Oliver put his boots back on Nicholas’ desk and grinned. “It’s best we prepare for the worst.”
“We?” Astger shook his head. “This has nothing to do with you. You are not to get involved.”
“Alguire came to my home. He involved me. I say we go with my idea for the gentleman.”
“Does it have anything to do with killing him?” Astger asked. He knew Oliver. Often, their departments in Van Dero’s labyrinth of an organization crossed paths.
Death was always a last resort for Cassius. It was rarely used, which made Oliver and the other assassins a very small team of men. Four at the most and rarely were they called upon.
It left Oliver like this, bored and starting trouble.
“Can’t imagine many will miss this Alguire,” Oliver said. “Lady Elisa won’t.”
“We’re not killing him,” Nick said with finality. He rarely had the power to tell his brother how things would be. The same for the general, but Van Dero had put him in charge, which put him over both men.
“There is another idea,” Oliver said. “We all have eyes. Someone here could marry her. Not even the contract could force her then. The most he could do after that is call the gentleman out, which if he’s wise, he won’t. I could smell the cowardice coming off him in fumes.”
“You just got here!” Nick said. “You met her just half an hour ago. Are you truly willing to marry her?”
“Did you see that hair?” Oliver asked. “Imagine ten sons with that hair.”
The room went quiet.
Astger stepped forward. “I wouldn’t wish tension between you brothers. If this duty must be done—”
Nick lifted his hand. “She is promised to someone else. Also, this discussion isn’t necessary. I’ve already devised a plan. A tunnel goes under the moat. If necessary, we can leave for one of my other properties until Lord Alguire is gone. There is one on the other side of the forest.” Just like their father taught them. Always have a safe place nearby.
Oliver glared. “So, you’re just going to keep running from the man?”
“For the next few weeks.” Though Nick would love nothing more than to drop the earl from his balcony, he knew he couldn’t. Not only because Elisa would be disappointed, but he would be disappointed in himself.
“Well, it would seem my services are not needed.” Oliver stood. “Also, Lord Alguire said something strange to me. He said the woman goes on about some incident in the past that never happened. She accused him of being a murderer. He called her mad. Is this true?”
Nicholas looked at Astger, who looked just as confused and concerned as he felt. “I didn’t know any of this.” Was she mad? What man would marry a woman who accused him of murder? Perhaps, he was the mad one.
“Did you find the woman in Bedlam?” Oliver asked. “Perhaps, she’s more trouble than you realize.”
“Perhaps,” Nick said. He needed to speak with Elisa herself. He also needed his brother off his property. There were simply too many unmarried gentlemen around Elisa for his liking.
“I’m surprised Cassius didn’t ask me to take care of this issue,” Oliver said. “I think I can protect the woman better than you.” Oliver grinned, teasing his brother.
Nicholas returned his smirk. “You know why Cassius put me on this. I know how to handle madwomen.”
Oliver nodded and then winked. “So do I.” Then he was gone.
∫ ∫ ∫
1 9
* * *
Nicholas stopped Astger from leaving. “How good of you to sacrifice yourself for this noble cause.” He hadn’t missed the fact that Astger had volunteered to marry Elisa.
Astger folded his hands behind his back and turned to Nick. “If marriage would keep her safe...”
“We are not free to make that decision.”
“The marriage could be dissolved later.”
“It’s not that easy, and you know it.” Though why Nick said anything was pointless. Astger would never divorce her. Nick could see it in the way he shifted his feet slightly.
Besides, the courts rarely allowed divorces and they would need the approval of the church and Parliament to see it done. “Her name would be soiled at the end of it.”
“Who is this man her brother plans to marry her to?” the general asked. “She says she has no clue who it is. Did Avery tell you?”
“I didn’t ask.” Nick shrugged, but his emotions were wild inside him. It was a question he’d been asking himself since Elisa kissed him. Did she truly not know the man who was coming for her? The one her brother wished her to marry in an effort to do just what Oliver had suggested— keep her out of Alguire’s reach?
Was the man worthy of her?
Could he protect her?
Alguire seemed to be a snake, and Nicholas wasn’t sure if marriage to anyone less ruthless than himself could keep Elisa safe.
But she needed more than safety. She needed happiness.
Aside from Alguire, any man would be far more worthy than Nicholas. “Who her brother marries her to is none of our concern.” It couldn’t be. Otherwise, Nicholas would be able to get nothing else done until he found out.
And then once he found out, he’d commission a full study of the man, just to be sure.
If the man was found wanting in any area of his life… It was likely Nick would interfere, which would not please the Marquess of Goldstone, which would then not please Van Dero.
He scratched his head. “Our job is to protect her and then hand her over the moment her new intended arrives.”
The general narrowed his gaze. “Is that truly how you feel? After all she’s been through, you’ll just give her over to someone else? Someone who might hurt her again?”
All she’d been through? Clearly, the general knew more about his charge than he did.
That was what Nicholas had wanted but not anymore.
And that was the problem. He wanted to be close to her.
