Page 25 of The Honorable Rogue (The Notorious Nightingales #5)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

F ear had still been coursing through Charles when he’d kissed Violet. But that had soon gone to be replaced by passion. She’d responded to him, and he’d lost his head completely. In fact had something not startled them he would have stripped her naked and taken her right here on the seat.

She makes me loose reason.

It can’t happen again, not until this danger to her was gone.

After their kiss, when Violet had rested her head on his chest, Charles would have done whatever she asked of him. Climbed the tallest mountain or fought one hundred men single-handed. He also knew that kiss would brand him as hers forever. He wanted this woman, and she loved another. That thought had him hugging her close. Mine , he’d thought, and yet he knew he had an unfair advantage in winning her heart because his competition was dead.

Looking out the window as the carriage slowed, Charles watched the driver fall from the seat. Before he could open the door, the hackney started moving again .

“Charles, was that our driver?” Violet said, sounding terrified.

“It was.” He moved to the opening above them and eased it up slightly. Two men now sat on the driver’s seat. As he raised it farther, one turned and pointed a pistol at him.

“You’ll not move or make a sound,” the man said.

Charles closed the opening and sat once more next to Violet.

“It seems two men have taken control of the hackney and us, Violet. My guess is there were more in the park, and it is them that have been following us.”

“I wish you’d never found that note in the book, Charles,” she whispered.

“Agreed,” he said, trying to work out how to keep her safe.

“We cannot jump from the hackney. It is going too fast,” she said.

He would have done exactly that had she not been in there with him.

“No, and one of those men would shoot me if I tried to climb out the window.”

“I don’t want you to be shot, Charles,” she said solemnly.

“It is not something I wish for either,” he said, taking her hand. “I will keep you safe, Violet.”

“We will keep each other safe.” She drew back her shoulders, which would have made him smile if he had one in him.

“Violet, you look out the left side window, and I will look out the right. If you see anything that will slow the carriage or a sharp turn approaching, let me know. That is possibly the only time we can escape.”

“Tell me we will not leap from this carriage?”

“If you have a better plan, then let’s hear it.” When she remained silent, he said, “I doubt these two are the only people involved, and when we stop, others will be there waiting for us. So escaping before we reach our destination is our only choice.”

“I don’t understand how this is happening in London. There are people everywhere,” Violet said.

“Most are just minding their business, but yes, and that will help when we get out of this hackney.”

“How do you sound so calm?”

“I’m the Thomas who is calm in all situations even when inside I am not.” He gave her a small smile.

The hackney had picked up speed now, weaving in and out of other carriages and horses. The drivers clearly wanted to get out of the London traffic.

Think, Charles.

“I believe we are approaching Blossom’s Sweets, Charles. It is on a corner.”

“I have never heard of Blossom’s Sweets, and I thought I knew all the best sweet shops in London.”

“It is by far the best,” she said in a tight voice. “Yes, I just saw Margret, and she is always selling her spiced buns just before Blossom’s Sweets.”

Such was the working mind of a woman, he thought, joining her. No street names, just places they frequented. Leaning out the window, he looked behind and saw the carriage that he’d seen in the park following. He then felt the carriage slow.

“Other side, quick!”

He threw the door open.

“I can’t!”

Charles picked Violet up and jumped as the carriage almost stopped. He kept running when they reached the ground with her in his arms and stayed upright. He collided with two men, who brought them to a halt.

“Forgive us. Good day,” Charles said. Lowering Violet to the ground, he took her hand and ran. Looking over his shoulder, he noted the hackney had stopped in the street, and the two men were now off the driver’s seat and in pursuit.

“Run, Violet, they are following!”

He heard shouts coming from behind them as people wondered what was going on. He gripped her small fingers tighter as he dodged people and looked for somewhere to hide. Any way he could keep her safe. He veered left down narrow lanes and then right back out onto the main road. Still, the men followed, but he felt they were putting distance between them.

“Keep running!” She didn’t reply, which Charles thought was likely because she couldn’t.

His breath rasped in and out of his throat, and like him, he knew Violet could not keep this pace for long. Turning yet another corner, he was unsure if they were heading toward Crabbett Close or away from it.

Ducking down a lane, Charles saw a door. Making for it, he stepped inside and pulled it closed behind them, shutting them in the dark.

