Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

M urdoch stopped pacing and leaned against one of the yew trees, planting his palm to the bark so strongly that it threatened to cut into his skin.

"What is wrong with me?" He lashed out at the tree, thumping it hard.

He couldn't control himself. His anger now was at least directed at himself and not Eloise. He couldn't make sense of why he had been so furious at her mentioning Lillie, nor why his reaction had been so cold. All he knew was that he'd been enjoying himself on that bench, and the last thing he'd wanted was to have Lillie's memory dragged up between them.

"What? Nay. Nay!" Eloise shouted, somewhere in the thicket of the trees.

Murdoch's head snapped around as he moved toward that sound.

She's scared of something.

He started off walking, then he heard the rustle of leaves and a muffled voice, as if someone had tried to silence the shouts. Murdoch's pace changed to a sprint. He followed the sounds and darted down the main pathway of the garden between the yew trees where he saw two men. They were tussling with something – no, someone –Eloise!

"Hey!" Murdoch barked and walked toward them. He had no sword on him and had to lash out with his bare hands.

One of the hooded figures turned toward him, bearing a sword, and Murdoch jumped out of the way of the first swipe. Grabbing a handful of dirt from the path, he threw it into the man's hooded face. The hood fell back as the dirt went in his eyes. The man lowered the sword enough in his panic to give Murdoch the upper hand. He grabbed the assailant's wrist and pushed down the weapon, then elbowed him sharply in the nose.

The man went down to the ground like a sack of potatoes as Murdoch took hold of the weapon and brandished it toward the second man.

Eloise was in his grasp, scrambling and kicking to be free, looking in considerable pain with her injured ankle.

"Let her go if ye wish tae keep yer life," Murdoch warned, his voice deep.

The hooded figure showed no sign of releasing her.

Murdoch advanced forward, swiping out. Eloise was thrust into a nearby yew bush where she scrambled to stand straight.

Murdoch injured the assailant, cutting him across the arm and the back. He cried out in pain, but before Murdoch could do anymore, he felt a sharp ridge of metal as it was pushed into his shoulder.

"Argh!" He cried out.

"Murdoch!" Eloise screamed.