Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Three Days Later

K atie stood in the middle of her bedchamber, still in her nightgown, holding her parasol. Pressing the button on the underside of the handle, she slid out the foil. It felt light in her hand. She moved her wrist and swirled the epee left and then right. She smiled, pleased with her progress. Over the past week, the foil had become more comfortable in her hand, and her anxiety had lessened. Now , when she stepped out of the dowager's townhouse, she felt almost like her old self.

Or rather, my new self.

She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat as her thoughts turned to Wendel . She had loved Wendel but realized she no longer thought of him daily. For the first time in more than a year, she had begun to let go of the burden of pain and guilt that she'd carried on her shoulders. And wonder of wonders, she'd begun to envision a happy future for herself.

A different life than she had envisioned with Wendel .

Her love for Wendel had been warm and familiar. Wendel had been her best friend. They'd shared a lot in common, and they enjoyed spending together. Marriage to Wendel would have been good—a life of contentment.

But she'd changed a lot over the past year, and she'd come to realize that perhaps she wanted more from life…and more from love.

And with that realization came the awareness that she was falling in love—and it felt different from before. It was Sebastian who filled her mind and heart. She'd never experienced such feelings before. From the first moment they'd met at the Clarence ball, she'd felt an immediate connection to him. A spark that had become brighter and stronger with every conversation, every moment spent with Sebastian . And when he kissed her, the spark had flared into a flame of yearning.

Closing her eyes, she imagined fencing with Sebastian , then waltzing, then kissing. She imagined how just the touch of his hand made heat spiral through her. She loved the way he looked at her as though she were the only woman in the world. She loved his smile—charming one moment and sensual the next. She loved his kisses! Lord , she adored his kisses. She craved them even more than she craved chocolate. And that was saying something. She'd concluded that Sebastian's kisses were even better than chocolate.

" Good morning," Paula said, sticking her head in the door.

With a jolt, Katie spun around. " Oh ! You startled me." She'd been so lost in thought that she hadn't heard the bedroom door open.

" Daydreaming ?"

Katie smiled. " Yes and no."

" That's a provocative statement." Paula grinned.

" I was just thinking about how used to the feel of the foil I've gotten," Katie said, slipping the epee back into the parasol.

" It seems you're getting used to more than that," her cousin teased. " Do you expect Lord Soren this morning?" Paula asked, taking a seat on Katie's bed. " For fencing lessons," she added quickly.

Katie's heart hitched . I wish! I'm not sure I can wait to see him again. " He mentioned having an appointment today that he needed to attend but asked if we might skip our lesson and take a drive to Hyde Park later this afternoon.

Katie hoped she would see him. He's on my mind all the time—and I cannot deny my heart. Memories of his tender kisses and teasing voice occupied her thoughts day and night and were a welcome distraction from the nightmares she had suffered since Wendel's death.

" Let's take advantage of the day," Paula suggested. " The weather is mild, and the sun might even make an appearance. How do you feel about walking to Gunter's for chocolate? The cook's chocolate is delicious, but nothing compares to Gunter's . It's really not far, and if you carry your parasol, I should feel most protected," Paula said, grinning.

" Cheeky thing!" Katie said, nudging her cousin with her elbow. " I'd love to go to Gunter's , but perhaps we should consult the dowager first." Those men had still not been caught, and she had promised Sebastian she would remain cautious.

" Well , I for one am glad to be given a day off from examining the dowager's silk scarf collection," Paula declared. " You realize it was her code for allowing you time alone with Lord Soren ."

Katie felt a blush warm her cheeks. She had suspected but had not known for sure. " So , you didn't actually look at scarves?"

Paula shook her head, and they both burst into laughter.

" I must admit to being very impressed with her knowledge of fencing," Katie said. " The woman is amazing. Even before Sebastian arrives for our lesson, she's already put me through my paces."

" And the way she swings that cane of hers— I would not want to cross her on a dark street at night!" Paula said.

" Yes , she is probably the most vibrant person I know—across all ages," observed Katie .

" Ladies , you may go as long as you take my footman, Jason , and Millie ," the dowager said a short while later. It hadn't taken Katie long to get ready, with Paula nipping at her heels.

