Dodge called out, but there was no answer. No dog came running toward them.
“Shall we go get him?” Vita asked. “It’s not beyond the lake.”
“But it is off the path,” the watchman countered, his expression severe. “We should head back.”
“But what about Elder?” she asked. “You’re just going to leave him here?”
Dodge narrowed his eyes at the line of trees in the direction of the sound. “Yes.”
∫ ∫ ∫
3 1
* * *
The weeping stopped suddenly. Then a man’s shout rang out.
Vita stumbled back.
It was coming from the same place as the dog, not far from where they were.
Just steps off the path.
“Come with me.” The watchman grabbed her arm.
Vita thought he would head toward the dog, but instead, he started toward the house.
Panic rose within her as the painful cry turned hideous.
She stopped. “Where are you going?”
The watchman turned to her. “I’m getting you inside. Then I will go help.”
When the shout came again, Vita’s heart fell. She thought she recognized that voice.
Noel.
“No, you can’t leave him.” She turned back to the lake.
The watchman tightened his hold on her arm. “No, you are not to go beyond the lake.”
“It’s not beyond the lake.” Not really. “You must help him!” Tears built in her eyes.
“My lady,” the watchman begged.
The scream that came next seemed to be ripped from Noel’s throat.
She couldn’t ignore it. She would not allow the watchman to either. “Go help him! Now! I will go to the house.” She knew she was no use outside. She would not get in the way.
“Swear it,” the watchman said. “Swear you will go straight inside.”
With tears in her eyes, she nodded.
He left her, and she rushed to the house.
She had to find Remy or Leo or someone.
She was almost there when an arm went around her and a hand went over her mouth.
Her heart raced as she fought. She was certain it was not the watchman.
“I don’t intend to hurt you,” he said. “I’m not allowed to hurt you, but if you scream, I will kill the men I’ve left alive.”
She stopped fighting immediately. Her eyes watered as he pulled her off the path and into the trees.
A dog appeared before her. Brown with a wagging tail and what appeared to be a smile on his face. There was no weeping from him.
Her captor let go of her mouth, and she turned to get her first good look at him.
He was tall and looked angry. “Just do as I say.” His eyes were a pale green. “He only wishes to talk to you.”
He?
She feared she knew exactly who he was talking about.
Lord Dunst?
They moved closer to the whimpering that came from the woods. The dog followed at a pleased trot.
She gasped as she saw Noel.
His hands were pinned to the tree above him. A rope went around his wrist and ankles, keeping him further anchored. There was a spot of blood on his side, but otherwise, he looked fine, simply disheveled. He was breathing hard through his nose. His mouth was covered. His eyes were red with tears.
She moved to him, but her captor stopped her.
“I’ll leave him here if you swear to come quietly with me.”
Noel shook his head. Was he trying to tell her to go or not to go? He didn’t fight the bindings, but his gaze was sad.
Vita looked around but didn’t see Dodge. She turned to the green-eyed man who held her now. “Where’s the other man?”
“Dodge has started back to the house. He’ll go get help.”
Her captor seemed strangely calm about that fact. Too calm. Was he lying?
“He’s been gagged and tied,” the man said. “It will take him some time to get there. Let’s move.” He started them away and Vita looked back as Noel grunted again.
“Please,” she whispered. “Stay still and w-wait for help.” She had no idea what fate waited for her, but she hoped this would all end soon enough.
He brought her up to a horse that stood behind a line of trees. It was a black beauty, much like Noel’s. He placed Vita on its back before joining her.
And then a thought came to mind and the question rolled out her mouth. “How did you know my watchman’s name?”
* * *
Remy read the note again and then handed it back to Leo.
“So, what do you think we should do?” Oliver seemed to have calmed from his earlier outrage.
Leo handed his brother the note. “Well, we’re not allowing Vita anywhere near him.”
That was the note’s request. Lord Dunst wanted to speak to Vita.
Alone.
He promised no more deaths.
He wanted peace and promised Vita would be safe.
“Do you think it's a trap?” Leo asked.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Oliver said. “He’s killed two of mine. My traps have ended the lives of five of his men, and we know he isn’t ready to go to war with Van Dero.” He looked at Remy. “What do you think?”
“I think he wants Vita silenced.” And Remy would not allow it.
There was something strange about the missive. The phrasing was odd, as though Dunst weren’t asking permission at all. Instead, he was telling them what would happen.
But how could that be?
They began to strategize just what they would do and were considering what would and could take place if and if they didn’t allow Vita to meet with Dunst when the sound of rushing footsteps interrupted them.
They stood as two footmen rushed in followed by Dodge.
The watchman’s clothes were wrinkled and stained with dirt. He looked to have been in a fight. His eyes were wild, yet the first thing Remy noticed was that Vita was not with him.
“Where is Lady Vita?” he asked.
Regret washed over the watchman’s face and then he looked at Oliver. “Husher. He has Elder as well.”
