte since her meeting with the commander. She wore a fresh dress of delicate blue that complemented her dark hair, which glowed in the sunlight. A delicate lace wrap laid on her shoulders and a dainty pair of gloves fit perfectly on her hands. Phillip smiled. This is where a lady like Charlotte should be, roaming the gardens, without a care in the world, and with nothing to fear. She came closer to the library windows, and Phillip hid behind the curtains. He shook his head. He was acting like a schoolboy spying on the girl he was sweet on.
As Charlotte came closer, he could barely make out the mark on her cheek where the captain had struck her. At the memory, his anger rose to the surface, and he clenched the curtain in his fist. Those who had done her harm had paid, much like those who had done him harm long ago.
Phillip left the room. He didn’t want to be discovered watching Charlotte. He was halfway down the hall when the commander’s secretary found him and told him Commander Barnes wanted to speak to him.
Phillip entered Commander Barnes’ office, and was offered a chair.
“Well, Phillip. I must say, I am impressed with how you handled the entire situation with Miss Bradley. Most men would not have taken a young woman on such a journey.”
“Miss Bradley was persuasive, or should I say stubborn, about the whole thing.”
The Way to a Spy’s Heart: A Steamy Victorian Historical Spy Series (Romancing Intrigue Book 1) Page 12