CHAPTER 20

The gas lamps liningthe cobbled lane cast a warm, inviting glow on the elegant Mayfair facades. Dariux walked by and cut through a side lane to the mews that ran behind the townhouses. Under the cover of the early evening mist, his polished leather boots made little sound on the worn cobblestones.

When he arrived at the building he sought, he looked around. Few people were about. At this hour, most grooms and coachmen were having their supper or driving their employers around town for a night of revelry.

Which is why he chose this time to make his daily surveillance visits. It made it easy to slip unnoticed into the empty carriage house. Picking the rudimentary lock was the work of a moment, using the clever little tool he carried for this purpose. He eased the door open, revealing the dimly lit interior. The scent of hay and polished wood greeted him as he slipped inside. Rows of gleaming carriages stood in silent witness to his intrusion.

He had been lucky to find the residence next to the duke’s townhouse unoccupied at the moment. Its deserted carriage house, nestled behind the grand residences, offered the perfect vantage point to observe the townhouses and to listen to the conversations going on within.

Dariux made his way in the dark to the staircase that led to the first floor, navigating the space by memory to a window at the far end of the carriage house. He had been here before. A week had passed since the duke and duchess had embarked on a trip, and still they had not returned. Nor had he been able to learn their exact location or when they would be coming back.

With a careful hand, he parted the fabric just enough to allow a sliver of moonlight to filter through. There, across the manicured garden, stood the duke’s grand townhouse, its back windows aglow with soft, golden light. With practiced ease, he slid the listening device from his pocket and pointed the receptor towards the back of the house, slipping the headphones in his ears.

Today, the chatter in the kitchen sounded more animated. Could this mean the duke and duchess had returned? A word in the servant’s conversation snagged his attention. ‘Her Grace.’ They were talking about Olivia. He held his breath in expectation.

It wasn’t long before the servant’s conversation confirmed it. The duke and duchess had returned and were home.

They had finally located their missing subject. Tomorrow, they could pay them a visit and make departure plans. Within a week, the mission would be complete, and he could return to his modern world.

Relief flooded him, followed immediately after by an emotion he could not name, but it weaved its way through his body, squeezing his chest and robbing him of breath. Going back meant ending the relationship with Kalli.

Nonsense. This was what he wanted. The mission had lasted longer than expected and was plagued by complications from the start. The latest of which had been losing track of the woman they had accidentally dragged with them. He should look forward to wrapping things up and returning to his normal life.

Except, the last few days with Kalli had been... interesting. No. Who was he kidding? They had been marvelous. After their disagreement and their subsequent chat in the park, where they both opened up about their pasts and their values, he felt as if a curtain had lifted, and they could see each other clearly, as they were, for the first time.

It should have exposed deficiencies, sparked disappointment, and created conflict. Instead, he was enjoying getting to know Kalli. He felt closer to her than ever. Talking with her was almost as pleasurable as the sex act. She was funny, quick-witted, and had such interesting, if somewhat illogical, views on love.

Abandoning his post by the window, he returned downstairs and slipped back outside. The last glimmer of twilight had already faded, and the shadows grew denser with the progressing night.

The hotel wasn’t far. Just a few blocks away. Better to walk than try to get a hackney. The exercise would do his body good and help clear his mind. What would Kalli’s reaction be to the news? He knew she wanted to continue their relationship, or whatever there was between them. Maybe they could still see each other...

No. What was he thinking? That would never work with Kalli. She wanted more. And she deserved to get it. Maybe she would find this elusive love she sought. Whereas he... he didn’t want that. Not in the least. So what if he enjoyed her company? His position on human emotions hadn’t changed.

It was temporary insanity that would pass once he returned to his normal life with his parbot. He should not embroil himself in commitments he couldn’t keep. He would miss her at first. No doubt. They had been constantly together for over a month now. But getting over that would be easier than nurturing a long-term relationship with another human.

Ultimately, it was for the best.

His long strides carried him through the busy streets. He crossed Oxford Street, then cut across Cavendish Square. The usually bustling square lay quiet, bathed in the silvery glow of the moon.

Dariux hastened along the shadowed path, the click of his boots against the cobblestones echoing through the solitude of the square.