Remy shook his head. He recognized the name. Sir Husher was one of the few men who’d joined Van Dero’s Equerry for a time before leaving once he’d been knighted. He’d been under Remy’s command.
Was he working for Dunst now?
“I thought she was safe here,” Remy said.
Oliver cursed and jumped to his feet. “Elder must have led him through the woods.” The dog was trained not to fall into traps. “I knew it was odd when he went missing.”
“Noel is out there,” Dodge said. “I left him tied to a tree. I think he’s fine, but I can’t be sure.”
Remy was already out the door, following Dodge.
Leo was behind him. “We should go through the list of men who left Van Dero’s service, just in case.”
Remy agreed.
Dunst hadn’t wanted war, but he was about to get it.
They found Noel pinned to the tree. There was a short blade sticking from his side. It had been covered by his shirt. Noel leaned against the tree as they set him down.
Remy was trembling as he worked to stop the bleeding.
Noel looked more angry than hurt. “I told her not to go,” he said.
“I shouldn’t have brought you here.” He’d been foolish to drag Noel from home.
Noel grabbed his wrist. “No, I want to be here.” He took a breath. “I want to help.”
“You can’t,” Remy said. “You nearly got killed.” And what would he have said to Toni if that had happened? How would he have been able to live with himself? “I’m taking you home the first chance I get.”
“I won’t go.” Noel calmed his breathing and gave his uncle a hard stare. “I’m not going home.”
His nephew was being brave and foolish. “This is no place for a child.”
“I’m not a child.” Noel pushed his uncle’s hand away and then began to get on hi
s feet. The blade still jutted from his side. The skin around it was a furious red. Husher hadn’t struck him where it would kill him, only where it would hurt.
Noel grabbed the hilt and Remy stiffened as his nephew grunted and pulled out the blade. Remy tossed the weapon to the ground and slowly took off his shirt. He pressed the ripped shirt to his side. Though it all, he kept his uncle’s gaze. “I did this.”
“What do you mean?” Leo came over. He and Oliver had been searching the ground for evidence, anything that would lead to Husher. Which direction had he gone? Would he leave the woods?
It would be hard to say, since the man had been on Oliver’s land before and knew it pretty well.
Remy would wring his neck when he saw him.
“This isn’t your fault,” Remy told him.
“It is.” Noel hung his head. “When he began to sink the blade in, I tried to stay silent, knowing Vita would come running if I screamed, but… he did it so slowly. I thought it would never end.”
Remy would cut Husher in the same fashion.
Oliver came over. “Horse tracks. I’m going to look through the woods. Leo is going to head into town just in case he went there.”
Noel asked, “What should I do?”
“Go to the house and heal,” Oliver said. “You’re no good to anyone as you are. We’ll call you when we need you.”
Noel nodded and stumbled back against the tree. He was hurt more than he was letting on.
Remy went to Oliver, grabbed the man’s shoulder, and lowered his voice, “I want my nephew away from this.”
“He doesn’t want to be away from it,” the viscount countered. “Leo told me about him. Let him play soldier for a while, do some good. Couldn’t hurt him much.”
“Couldn’t hurt him?” he hissed. “It could get him killed.”
Oliver shrugged. “So could what he was doing at home.”
That was true, Remy realized. If his nephew had rigged the wrong carriage, he and his friends could all be dead right now.
“Also, he’s not a boy,” Oliver said, glancing over a Noel before looking at Remy. “He stopped being a boy years ago.” Then the viscount walked away.
Remy looked at his nephew and tried to see him as a man.
He supposed Noel was well on his way toward being one, but Remy couldn’t help but see the giggling baby, recalling those memories as though it were yesterday. “Let’s get you to the house.”
“I can get there on my own,” Noel said. “Find Vita and tell her I’m sorry.”
“You’ll tell her yourself,” Remy said.
Noel nodded and turned away.
Remy turned to Leo.
“There are enough men in the woods. Come with me to the city,” Leo said.
Remy swallowed and prayed that when he found Vita, it wouldn’t be too late.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 2
* * *
Vida’s captor was quiet as they rode on. They’d left the trees and were now on a road that would lead to town. It was empty of any other travelers. Had there been any, Vita would have shouted for help.
She’d asked him a hundred questions since they’d left, and he’d answered none. All he’d said was that she would be safe.
She didn’t believe him.
Gooseflesh climbed her arms as he stopped the horse and got off. Would he take her down as well? Lead her into the woods and… end her?
She looked down at him. He was watching her.
Vita stiffened and thought of another terrible act he could commit against her.
He grinned. The smile was one of a fallen angel. Brilliant. Charming. Deadly. Then he turned to Elder. “Come on.”
The brown dog trotted over happily and her captor picked him up.
“Here,” he said, giving the dog to Vita. “Hang on to him. Otherwise, he’ll fall.”
She did as he asked, wrapping the heavy dog in her arms.
Elder’s tongue went for her face, and she fought to turn away.
Then he was back on the saddle behind her. His arm went around her and Elder before he pulled them close.
Without warning, he shot off.
