Her heart stopped as she realized just how much trouble she was in. Her enemy controlled her. And by the look of his eyes, her enemy was insane.
“Why?” she croaked as her mouth frantically tried to get enough moisture so that she could swallow again.
He laughed and shook his head. “Because when Caldwell learns I have his whore, he will pay my debts, and then some.”
Alice’s world crashed to a sudden stop. Money. This was about money?
Swallowing hard for the first time since being attacked she shook her head. “Nathanial is away on business.”
“Nathanial is it,” he laughed. “My, how informal you are. He must pay you well.”
Her insides scrunched up at his implication. For some reason, the thought of this man thinking she was nothing more than a harlot to Nathanial bothered her more than anything that had happened to her that night.
How dare he think that.
“He will kill you when he learns what you’ve done,” she hissed.
Brookston erupted into a maniacal laugh that made her skin crawl. The man wasn’t sane, she reminded herself. Be careful. There was no telling what he would do. Alice’s heart fell as she wondered what would happen when he learned that Nathanial was away and might not return.
Swallowing hard, she looked around her. The two of them were both inside a small circle of yellow light thrown out by the small candle. Beyond them, nothing but darkness. Up high, a faint change in black indicated what might be a window.
A warehouse, she realized. The size, the wooden floors. That musty scent of wheat and barley. Yes, a warehouse on the London Docks.
Brookstone smiled as he realized that she was becoming aware of where she was.
“That is right. As I said. No one will hear you.”
“Why here?” she asked, keep him talking, she told herself. Information might be key to her escape.
Suddenly, the laughing smile was replaced by a troubled frown. “Look around,” he said. “This warehouse was supposed to be filled with goods. All bound for the Dutch East Indies where they would be turned into rubber and spices for the British market. I would have been wealthy.”
Alice frowned. “What has that to do with Nathanial?”
An angry scowl crossed Brookstone’s face. “It is all his fault. He knew about the denial. I don’t know how, but he did. He warned his friends. Even your weak pathetic cousin knew. Everyone but me. Do you have any idea of the embarrassment I felt? And to find out at his ball. Do you know that bastard had his man threaten me with a pistol? Me. An Earl. A British Lord. Threatened by a lowly Frenchman.
“We are at war. What was he thinking?” Brookstone said as he walked away to the edge of the light.
Alice bit her tongue to stop herself from making a snide comment.
“Like I said, Mr. Caldwell is away on business. I don’t know when he will return. You can’t keep me here like this.”
Brookston started laughing again. “Why not? I can keep you here as long as I wish. What is to stop me?”
Alice slumped into her chair. Don’t argue with him, she told herself. Don’t get him angry. Keep him happy. Happy she could manipulate. Angry would lead to disaster.
“But why me,” she asked. “I assure you, I mean nothing to Mr. Caldwell.”
Brookstone scowled as he leaned forward and yelled at her, “Don’t lie to me.”
Alice blanched and tried to lean away from him. His breath smelled of garlic and rotten teeth. Enough to turn a person’s stomach. How had she ever been engaged to this animal?
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, desperately hoping he would back away. “But, really, Mr. Caldwell has many interests. I can assure you, I am not high on his list.”
Brookstone studied her for a long moment and shook his head. “The man looks at you as if you are the most important thing in his world. Of course, he doesn’t know what a conniving bitch you can be.”
Alice’s stomach turned over. This was not going well. Just be quiet and pray that someone discovered that she had been taken and by whom.
“What? No more questions?” Brookstone said as he began to pace back and forth. “Even now, a note is being delivered to Caldwell. Forty thousand pounds or you die. Simple really.”
Alice swallowed hard as the man before her studied her like she was meat hanging in the butcher’s shop.
“Of course,” he continued, “I will enjoy myself first. I can promise you. No reason Caldwell should have you all to himself. Even if he does pay me. It doesn’t mean I have to give you back unused. Now does it?”
Her skin trembled with the thought of this man touching her. The picture burned a hole in her mind. What was worse, once he learned that Nathanial was not here. How would he react? What would he demand of her then? The thought sent a fear crawling down her spine.
No, that must not happen. Please, Nathanial, she begged. Please come home.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alice woke with a start. Where was she? Her neck ached and her legs were numb, then the memories rolled in and her heart fell.
Brookstone, the ropes binding her hands. The damn chair. Everything was as it had been when she fell asleep.
How had she done that, slept with all that had happened to her? The thought mystified her, but she shook it off as she tried to gather an understanding of what was going on around her.
The candle had burned down to the wick sometime during the night. But just enough morning light crept in from the high windows to let her know she had been right. A large warehouse. A large space full of empty shadows.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to slow her racing heart.
Brookstone was there, pacing back and forth muttering to himself. Just as he had been when she had fallen asleep hours ago.
Insane, the man was insane.
How was she going to get out of there? She needed to get her hands free. Once again, she pulled at her bounds, but Brookstone had tied them too tight.
