by Cheryl Bolen
Gabe had betrayed her.
Had she been thinking clearly, she would never have allowed Frank Blackley to grab her, but her thoughts had been on Gabe’s betrayal.
Her father had told her someone he knew and respected had alerted him to Maddie’s involvement in Spoke House. There were plenty of people who were aware of what she did there, but none who would betray her or surely, they would have done so by now. Gabe had known for only a matter of days, and he’d told her he didn’t want her going back there. Maddie believed this was how he intended to ensure that. The realization of his betrayal hurt so much it was almost a physical pain.
She’d fallen in love with the fiend and believed he could love her back. And yet he’d made love to her as if he cared and then betrayed her. Now she would have to live with her foolishness. She’d never love or trust again, Maddie vowed. That was, if she got out of here alive.
“Cad!”
She’d waited until her father left the house, forbidding his youngest daughter to even leave her room, and then had defiantly slipped out.
After leaving Spoke House, where the children had asked her what was wrong, she’d been grabbed from behind, a sack thrown over her head, and bundled into a cart. The rest was a blur.
She was bound hand and foot, a blindfold placed over her eyes, and transported to this warehouse by a rowboat. Clearly, she was by the Thames somewhere, and likely down at the docks. She just had no idea where or how anyone would find her now.
They’d left her on the cold floor, wrenched off her blindfold, and walked away, leaving her still bound hand and foot.
There was no furniture, not even a barrel or a crate, only Maddie and the dark, murky waters of the Thames beyond the dock that was a few feet away from where she sat.
She’d moved around on her knees, and hopped, but found nothing to cut the ropes from her wrists or a way to leave. She’d drown if she went into the water, which her captors knew when they’d placed her here.
Slumping down the wall to the cold floor once more, Maddie watched the water as daylight slowly dwindled into darkness and tried to fight back the panic that clawed at her throat. The place seemed even more sinister now that the only light she had was from the moon as it cast shadows over the water.
It was damp, and the cold had slipped into her bones and stayed there. Clenching and unclenching her fingers, she tried to warm them up, but the job was hopeless.
She’d been alone in here for hours. Alone with her thoughts, and they were not good company.
Focus on that perfidious fiend, Gabriel Lockhart. The rage will warm you up.
Her father’s rage had been worse than any she’d encountered before, and there had been times when she tested him... but this was worse.
He’d threatened to send her back to Chasten and leave her there forever. His disappointment in her for what she’d done, looking after those children and renting Spoke House, had cut deep. Maddie had tried to explain, but he’d not wanted to listen.
There had also been dire warnings about a convent before he left, slamming the door behind him.
The sound of footsteps had her struggling to her feet, using the wall at her back as a prop. She would not cower to Frank Blackley, the man who walked toward her.
“I wish for food.” Maddie wouldn’t let him see her fear.
“You’ll get it when I’m ready.” He moved closer. She stood her ground. “I’ve always wondered if it would be different with a lady.”
Maddie didn’t want to contemplate what “it” meant but had a terrible feeling she already knew.
“You do realize, of course, what the penalty for kidnapping the daughter of one of England’s most respected peers will be, don’t you, Mr. Blackley?”
He leered at her, his eyes settling on her breasts.
“Let me educate you, Miss Spencer. We don’t care about you or your family. We only care about the money you’ll bring us. No one will find us if we don’t want to be found, and that goes for you also.”
“My father will never give you money without seeing me first.”
Her skin was literally crawling at the look in this man’s eyes as they traveled over her. But Maddie would not let him see her fear, only her disdain.
“We’ll just have to send him a little incentive then, won’t we.”
Before she could stop him, he’d ripped open her cloak, the heavy material falling from her shoulders, and wrenched the necklace from her neck. Maddie lunged at him, but as she was bound, she fell to the floor.
She welcomed the anger, because it gave her strength. Forcing herself into a sitting position she glared at him, then made herself laugh.
“I will be in the front row for your hanging, Mr. Blackley. And I shall enjoy the moment immensely.”
The surprise on his face made her force out another laugh. She was not laughing a moment later when he kicked her in the thigh. But she did not whimper. She would never show this man fear.
The slap she took to her left cheek, however, made her cry.
Chapter 15
“They have a place there.” Graham pointed to a narrow building that looked uninhabited. Boards were loose or rusted, and it had a general air of decay.
“Are you sure?” Gabe asked the boy.
Graham nodded. “It’s a warehouse with an open end and a dock, which allows them to do any number of underhand dealings as no one can see what comes in by boat.”
He and his friend Becks, who they’d picked up at their second stop, had been James and Gabe’s guide for the last few hours.
They’d gone from place to place, meeting people and getting information or any clue as to where the Blackleys were holding Maddie.
God, she has to be safe and unharmed.
Desperation clawed at Gabe. She was out here somewhere, and he couldn’t find her—and when he did it may be too late.
No! He couldn’t allow himself to contemplate that. He had to find her. He couldn’t live without her now.
