A Knight of Vengeance: (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book)

by Deborah Wilson

  Alguire had yet to be found.

  Nicholas would have loved to sit next to her, but he was posted by the window for a reason. Danger lurked at windows. He recalled that from the incident that happened at Van Dero’s house only a few months ago.

  Dr. Shaw was still adamantly speaking of his innocence to Avery and the two officers who had come in. The captain of police had sent them for added protection.

  They were but babes in a pool of sharks compared to what Astger, Nicholas, and Cassius could do.

  Their presence was more endearing than practical.

  “Many things could cause an upset stomach,” Sparrow said. “Take a bullet, for instance. There you are, standing in the window, and if one’s aim were true, it could rip right through you.”

  Even Avery could take on Alguire, Nicholas thought. He and Avery had found a moment to speak and Avery had told him everything. Nicholas remembered fighting Avery. The marquess— now duke— had been a worthy opponent. Yet his impression on Nicholas’ mind had vanished with the next fight.

  Nick had been injured and tired. Avery hadn’t been his first fight that night. He’d asked his father to take him out, but the old Marquess of Venmont had refused. He’d told Nicholas that the enemy would never have mercy, therefore he could not either.

  Angry that his father’s fears outranked his concern for the life of his own son, Nicholas had snapped Ben’s neck.

  Once Avery shared his tragic tale, Nicholas had had a growing suspicion as to who the young ‘clever’ man who’d talked him into the race had been. Sure enough, the description fit his brother Leo.

  Leo was known to run away for great lengths of time. Nicholas had always wondered where his brother ran off to or where he gained the education he came back with.

  Now he knew.

  It hadn’t pleased Avery to know that a Childs brother had bested him in both a race and a fight that night.

  Nick’s father hadn’t been pleased by his action, but the crowd had. Every vile man in that room, Nicholas and his friends had hunted down.

  But it made nothing better in the end.

  Nicholas’ stomach turned with disgust for his former self.

  A hand landed on his shoulder.

  He looked over and was surprised to see Sirius.

  Sirius Hayes, the Earl of Gordie, watched Nicholas closely. “You should move away from the window. If a bullet goes through it, you’ll be hit.”

  It was true.

  Yet, didn’t Nicholas deserve to be hit? He’d taken the lives of so many. There was so much innocent blood on his hands. If anyone in the room should die…

  Sirius’ eyes were a combination of blue and green. His black lashes made their hue more pronounced. They could be quite warm at times. Sirius had a dark humor about him, yet at the moment, his gaze was far from humorous. “Move from the window, Nick.”

  Nicholas obeyed.

  “Glad you said it,” Sparrow said, following. “I was growing worried. Thought I’d have to care for Elisa once he was gone.”

  Nicholas glared at him, and Sparrow smiled.

  “Finally got a reaction from you,” Sparrow said.

  Nicholas hadn’t been listening to Sparrow. “What’s going on? What are you doing here?”

  “I’m back,” Sirius said.

  “Was your mission a success?” Sparrow asked.

  Sirius shook his head. “No, but that’s not important right now. Alguire is in the wind. Cassius’ men can’t find him, which means he’s hiding.” He glared. “Who called the authorities? They couldn’t find a pickpocket even if he left his calling card.”

  The insult had been loud as well. The two officers glared at him but stepped back at the same time, intending to keep their distance.

  Dr. Shaw, having no sense of self-preservation, stepped over and puffed his chest out. “I called the authorities, my lord.”

  Sirius and the doctor were about the same size, though Sirius was complete muscle. Sirius looked the doctor over. “Is that so?”

  “There was a crime committed,” Shaw said. “A man was poisoned, and my services were brought into question. Surely, there is no one better to deal with these matters than the police.”

  Sirius rolled his eyes. “I’m leaving.”

  “Are you going to go look for Lord Alguire?” Sparrow asked. Sirius was the best hunter they hand.

  “No,” Sirius said. “I’m going home to my wife. I’m not to be interrupted for the remainder of the week.”

