Page 46 of The Rogue’s Runaway Bride (Rogue of Her Own #3)

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Mrs. Gilroy’s rolling pin. The cagy woman had curled her fingers around the handle, slipping it out of sight within the folds of her voluminous skirts. Belle endeavored to keep Gideon’s attention bearing down on her as long as she could.

She shrugged. “It’s rather helpful when washing dishes. And cooking. And cleaning. But of course, you wouldn’t know anything about that now, would you?”

He stared at her as if she’d grown a tail. “Am I to believe Jonathan Mason put you to work as a bloody maid?”

“Nothing of the sort,” Belle replied. Sliding her hand over the pocket of her skirt, she felt the skeleton key she’d stowed there. In a pinch, it might well serve a purpose. “I rather enjoy it.”

“God above,” he said with a curl of his lips. “I had not realized this was a rescue.”

“A rescue? Really, Gideon, you don’t have a clue, do you?”

“Have you gone a bit mad then, Belle?” He met her eyes. “That might actually prove useful. A delirious wife in an asylum—why, I wouldn’t even need to have you in my sight.”

“I assure you, I am not mad, Gideon. I am not in need of rescue—I’m quite content, if you must know.” She steeled her spine. “And I most definitely will never be your wife.”

His mouth thinned to a slash. “Ah, you wound me, Belle. And there I thought you were eager to get down off the shelf.”

“It’s actually quite comfortable up here.” She slid her hand in the apron pocket, feeling the tiny studs on the handkerchief Mrs. Johnstone had given her. The simple weapon might buy her time.

“You’ve put me to a great deal of trouble.” His gaze hardened. “I expect to collect my due.”

“If you think I will marry you, perhaps you are the one who has gone a bit mad. I know the truth.” She dragged in a breath. “About you. And my scheming aunt.”

“Blast it, you are nearly more trouble than you’re worth. Had I known of your defiant nature, I would’ve pursued a malleable spinster. But Vera... bloody hell, I should not have trusted her.”

“Go back to her.” Belle forced a cool edge to her tone. “She is the one who wants you. Not me.”

“Do you think I give a bloody damn?” he scoffed. “The woman is a useful, well-connected fool.” His eyes narrowed. “She’ll be out of the picture soon enough. My special blend of tea will see to that.”

“Dear God.” Belle gasped. “You would see her dead?”

His shoulders lifted and fell in an emotionless shrug. “Enough talk. You are coming with me.” His gaze bore into her. “Now.”

“I will not go with you.” She glanced around the kitchen. If she could get to the frying pan on the stove, she might have a true defense.

“Do not try my patience, any more than you already have.” He turned to Roderick. “Unless you truly don’t give a damn about that sweet-faced little girl.”

Belle’s heart raced. “You would not sink so low as to harm a child.”

“I have no desire to hurt her. Nor you, for that matter.” He slanted Northcutt a glance. “That is his job.”

Carrie squirmed against the jackal’s hold. Until that moment, the child had been very quiet, taking in the scene with a wide, not-quite-comprehending gaze. But sudden understanding gleamed in her eyes.

The girl’s look of instinctive fear tore at Belle’s heart. She would never forgive Gideon for using the child as a pawn in his ugly scheme.

Wrenching against the man’s unyielding grasp, Carrie let out a plaintive wail. But it wasn’t a scream.

It was a word.

“Stomp!” Carrie belted out at the top of her lungs.

“ Ooof! ”

As Carrie slammed her hard-soled shoe into his instep, Northcutt grunted in pain.

“Kick!” The child sang out a heartbeat before her foot plowed into his shin.

“Bugger it!” the man bellowed.

Seizing the opportunity, Carrie ripped free. She dashed down the corridor as the blustering man chased after her.

“Do not touch her!” Belle cried out and took off running after the child.

She’d made it as far as the sitting room when Gideon caught her against him, hauling her nearly off her feet.

“Put me down, you bastard!” she screamed, desperate to reach Carrie before the brute could harm her.

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” he grated against her cheek.

Belle jabbed her elbow into his ribs.

Swearing beneath his breath, he staggered back. But his hold was solid as iron.

Another jab of her elbow, solid into his belly. Another muffled groan. But still, the taut restraint of Gideon’s hold did not ease.

Concealing the rolling pin against the folds of her skirts, Mrs. Gilroy hurried after Northcutt. Each step as fast as her hobbled knee would allow, she pursued him. “Don’t even think about hurting the wee lass.”

Moments later, a muffled thump and an angry bellow of pain drifted from the dining room. Had Mrs. Gilroy’s stout rolling pin connected with the man’s thick skull?

“Bugger off, you little witch.” Northcutt ground out the words a moment before another thud cut off a bitter epithet.

Belle’s pulse thundered in her ears. Dragging in a fortifying breath, she pulled the weighted cloth from her pocket and snapped it as hard as she could over her shoulder, directly at Gideon’s face.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered against her ear. Taking hold of the cloth, he tore it from her hand and forced her to face him. He clasped her wrists tightly enough to cause pain, but she steeled herself not to give in.

