Chapter 15

With her arm reluctantly threaded through that of Mr. Bernard, he escorted her into his high sprung phaeton as they set out that evening. Leah had planned to wear one of her most demure gowns that night to prove a point, so she hadn't been pleased when a box had arrived from Mr. Bernard.

She'd opened it to find a bright red dress with a plunging neckline and a black underskirt. It was horrid, something a harlot might wear. It was the worst insult she could contrive, but when she tried to refuse the offering and send it back to Mr. Bernard, her brother had appeared aghast at the very idea. "It was a gesture of goodwill."

She stared at him in disbelief. "You don't think this is a bit inappropriate for a vicar's sister?" She shook the dress in her grasp. "It will surely give off the wrong impression about your household."

Her brother sniffed. "I should think you would be grateful for the notice he is showing you. He is a wealthy man. You could benefit from his regard and if he should offer for you, you might count your fortune to be the wife of such an esteemed patron."

Leah gritted her teeth. Was she hearing him correctly? Surely her brother wasn't so shallow as to want her to leave the house dressed as a dockside whore rather than a presentable lady of genteel quality. But that didn't appear to be the case.

Annoyed that he didn't see anything wrong, and even more convinced that her brother and his relation were involved in deeper than she'd imagined, Leah was forced to don the garish garment and be present when her escort arrived.

She tried not to cast up her accounts when she descended the stairs and saw Mr. Bernard's eyes flare with unconcealed lust. She glanced once more at her brother, hoping that she might gain some support, but he merely bid them a fine evening.

"You look just as enchanting as I imagined you would, Miss Lindquist," Francis murmured, the sound crawling over her skin.

Leah said nothing as she lifted her skirts and climbed into the phaeton. As Mr. Bernard took up the reins and settled himself a bit too closely to her, she clenched her fists in her lap and prayed this night would be over quickly.

"I have been looking forward to our time together," he said silkily.

Leah said nothing in return but kept her gaze straightforward.

"I can see you are trying your best to ignore me. I thought we discussed this earlier today, that it wouldn't be a good idea to cross swords with me."

She could hear the hard edge of his tone, so she swallowed back her pride and said, "I recall our conversation quite vividly."

"Then perhaps you might start acting a bit more appreciative of my efforts on your behalf."

It wasn't phrased as a question, but she responded nevertheless. "Of course, Mr. Bernard." She bit out. Hoping to dissuade him from bringing up Harlan, she asked, "Where are we going?"

"We shall be traveling outside the sleepy village of Dudley and heading to Birmingham," he retorted smoothly. "There are some… particular delights in store for us there."

Leah's fingers clenched on the side of the carriage as her heart started to thump with warning. "To what sort of delights might you be referring?"

She dared to look directly at him, and she wished she hadn't done so. His mouth had curved into a smirk that tempted her to jump out of the vehicle as it was moving. "That would ruin all the fun of a surprise, wouldn't it?"

She had to swallow past the panic rising in her throat. "Is this event something that my brother would disapprove of? You wouldn't want him to be upset with me, would you?"

"Trust me," he countered. "He will be content so long as you are with me." His gaze traveled up and down her entire length. His grin widened. "Sit back and relax, my dear. You will need your strength for what is in store."

Leah could feel the blood recede from her body.

Harlan, where are you?

Harlan enteredthe doors of the brothel as a muscle pulsed in his jaw. It didn't take more than a few seconds for one of the ladies to sidle up to him. "Hello, guv'nor."

Benjamin held out a hand and kept the woman from getting any closer. "We are looking for someone."

Her heavily painted mouth and cheeks drooped into a faux pout, but when she understood that her ploy wasn't going to work, she dropped the act and wiped at her teeth with her finger. "It will cost ye."

Harlan held up a purse that jingled with coins. "We have the blunt if you have the information and exercise the proper discretion."

Immediately, her greedy eyes were fixated on the offering. She glanced around at the other guests who were already enjoying the festivities. Scantily clad women and men were engaging in all sorts of licentious acts in the parlor and the grand performance had yet to take place. "Come with me."

Harlan and Benjamin followed her. Lucas had remained behind in London with Hugh. Harlan had decided Benjamin would be good to have around in case he needed some extra… convincing. "Not to mention that I am due some revenge for nearly being shot myself," Benjamin had added for good measure.

"Already got two on the hook, did ye, Molly?"

"Aye. They knows what I's got under me petticoats!" she returned with a saucy sashay of her hips, which garnered a round of raucous laughter as they continued on their way.

Once they had made their way down the hall and up the spiral stairs to the second floor, Harlan noticed that there was a third level where amusements could be enjoyed on a more personal level. However, he was more interested in the illicit ball that was being prepared.

Molly glanced about and then ducked into a small anteroom . As she shut the door behind them, she gestured to a large window with a perfect view of the festivities they sought.

Harlan instantly turned to her with a hiss. "I explained earlier that we needed to be somewhere private, without undue attention."

"It is." She waved a hand toward the window. "It's a mirror on the other side."

