Chapter 16

Leah had missed this—had missed Harlan. Terribly.

Ever since she'd woken up to an empty bed, knowing that he had left her behind because he believed he'd been doing what was best, the pain she'd felt had been acute. Misery had followed her ever since, but now, as his lips met hers, she was once again complete. Her heart felt as though it had been stitched back together.

At long last, she had come home. She had found someplace where she belonged after years of drifting about from place to place.

The problem that held Leah back from giving her heart over to him fully was the uncertainty that he would never be able to give up his work for the Home Office. He'd told her it was important to him, that he did it because no one else would, and that he was honoring his father's memory by fighting for his country. She couldn't live with the horror in wondering if he would come back to her night after night. She wouldn't do that to herself—or any children that might result from their union. She had suffered as a child because of her father's grief.

For now, she intended to cling to the protection and security that Harlan offered, but once this intrigue was complete, she would have to evaluate their future very carefully.

All of those questions could be answered later, but for now, Leah was enjoying the feel of being in Harlan's arms.

All too soon the embrace came to a reluctant end as the carriage drew to a halt. Harlan leaned back. "We shall have to finish this conversation later," he said huskily.

Although doubts were swirling in her head, this was one thing of which she was certain. "I agree," she breathed.

The door opened, and Harlan assisted Leah to the ground. She could tell his focus had altered, become more aware of the danger that could be lurking around them, because he scanned the surrounding area and ushered her inside a lodging house, where he led her up a set of rickety stairs to the second floor.

She noticed Matthew wasn't following them. When she asked after him, Harlan said, "He stays wherever the horses are in case we need to make a hasty retreat." He looked at her directly. "Trust me, he is well armed and as someone who used to be in the military, he knows how to fire a pistol if necessary."

The rooms she entered made the cottage in Gravesend seem like a grand estate, but she was not about to complain about her change in fortune. She was grateful to have escaped a man like Mr. Bernard and to not have to return to her brother.

She spied a settee with faded upholstery and frayed edges, but she gratefully sank down onto it. Glancing down, she had nearly forgotten the dress she wore and wished that she had something else to put on. "This gown is despicable," she grumbled.

Harlan sat across from her in an equally worn chair that creaked beneath his weight. Loosely clasping his hands together, he said, "I thought it an interesting choice."

"Trust me, it was not my choice, but that of—" She ceased her tirade when she saw the merriment shining in his gaze. She crossed her arms. "You're teasing me."

"I might have been."

She laughed, finding it good to do so. "You are incorrigible." As she sobered once more, she reached out and threaded one of her hands through his. "How did you find me?"

"One of the house maids. She was returning from the village and was nearly frightened out of her wits by Benjamin."

She couldn't resist a slight laugh, mainly because she couldn't imagine being scared of such a gentle man. Then again, when she had first laid eyes on him with his highwayman mask, she had to admit he had made an intimidating figure. "I almost feel sorry for her."

"I would, if it hadn't led me to you."

She adored the warmth in his hazel eyes. She couldn't wait for them to be alone where they wouldn't be disturbed. "What do we do now?"

He scrubbed a hand down his face. "We wait for Benjamin to return. And then we head back to London."

"I see." A yawn caught her and she wondered what time it was. The hour was surely growing late, but now that the horrors of the night had passed, she found that exhaustion was starting to set in.

He nodded toward a closed door. "You should get some rest. The bedchamber is just through there."

Although her eyes were heavy, she said, "I can't possibly think of sleep when Benjamin hasn't returned."

Harlan snorted. "I can't wait to see Benjamin's reaction when I tell him you think he is some wilting hero, unable to withstand a bit of a challenge."

"I never said that!" Leah said with an outraged gasp. "I shall deny—" She shook her head. "You are teasing me again."

He tilted his head to the side. "It is worth it to see you smile."

Leah's heart fluttered. "I wish I might do the same for you."

"Your presence here is enough to relieve the tightness that has been in my chest since I left you." His face was serious. "I was afraid that you would be so furious that you might not speak to me again."

"I admit that I was hurt," she said. "But I could never stay angry at you for long."

The silence between them lengthened, as awareness swirled around them once more. Harlan got to his feet, and Leah's pulse started to race. "There is a pub across the street. I could do with something to eat while I wait for Benjamin to arrive. I will return shortly. Do not open the door for any reason while I'm gone." He reached out to touch her face gently. "Are you hungry?"

"No."

He inclined his head and left.

Once he was gone, Leah yawned again. As much as she wanted to stay awake for Benjamin's return, the combination of the hour and so many mixed emotions were starting to take their toll. Rather than going into the bedchamber, she lay down on the settee and closed her eyes, telling herself she would take a brief repose until Harlan returned.