The weather was cold now that night was settling around them. An icy cold that chilled your cheeks and formed puffs of white when you spoke.
“I’m going inside the warehouse. James, you take the boys and wait by the entrance, but stay out of sight.”
“I’d advise strongly against that, my lord.”
“And yet that’s what I am doing.”
The footman tried to argue, but Gabe was determined. If he was to get inside that warehouse undetected, he needed to do so quietly. He also needed someone outside to carry on looking for Maddie should something happen to him. He kept that to himself, however.
The darkness hid him as he walked around the building searching for the entrance. Pushing the door so it was just wide enough to slip inside, Gabe then pressed his back to the wall.
Pulling out his pistol, he moved slowly down the building. He could see weak light coming from somewhere up ahead. Passing wooden crates, he listened for any sound that would tell him someone was in the building. More importantly, was Maddie in here? When he got her back, he was never letting her go.
He heard no voices, but that didn’t mean he was alone.
“Take another step and it will be your last.”
Gabe froze as the muzzle of a gun pressed into his spine.
“We have company!” He was pushed forward. “Hand over the gun and walk.”
He did as he was told and started moving. Gabe could not help Maddie if he was dead.
“Left.”
He tracked left and soon found himself near the end of the warehouse. He could hear the lap of water.
“Let me go!”
Fear locked every muscle in his body rigid as he took the two paces needed to bring Maddie into his line of vision. Her lovely eyes filled with tears as she saw him.
“Gabriel!”
Ignoring the man behind him and the one who stood beside Maddie, Gabe walked toward her.
“Who the hell is this?” the man with her demanded.
“I don’t know
. He was inside the warehouse with a gun, Frank. So, my guess, he’s come looking for her.”
“You’ll stop now!”
“You’ll have to shoot me.” Gabe reached Maddie and pulled her into his arms. Relief filled him that she was alive and he was holding her once more. “Because my fiancée is terrified and I am going to comfort her.”
She was cold, her body shaking as he held her close. Her cheek was bruised, and he’d make someone pay for her pain, but they held weapons. He did not. Retribution would have to wait. Getting her out of here was his main priority now. To do that, he must keep calm.
“You should not have come,” she whispered in his ear.
“How could I not? I love you, Maddie.”
“You lie!” Her whisper was furious.
“What is your name?”
Gabe looked at the man who spoke, recognizing him as the man who had been at Spoke House that day. Frank Blackley.
“I am Lord Lockhart, Blackley, and you will pay for hurting the woman I love.”
The man laughed.
“I like your bravery, even if it is hopeless. Therefore, I am willing to indulge you with a final farewell to your beloved. After all, tonight will be the last time you see each other.”
“You would shoot an earl and a viscount’s daughter?” He pulled Maddie closer and whispered in her ear, “Trust me.” Only she could hear his words.
“I care nothing for your birth, only the money she will bring me. You can be found floating in the Thames, and it will be a terrible accident that you’ve drowned.” Blackley laughed. “Although perhaps you will net me more?”
No. It would not end here, Gabe vowed silently, pressing his face into her hair. They would live to raise their children and grow old in each other’s arms. He would ensure it.
“Release her now and move away.”
“A final goodbye, please, I beg of you,” Gabe said, injecting desperation into his tone.
The men laughed at him as he wrapped both arms around her.
“Start crying loudly,” Gabe said into the shell of her ear.
Her sobs were real, Gabe knew that, and loud enough to make him wince. “When I say jump, you jump into the water, Maddie, and start swimming. I will make sure you are safe.”
She didn’t acknowledge him, and Gabe knew what he asked of her was terrifying. She was bound hand and foot and would drown in seconds without him.
“Very touching. Now step away from Miss Spencer.”
“I cannot,” Gabe said, his words anguished. “Have you no mercy?”
As he spoke, he crept slowly backward with Maddie until they were inches from the water.
“Take a big breath.” Gabe clutched Maddie close to him. “Now jump!”
Curses rent the air behind them as they both fell into the icy water. Gabe felt a bullet graze his arm, but he didn’t stop. Grabbing Maddie’s arm, he towed her down with him under the water. He knew she was struggling with the weight of her clothes. Panic would be clawing at her as she fought against her bonds.
The darkness would cover them when they left the warehouse, but Gabe wanted them out into the Thames, where hopefully the tide would sweep them away from the Blackley brothers. She gasped in a huge breath of air as he pushed her upward and they broke free of the water.
“I have you now.” Gabe pulled her into his arms, keeping her afloat as they began to move swiftly with the current.
“Un-untie me, we will drown!”
“I can’t stop to do that now!”
Gripping her under the arms, he kept them both afloat and angled toward the bank.
“A few more minutes, Maddie,” he said as the bank drew nearer, and then his feet touched. Grabbing her waist, he sat her on the edge, and then followed, pulling himself out beside her.
Removing the knife from his boot, he quickly cut the ties from her hands and ankles. She was shivering, great shudders of cold wracking her body. He was no better.
“We need to move before they find us, Maddie. James is around here somewhere with your boys.”