“Belle, you are playing a dangerous game.”

“Unhand me, you son of a bitch.”

“Language, my dear,” he said with a smirk as he dropped his hold. “Uncouth Americans.”

“My father will destroy you,” she bit off the words between her teeth.

“To the contrary, he will make me a wealthy man.”

She gave her head a vigorous shake. “You won’t extort a single penny out of him.”

Gideon hiked a brow. “You are aware many in London believe the two of us have run away?”

“I’d heard some nonsense to that effect.”

“I have proof, Belle.” A viper’s smile curved his mouth. “Proof that we’ve eloped.”

“Impossible,” she scoffed. “You have only Aunt Vera’s lies.”

He slowly shook his head. “A certificate of marriage locked safely in my personal vault—signed by a most cooperative officiant—says otherwise.”

“You are despicable.”

He shrugged. “Give me what I want, and no one will be hurt.”

“And what is it that you want, Gideon?”

“You.” He smirked. “More precisely, the hefty dowry I’m quite certain your father will offer to be rid of you.”

“He will not give you a dime.” She gritted out the words.

“You’re wrong, Belle. After the news of our impetuous marriage spreads, I’m confident he will provide the funds I require,” Gideon said in a tone that dripped venom. “At the very least, he will pay me handsomely to secure an annulment.”

“I’ll tell him the truth. He’ll know... he will know you’re lying.”

“That won’t matter,” Gideon said. “After we’ve been together for a sufficient time, you will be compromised by any standard. At that point, your doting father will do whatever it takes to ensure your good name is not indelibly tarnished.”

“I don’t give a fig about my good name. ” She forced herself to meet his cold gaze. “I will not go along with your scheme.”

“You still don’t understand, do you?” Releasing her wrists, he turned to the door. “I am not giving you a choice.”

Suddenly, Mrs. Gilroy cried out, a sound of shock and pain. Good Lord, what’s happened?

Belle rushed to the doorway. Mrs. Gilroy stood with her back to Belle, glaring up at Mr. Northcutt. He gripped the rolling pin in one hand, regarding the old woman with snake-cold eyes while another man thudded toward them with heavy steps.

Dear God. No. Gideon’s towering driver led Carrie into the room, his fingers encircling her small wrist. Belle’s heart nearly skipped a beat.

Tossing Mrs. Gilroy a glance, Roderick chuckled under his breath. “The old woman has got a backbone, I’ll say that.”

“Let the girl go,” Belle said, hearing the plea in her voice.

“This child is quite small, isn’t she?” An ugly smile curved his mouth. “It would be a blasted shame if this sweet little girl had an accident, wouldn’t it?”

“No!” Belle blurted out the word. Desperation filled every cell. She could not bear to see Carrie hurt. But she didn’t want to frighten the child any more than she already was. “Don’t do anything... please.”

Gideon came up behind her. “I’d say this is checkmate.” His hands curved over her shoulders. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Belle gulped against a burning rush of emotion. He was right. She was out of options. Even if she fought back, there was no way she and Mrs. Gilroy could deter three powerful men.

Gideon had left her no choice.

“Let the child go.” Belle forced out the words. “I will go with you.”

“Now see how easy that was,” Gideon said. “So much ado about nothing.”

“Miss Belle, no,” Mrs. Gilroy said, her voice raw as Carrie began to cry. “Ye cannot give the rotters what they want.”

“There’s no choice, is there?” She turned to Gideon. “Tell him to let Carrie go to Mrs. Gilroy.”

“Do what she said,” Gideon coolly ordered the burly driver.

“Whatever ye say,” Roderick said with a nod. Releasing his hold on the child, he nudged her toward the housekeeper. “Go now. She’ll take care of ye.”

With a cry, Carrie ran to Belle. The look in her tear-filled eyes threatened to break Belle’s heart.

“Please,” Carrie murmured between sniffled tears. “Please, I want you to stay.”

“I’m sorry, dear.” Belle choked back tears of her own. “I cannot.”

The girl let out a hushed cry. As Belle felt the pressure of Gideon’s hold tighten, she met Mrs. Gilroy’s anguished eyes.

“Get Carrie,” she managed to utter the words. “Hold her... please, hold her while I go.”

“Ye’re sure about this?” Mrs. Gilroy choked out as she took Carrie’s small hand in hers and wrapped her arms around the child in a reassuring hug.

“He is right,” Belle said as she steeled herself to leave. Summoning her dignity, she hiked her chin in defiance, even as she admitted the truth. “This is checkmate.”

A sudden commotion erupted from the vicinity of the kitchen—a sound like a muffled curse, and then, the thud of something heavy landing on the floor.

Gideon threw Roderick a speaking glance. “Take care of that, would you?”

The man responded with a curt nod, but before he made it out of the room, he stopped in his tracks. Belle’s pulse raced as she felt Gideon’s muscles tense with what she suspected was fear.

Her knees felt a bit wobbly at the moment when Jon marched into the room. His hard-edged words allowed no room for discussion.

“Take your bloody hands off her.”