He was close to her in another way. The moment they’d met, it had felt more like saying hello to an old friend than a stranger. The seed of something wild and dangerous had fully bloomed with a single look.
“She told you what she went through at Bedlam?” Nicholas asked.
“Some of it.” The general’s mouth turned down. “It wasn’t good.”
“She’s mad. I’m certain it was all necessary.” Perhaps, if he’d taken Maria to Bedlam—
“You didn’t just say that.” Astger moved to the door. “I’m leaving before I do something I can’t take back.”
Nicholas didn’t stop him, mainly because the general was right. Anyone who’d hurt Elisa or had stood by to let it happen deserved the same treatment. He almost itched to deliver that pain himself.
Yet, Nicholas didn’t know if there existed a balance for him and Elisa. How could he care for her and not want her more than he already did?
∫ ∫ ∫
2 0
* * *
Elisa walked the perimeter of the wall slowly and pressed her hand against the stone. Yet no matter how much she tried to push through, there was no way out. There were no loose stones big enough for her to crawl through.
There was no way to escape from Brean Castle.
Or the pain that continued to crush her heart.
It took everything within her not to crumble to the ground and give in to the pain, to weep over the loss of something that had never truly been. Her emotions were a mess, had been since she’d learned that Alguire was after her.
But this felt worse than the fear of physical pain, something that Alguire would surely offer her at the barest of slights. This pain was the despair of hopelessness.
There was no longer a doubt in Elisa’s mind that Lord Nicholas Childs was attracted to her. He’d shown it, opened himself enough to let her see straight into the belly of his desire. Yet desire did not mean he felt anything for her or ever would.
Not while she was crazy.
Only the evidence would change his mind an
d honestly… Elisa didn’t plan to give him the evidence. If he could not trust her the way she trusted him, then she didn’t want him.
But it was a lie. She did want him.
Even now if he found her…
She’d gone back to Nick after she’d left because she’d been impressed by Wade’s progress and had wanted him to witness the man’s ability. She’d written simple sentences, yet Astger had been right. For a former cutthroat, Wade was smart and was catching on rather quickly.
She’d been sure Astger would have been happy to see the demonstration as well, and perhaps even the Marquess of Venmont.
But when she’d arrived, the words she’d heard outside the door had startled her.
Charles had been guarding her at the time. He’d overheard the conversation at well but had moved her away from the door before Astger had stormed out on her behalf.
She hadn’t even bothered to not be upset. She’d begged Charles to tell everyone she had a headache but to not let the doctor visit her for she’d be asleep. Then she’d dashed in the direction of her room before cutting from the house.
Elisa walked around the wall, sticking to the back of the buildings. There was a small chapel and stable. Up ahead, she saw that the drawbridge was still down and wondered how likely her chances of escape would be if she simply ran for it.
She stood behind the stables and contemplated the decision.
There were guards on either side of the opening. How to distract them?
She chuckled softly as she thought about how many times she’d tried to think of a plan to escape Bedlam. It had never been any use.
“What are we laughing about?” a male voice asked from behind her.
She jumped and turned around.
The Marquess of Venmont. Oliver.
He stood so close, Elisa was forced to all but break her neck to look up at him.
He was likely the largest man she’d ever met.
He crossed his arms. There was a grin on his face. “They’re looking for you.”
“Who?”
“Everyone,” Venmont said. “Nick is in there tearing the castle apart, along with any man who gets in his way.”
She frowned and then looked at the gate. “Do they think I’ve left?”
“No. They know you haven’t.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and then leaned close. With his other hand, he pointed to the top of the wall. “See those two men? They were waiting for you to try your little escape. The moment you ran from this building, they’d have caught you. Now, look at the two at the bottom, by the gate.” He lowered his finger. “They may look like all is calm, but any flicker of movement and you’d not get halfway across the courtyard.”
His closeness had startled her at first, but strangely now it didn’t. He didn’t touch her in a way that said he wanted her. He seemed more excited to show her the castle’s defenses.
She turned to him. “Were you in the army?”
“No. I was just raised by a man who thought the world was soon to come to an end and thought it best his sons learned to survive the terrors to come.” He motioned with his head. “Come. I’ll escort you back to the house. We’ll go through a side door, and I’ll leave you in the dowager's boudoir. You can pretend you decided to nap there. No one will know otherwise.”
Her eye widened. “You won’t tell Nick that I tried to escape?”
“Nick, is it? Not Lord Nicholas?” Oliver lifted a brow before he began to move. “Keep up.”
Left with little choice, she followed and thought about her slip in calling Nicholas by his sobriquet. It would not happen again. She’d make sure of it.
“Are you close with my brother?” Oliver asked as he kept to the buildings.
“No.” The word came with more force than she wished she’d used.
They came to an end at the stables.
“He’s upset you, has he?” Oliver asked. “Is he the reason you’re trying to leave? Best you not force him to chase you, my lady. I know my brother. It would not end well for you.”
She sighed. “I was beginning to think the same.”
“But then I could be wrong,” he added.
“What?”
“Maybe it would be good for you, to be caught by him, I mean.”
