A Dangerous Temptation

by L. R. Olson

  The bastard. I couldn’t deny how hurt I felt at realizing James truly didn’t care enough to stay near the coach. I should have expected as much. Well then, I’d be in charge of my own travels from now on, thank you very much. I had a few coins, thanks to my father. What did I need James for anyway?

  “I’m hungry, sir,” I said, having no idea as to the driver’s name. James hadn’t deemed it important enough to introduce me to his staff. “I want to eat.”

  Ignoring his protests, I turned to face the pub. It was only then that I realized it wasn’t as clean and welcoming as I’d thought. The night had softened its edges and hid the dirt and grime. I swallowed hard, not bothering to acknowledge the two unsavory looking men hovering near the entrance. I’d stopped the carriage in a fit, I couldn’t back down now.

  “Jimmy, escort the lady,” the driver snapped. “Tim, Jacob and I will stay with the carriage.”

  Only one footman as escort? And a scrawny lad at that? Was the man intending to frighten me into staying? Aye, I could see the smirk in his gaze. He was doing it on purpose to teach me a lesson. Pompous bastard. He didn’t think I would go through with my plan.

  “My lady,” Jimmy said nervously. He was young, perhaps sixteen years of age, and nervously clutched his cap in his hands. He would do little to protect me. More likely I’d be protecting him. “You really shouldn’t go inside. Tis not safe.”

  I gripped the door handle, knowing I couldn’t give in now. “Lord Whitfield won’t even have to know,” I said. “I shall stretch my legs, eat, and we can be on our way.”

  The boy with the brilliant red hair gasped. “My lady, Lord Whitfield knows everything!”

  I rolled my eyes as I stepped into the pub. Really, James held much too much power. It was time someone questioned his authority. It was time he realized he wouldn’t be lord over me. It was time…

  Good lord. The room was crowded with unsavory looking men. The few women in residence wore gowns with necklines so low I feared their breasts would pop out as they bent to set down drinks. The driver had been right, this was no place for a lady. I breathed through my mouth, the stench of unwashed bodies and stale ale making me gag.

  It was a small room with tables, a bar and a brick fireplace roaring with flames. A rickety staircase led to a second floor that no doubt held rooms for illicit activity.

  Sensing my presence, the entire room went quiet as everyone turned to face me. I wasn’t quite sure if I should curtsey, introduce myself, or ignore them all. What was the proper etiquette when facing a room of cutthroats?

  I smiled at the closest bar wench, hoping to find friendship with another female. “I’d love a good meal, my dear.”

  She laughed, placing her hands on her hips and giving me a saucy glance up and down. “Then why’d ye stop here?”

  Her male friends seated at the table where she stood didn’t laugh, but continued to stare unblinkingly at me. I felt like a mince pie in a room of starving men. This wasn’t good, I realized. Wasn’t good at all.

  “Come on then,” the barmaid said, taking pity on me. “Sit here, near the door, yer back to the wall.”

  “Why?” I whispered, following her to the only empty table.

  “Close to the door so you can escape, yer back to the wall so no one can sneak up on ye.” She laughed when my gaze went wide. “Oh luv, what did ye expect coming in here alone?”

  I settled on a stool, went to shift and realized my skirts were stuck to something sticky. Lovely. I crossed my hands in my lap, doing my best not to touch the tabletop. It looked about as clean as the floor. “But, I’m married and, and…Jimmy is with me.”

  She slid the footman a wry glance. “Aye, he looks ready to defend yer honor.”

  Jimmy, who stood nervously beside me, looked so pale I feared he might faint. What had I been thinking? A cold chill raced down my spine…a warning. “Perhaps I’ll just take something to go along with me,” I murmured, attempting to avoid contact with the many gazes pinned to my person. “I’d rather eat in the carriage anyway.”

  The woman winked. “Good idea. I’ll bring it outside to ye.”

  She left to get me something. I stood, jerking my skirts from the stickiness of the stool. The sooner we returned to the carriage, the better. “Jimmy, I think it’s time we left.”

  He nodded frantically. “Aye, my lady.”