" Until this business with those horrible men that killed Lord Colborne is cleared up, I think we must take precautions, now that Katie is out and about again."

" Thank you, Duchess . We promise not to be long," Katie said. " And with Jason and Millie , we should be fine."

" Good . Don't forget your parasol, dear," the dowager said.

" Thank you, Duchess . My parasol goes wherever I go, now." Katie smiled.

A few minutes later they were on their way to Gunter's . Katie wore her blue pelisse against the slight chill in the air. And she carried her trusty parasol firmly in hand. She was almost tempted to thump it along the sidewalk just as the dowager did with her cane.

" I can almost taste the delicious chocolate," Paula said, smacking her lips.

Millie and Jason were about to cross the road to Gunter's when a black hackney pushed its way forward between the foursome, cutting off Jason's and Millie's view of Katie and Paula , and halted. Other vehicles followed, so Katie and Paula paused on the curb to wait for them.

" How rude!" Paula said, looking for Millie and Jason .

" Yes , very," Katie said, gripping her parasol tightly in her hand as a sense of dread came over her. The hackney had essentially blocked Jason's and Millie's access, so they would have to go around it once the traffic slowed. Katie and Paula stepped around the hackney to wait for their friends.

It happened so quickly. The door to the hackney opened and a big man with a black hat lowered over his face leaped out and grabbed her, hefting her up and almost throwing her into the conveyance.

Before Katie could even retrieve the foil from her parasol, he ripped the parasol from her hand and tossed it into the carriage. She screamed and tried to push her way out, but he shoved her back with such force she hit her head on the corner of the seat.

" Stop ! Help ! They have Katie !" Paula shrieked, trying to pull her friend away from the man's grip. " Somebody , help her!"

Dazed from the hit to the head, Katie blinked furiously and saw the horrible man forcefully kick Paula to the ground, where she crumpled in a heap.

" Help —" Katie's scream was cut off as the kidnapper shoved a foul-tasting rag into her mouth and shoved her mouth.

" Let's go, Gummy !" he called out.

A cold ripple of shock moved through Katie . She hadn't heard that voice in a year. But she would never forget it.

The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage hackney lurched forward.

Her vision swam, and she struggled to stay focused and calm as the big man tied her hands and feet.

" Stop ! Stop the hackney!" she heard Jason shout.

The carriage careened to a stop so suddenly, she would have fallen off the seat if the kidnapper hadn't grabbed her and kept her firmly in place.

She heard Gummy yelling and the sound of a whip cracking and an earsplitting scream of pain before the carriage jerked forward and began to hurtle down the street.

" Mmm …mmm…" Over and over, Katie tried to spit the foul rag from her mouth. It was him—the man who killed Wendel . Her worst nightmare was happening. The man drew her close to him and she could feel his sour breath on her face as he spoke.

" I finally have you," he said with a grin. " And I will make you pay for what you did to her. I will finish what I left undone."

Terror gripped her heart as Katie realized what he meant. She struggled against the bindings and screamed behind the gag, but all to no avail. She had no idea if Paula , Jason , or Millie were hurt. And she would likely never find out. She would never see her family again.

Sebastian ! If only she had waited at the townhouse for Sebastian to arrive.

The kidnapper suddenly forced another cloth over her face and panic overwhelmed her as she fought like a wild horse to escape. Holding her in a vice-like grip, he pressed the cloth to her face. She heard a cork pop from a bottle. Unable to move her head, she screamed behind the gag as she watched him pour several drops of a pungent, sweet-smelling liquid onto the rag and hold it over her mouth and nose.

Oh , my God ! He's going to kill me…like he killed Wendel . She shook her head wildly and her eyes filled with tears . Her last thought was of Sebastian before blackness descended.

Sebastian leaned against the squabs of his friend's coach as he and Nelson traveled from White's . Nelson and his brother were planning to expand their successful fencing school to other cities. Sebastian was interested in investing, and the three of them met a fourth potential investor at White's . He hated to skip their morning fencing lesson, but he had promised to take her on a carriage ride to Hyde Park later that afternoon.

He and Nelson had also promised a full report on their investigation so far. They were on their way to the dowager's now, where he would be able to see Katie . As his mind often did these days, he thought about Katie .