Harlan walked over and inspected the glass just as a woman paused on the other side and adjusted her breasts in her bodice before pinching some color into her cheeks. She didn't scream at the sight of him, so he decided that Molly was telling the truth.

"Now, as to the couple we are looking for…" Harlan offered the description as Benjamin walked over to look out over the growing crowd beyond the pane.

Molly shook her head. "Ain't seen no one come through the door like that." She nodded toward the glass. "But ye'll be able to see for yourself when they do arrive." She held out her hand expectantly.

With a light toss, Harlan sent the purse flying through the air toward her. She caught it effortlessly and opened it to withdraw one of the shillings. Biting into it, she must have decided it was authentic silver before she nodded her head and tucked it into a pocket in her skirts. "Ye can't be too careful these days," was all she offered for explanation as she quit the room.

Once Harlan and Benjamin were left alone, Benjamin sat down in one of the two chairs that were in the room, other than the large bed that was there for obvious reasons. Then again, it hadn't been contrived with comfort in mind, but rather the pleasure of watching whatever might be taking place on the other side of that glass. If the flowing spirits and loose-fitting costumes starting to trickle into the ballroom were any indication of how the night was going to go, Harlan was confident they were attending a Cyprian's ball.

"What's taking so long?" He grumbled in frustration.

"Patience," Benjamin said evenly. "We were lucky we managed to intercept the maid from the vicarage and learn this much."

Harlan snorted. "It didn't help that she nearly fainted away at the sight of you."

He shrugged. "My Maggie doesn't mind my size. At least she had no problem telling us whatever we wanted to know."

"Indeed. Let's just hope she was right and Matthew brought us to the right place." Harlan's gaze became focused on that window, eager for the moment when the assassin would arrive. It was his main hope in trying to put an end to this nightmare.

And save Leah.

When the phaetoncrawled through the streets of Birmingham and then abruptly turned into the mews behind a large building that looked as though it had seen better days, Leah wondered if this was to be her end. "What is this place?" she demanded.

"You are about to find out," he noted cryptically.

He tossed the reins of his carriage to a waiting groom who was standing by a back door, offering a respectful nod. There was a moment when Leah considered ripping the reins away from the groom and racing off into the night, but since she feared she might find herself in similar dire circumstances she decided to wait for a better opportunity to escape. If she was successful, she wasn't sure where she would go, because her brother's house was no longer safe for her. For the moment, she didn't have any choice but to continue with this farce.

When they entered the establishment, the first thing that Leah could hear was the sound of merriment. Music was playing from somewhere above them, and there were couples moving along the hallway with smiling faces and glasses of wine in their grasps. The only issue that Leah saw with that was that the women were clad in a similar fashion to her, but without the benefit of as many underskirts.

A warning chill traveled up her spine as she headed to the second level with Mr. Bernard. She kept telling herself that he wouldn't be so bold as to actually take her to a Cyprian's ball, but when they walked into the doors leading to the ballroom, there was carnality on display everywhere she looked. From exposed breasts to couples engaging in intercourse along the perimeters of the room, lust was prevalent.

"What do you think, my dear?" her escort whispered in her ear. "Care to engage in some fun later on this evening?"

She ripped her arm out of his grasp and sent him a glare. "I will not! What sort of woman do you think I am?"

His smile froze in place. "The kind that resorts to using seduction as a way to wrap highwaymen around her little finger." He grasped her again, but decidedly more harshly. Next, he snagged a glass from a passing footman. "I think you just need a little persuasion." He held the glass up to her lips, but she turned her head away.

"If you expect me to submit to a snake like you, then you are sadly mistaken," she snapped.

"Tsk, tsk. Such a temper you have." He set his mouth next to her ear. "But I shall enjoy quenching that fire."

He started to move through the crowd, pulling her roughly behind him. "Where are you taking me?" she demanded, as she attempted to avert her eyes from the activities taking place around them. It wasn't until she spied the naked musicians on a raised dais that she realized this was much more than a Cyprian's ball. It was pure deviltry, and she had fallen neatly into Mr. Bernard's trap.

When they made their way to a slightly secluded corner of the room, he pressed her against the wall where he attempted to grasp her face and force the wine down her throat. She kept her mouth tightly closed, because God only knew what sort of additional contents might have been added. If she were drugged, she had no hope of resisting any advances that he would make.

Some of the wine made its way into her mouth where she promptly spit it back out on him. His eyes flared and she feared that he would strike her. Instead, he tossed the glass aside, ignoring when it shattered on the floor. "It's better this way," he breathed heavily, as if her refusal was exciting him. She wanted to be sick. "Tell me about your lover, Miss Lindquist. Did you like it when he slid his cock inside you? What about when he—"

She closed her eyes in an effort to block out his words, but the pressure against her abruptly ceased.

Her gaze flew open just as she saw Mr. Bernard being flung away from her. His despicable face was replaced by one that made her sob in stark relief. "Harlan." She took a step forward and fell into his embrace, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Let's get you out of here," he uttered huskily.