  “And if we could keep this to ourselves…”

  He nodded again, falling into step beside me. “Aye, my lady.”

  “My husband need not…” My voice trailed off as I noticed the large man blocking the door. I froze, Jimmy pausing beside me.

  Dear lord, we were in trouble.

  The man stood there with arms crossed, legs braced apart. Slowly, he smiled, showing yellowed and blackened stumps for teeth. “Where ye going, beauty?”

  I squeezed my hands into fists as if that could keep me from shaking in fear. To show emotion, weakness, would be my downfall. And if need be, I would yell. Surely if I screamed, the rest of my husband’s staff would come running to help. I hoped.

  “Well,” I said slowly, cursing myself when my voice trembled. “I was merely thinking to head back to my carriage.”

  He grinned, lowering his arms to his side and spreading his legs even farther, preparing to attack. “Oh no, we wouldn’t want to dissuade you of our company.”

  The man’s breath was foul. His stench overwhelming. My heart leapt into my throat, terror sending a sheen of sweat across my skin. Blast James! This was his fault. I glanced desperately toward the door. Surely if I screamed the driver would hear. Would he send reinforcements, or leave me to my own devices just to spite me?

  “I…my husband is just outside. He’s waiting…”

  “Do you play the piano?” someone called out in a gruff and gravelly voice from the far corner of the room.

  He’d startled me so that I actually forgot to be afraid for a moment.

  The man in front of me scurried away as if the very hounds of hell were nipping at his feet. The entire room ceased its leering and quickly dropped their attention to the tabletops, the floor, anywhere but on me. Confused, I turned to find the owner of the voice. At the far side of the room was a little old man with a pipe, a shock of white hair, an eye patch, and a hook for a hand. My eyes went wide with surprise and bemusement.

  “Well?” he grumbled. “Do ye? Simple enough question, gurl!”

  I nodded. “Yes, sir. I do.”

  He waved at me with his good hand as he puffed a cloud of smoke into the air. “Well then, come closer.”

  As a group of men shifted out of the way, I realized that the old gent was seated next to a piano. Someone rushed forward and set a stool near the instrument. Another man pulled a dirty handkerchief from his pocket and attempted to wipe the stool clean. Stunned, I merely stood there watching the sudden burst of gentlemanly activity, Jimmy quaking at my side. Who was this little old man who demanded such loyalty?

  “I should go,” I said hesitantly. “I have people waiting.”

  The old troll frowned, narrowing his beady black eyes. “Three songs, then ye can leave with me blessing.”

  Did he truly think I could play when my hands were shaking so badly? I glanced desperately at the bar wench who was holding our drinks. She gave me a quick nod, urging me to do as the old man demanded.

  “Go on then, just do it,” Jimmy encouraged, nudging me in the shoulder.

  I turned my glare toward the footman who was being much too pushy for my liking. “Do you honestly trust him to keep his end of the bargain?”

  “I keep me word, lass!” the old man cried out as if offended. At his age, I hadn’t expected him to be able to hear from across the room. “Ye play me three songs, me boys will see ye escorted safely to your carriage, no harm done.”

  Jimmy stared pointedly at me. The entire room watched to see what I would do. Bloody hell, did I have a choice?

  I sighed. “Oh, very well.”

  The old man grinned around
his pipe. “Good gurl.”

  Gingerly, I moved across the room, surprised when not one man made a move to touch or lunge at me. In fact, they weren’t even looking my way. Carefully, I stepped over the puddles of what I hoped were water and ale as I made my way farther into the pit of the pub. I couldn’t help but feel as if I was walking into the lion’s den.

  “Well done,” the bar wench whispered, handing me an ale as I passed by. “Ye’ve made friends with the one man who can protect ye.”

  I paused and took a deep drink. It tasted of dish water. I grimaced and handed the mug back to her. “Who is he?”

  She looked taken aback. “Why, that’s Terrifying Tony, the most wretched man in all of England.”

  I’d certainly never heard of him, but what did I know of outlaws and bandits. If she said he was terrifying, I would believe her. “Wonderful. Just bleedin’ wonderful.”

