“There you have it,” Dunst said encouragingly, as though all was well. “And I never asked anyone to kill you or anyone else. They were only to get you for me and to do whatever it took to get you. I’m sorry if you were frightened.”
“Why?” she asked, confused. ‘What do you want from me?”
Dunst was quiet for a moment and then he stood.
She slunk away, but he only moved to stand on the other side of the room. He turned and faced her. His hands were behind his back. “I wish to make an alliance with the duke. He wants information. I might have it.”
She swallowed. “What sort of information?”
“The sort that could save lives. He’s looking for some missing individuals. I might be able to lead him to them before they’re all dead.”
Her heart kicked within her chest. “What does that have to do with me?”
“He has no daughters, yet you are in his care. You are his charge.”
Vita thought she saw her abductor stiffen but wasn’t sure. She had her own terrible suspicion that she knew what Dunst wanted from her. “What is it you want?”
“Your hand in marriage.”
∫ ∫ ∫
3 3
* * *
Words failed Vita for a long time and then she said, “Why me?”
“I already told you. I wish to form an alliance with the duke. This is a good way to do so.”
“But surely, there are other ways.” She had no desire to marry him.
Not at all.
“There may be others, but this is the way to get it done.”
A knock sounded at the door. “Van Dero’s men have reached town.”
Vita had been looking at the door and hadn’t noticed the earl had moved closer until he was right before her. She jumped back when he took her hand and knelt before her.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared into his one eye.
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
“No,” she whispered. “Why me?”
“You looked at me and didn’t immediately fall into tears. This Dunn fellow must have prepared you for the sight of me. Perhaps, this was always meant to be.”
Was he mad? Perhaps, too many days in the dark had led to this.
“There must be other women,” she said. “Your butler thought me one of them the night I went to your house.”
“Whores,” he told her. “But you are a lady. Society would accept you.”
“I must leave.” Her abductor now stood behind her.
Dunst looked up and glared at him. “Then go.”
“Not before you.”
The men’s gazes clashed.
Vita remained still.
Dunst looked at Vita and stood. “Think about it. You have the power to end this war. No more lives need to be lost. I will give you a fortnight to think about it. There shall be no more attacks on you or anyone else, I swear.” He looked at her abductor and then left the room through a different door.
Vita turned just as Dunst’s door closed behind him.
But there was no one else in the room.
Her captor must have left through the door they’d come in.
She glanced around the room and saw Elder still sleeping just underneath the window.
But then his head came up.
A moment later, the double doors opened, and Remy rushed in followed by Leo.
She was in his arms a moment later. “How is Noel?”
“Fine.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her over. “He didn’t hurt you?”
She shook her head.
There were others behind Leo. He told them to search the building and she wondered if they would catch Dunst or even the green-eyed man who’d taken her to begin with.
“Let’s get her out of her,” Remy said.
Elder went over to Leo, and he knelt to pat the dog’s head.
“You’re absolutely useless, you know. I can’t understand why Oliver keeps you around,” Leo said with a smile on his face.
Elder just continued to wag and grin at him.
“I think the man who took me hurt him,” she said.
Leo’s eyes widened. “He did?”
She nodded. “Elder kept whimpering.”
Leo’s expression relaxed and then he turned to Elder. He gave the dog two pats and said, “Whine, boy.”
A second later, Elder hung his head and began to make the most heart-wrenching sounds.
Vita’s mouth fell open.
She’d been tricked.
“Very good!” Leo rubbed Elder’s head and then stood. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“What happened?” Remy asked her the moment they were in the carriage and certain no one was following them. However, with all the trees in this part of England, it would be hard to be sure they were alone.
They had men riding horses around the carriage, which would keep Vita well protected.
She hadn’t said a word since Elder showed off his trick.
Neither had she been able to keep his gaze for long.
It was troubling.
“You said he didn’t hurt you,” Remy said.
“He didn’t.”
Remy looked at Leo, who sat beside him and wondered if it was the other gentleman’s presence that was causing her quietness.
“Did Husher threaten you?” Leo asked.
She looked at Leo. “Husher?” The fact that she could hold the other man’s gaze bothered Remy.
“The man who stole you.”
“Oh. No, he only threatened Noel and Elder. It’s why I went with him.”
“And he took you to Lord Dunst?”
They’d looked high and low for him, but neither he nor Husher had been found. The only people in the entire inn had been in the cellar. The innkeeper and his wife had been sitting, untied, with a pot of tea between them.
Husher had told them if they stayed quiet he wouldn’t hurt them, and they’d believed him.
Husher was deadly but very charming when he wished, much like Leo.
“What did Dunst want?” Remy asked her.
Vita glanced at him, but then her eyes fell to her hands again. “Are there… people missing?”
Remy glanced at Leo, who’d stiffened.
“What did he say about the missing boys?” Leo asked.
“So he wasn’t lying,” Vita whispered.
“What did he say?” Leo asked again.