She nodded fervently. Clinging to him, he led her out the terrace doors while she glanced back and saw Benjamin dragging the limp body of Mr. Bernard away. She hoped that he hadn't killed the cretin, but then, perhaps she didn't care if he had.

Together, Leah and Harlan rushed toward the back of the establishment where she spied a familiar man sitting on top of the coach. Matthew tipped his hat at her. "Good to see you again, Miss Lindquist."

Tears sprang to her eyes. "You too, Matthew."

Once she was inside the carriage, she recalled the first time she'd sat across from Harlan. She had been dizzied from the blow to the head, but distrustful of him all the same. Now, she was grateful that he was there, saving her from the worst fate she could comprehend.

She wrapped her arms around herself and could feel the hot slide of silent tears down her cheeks. Never in her life could she have imagined that she would have had to endure the horrors of this night. In all of her travels, she'd never been so fearful as she had been with Mr. Bernard. The carriage started to move as Harlan sat beside her and gathered her into his arms.

"God, Leah." His voice was haunted. "I should never have left you. I thought I was protecting you, but I failed to keep you safe. You can be assured that will not happen again."

"Promise?" she asked softly.

"Yes."

She snuggled closer to his embrace and found the comfort that had been denied her all these long days at her brother's cold house. "I'm glad you're here," she whispered.

He held her closer and said, "Me too."

It hadn't takenbut a flash of his profile before Harlan had recognized his foe. There was no doubt in his mind Bernard was the man he'd intercepted on the road, and who had given him the nice scar near his scalp.

But it was his ill treatment of Leah that had made Harlan see instant red. Any revenge he might have been feeling for himself was wiped away when he saw the scoundrel manhandle Leah in such a way. He'd wanted to jump through the glass and attack him right then. It had taken Benjamin's calm voice to remind him that his anger would be best served after Bernard was away from prying—and possibly sympathetic—eyes.

Harlan had agreed, albeit reluctantly, and together, they had made their way to the couple without being detected. After Benjamin had taken care of Bernard, Harlan's throat had immediately clogged with emotion when he looked upon Leah's face. With her auburn hair framing her pale countenance, the sight of her fear broke his heart. Only when her amber eyes opened and spied him was his world complete again. Until then, he hadn't realized how much he had yearned for her, choosing to act as though his duty was priority.

In that moment, he'd known the truth. He'd been lying to himself before then. She was the single thing that mattered, and the desire to whisk her away from all this nastiness and hold her close was all he ever wanted. It proved that once the threat against the queen was diminished, he would be handing in his resignation to the Crown. He wanted to believe that it was over already, but until he received confirmation from Benjamin that the assassin had been dealt with, Harlan couldn't, in all good conscience, shirk his current duties. He'd put too much effort into seeing this man brought to justice. And considering all the time his fellow conspirators had taken away from their families to see that happen, he owed them a debt of gratitude that could only be repaid by ensuring that was true.

"Where is Benjamin taking Bernard?"

"He is taking him somewhere private for questioning." He ground his jaw, trying to keep his tone even, rather than blurting out that he hoped Bernard's fingernails were being torn off one by one.

"He's alone with him? In that place?" she returned, aghast.

"Benjamin can handle himself," Harlan said without hesitation. "It wouldn't be the first time he'd faced adversity and come out victorious on the other side. I have every faith that he will join us shortly."

He could tell that she was still concerned, but she nodded her head, nevertheless.

Suddenly, her focus became hesitant. "I can't go back to my brother's house."

He urged her to sit up so she could see the seriousness in his eyes, and not just hear it in his voice. Grasping her chin lightly, he murmured, "I told you that you weren't leaving my sight from now on. I meant that." He exhaled slowly. "After I read the letter you sent to Matthew and he told me of his suspicions about Lindquist's treatment of you, I pray you will never step foot through that door again."

She hugged herself and gave a mock shudder. "I shouldn't wish to do so either, but I fear for the welfare of my sister-in-law. I am afraid Agnes has been so oppressed under Henry's thumb that she is forever changed."

He frowned slightly and let his hand fall to his side. "After everything has settled down around the queen, I will make it my priority to look into the matter further. But other than threatening a vicar with better behavior, there isn't much else I can do since they are wed. You do understand that the law is on his side?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, I do." She looked down at her lap. "I had foolishly believed that coming back to England would be the fresh start that I had been hoping for after my aunt's death, but from the moment I stepped onto English soil, I have discovered nothing but adversity." Her focus lifted and met his once again. "The single bright spot in all of this has been you and your band of merry thieves."

Harlan reached out and grasped her shoulders. The passions that were running rampant through him weren't just about sexual desire, but something else. Something much deeper and more primitive, possessive. Mine. "I admit that when I made the decision to take you hostage, I didn't know what would happen. You were injured and looked so… lost, that I couldn't just leave you to fend for yourself. I certainly hadn't expected any of… this." He exhaled harshly. "I hadn't expected you."

She grasped his lapels and brought him closer to her. "Kiss me, Harlan. Make all the ugliness of this night disappear."

He leaned forward and happily complied.