Harlan wasgrateful the barkeep was willing to offer him some leftover stew and bread. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep his stomach from gnawing with hunger. He had been traveling all day, intent on reaching Leah. Something had told him that time was of the essence. He was glad he'd wasted no time in listening to his instincts, for her fate might have turned out differently should he have delayed. He hadn't thought about anything but her until now, but if he hoped to keep up his strength for what was to come, then he had to do something to retain his energy.

He also hadn't wanted to worry Leah earlier, but as the minutes started to tick by, Harlan started to wonder if there was a problem. From what he knew of Benjamin, he didn't waste time. Then again, this was a highly intelligent man he was dealing with, likely someone who had been trained in the art of defiance since the war ended. He would be a worthy adversary, so perhaps that was the reason he hadn't yet returned.

Harlan decided that if he hadn't heard from Benjamin in another hour, he intended to make his way back to the brothel while Matthew watched over Leah.

His chest ached every time he considered the ramifications of what might have happened to her should he not have intervened when he did, but then he had to remind himself that all was well.

He stopped to check on Matthew and offer him some of the fare and then he returned to the rooms. He walked inside and stopped when he saw Leah asleep on the settee. Setting the last of the food on a nearby table for Benjamin, he walked over and bent down beside her. She was so lovely that he couldn't resist reaching out and brushing some of her auburn hair away from her soft, porcelain cheek.

Mine. Again, the word pounded through his mind. Gathering her into his arms, he held her close as she murmured something in her sleep. He carried her to the bedchamber and gently laid her on top of the coverlet. She sighed when he removed his arms, as if she were upset, but the frown smoothed out soon enough and her breathing remained deep and steady.

Harlan waited to make sure she was going to rest easy, and then he left her.

After consuming his fare, his eyes started to droop. He decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get some rest himself, in case there was trouble later. Leaning a chair against the door, Harlan sat down and shut his eyes. One hour. That was all he would allow himself. And then he was heading back to find Benjamin.

A short time later, Harlan jerked to attention when there was a loud banging on the door behind him. Blinking the cobwebs away from his vision, he glanced at his pocket watch and saw that only a half hour had passed.

He withdrew the pistol he always kept concealed in his jacket and opened the door to point it at the intruder. However, he quickly set it aside when Benjamin fell into the room.

Harlan slammed the door as he bent down to assist him. "What the devil—?"

Benjamin grimaced as he held his side where blood poured through a slash in his clothes. "The bastard was armed with a knife. Sliced me wide open when I thought he was unconscious." He shook his head. "I don't understand how he slipped past my ropes. I was a sailor for years. I know how to tie a proper knot."

Harlan clenched his teeth as he helped Benjamin into the chair he'd just vacated. "Wait here, and I'll get Leah. We all know she's adept at stitching up wounds. Once you're patched up, you can tell me what happened. Until then, save your strength."

He walked into the bedchamber, but to his surprise, Leah was up and moving about the room. "I heard the ruckus," she offered by way of an explanation. "I shall require hot water, needle and thread, scissors, and linen for a bandage, and perhaps some brandy to ease his discomfort."

Harlan didn't waste any time heading for his satchel which contained all but a basin of hot water. He had learned to be prepared in his line of work over the years.

By the time he'd made his way back to Benjamin with the supplies, Leah was knelt down beside him and holding his hand. As Harlan set the requested items beside her, he didn't miss the look of censure that she shot him. No doubt she was blaming him for Benjamin's injuries. "I'll get the water," he muttered, and as she started to cut the fabric away from around the wound, Harlan took his leave.

"Bloody ignorant man."

"Don't be too hard on him, lass."

Leah hadn't realized she'd spoken aloud until Benjamin grumbled a reply. She sighed as she continued to work to remove the cloth around the wound. It worried her about how much blood he'd lost, but at least it appeared to be letting up slightly. "I wish I could say I wasn't angry, but I told him he should go back and check on you."

Benjamin hissed when some of the material she pulled away stuck to some of the dried blood near the cut. She handed him the flask. "Thank ye." She noted that his speech was slightly slurred and had a bit more of a cockney accent. When some of the alcohol that was in the flask had transferred to his gullet, it became even more so. "Harlan is a good man. As good as any ye might find. An' he knows I'm a proud man an' that I wouldn't want him rushin' to me aid without just cause." He took another long swig. "He was right concerned about ye, for good reason. He couldn't be in two places at th' same time. If'n he thought it was safe to leave ye, he would have done."

Leah didn't want to give Harlan the benefit of the doubt right then, but she supposed she didn't have much choice than to accept Benjamin's explanation as the truth. She didn't reply as she kept her focus on the task at hand. Now that the material had been stripped away from the cut, she could see how bad it was. Although it was deep, she didn't think that it had pierced any vital organs through his ribcage, which was a very good sign.