“Nothing. He only hinted at possibly knowing where some missing people were. I didn’t know he meant children. I don’t know anything. He didn’t say any more about it after that. He just… wanted to talk.”
She was lying. He didn’t know why she was lying, but he knew she was. Vita was a terrible liar.
He decided he’d ask again once they were alone.
“How does Husher know Elder?” she asked Leo.
“He was once close to our family,” Leo said. “Now, it seems he works for Dunst.” There was disgust in this tone.
“I don’t believe he does,” she said.
“What makes you say so?” Leo asked.
Remy decided to allow his friend to talk to her for the moment since she seemed more inclined to meet his eyes.
“Dunst seemed afraid of Sir Husher,” Vita said. “And he spoke of another deal of some sort. He also wouldn’t allow me to be alone with Dunst. He stayed until Dunst left.”
Leo looked at Remy. “I don’t know if this is good or not.”
Neither did Remy. It seemed Husher was working for himself now, and apparently, two people had made arrangements where Vita was concerned. One to take her and one to protect her.
“Van Dero?” Remy asked.
Leo frowned. “It would be odd but not completely. He’s grown as paranoid as Oliver.”
“Remy,” Vita called.
He turned, anxious to finally communicate with her.
But her expression was sad. “I don’t want you involved in this. You nor Noel.”
Van Dero. How could he forget she didn’t know he worked for Van Dero? That he not only worked for him but was one of the top men in his organization?
She would find out eventually.
He wondered if it were best to tell her now or later.
As she glanced away, he decided later. There seemed to be far too much trouble between them as it stood.
What if Dunst had touched her, and she was simply afraid to tell him?
Did she think he wouldn’t want her anymore? Think her ruined?
He would always want her. He would make certain she understood that the moment they reached Oliver’s home and were alone.
“As you can suspect, you won’t be allowed to leave the house anymore,” Leo said.
She turned to Leo again. Her eyes widened. “Wait. Please, don’t lock me in there. I wish to see the town a little at least.” She sounded desperate. “Dunst vowed no more attacks. He wants peace.”
Leo and Remy shared another look.
“It still might not be safe,” Leo said.
“I know it will be,” she said. Her voice and eyes said she was certain. “Dunst does not wish me any harm.”
How did she know that?
“I’ll take you into town myself,” Remy told her. No harm would come to her if he kept her close. “We can return tomorrow.”
When her gaze returned to him, it stayed, and she gave him a soft smile. “Thank you.”
He calmed after that.
∫ ∫ ∫
3 4
* * *
Though he wanted to do nothing more than talk to Vita and learn what it was she hid from him, Remy set out to find his nephew. He’d neglected the boy… young man... long enough on this journey. The trip had been about him and then suddenly became something more.
He needed to make sure Noel was all right, that there was no infection where the blade had pierced him, and that the scars in his mind healed as surely as his nephew's skin would.
He knocked on Noel’s door before he entered.
Noel laid in bed. His eyes lit up at the sight of Remy. “Did you find her?”
“She wants to see you, I told her to give us a few minutes.” He looked his nephew over and saw the bandage around his waist. “But perhaps, I should tell her to wait until morning. If she saw you like this, she’d likely hand over her second earring.”
Noel blushed and turned away.
Remy noticed for the first time that his nephew wasn’t wearing the earring. Had he taken it off?
Noel looked at Remy again. “Was she hurt? He swore he wouldn’t hurt her.”
“He didn’t.” Remy still didn’t understand that. Taking her to Dunst, he understood, but staying in the room while Dunst spoke to her only to flee and not take her along… It was odd.
Remy could only assume Van Dero was behind that.
He took a chair and brought it over to his nephew’s side. “I want to apologize for what happened to you. We thought the area you were in was safe. We didn’t know Oliver’s dog would lead an old friend through the land. We’ll be more cautious now.”
Noel shrugged as if it were no big deal. Then he whispered, “I’ve done some terrible things. Maybe… I deserve this.” He gestured to his bandaged side.
Remy leaned forward and rested his arms on the bed. “I don’t know how God works, but I don’t think this was what he wanted. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn something from the situation.”
“I should have paid more attention.” Noel’s expression filled with malice. “I won’t allow a man to sneak up on me again.” He looked at Remy. “I need to learn how to fight.”
“I believe I taught you enough.” More than enough. Noel would never know just how afraid Remy had been when he’d discovered Noel engaged in a fight with a man who held a blade. He was certain he’d grown a few more gray hairs while witnessing it.
After Noel’s captivity, Remy had trained him only after his nephew had vowed to never start a fight.
So far, he believed Noel had stuck to his word.
Oliver was right.
Noel was a man with a good conscience and a will to do the right thing. He just needed guidance.
“I want to work for Van Dero,” Noel said. “Do you think he’d hire me?”
“I would rather you finish school and then we can discuss it later,” Remy said. “A sharp mind goes a long way. It opens doors and allows opportunities most men only dream of.”
Noel nodded and Remy was glad his nephew didn’t fight him on it. “With education, I can get a good position with Van Dero, like you.”