  And here I’d thought no one could be worse than James.

  ****

  James

  “Where the hell is my wife?” I demanded, jumping from my mount.

  We’d been some distance ahead, checking for highwaymen, when I’d noticed quite suddenly the carriage had stopped. My heart had leapt into my throat even as Rafe had insisted Julianna was safe and well. He didn’t know her like I did. I’d spurred my mount around and raced back toward town.

  “Inside, my lord,” the driver said with an arrogant sniff, folding his gloved hands in front of him as he remained upon the driver’s seat of the carriage. “She insisted. But I did send Jimmy in with her.”

  “Jimmy?” Rafe laughed. “He’s merely a lad, but glad to see you have the carriage well protected.”

  My entire body went cold. “You sent Lady Whitfield in there with only one guard?”

  “She insisted,” Kelps said again, as if that made all the difference in the world.

  The urge to do bodily harm to the man overwhelmed me. How dare he not properly protect my wife. How dare he disregard my instructions to stop only every three hours. Who the bloody hell did he think he was?

  “You can’t expect your staff to respect her,” Rafe muttered under his breath. “When it’s so obvious you don’t.”

  “Shut up, Rafe.” I narrowed my gaze on Kelps. “Collect your things. You’re fired.”

  He paled, that arrogance fleeing. “My lord, you can’t be—”

  “Silence!” I pressed my hands to the back of my waistband, needing to feel the cool reassurance of my pistol, as I started toward the door. “Be gone by the time I’m back.”

  “But, my lord!” Kelps tried again.

  Without bothering to respond, I pulled open the pub door and stepped inside. The moment I moved across the threshold, I tore the pistol from my waistband and pointed it at the nearest threat, a large, burly man seated at a table. But not one person glanced my way. The room was quiet. Although some visitors remained on the outskirts, most of the men had congregated at the far end of the building. Slowly, I lowered the pistol, attempting to understand the situation.

  “Well that was rather anti-climactic,” Rafe muttered as he paused beside me, just as confused. “What the hell has happened?”

  A sad and melancholy tune started on a piano. Bemused, I moved across the floor. A soft, sweet and almost eerie voice drifted from the group of men, so at odds with the squalor of the area around us that it seemed as if an angel had been dropped into the middle of hell. A parlor song I’d heard before of unrequited love.

  Juanita.

  A silly song. But the voice that sang entranced me, pulled me closer. It was as if the singer trailed her very fingers over my body.

  In thy dark eyes' splendor

  Where the warm light loves to dwell,

  Weary looks yet tender

  Speak their fond farewell!

  Good God, my wife.

  Julianna.

  I’d never heard her sing. Had no idea her husky voice could carry such a tune. I couldn’t see her, yet I knew it was Jules. My body warmed, blood surging through my veins. Surely there were better singers, but at the moment I couldn’t think of a blasted one. It was beautiful, almost ethereal, and I wasn’t the only one to think so. I swore I saw a few of the cutthroats actually wipe a tear from their eyes.

  Damnation! What was it about this woman that constantly gripped at me, pulled me under so I could barely breathe, think, even know who I was? My chest grew tight with an emotion I didn’t dare dwell upon. Instead, I dredged up what anger I could manage and focused on my consuming need to punish her.

  She could have been killed. Still might be if Rafe and I didn’t get her out of here and soon. Jimmy cowered in the corner, of no help. Hell, while I had been terrified something had happened to her, she’d been making friends.

  “Thank God for our sparring lessons,” Rafe muttered.

  Yes, Rafe and I were in good physical condition. Yet there were at least twenty men in the pub. Hell, she was going to get us killed and she’d probably dance a jig on my grave after. I stomped forward, grabbed two men by the collar and tossed them aside. Julianna sat at a piano bench singing her cold, black heart out. Her head was bent low, her fingers sliding over the keys, her eyes closed. She was completely unaware of me. Completely unaware, as always, of the havoc she had caused.

  “Beautiful,” the old man seated next to her sighed, dabbing at his one good eye.