  Milly said, “Cass and I can take the girls if you wish.” Sirius had two daughters.

  The Earl of Gordie bowed to her. “You are a saint, my lady.”

  Nicholas smiled and patted his friend’s arm. “Enjoy, friend.”

  Sirius turned to him. “You enjoy as well.” Then in a lower voice, he said, “In our line of work, the skies are always dark, but when God breaks through with his ray of light, you soak it in while you can, brother.” He glanced at Elisa with meaning. “I’ll see you later.”

  Avery held up his hands and blocked Sirius’ exit. “Wait. I need to speak to you.” He looked at Nick and Cassius. “And you as well.” He turned to the officers. “If you would, please see Dr. Shaw and the ladies into the study.”

  The women stood.

  Cassius spoke to the taller of the officers. “Mr. Hopkins, is it?”

  Hopkins bowed. “Yes, Your Grace.”

  Cassius pointed at Milly. “That’s Lady Van Dero. She is my wife.”

  Hopkins bowed again. “My lady.”

  Cassius’ gaze was hard. “Look at me.”

  The officer straightened, slowly, and then locked eyes with the Duke of Van Dero. “Your Grace?”

  “Should anything happen to my wife. I will hunt down everyone you love—”

  Milly laughed loudly. “Oh, come on, Elisa. Let us let the men talk.” She looked at Cassius. “Be civil,” she whispered.

  But Cassius wasn’t listening. He did that often. He was a natural predator and his focus was clear.

  Hopkins visible paled before the dark might of the duke. “Nothing will happen to the women, Your Grace. I swear it.”

  “Good.”

  Milly left, her arm through Elisa’s, and the officers were bound to follow unless they wished for death.

  Dr. Shaw looked around at who was left and said, “Surely, you wish for me to stay.”

  “Get out,” Sirius growled.

  The doctor jumped and then cleared his throat before sweeping from the room with his nose in the air.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  5 3

  * * *

  Once Dr. Shaw was gone, Avery pointed to Van Dero. “I want Alguire alive.” He turned to Nicholas. “Alive and whole.”

  Sparrow put his hand up. “Exactly, why am I here?”

  Avery glowered. “Because you’re Van Dero’s doctor and I don’t know what you’re capable of.”

  Sparrow nodded, finding the statement to be reasonable, and took a step back. “Carry on.”

  Nicholas crossed his arms. “I think Elisa should have the first shot at Lord Alguire. She was the one who discovered the truth of his nature. The only one who believed him capable of murder.”

  Avery glared. “My sister is innocent. She will not wish to make Alguire bleed, much less know how to do it.”

  “The authorities have pushed Alguire into hiding,” Sirius said. “At this rate, she’ll have plenty of time to learn how to aim true.” Sirius looked at Nicholas. “She looks like a bow and arrow kind of woman. What say you?”

  Nicholas was used to Sirius’ twisted mind but had to admit… Elisa would look quite fetching with a long arrow and plucked bow in her hand.

  Why did the thought arouse him?

  “My sister will not be shooting anyone with anything,” Avery said. Then he looked at Nick again. “Don’t you dare soil my sister with the filth that goes on in your organization.”

  “You mean the filth you’re standing on?” Cassius said coolly. “Let us not pret
end that you wish to have Alguire over for tea and crumpets.”

  Astger looked Avery up and down. “The hypocrisy. Don’t be so quick to look your nose down on us blackened kettles, pot.”

  Avery rolled his eyes. “Fine. I want Alguire dead. He killed my father. He had my sister locked away in Bedlam.”

  Cassius took a deep breath. “I’m with Nick. Elisa is owed this.” And Elisa would likely pass Alguire on to Nicholas.

  And Nicholas couldn’t wait to sink his fist into the man. A thrill went up his spine just thinking about it.

  Avery looked around the room. “I want Alguire.” His temper was rising.

  “So demanding,” Sirius mocked.

  Cassius sighed. “This sounds like a favor, Your Grace.”