Her stomach rolled over. She must get free. Nathanial could not save her. He was not here, he didn’t even know of her situation. No, instead, he was off having an adventure. Oh, how she would give him a piece of her mind upon his return.
Licking her dry lips, she thought of asking for something to drink but thought better of it when she saw the insane gleam in Brookstone’s eyes. Even if by some miracle, someone came with the money he demanded. He would not let her go free.
No, the man wanted to hurt her, humiliate her, and then he would kill her. Probably slowly. Of this, there was no doubt in her mind.
A sadness engulfed her as the reality of her situation sank in. She was to die before she had lived. There would be no children. No lazy summer afternoons in Nathanial’s arms. No wedding. Nothing. She would be but a memory that quickly disappeared.
“Soon now,” Brookstone said. “He should be here soon. He’s had enough time.”
Alice could only shake her head. The fool could not be persuaded to the reality of the situation and any confrontation would only make matters worse.
“Actually,” a voice called out from the darkness. “I’m here now.”
Alice’s heart froze. She would know that voice anywhere. Fore it was the voice of her dreams.
“Nathanial?” she whispered, unable to believe her own senses.
Brookstone twisted and turned as he searched for the voice.
“You weren’t to bring the money here. You were to take it to my home. My people will inform me when it is delivered.”
There was a soft shuffle off to the left and Brookstone spun to face his advisory.
“Stop,” he demanded. “Leave, take the money to where you were instructed.”
A soft sound behind them made Alice’s heart jump. Nathanial was getting closer.
“I mean it,” Brookstone yelled as he pulled a pistol from his jacket pocket.
Again, there was no answering sound, just a dead silence the echoed off the far walls.
Alice bit her lip as sh
e desperately tried to work her hands free. Nathanial was out there in the dark. She must not let Brookstone fire his weapon. She would not lose him, not now, not after all this.
“I swear,” Brookstone said as he spun around again. “I will kill her. Go back.”
Alice froze as she looked up to see the pistol pointed directly at her.
“If you kill her, you die,” Nathanial said from the darkness. “I assure, I won’t miss.”
“Go away,” Brookstone called out as his eyes frantically scanned the darkness all around him. Alice’s heart began to race even faster. The man was insane, there was no reasoning with him. Surely Nathanial understood this.
“Go,” she called out. “Please Nathanial, save yourself. I won’t lose you. Not now.”
A gentle laugh echoed through the room.
And then he was there, at the edge of the light, his face lost in the darkness. Dressed as a common sailor, a short blue jacket over a woolen jumper. Loose pants held up with a broad black belt. The man looked every inch a pirate ready to take back what was his.
Alice ignored the weapon pointed at her and leaned forward to discern if Nathanial was uninjured. Was he all right, that was all that mattered to her at the moment.
“As I said, if you kill her, you die. You will have used your only shot.”
“I don’t see a weapon,” Brookstone said with a smile that turned Alice’s soul.
“I will not need one,” Nathanial said as he took a small step forward. Still, his face was lost in the darkness.
“In that case,” Brookstone said with an evil glint in his eyes. “I will kill you. Your sister will pay for Alice’s return.” The smile on his face sent a shudder through her entire body. He was going to kill Nathanial and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Crying out in fear, she could only watch as Brookstone’s arm slowly moved, shifting his aim away from her and towards Nathanial. Reaching out, she tried to kick at her attacker, but he had already moved beyond her short range.
Her love didn’t sink back into the shadows as she had hoped. Instead, he sprang forward, reaching Brookstone before the man could bring his weapon to bear.
Nathanial grabbed the man’s wrist as an explosion tore the darkness.
A smile sprang to Nathanial’s face as he said, “I told you once before, I’d send you to your family’s crypt.” Without warning his hand shot up to take Brookstone by the neck and lifted him from the ground.
“Nathanial, no,” she yelled. “You can’t kill an Earl. They will never forgive you.”
“To hell with them,” he cursed as his fingers began to crush Brookstone’s throat.
“No,” she pleaded with him. “I won’t have my child known as the offspring of a killer.”
Nathanial froze, his eyes shifting to look at her. Brookstone continued to fight, his hands clawing at the grip around his throat, desperately trying to break free while his feet continued to dangle in thin air.
“Please,” Alice said as she stared into his eyes. “For me. For our future.”
Nathanial continued to look at her. She could tell that he was wrestling with himself. Fighting against the animal inside of him that called for him to destroy anything that threatened those he loved.
“Please,” she asked again.
At last, her words broke through his red haze. Sighing heavily, he lowered Brookstone back to the ground then heaved back and punched him square in the face.
The Lord’s nose erupted into a crimson shower of red as he dropped like a bag of bricks.
Nathanial ignored him and rushed to untie her.
“I really think you should have let me kill him,” he said as his hands fumbled with the rope.
“Oh, Nathanial,” she yelled as her hands came free and she was able to jump up and into his arms. “You are well?” she asked as she stared into his eyes. Instead of waiting for his response though, her hands began to run over his body, frantically searching for any injury.
Finding nothing, she once again stared at his face and noticed a nasty wound to his temple. Without thinking, her hand reached up to touch him.
