Page 80 of The Lady is Trouble

Even if, and this idea nearly brought him to his knees, he and Piper created a child who carried his gift. Or hers.

A child he would love to the end of time.

He no longer cared. Or mayhap better to say, Piper was worth more than his concerns. She was worth more—and he could not,wouldnot, live without her. The sun had gone behind a cloud, and it was never to reappear if she did not.

He dropped his head to his hands.So, this is what dying feels like.

“They want her alive. They want her to heal,” Humphrey whispered and laid a fist on his shoulder.

Julian shook off the touch and paced Brook Cottage’s lone drawing room. Once there and back before he was able to catch his breath. After Finn had intercepted him at the Cock and Bull, they’d tracked Piper to this dwelling and found her bay tied up outside. The sight of the horse waiting patiently for its rider made him question if he was losing his mind.

Ire was clouding his judgment, and all he could think was:if they touch her, I’ll rip out their hearts. He would return to the savagery of the rookery without a second thought. As it was, he was holding himself back from unleashing his fury on the guards she’d slipped past.

“We’ll find her, Jule.”

“Piper has the brooch, Rey. I have nothing to read.”

“They’re not in London.” This from Finn, who stood with a devastated expression by the stone fireplace Julian had known Piper would love the moment he saw it. It was one of the few times he recalled Finn looking anything other than bored. “The dream last night”—he held up his hand, then let it drop with a whispered oath—“they were in the country. They’ve taken her somewhere close. I canfeelit.”

Julian exhaled and let his head fall back. That crazy bitch was going to rue the day she messed with his family.

Ashcroft ducked inside as he, unbelievably, stood the tallest in the room. Two of his soldiers tramped in behind him. Truthfully, Julian was glad he was there because the man always looked as if he would joyfully tear someone apart. Like no duke Julian had ever seen. “There were two men. Easily fifteen stone. No sign of a struggle. Just one point in the yard where she stumbled. Their tracks were made from the cut of a French boot. I’ve seen it before.” He scowled, chasing his hand down his coat to the knife holstered at his waist. An unconscious movement, Julian was sure. “A child’s boot impression as well. By the garden wall and leading to the carriage. Fresh. The same time frame, from the dried mud.”

Julian darted a glance at Finn. Finn’s cheeks paled, bleeding parchment.

Simon, he mouthed.

As if they’d summoned him, Simon came through the doorway in a skidding burst, his face crimson, sweat streaking his skin. Finn was before him in two strides, tipping the boy’s chin high. “Did you find her?”

Julian straightened, daring to breathe. His life flashed before his eyes—with and without Piper in it. The prick behind his lids had him blinking as he swallowed, his throat working furiously. “Where is she?”

Backing out of Finn’s hold, Simon bolted for the door, making it as far as the rose bushes before he dropped to his knees and heaved. Finn yanked a handkerchief from his pocket and thrust it at the boy. “Calm down, Si. It’s okay. We have you now.”

Simon’s head hung so low his hair skimmed the stalks of grass. As Julian reached him, a horrifying theory left him breathless.What if they’d hurt her, and the boy hadn’t the nerve to tell them?

Julian kneeled. “Is she…”

The emotion in Julian’s voice seemed to give Simon courage. “I heard a floorboard outside my chamber creak. I’ve tested the entire hallway, for protection. It was the one by that stiff chair no one wants to sit in. She went out a window, first floor but still high up, like nothing I’ve seen a girl do. A lady most especially. Before dawn. Pitch-black. No guard. I don’t much like the kind ofrealdark you find in the country, but I followed her anyway.”

Finn grasped Simon’s hand. “And?”

Simon sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Two rat bastards shoved her into a carriage and the yappy haunt, the one been following me all week, said: jump on that tiger platform and hide. So, I did.”

Julian rocked back on his heels, the relief coursing through him lethal enough to dim his vision. “You know—”

“Where Lady Piper is. She didn’t fight, but…” A tear streaked Simon’s cheek, and he turned his head to hide it. “The haunts. Godawful ones. Bloody horror the evil lady is.”

Finn picked Simon up and cradled him to his chest. “My destiny,” Julian heard him whimper.

Julian fisted his hands, wishing their gifts and the world it forced them to occupy to perdition.

“Mount up,” Ashcroft instructed his men. They were armed, thankfully, to the teeth.

However, rescuing Piper wasn’t precisely like fighting an opponent one knew well. Asaneopponent. Adding an element of surprise to this campaign might deliver the superior approach, Julian decided as he swung his leg over the saddle of his black.

“Ashcroft, any chance your work with Piper has provided more control over those fires?”

“I met your grandfather many years ago. Were you aware of this?”