  “Jamie,” Rafe whispered. “You realize who that man is, right?”

  Hook hand, eye patch, cloud of white hair.

  Christ and damnation.

  Terrifying Tony. He was notoriously known throughout the area as a pirate, a highwayman, a smuggler, a veritable ruffian with his own group of never-do-wells who obeyed his every command. “Yes, unfortunately.”

  “You can’t just rush in there.” Rafe glanced around the room, calculating our odds. They weren’t good. “Most of these men are likely working for him.”

  Furious, I knew I wasn’t thinking rationally. “Like hell I can’t.”

  The little idiot could have been killed, and why? Merely for the fun of disobeying me? I shoved aside two more men and reached out for Jules. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Startled, she yelped as I grabbed her upper arm.

  This sent an immediate flurry of activity into motion. At least five men pulled out pistols and trained them directly at my chest. I growled low in my throat, my anger palpable. I was an earl, damn it all. They should be scraping and bowing, not threatening my life.

  “I was hungry,” she said, glaring up at me. “Which you would have known if you would have checked on me even once this day.”

  I jerked her up from the bench. “I told you we stop every three hours.”

  She struggled in my grasp. “Well, it’s not enough.”

  Clasping her shoulders to keep her still, I lowered my face so we were a mere breath away. “Do you realize you’ve stopped in one of the worst inns in England, a place where criminals and smugglers congregate?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Well then, you should fit right in.”

  The urge to throw her over my shoulder and carry her from the pub overwhelmed me. She would drive me mad. I growled low in my throat. The blasted woman was intent on getting one of us killed.

  “I don’t think the lady wants to leave wit ye,” Tony said. “And frankly, I’m trying to decide if I want to let me men put a few bullets through yer chest just fer fun.”

  “No!” Jules cried out, surging forward as if to protect me. The thought that a pistol might go off and hit her made me furious. I shoved the woman behind my back. Did she truly not understand the danger of the situation? Was she really so naïve?

  “She’s my wife, so I suggest you mind your own business, old man,” I snapped.

  Tony stood, and with him at least ten men stepped closer, surrounding us. The old man barely came to my shoulders, and although he was the leader, he wasn’t the threat. No, it was his motley crew that held the physical power to see us destroyed. />
  “Hell,” Rafe said, shrugging his jacket from his shoulders and tossing it to a nearby bar wench. “Looks like we’ll be staying for a while after all.”

  I braced my legs apart, preparing for battle. “We are leaving.”

  “I don’t bleedin care if she’s the Queen of England,” Tony snarled, slamming his hook upon the tabletop and denting the wood. “She needs to finish me song! She bleedin promised!”

  “James,” Jules said, lightly gripping the sleeve of my jacket to get my attention. “Perhaps…”

  I shoved her behind my back again. “If you honestly think—”

  “James, just one song!” Her fingers bit into my jacket. “This is my doing, I’ll get us out of here.”

  “No,” I snapped, glaring down at her. “As always, I’ll clean up your mess.”

  I heard her hiss of outrage but didn’t bloody care. She was right…it was her fault. While Rafe and I had ridden ahead to make sure the roads were safe, she’d thrown herself directly into the path of danger.

  “Jamie,” Rafe said under his breath. “I love a fight as much as you but ten men against two? Maybe you should just let her play the bloody song.”

  “Damnation, she’s my wife!” I wasn’t sure if I was angry because she had disobeyed me by leaving the carriage, or because these men had heard her play and sing before I had. “She is not bloody playing that damned song!”

  Rafe sighed. “Very well.” From his waistband he pulled two pistols. “Let the fun began!”

  “Terrifying Tony,” Jules pleaded. “Please!”

  He sighed, looking completely put out as he crossed his arms over his scrawny chest. “Fine. No guns or knives! Only fists.”

  The moment he said the words a man surged forward, swinging. I ducked, only to come up and hit him underneath the chin. As he collapsed to the ground, I made quick work of shoving Julianna out of harm’s way.

  “Watch her,” I snapped toward the bar wench standing there gawking, “and there will be a few coins coming your way.”