“A French bullet caught me,” he said as if he was talking about last week’s horse race. “But we finished what we went to do.”
“And Jocko? Warwick”? she asked as she continued to study him, unable to believe he was alive, and here, holding her in his arms.
“Fine. Both of them. We had to break off and it took a few days to make our way back to Warwick. I owe Jocko again. That is the third time he has saved my life.”
“Then I owe him as well. More than I can ever repay,” Alice said as she lay her head on his chest and pulled him tight.
“What should we do about him,” Nathanial said, indicating the man laying at their feet.
“Let His Grace, the Duke of Hampton handle him. Let him be tried by his peers at Westminster. Believe me, they will do much worse than you could ever accomplish.”
“I don’t know,” Nathanial said with a shake of his head, “you’ve never seen me with a marlin spike.”
Alice smiled. “Believe me, nothing could be worse for him than to be humiliated before the House of Lords. Death would be preferable to the embarrassment and shame for such a man as Lord Brookstone.”
Nathanial frowned as he slowly shook his head. “But…”
“Trust me,” she said. “That is my world. I know.”
He pulled his eyes away from their adversary and studied her for a long moment.
“You are going to make a good wife.”
She leaned back and returned his stare. “I don’t remember you asking.”
He laughed and pulled her into a hug. “Lady Alice Weston, will you marry a mere merchant.”
“Which merchant did you have in mind?” she asked with a teasing lilt to her voice.
“This merchant,” he said. “Because I can promise you. You will be no man’s wife but mine.”
She hesitated for a moment as she listened to his heart. At last, she broke the silence by saying. “Only if you promise to love me as much as I love you.”
Nathanial laughed. “My Lady, that will be the easiest promise I ever made. You are my love, my reason for living and always will be.”
Lady Alice Weston sighed heavily as she sank into her love’s embrace. This was where she belonged. In this man’s arms. This was what dreams coming true felt like.
Epilogue
The sun was warm and the breeze fresh, a sailor’s dream, Nathanial thought as the boat caught a wave and lifted just a little.
Smiling to himself, Nathanial glanced at his son manning the helm. Eight years old and the boy was a born sailor. They should do this more often he thought. The war was over, England ruled the waves, and his boy loved the ocean as much as he did. Yes, much more often.
Jake smiled at him as he made a slight course adjustment. Yes, a son to be proud of, Nathanial thought as he turned to find his daughter.
Elizabeth sat on the deck next to Jocko, her legs curled in under her as she focused on Jocko’s hands. The sailor was teaching her how to tie knots. The old man was determined to make her as good a sailor as her brother. Nathanial couldn’t help but smile as a warm feeling filled him. His daughter would be a heart breaker. Of that he had no doubt.
She had her mother’s looks and his love for adventure. Yes, she would do well in this life. Nathanial however had determined that she would not be allowed a season until she was in her mid forties. Her mother thought otherwise. But if he could arrange it, he would.
The thought of his wife made him look forward. He had been right, Alice loved sailing. She stood in the bow, her eyes closed as the wind caught at her hair. Free and perfect. Her dress clinging to every curve.
The sight of her like this did something to his insides. A burning need and desire that never seemed to go away. How had he ever been so fortunate.
What was it Warwick said for his toast on their wedding day. It was the Caldwell luck. Not only was he one of t
he richest men in Britain, but married to the sweetest, most beautiful woman. No man should be so blessed.
Nathanial watched as his love turned and made her way back to him. He reached out and pulled her in next to his side. His hand resting on her waist, the morning wind bringing him her scent of Jasmine.
Yes, life was good.
He smiled down at her as she looked back up at him, her eyes giving him that secret look. The one meant just for him.
Yes, he thought he had been blessed. To love such a woman. No man could ask for more.
The End
Catching a Rake
Chapter One
Miss Olivia Caldwell opened her fan in anger. The man was insufferable. He always had been and always would be.
Even all the way across the room, his mere presence ruined her evening.
Turning her back, she pretended to look out over the ballroom, but her shoulders tingled knowing that he was watching her. Not a good, excited tingle. No, an annoying, frustrating tingle that refused to stop.
“He’s here,” her dearest friend, Amanda Waters, said with a small smile as she pushed her new spectacles up on her nose. Only Amanda would wear spectacles to a ball hosted by the Duke of Cheshire.
“I know,” Olivia answered sharply. “It’s intolerable. He is always here. It doesn’t matter where I go, he is there.”
Amanda laughed and shook her head. “He isn’t really, you know. Only at these events and only because your brother asked him to keep an eye on you.”
Olivia gritted her teeth. “Do not mention my brother. I am almost nineteen-years-old. I do not need to be chaperoned like a little girl.”
Amanda looked at her from under her brow as if she might argue the point but decided to not die on that hill. Instead, she turned slightly so she could keep an eye on Olivia’s nemesis, the Earl of Bradford.
“Is he coming?” Olivia asked as her stomach clenched up. She didn’t know why, but whenever the man appeared, her insides became confused.
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