Sebastian could no longer deny having feelings for Katie . His relationships had always offered a diverting romp with delightful mistresses who, like he, had no desire to marry and were quite happy with a brief but pleasurable liaison.

But with Katie , everything was different. From the first moment he laid eyes on her he was drawn to her beauty, the vulnerability in her eyes, and yet he admired her inner strength and her determination to learn to fence. He'd seen the changes in her in the short time he'd been teaching her. But more than that he could feel a change in him. He who had declared had no desire to marry had begun to think about just that. The brunette beauty with the mesmerizing blue eyes had mesmerized his heart.

They arrived at the townhouse in time to see Paula and Millie in hysterics, running up the steps with a footman in tow. Cold dread gripped his heart as Sebastian threw open the door and leaped out, with Nelson on his heels. " Where's Miss Latham ?" he roared.

" Someone took her," Jason answered.

Sebastian eyed the footman and noticed the bloodied red welt across his face and the rips in his jacket. " What happened?" he thundered.

" My lord, Millie and I were crossing the street to Gunter's , just behind Miss Latham and Miss Gowans . A hackney suddenly barreled in behind the ladies, blocking us off. We heard Miss Gowans scream. But by the time we got to them, the kidnappers had thrown Miss Latham in the carriage, and they were getting away.

" Jason tried to stop the horses and that horrid man cracked a whip across his face and kicked him away from the carriage. It was awful," Millie cried.

" The horrible man in black was huge. I've never been more afraid in my life. I — I tried to stop him, but I couldn't," Paula cried. " Dear God ! They've taken Katie . They've taken her."

" Miss Paula tried to stop that brute, but he kicked her so hard she fell to the ground," Millie said. " I saw it happen just as Jason and I ran to the carriage."

Nelson wrapped his arms around Paula . " Are you all right?"

Paula gave a jerky nod. " I'm fine, but I'm so afraid for Katie ," she said, crumbling into his arms and sobbing.

The dowager came rushing outside. " Heavens , what's all this fuss about? And on the front steps?" she demanded. " Millie , what happened? Paula ? Why are you crying? And where is Katie ?"

" Let's go inside," Sebastian said in a tight voice, as he and Nelson ushered everyone into the house. He needed to maintain a cool head. Katie was gone. The bastard took her. Katie ! A piercing pain stabbed his gut. Why hadn't he insisted she stay home and not venture out without him? He had to find her. If she's hurt, I'll never forgive myself.

They explained to the duchess what happened. The dowager quickly and efficiently dealt with the situation.

" Franklin , please ensure that Millie is taken to her room and that the doctor is called. I'd also like to have Jason's face looked at," the duchess said. " Jason , can you tell me anything else?"

Jason shook his head. " No , Your Grace . I'm so sorry, I wasn't able to help Miss Katie . I'll never forget what happened until the day I die."

" It's all right, Jason . You were brave to try to stop them. We'll get the doctor to sew up that cut on your face," the dowager said in a shaking voice.

Of course! The cemetery! Jason's comment had triggered Sebastian's thoughts and he recalled Doogan telling them about the gatekeeper's cottage at Blackfield Cemetery .

" Your Grace , we found one of the men that were involved with Lord Colborne's death," Sebastian said. " We need your help, but I don't have time to explain. I have an idea where these men might have taken Kat — Miss Latham . I'll need several of your footmen to help. Can you spare them?"

" Of course! Whatever you need," she replied. " Do you need pistols? We have many here. My husband's pistols are kept clean and ready for use."

" I have weapons in the carriage," Nelson said.

" Have them follow us to Blackfield Cemetery and meet us at the gatekeeper's cottage," Sebastian said.

" I will. Just find her. Hurry ," the dowager said, her eyes filling with tears.

" Please be careful," Paula said.

" We will," Nelson squeezed her hand.

" Let's go," Sebastian said, already striding to the door.

Please let us get there in time. Sebastian could not imagine what his life would be like without Katie in it. I'm coming, Katie . I promise.

Nelson looked at him. " We'll get there, Sebastian . I promise," Nelson said, echoing Sebastian's thought.

Sebastian nodded as Nelson's carriage sped along the road.

He would find those bastards and kill them with his bare hands.