Remy nodded. He didn’t have to ask his nephew why he wanted to work for Van Dero. The reason was the same. Van Dero had swooped in to save him at the last minute. It was why Remy pledged his sword to the man and hadn’t regretted it once.
Until Vita.
But really, Remy had made of mess of this situation all on his own. He’d learned quickly that her character was not what Van Dero believed it was. He should have told her the truth and told her his real name.
They’d not be in this situation had he done the right thing.
“Are you going to tell her that you work for the duke?” Noel asked.
Remy had told his nephew not to mention it. He hated that he had the boy lying for him, but Noel understood the nature of his work. This was not just about his feelings for Vita. This was also about Van Dero.
“Not yet,” Remy said.
They looked up when a knock came to the door.
Remy helped Noel into a shirt. Once they were done, Noel called out and smiled warily as Vita entered.
Remy stood to give her his chair and she took it. Then she reached out and took Noel’s hand.
She said nothing. Tears built in her eyes.
Noel said, “I’m all right.”
She seemed to struggle to breathe. “W-where are you hurt?”
“My side, but it doesn’t hurt anymore.” He was lying so she’d feel better.
She looked him over and her tears fell. “This is because of me. He came for me and used you to get to me. I won’t let this happen again.”
Remy frowned at her and wondered what that meant. How did Vita plan to stop this man?
“This is not your fault.” Noel stole the words from Remy’s lips. “He made his choice. We all make our choices.”
“You’re not wearing my earring,” she said. “You must be terribly upset with me.”
Remy watched their exchange with fascination. Noel and Vita seemed to have grown close in the last week. Again, it was not lost on him how close in age they were. He felt as though he were an interloper and should leave them alone, but he wouldn’t.
Vita was his.
Was he jealous of his nephew?
The distance he was sensing from Vita was bringing this on. He told himself he had no reason to worry. Vita had just survived something traumatic. In time, she’d return to her normal self. Once she was safe for good, her smile would return.
“I gave it to him,” Noel said.
“Gave who what?” Vita said.
“The man who took you,” Noel said. “Husher. I let him take your earring.” Then his gaze flashed at Remy before he looked at Vita again. “And my horse.”
Remy’s eyes widened.
Vita straightened. “Why? Why would you give your things away?”
“So he’d protect you.” Noel’s eyes filled with tears. “It was all I had. I just wanted to make sure you’d be all right.”
So it hadn’t been Van Dero who’d paid Husher to protect Vita. It had been Noel.
What would have happened to Vita if his nephew hadn’t bargained such an arrangement even with death staring him in the face?
Vita was on the bed in an instant and had her arms around Noel.
Remy’s mouth fell open when she grabbed Noel’s face and kissed him on the cheek.
Noel was red, and he glanced at his uncle even as his arms went around Vita.
Remy looked a
way.
Jealousy burned in his belly, and it took everything within him not to drag Vita away.
“Thank you,” she whispered over and over again.
Remy looked back at them and noticed how close Vita held his nephew, resting the young man’s head on her bosom. “He’s injured.”
Vita jumped away and looked down at Noel. “Oh, I forgot. I’m sorry.”
Noel didn’t seem capable of speech. His face twitched and his mouth moved but nothing came out. He wore a smile. And after having a woman as beautiful as Vita crawling all over him, Remy couldn’t blame him.
“We should let him rest.” Remy’s hand was on her arm before he realized it. Then he was pulling her out.
“I’ll give you the other earring,” Vita told Noel over her shoulder. “And I’ll buy you another horse.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Remy growled. “I’ll get the horse.”
Knowing it the right thing to do, Remy stopped at the door and turned to his nephew. “I’m proud of you.”
Noel’s smile was the last thing he saw as he closed the door.
* * *
Oliver roared with laughter at the dining table that night. “That boy will never do another naughty thing in his life.”
Remy had shared what had happened between Noel and Vita with him and Leo. At first, he’d done it, so they’d know it was Noel who’d paid Husher to protect her, but out of frustration and anger, he’d shared the rest.
Vita had decided to take the evening meal in her room. She claimed she was tired, but Remy couldn’t help but wonder if she were avoiding him.
Leo was chuckling as well. “I think she’s made a saint out of the lad. I wouldn’t worry about Noel’s choices too much anymore. I don’t see him doing anything that would upset Vita.”
Remy pushed his food around with his fork. “Well, so long as he understands she’s to be his aunt that is all that matters.”
Oliver grunted. “Vita and Noel’s relationship is not of that nature and you know it.”
“I know he likes her,” Remy said.
Leo laughed again. “Well, he has eyes just like you and me. What’s there not to like?”
Remy glared at Leo.
Leo lifted his hands. “I have no intention of stealing the vivacious Vita from you, friend.”
“I don’t think he could if he wanted to,” Oliver said to Remy. “I got the reports from my men. That woman sat at the window for days, waiting for your arrival.”
A Knight to Dare: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 17