"He thinks a lot of ye."

Leah flicked her gaze upward after she threaded the needle. Again, she remained silent and started to work.

"In fact," he added. "I've never seen 'im in such a state of upheaval afore."

Leah made her first suture, and although Benjamin uttered a curse, he took another long swig from the flask and settled down.

"I've known 'im for several years now, but although 'e might've taken a fancy to one gel now an' again, 'e's never lost 'is mind like that." He shook his head.

He continued to prattle on about how Harlan was overset over her, but when Harlan returned with a pitcher and took it to the hearth to heat, she thought that her patient would fall silent. She was wrong.

"I think ye ought t' marry this one," he announced. He went so far as to raise his flask in the air in a semblance of a celebratory salute, as if the matter had already been decided. "I can hardly feel a thing wit' 'er steady 'and."

"Something tells me your lack of feeling isn't so much her steady hand as the brandy you've consumed," Harlan returned dryly.

"Nonshense," Benjamin waved a dismissive hand. "I'm tellin' ye. Don't let this one slip away!"

"I shall take that into consideration, old friend." Leah glanced at Harlan when he spoke, but other than a slight lift of his lips, she couldn't decipher his innermost thoughts.

Harlan took the water off the flame and emptied it into a bowl, which he brought over to sit next to her. "Thank you," she murmured. As she dipped a strip of linen into the steaming water, she asked Benjamin, "You wouldn't have any more of that brandy left, would you? The alcohol will help to sterilize the wound."

He shoved it at her with one eye shut, as if he couldn't quite focus. "Take it. It's a foul drink. I'd rather 'ave a pint o' ale."

Leah cleared away most of the blood with the linen, and then she poured some of the brandy along the neat row of new stitches. Next, she took the dry linen and wound it around his midsection, trying the ends neatly together. "You're done. That's all I can do for now."

Benjamin lifted his arm and tried to look at his side, but when he nearly fell out of the chair, Harlan was there to keep him steady. "Why don't we get you into bed?" he suggested.

Leah stood to take Benjamin's weight on the side of his injury, and together, they managed to get the burly man into the bedroom. It wasn't long afterward that a soft snore emitted from him.

"It sounds as if he will get some rest," Harlan muttered.

"Yes," Leah agreed. "By the morning, we should know if any infection will set in." As they returned to the main room and gathered up the items that she'd used, Leah asked, "What took you so long earlier? I was nearly finished stitching before you appeared."

"I spoke with Matthew," he noted grimly. "Now that Mr. Bernard is on the loose, I thought it best he was cautioned. He is going to join us shortly, rather than stay with the team. It took some time to cajole him into doing so, but I explained the danger he might be in should he fall asleep and find his throat cut open."

"That was rather… insightful of you," she murmured.

"And you're still angry about Benjamin," he returned quietly. "You blame me for his injuries."

"I did," she admitted softly. "But I understand why. "Benjamin told me he could be stubborn on occasion and generally refused help." She omitted the part where he'd told her about Harlan's strong emotions toward her. She decided it wasn't the time nor the place to discuss such an intimate topic, and to be honest, she would rather hear the words from Harlan's lips anyway.

"You have no idea," Harlan returned with a chuckle. "He has been a loyal friend for some time. But I am quite familiar with his overbearing pride. I dared to ask him if he needed help once. It was the last time I did so." He frowned slightly. "I never had cause to worry about his prowess before now, but it just proves that Mr. Bernard is unlike any foe we've come up against before. We all made the mistake of underestimating him, but it will not happen again."

Leah could feel an uneasy chill travel up her spine. When she shivered, Harlan noticed the action. He moved to her side and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to you. I hope you know that."

She could see the sincerity in his hazel eyes. "I do."

The moment stretched out between them. The awareness that had been swirling among them in the carriage returning in full force. They started to lean toward one another…

A brisk knock at the door caused Leah to blink.

Harlan cleared his throat. "That will be Matthew."

"You should get it," she whispered in return.

"Indeed." It took him another moment before he was able to break the trance that had seemed to overtake him. As he opened the door to admit their coachman, Leah decided it was a good thing that she wasn't alone with Harlan any longer. The results would be delicious, but perhaps not the appropriate timing for another liaison.

As it was, she was still conflicted over whether or not they should be together again intimately. While her body craved nothing but him, her heart was begging her to reconsider. When it came to rational thought, she realized that she should choose the latter, but as Harlan glanced at her with heat shining in his enigmatic gaze, she could feel the butterflies set off in her stomach and she wondered if she would be strong enough to withstand her desire after all.