Two figures emerged from the inky darkness, their footsteps muffled. They moved with predatory menace, closing in on him with a sinister intent that sent a chill down his spine. In the center part of the square, he found himself isolated, the eerie stillness heightening his senses.

Damn! He had been so distracted in his own thoughts he had forgotten the number one rule when strolling alone at night: be alert. But this was Mayfair, for goodness’ sake! The most expensive and safest part of town. Yeah, and the criminals knew it, too. It was pointless to assault people in slums because they had little of value. Where the rich people were, the pickings were good.

“Oi, you there!” one of the thugs hissed, his voice low and menacing.

Dariux stopped in his tracks, turning to face the two looming shapes that had emerged from the shadows. His heart quickened as a rush of adrenaline inundated his body. His mind assessed the threat. The men were big, and something glinted in the hand of one of them. A knife? He could still fight them. It was unlikely they would know any sort of fighting technique. They were likely common thugs out for some loot. But was it worth it?

“What do you want?” he demanded, his voice steady.

The taller of the two men, with a scar running down his cheek like a jagged lightning bolt, stepped closer, a twisted grin revealing broken teeth. “Your valuables, mate,” he sneered, brandishing a glinting blade.

He could give them what they wanted and hope they went away without further trouble. It was not as if he carried much money with him. The other accessories he wore were well-made but not valuable. Merely part of his costume.

Slowly, he removed his pocket watch and wallet, all the while keeping a vigilant eye on his assailants. He handed them to the smaller one, who eagerly snatched the pieces with a grimy hand.

“The tie pin, too! Is that all you have, guv?” The big thug called, rifling through his wallet. “Not much for a fancy gent like yerself.”

“That is all I have,” Dariux replied, his voice calm but his body ready to spring to action. He counted on the muggers’ desire for a swift exchange and disappearance into the night. The square was deserted now, but someone could happen by at any moment. Lingering was dangerous for them.

“Dunno about that. Slim! We better search him, make sure he is not keeping valuables from us.”

Not in a hurry, then. He had no other valuables, but he could not risk them discovering the listening device. That was unknown technology in these times, and he couldn’t leave it behind.

“Now, see here. I have given you my valuables as you asked, because I don’t want any trouble. But I won’t submit to a search. Run away with what you’ve got if you don’t want a fight on your hands.”

The thugs laughed, discounting the threat. The more fools they.

The smaller thug launched at him, attempting to restrain him. But Dariux was prepared. They would quickly learn he was no easy prey. His training in the art of self-defense took over, and he reacted with lightning speed. In a fluid motion, he evaded the thug’s grasp, spinning gracefully to gain a tactical advantage.

As the thug stumbled forward, Dariux seized the moment. He delivered a swift, well-placed punch to the thug’s jaw. The impact echoed through the night like a crack of thunder. The assailant’s eyes rolled back as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious and defeated.

The big thug snarled, watching his comrade fall. With a desperate urgency, he came at him, brandishing the knife. Dariux almost smiled at the clumsy attempt. He lunged forward, quick as a striking snake, disarming the thug with a precise strike that sent the weapon clattering to the cobblestones.

With a powerful kick to the thug’s midsection, Dariux sent him sprawling, his breath knocked out of him. Another well-placed blow to the jaw rendered him as unconscious as his partner.

In the silence that ensued, Dariux bent and retrieved his wallet and watch from the ground where they had landed. But as the adrenaline ebbed, a searing pain in his arm informed him he had not escaped unscathed. In the dim moonlight, he noted a gash across his forearm inflicted by the knife during the struggle.

He assessed the injury. His arm was throbbing with pain, and blood poured from the wound, but he didn’t think it was deep. He flexed his fingers, relieved to find everything seemed to work well. Regardless, he knew he needed immediate attention, if only to prevent infection.

The Langham was but a block away. He just needed to get to their room, and Kalli would see to the wound. But the blood trickled down his arm, staining the cobblestones beneath him. Damn it. He couldn’t stroll through the lobby like this. That would call undue attention.

Yanking at his necktie with the other hand, he wound it around his arm. With gritted teeth, he bound the wound as tightly as he could manage, wincing at the pain that surged through him. At least the bleeding was controlled. Enough to avoid any attention on the way to the room.