They flew down the road, and Vita’s mind was forced to concentrate on making certain Elder didn’t fall.
When they finally reached town, it was busy. Evening was falling. There were none of the streetlamps like in London, but a few lamps sat before the businesses that lined the main cobbled street.
Before Vita could make a sound, he said, “Don’t make me do something I’ll regret.”
She frowned and pressed her lips together.
Then she said, “You said I’d be safe.”
“And you will be, but I make no promises about the dog.”
Her mouth fell open, and she realized then why he’d brought Elder along, to keep her quiet.
They stopped in front of an inn, and her captor got down. Then he took Elder. Once the dog was on his feet, he helped her down, placing his hands on her hips.
Vita stumbled away the moment her feet touched the ground.
He didn’t seem to notice. He picked up Elder and then started inside the inn. “Let’s go.”
Vita realized in that moment she could run.
He turned and looked at her. He had a hand on Elder’s head. The green-eyed villain bent his head and whispered something to the dog. He stroked the dog’s head through it all.
Elder started whining and Vita wondered what the man was doing to him.
“Stop,” she whispered.
Her captor stopped stroking Elder’s head and the whining stopped.
“Come on.” He waited by the door.
Vita walked past him and went inside.
The foyer was empty. There was no one to greet them.
The space was small and seemed mostly made of wood. The floor creaked loudly as she walked across.
He led her to a back room and opened one side of double doors.
Vita stopped at the threshold.
Lord Dunst sat in a chair. His patch was in place. His remaining dark blue eye was on her.
The room was brighter than when she’d last seen him. He seemed small now that she looked at him but knew better than to trust him.
Her captor pushed her inside and shut the door behind them.
Dunst looked at him. “You may leave now. Our business is complete.”
“I think I’ll stay,” her captor said.
Dunst frowned at him. The expression almost made him appear like an indignant child. “Why?”
“Perhaps, our business is complete, but my business with another isn’t.” He’d resumed petting Elder. The dog did not whine this time. His face was like stone as he held Dunst’s eyes.
Vita had no idea what was going on. She stepped away, into a corner that kept her far from both of them.
Dunst asked her captor, “What other business do you have?”
The hand he had on Elder stopped. “The details don’t concern you, my lord.”
He said my lord but Vita had a feeling it was her captor who held most of the power in the room.
Dunst glared at the man. “If the details do not concern me—”
“You’re wasting your time.”
Dunst sighed and turned to Vita. “Please sit.” He gestured to the only other chair in the room. It was across from him and far closer than she wanted to be.
“Why am I here?” she asked, instead of moving. “What do you want from me?”
“Tell me, is it my appearance that keeps you on the other side of the room or the fear that I might do something terrible to you?”
She thought his question odd but mulled over her answer.
She stared at him. The patch didn’t trouble her. The rest of him was quite traditional.
She looked at her captor whose name she still didn’t know. He was watching her. Elder was big, but he was bigger and seemed to make the powerfully built animal seem smaller.
She feared him more than Dunst.
&nbs
p; “I won’t hurt you. Please, have a seat,” Dunst insisted.
She moved forward and then slowly bent her knees and took a seat.
Her skirts were but a foot away from him.
She folded her hands on her lap. “I saw nothing at your house. I know nothing.”
Dunst tapped his fingers on the chair arm and then tilted his head. “I’ve been informed that you do not work for Van Dero and that you are nothing more than his charge.”
“Yes. I had no intention of threatening you that night. I was truly looking for a man named Dunn.”
“Yes, Mr. Carson told me.” Carson was the ship’s owner. “Did you find your Lord Dunn?”
Her belly tightened. She wasn’t certain what she would say.
He watched and frowned. “Are you still looking for him?”
“No,” she said. “There is no Lord Dunn, apparently.” That was all she would say on that matter.
He nodded. “I’ve been looking for this Dunn fellow myself.”
“Why?” she asked.
“In order to help you. He must have been very important to you, this man who also holds a scar through his eye.” He and Mr. Carson must have had an in-depth meeting.
“How did you know that I went to Mr. Carson?” she asked.
“He came to me,” he said. “He was concerned after I canceled my plans to travel. Carson and I are old friends. I helped him buy his ship. I’m a wealthy man.”
Vita said nothing, unsure why Dunst felt the need to boast.
“I’m not a terrible man,” the earl went on.
Vita doubted that. In her head, she called him a murderer as she thought of the men who’d perished on her behalf. “I want to leave.”
“Why?” he asked. “Is it the eye?”
“No, it is not. I simply do not wish to be here.”
“Why?”
Why? Her fear tangled with anger. “Because you tried to hurt me, and you’ve hurt others around me.” She glanced at the green-eyed man and thought about Noel.
He was now by the window. Elder was curled into a ball at his feet. The dog looked ready to sleep.
She looked at Dunst and found his gaze on the only other man in the room. “Did you kill someone close to her?”
Her abductor didn’t even turn to them. “It was just a scratch. The boy will live.”
A Knight to Dare: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 16