  Nicholas had just spent last week getting Avery out of the last thing Cass was going to ask him for. Never mind that Avery didn’t know it. Still, he had no idea he stood on quicksand.

  Avery crossed his arms. “If it’s a favor, so be it. I want the Gloria woman, too.”

  “No,” Cassius said. “I’ve been looking for the Queen of Poisons for a while now. She is mine.”

  Queen of Poisons? Nicholas had mentioned her to Elisa mockingly a few months ago. The Queen went by many names. She was the one men and women went to when they wished to be rid of someone quietly and always had a heavy price.

  “No.” Avery stepped forward. “She killed my father. She likely killed another woman as well.”

  “Doesn’t mean she knew,” Sirius said. “I’ve heard she doesn’t ask questions.”

  Avery growled. “She should start.”

  Nicholas agreed.

  “Your request for The Queen is denied,” Cassius said.

  Avery cursed. “You know, I could try to find them first.”

  Cassius said nothing, but he did smile.

  Avery cursed again. “What do I have to give you for Alguire and the woman?”

  Sparrow blew out his breath. The sentiment matched Nicholas’ thoughts.

  Avery sighed. “I already know I owe you,” he said to Van Dero. “How many favors is it now?”

  Sirius chuckled and then asked Astger, “Is he really this foolish?”

  Astger cleared his throat to keep from laughing. “Yes, yes, he is.”

  Avery narrowed his gaze at Sirius, but Cassius’ voice had everyone looking at him. “I’ve been keeping a tally, Your Grace. I would caution you to keep a tally as well. I’m not one for indentured servants, but soon comes the day that I will own everything but your soul.”

  “What can you give me?” Avery asked blindly.

  Cassius looked at Nicholas. “Do you want Alguire?”

  Nick shrugged. “Avery can have him first. He’s not likely to finish him.” For all his talk, he doubted Avery would do more than push Alguire around for a little while before his conscience took over.

  Nicholas would turn off his conscience when he got his hands on him.

  Avery asked, “Why does Lord Nicholas get to decide?”

  “Nicholas is my friend. My brother,” Cassius said. “We have broken bones and shed blood together. Sometimes, the blood was our own.”

  Avery kept his eyes narrowed but looked away. Then his shoulders fell with a deep sigh. “Fine. I’ll tale Alguire. You can keep the woman.”

  “Very well,” Cassius said.

  And it was done.

  Astger spoke before anyone could move. “A word of caution to every person in this room. We’re going after the Queen of Poisons. I would have all food tested before consumed.”

  It was sound advice.

  Avery shook his head and left to find his sister.

  Sparrow rubbed his chin and said, “I’d just like to say that I find it amusing that no one seems concerned about the authorities finding Alguire first.”

  Everyone in the room laughed. The authorities would not find Alguire. They were the kind of men who slept on a schedule as predictable as time. Not a soul who worked for Cassius was the same.

  “Look at you,” Astger said to Sparrow. “You’re all grown up and managed to get a place at the adult table. I thought you’d balk at the mention of killing someone.”

  “Well.” Sparrow cleared his throat. “It was rather difficult to take in. As you all know, I’ve never killed a man on La perfide Albion.”

  “You’ll not confuse me with poetic words,” Sirius said. “You may not have killed anyone in England, but somewhere out there someone is dead because of you.”

  Sparrow struggled to clear his throat and when it didn’t work, he excused himself from the room, saying he needed to seek water.

  Cassius moved to stand by Nicholas. “You’re not troubled about Alguire going to Avery first, are you?”

  “It doesn’t matter. I just want Elisa safe.”

  “Your wife is a strong woman,” Cass said. “Anyone else would have changed their story long before they got sent to Bedlam. She could have willingly married Alguire.”

  “And likely died during some point in the marriage,” Sirius said.

  Nick was starting to wonder if he’d given Alguire away too soon. “You know Avery deserves this more than me, don’t you?”

  The duke nodded. “But it’s always good to be owned by a duke and he owes me a great debt.” Cassius left then. Sirius followed.