“What?” The marquess confused her.
He held up a hand, silencing her, and Elisa stopped both her mouth and her feet.
Her heart jumped, not by Oliver’s question, but by the tension in his back. Was there someone around the corner? Would they be caught?
She didn’t want to think about facing Nicholas if they were. She was very thankful to Oliver, that he’d come along to fix what would have only made her situation worse.
It wasn’t long before he grabbed her arm and said, “Let’s hurry.”
They made a dash for the back of the house. Once inside, he navigated them through seamlessly.
Elisa could hear Nicholas’ voice shouting from somewhere in the distance. Guilt tried to fill her, but she didn’t let it. He’d disappointed her far worse than she him.
Oliver jerked Elisa into a red boudoir. “Lay on the couch there. No one will see you until they come fully into the room.” Then he bowed and said, “Until we meet again, my lady.” He closed the door and Elisa moved to do as he instructed a second later.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
She stared at the gilded mantlepiece across from her and couldn’t help but think her new prison very pretty.
It was what it was, wasn’t it? Once again, she found herself wishing to be far away from Nicholas Childs and saddened to have ever met him.
She closed her eyes when the sorrow rested heavy against her chest, squeezing her heart as if to force the tears from her eyes and shouts from her throat.
It took some time, but eventually, she relaxed.
A tear escaped just before sleep found her.
∫ ∫ ∫
2 1
* * *
Elisa woke to the feel of a hand on her cheek. It was warm, yet rough. It took great effort to pull her eyes open. In the shadows of a low-burning fire, she found Nick staring at her. He knelt by the couch.
It was dark outside. She must have slept for hours. Grief did that to her.
His fingers gently rubbed her cheek and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. His eyes held no hint of anger. Neither did his words. “I debated whether I should let you sleep but thought it best to see if you were hungry.”
She shifted and felt the weight of a light blanket on her body. It was soft like wool. She wondered if a servant had put it on her or if Nicholas had.
She thought it likely that Nick had done it, a kind act for his mentally unstable charge.
Elisa sat up.
Nick stood and then sat by her side. “What are you doing in here, asleep on a couch when you have a perfectly fine bed in your room? Is it not to your liking? Is it the room? We can change it. It’s whatever you need.”
“I need to go to London,” she said. “I need to leave here.” She needed to be away from him.
He moved, placing one arm behind her on the couch. His body moved in close. “What do you need from London? Is it your father you wish to visit?”
“I would like to see him.” She would not tell him the true reason. He would never believe a madwoman.
“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible right now. But in a few weeks…” His words trailed off.
When he gave her away, she could go to London, he meant.
Staying with Nick was the last thing she wanted to do.
“Are you hungry?” he asked again. “Are you feeling all right?”
The words were said with great concern, but Elisa couldn’t help but think he was asking about her mental state for other reasons. To see if she was broken or not. “I’m not hungry.” She stood and turned her back to him. “I think I’ll go to my room.”
His arms went around her waist and he pulled her back. She felt him curl around her as he bent forward a
nd surrounded her in his strength. His lips pressed against her ear. “We never finished our discussion on the wall.”
Her face burned as she remembered what she’d offered him.
Hours ago, she would have loved the feel of his body. She would have felt safe, yet all she felt now was trapped, imprisoned, and hurt.
“That was a mistake.” She broke away from him but couldn’t bring herself to look at him. “It was all a mistake. I’ve… change my mind.”
“Elisa—”
“Let’s not speak of it anymore. We should return to the way things were a few days ago. I’ll work on lessons with the men, and you’ll do whatever it was that occupied you before.”
His hand landed on her shoulder. “Elisa, what’s the matter?”
She shrugged him off and moved toward the door. “I’m sorry. I have to go.” Let him think her a nitwit, a flighty girl, a madwoman. She didn’t care. So long as he stayed away from her until her brother came to get her, Elisa just might survive.
* * *
Nick let her go because a part of him knew she was right to turn him away. He hadn’t been strong enough to deny her himself. He’d wanted her, had planned to take her up on her offer, maiden or not.
When she’d gone missing a few hours ago, Nick had felt gutted. What if she’d been hurt or worse and couldn’t yell for help? He’d had the whole house searched from top to bottom. Every man and woman in the castle had been employed on the hunt.
An upstairs maid had found her. The woman had sworn she’d looked in that room before. So had another, but he supposed unless they moved around the couch and looked down, they’d never have found her.
His heart hadn’t been able to beat easy until he’d seen her for himself. His breathing hadn’t returned to normal until he’d touched her. He’d covered her in a blanket and dismissed the staff.
Then he’d started a fire. Once the flames rose, he sat across from her and tried to contemplate every urge and need that rested within him where she was concerned, but when none of it made sense, he put that to the side and asked himself what he was going to do.
They barely knew each other. Never seeing Elisa again had seemed easy when it had been on his terms, but when she’d gone missing, it hadn’t been failing the duke that had made him nervous. It had been never seeing her again that bothered him.
A Knight of Vengeance: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Page 10