“What is this?” Violet whispered.

“Unsure, but for now, be quiet.”

He moved along the wall, taking her with him to the rear of the small space. He sat and then pulled Violet onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around her he held her still.

“Quiet now,” he whispered into her ear.

Her breath was rushing in and out of her mouth and her chest was heaving as she struggled to haul in air. They both heard the thud of feet outside the door. Violet’s fingers grabbed the ones he had wrapped around her waist.

“They have to be here. Keep looking.” Someone spoke the words right outside the door, and then Charles heard nothing.

He wasn’t sure how long they sat in there, but neither of them moved, and the only sound was the rasp of their breathing. The stiffness left her spine, and she sagged back into him, and Charles thought that holding this woman could be something he’d get used to, especially when they weren’t in danger.

She moved, wriggling slightly. The friction on his groin was uncomfortable because it made him aware of how close she was.

“Charles,” she whispered, looking up at him.

“I’ll keep you safe.” In that moment, when their eyes met, he felt closer to this woman than he’d ever felt with another in his life.

She was his; he just had to make her realize that, but now was not the time for that. Now was the time for getting her somewhere she would be safe.

“Violet, we are going to stand now and open that door.” He felt her nod. “I will look out and see if it’s clear.”

Lifting her to her feet, Charles followed. He then gripped her shoulders. “Trust me and do exactly as I say.”

“I do,” she whispered, looking up at him. He read the fear and worry and did not stop himself from kissing her—just a brief touch of his lips on hers.

“Come.” Charles opened the door and looked out. There was no one in the narrow lane. “Take my hand again, Violet.”

He felt her small fingers slide into his, and then he was leading her out and back the way they’d come. It was as they turned left into yet another narrow winding lane that he saw the two men.

“Get them!”

Cursing, Charles ran, pulling her behind him.

“How will we escape, Charles?” Violet yelled.

“Run, Violet!” He couldn’t let them get her.

Looking ahead, he saw someone. A man bent at the waist who appeared to be rummaging through a pile of rubbish. Hearing their footsteps, he straightened .

“Charles?”

“Leo. Men after us!”

His cousin didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his pistol and pointed it. Charles stopped at his side, pushing Violet behind him. The men appeared seconds later.

“One more step and I shoot,” Leo said because Charles had no breath to speak.

The men stopped.

“I am an excellent marksman. I suggest you raise your hands,” Leo added.

“He can only shoot one of us,” a man said.

“I don’t want to be the one,” the other said, raising his hands.

“There could be more following, Leo,” Charles said. “We need to leave.”

“On the ground, please, gentlemen. Lie down on your fronts, and put your hands behind your head,” Leo directed the men.

They did as he asked.

“Let’s go,” Charles said, taking Violet’s hand. He thought he heard her wheeze something but could not make out the words.

They reached a main road once more. There were more people here, so they would be safe…. Violet would be safe.

Leo walked into the street and hailed a hackney. Seconds later, they were inside and heading to Crabbett Close. Looking out the window, he saw no sign of the men who had been following them but knew this was only a reprieve. They were in danger, and until they found out why and who was after them, they would stay that way.

“What the hell is going on?” Leo said. “Pardon me, Miss Althorp. Why are you smeared in blood again, Charles?”

“This morning, I would have said I had no enemies, but now, I think it’s safe to say that is not the case. In fact, I think we could have inadvertently stumbled into the hunt for the Pavlov fortune.”

“Good God, really?” Leo looked stunned.

“Really,” Charles said as they turned into Crabbett Close. He focused on the woman seated across from him. At least she had color in her cheeks now, but the fear still lingered in her lovely eyes. His woman.

“From this moment on, you must show caution, Violet.” Charles had to get her to understand this. “No more leaving the house with just Miss Dabbers or Tilly until whoever is behind this is caught.”

“Who is Miss Dabbers?”

“Miss Althorp’s maid, Leo.”

“When I can breathe again, I shall show caution,” she wheezed, pressing a hand to her chest. “I really must walk about at a faster pace.”

“We are a lazy lot, and I, like you, need to exercise more,” Leo said.

He’d ravished her. They had nearly been abducted and were then forced to flee through the streets of London, and she and Leo were discussing the need for more exercise. Charles couldn’t help it—he started laughing.