  Nicholas found Elisa in the study. She was eating small cakes. The evidence of Milly’s empty cup was still there. He approached and kissed her cheek. “There is no point in waiting here for anything to happen. Do you want to go home?”

  “Yes.” She stood and then said her goodbyes to everyone. She had hugs for Astger and Sparrow. The intimate gesture didn’t bother Nicholas, especially when her hot brandy eyes returned to him.

  He hustled her into the carriage.

  The driver helped her with a great bow. “My lady.”

  She smiled at his bent head and got in.

  “Thank you,” she said to Nicholas once the conveyance pulled them away.

  “What for?” Nicholas pulled her close.

  “Everything. For believing in me.” Her face was turned up. “For loving me.”

  “Loving you was likely the easiest thing I’ve done.”

  “But it must be trying.”

  He smiled. “My father built great patience into me.”

  She sighed. “Do you think the authorities will find Alguire?”

  He slid his finger down the curve of her cheek. “How much did Belle tell you about our organization?”

  She became very still. “That there are many of you and that you are everywhere.”

  Nicholas nodded. “And what about all we do?”

  “She told me very little, but I suspect…” She was quick for a moment. She took one breath and then another. “You saved me from a terrible fate months ago. I called you an angel. It is still what I believe you to be.”

  He smiled. He could feel the ray of light Sirius spoke of. How had he managed to live alone in the dark for so long? “Alguire will be found, and you’ll never have to fear him again.”

  “And not just me,” she said. “But so many others.” She turned away and settled her head on his shoulder. “I just want everyone to be safe.”

  He held her tightly. “The world will never be as safe as you might wish.”

  “I know, but don’t ever stop trying to make it right.” She snuggled closer into his embrace. “If you do, the world only grows colder.”

  She was right, yet it seemed like for every two steps forward they were taking five back. How could one end corruption? The world, it seemed, did not rest with mortals.

  Nicholas had refused to help Avery months ago. He hadn’t cared who Avery had held dear in Bedlam. Now, he sat in a carriage holding that very person. Coincidence? Nicholas thought not.

  It wasn’t until that moment that Nicholas realized how much his life had been like a person riding in a mail coach whose only destination was getting as far away from the past as possible.

  There�
�d been a hundred stops along the way. He’d ignored them all.

  He would have ridden the mail coach to its final destination if someone hadn’t pushed him off.

  And still, he’d have been lost if he hadn’t fallen into Elisa’s hands. The first time she’d looked at him, her eyes had greeted him home.

  He’d been breathing easier since then. The feeling of being lost was always better when one knew where home was. She was his sacred place, shielding him with her light and fighting off despair with the only weapons she’d ever need. A smile. A laugh.

  An ‘I love you’ that was just as loud and just as confident in her gaze as in her voice.

  She was everything he needed and now that he knew that, the very thought of all he could have lost troubled him.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  5 4

  * * *

  Elisa felt her husband tighten up beside her. She wondered what was troubling him. She sat up and looked at him. “Are you all right?”

  He touched a lock of her hair and slipped it behind her ear. “Yes, I just thinking about what I could have lost if you hadn’t loved me.”

  Elisa was reminded of a small incident she’d not mentioned to him before. “I tried to run from the castle. The day I overheard you say my treatment at Bedlam was necessary, I tried to leave. Oliver told me my plan was futile and helped me back into the castle.”

  Nick stared at her and then said something under his breath before saying aloud, “I don’t know if I should be angry with my brother or not. He kept this from me and yet he kept you with me when he could have stolen you.”

  “He said there was no way for me to leave.”

  “He lied.” Nick frowned. “If he’d had wished it, he could have taken you without me being any the wiser. It means he wanted you to stay.” He looked at her. “For me.”

  Elisa thought about her strange conversation with Lord Oliver. “He guessed I was upset with you and said it would be best that you weren’t forced to hunt me down.”

  “He was right.” In an instant, his eyes went hot. “I lost my senses when you left. Had I had to go after you, there was no telling what would have happened once I caught you.”

  Elisa grinned. “Tell me what you suppose could have happened?”