“Wh-which b-boys?’
“Does it matter?”
Gabe lifted Maddie to her feet and tried to take her in his arms again, but she pushed away. The force behind the slap she gave his cheek was weak, but it still stung.
“What the hell was that for?”
“Y-you betrayed me.”
Chapter 16
Just looking at him hurt. When he’d walked into the warehouse with one of Blackleys holding him at gunpoint, Maddie had known real fear... and pain. Lots of pain. She’d wanted to yell at him to run, even considering what he’d done, because she loved him.
“Maddie, we have no time for hysterics now. We must leave.”
“I h-hate you.”
“I just rescued you!”
“Th-thank you for that. I st-still hate you.”
He grabbed her upper arms and pulled her close until she stood on her toes... so close his cold nose now touched hers.
“I didn’t betray you.”
“My father—”
“Your father’s solicitor found information in his son’s papers. It was he who wrote and told your father what you were doing, not I.”
“B-but—”
“Shut up and listen to me.” Gabe gave her a little shake. “We have to get out of here or one of those Blackleys will put a bullet through us, and if that doesn’t happen, the cold will finish us off.”
“Are y-you telling me the truth?”
He sighed. “Yes. I told you I would not tell your father. Have a little faith, woman.”
She couldn’t help it, Maddie burst into tears.
“Shhh, have mercy, woman. Can you not weep softly?” Gabe pulled her into his chest, pressing her against his cold body, but Maddie didn’t care. He hadn’t betrayed her after all.
“Maddie, my love. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but to do that we need to get away from here. To do that, we need to move now.”
“I-I know... it’s just that—”
He put his hand over her mouth. “I need you to be quiet now. Do you understand?”
Maddie nodded.
He took her hand and towed her along the bank. She couldn’t see anything and hoped Gabe was leading them away from danger and the Blackley brothers.
He stopped, then pulled her behind him.
“We’ve got to find them.”
Maddie knew only relief at the voice up ahead of them.
“We are here, James,” Gabe said, taking her hand once more.
“My lord, have you found her?”
“I have.”
Maddie couldn’t speak, she was so cold.
“She’s extremely cold. We had to jump in the water to escape.”
“Here’s my jacket.”
Maddie nearly moaned at the bliss she felt as Gabe wrapped James’s jacket around her shoulders.
“We must get her home.”
After that everything became a blur for Maddie. They hurried from the docks with the boys.
Somehow Graham found a cart, and she was placed on that, seated in Gabe’s lap. He wrapped her in his arms, both now shivering and chilled to the bone. The cart slowly rolled through London, taking them home.
“Nearly there, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head. “My brave girl.”
“I-I’m sorry I thought you’d b-betrayed me, Gabe.”
“Such little faith in the man you love, Maddie. We will have to work on that.”
She looked up at him, his handsome face smiling down at her.
“How d-do you know I love you?”
“Because you always have.”
There was nothing she could say to that, because his words were the absolute truth.
Christmas Eve at Chasten was a festive affair. The house was decorated with evergreen boughs of holly, ivy, hawthorn, rosemary, and hellebore, sending sweet scent into the air. The Yule log had been lit, and games played. It was quite simply the best Christmas Eve Ma
ddie had ever experienced—because Gabe was here.
After her kidnapping he’d asked her father for her hand in marriage, right there in the entrance of their London townhouse. Her father had agreed gladly. Gabe said that was because he was relieved he no longer had to worry about his reckless daughter.
Verity had surprised her too. Crushing her in a hug, she’d told Maddie she loved her and had been terrified at the thought they may never see each other again. Since that day they’d grown closer.
In a week she and Gabe would marry, here on her father’s estate, and she wanted that so much now. He was her life, as she was his.
Retiring for the evening, Maddie lay in bed thinking of the life she would have as his wife. She could not wait. He had bought Spoke House for her, and together they would work at making it a safe place for the children to come. Together, they would have many more houses situated around England for those who had no one else to care for their welfare.
Maddie heard the door to her room open. Seconds later, the rustle of clothes followed, and then he was there beside the bed, sliding beneath the sheets.
“I should be shocked.”
His laugh was a soft rumble as he slid his arms around her and settled her against his body.
“Hello, my sweet, and biddable fiancée.”
This time she laughed.
“You looked so beautiful tonight, Maddie, that I wanted to plant my fist in any man who looked your way.”
“Wonderful, then my plan worked.”
“Shrew.” He rolled her onto her back and kissed her.
“This love, Gabe, does it scare you?” Maddie cupped the cheek above her.
“No. It warms me and makes me stronger.”
“But it is also a strange thing. I thought very closely about hurling my eclair at Lady Helen when she patted your arm and batted her lashes at you, and I love eclairs.”
“Jealousy is new to me also, my sweet.”
She looked up at him, the weak moonlight letting her study each and every feature on his handsome face.
“I love you, Gabe. I love your strength and your kindness. I love the boy I once knew and the man I am still learning about. Never leave me.”
