“I didn’t set him up, we were ambushed,” Maxwell tried to explain.
“Humph,” Jake replied.
He knew Thornhill’s men did not believe him. But he felt Mallory recognized the truth.
“Go.”
Jake and Sammy lifted Mallory and carried him to the horses. Maxwell listened to his moans as they walked away. He turned around to tie up loose ends.
“He will kill you for this.” Gold Tooth spat out blood from his mouth.
“No, he won’t Goldy. He will have your hide for attacking us. I was in the middle of receiving valuable information for him. He will not take too kindly when he hears about this,” Maxwell smirked.
“Information my arse. I overheard you calling Mallory off the fight against Shears.”
“Now, that is your word against mine friend. You grasp nothing of being a double agent, do you? You must keep their trust and to keep their trust you must sympathize with them. That is what I was doing before you so rudely interrupted us. Tut tut.”
“You lying bastard Maxwell. But you cannot lie yourself out of knowing where the girl is. I heard that part, you know her whereabouts. The Captain will sure love that piece of information. He can’t wait to get his hands on that one.”
Maxwell did not rise to his bait, he finished tying him and his friends to the tree. As he stood up, he wiped the dirt off onto his pants.
“Yeah, the Captain is excited for her. The blond one he had last year was too much of a prude for his taste, but this one he thinks will be feistier,” Gold Tooth baited him.
Maxwell clenched his teeth in anger, trying for control. He knew Gold Tooth referred to Ivy. The thought of any lady in Shears’s grasp made him furious. Maxwell would make sure that Shears never gets a hold of Raina or Ivy. If Raina is captured, they would murder her. She is the one behind the destruction of Shears’s plans. He would make her suffer before he kills her. Maxwell was not going to let that happen to Raina. Even if it meant offering himself as a sacrifice.
“Tell him he knows where to find me,” Maxwell told him before he punched him out.
Chapter Six
RAINA AWOKE TO A commotion outside her bedroom door. She heard the servants hustling up and down the hallway. Voices rose as instructions were belted out. As she slipped from bed, she covered herself in her robe, pulling the wig over her hair. When she opened her door a crack, she peeked out to see Thorn and his men carrying a body towards a room at the end of the hall. Ivy was following them still dressed in her evening gown. Raina saw Ivy crying.
“Will Charles be all right Thorn? How badly is he beaten?” Ivy asked between sobs.
“I don’t know my love, I have sent for the doctor. We will find out soon,” Thorn answered her as he carried the body into the bedroom.
They shut the door after they entered the room. Raina listened to Ivy’s sobs as Thorn tried to comfort her.
“Right this way doctor, he took quite a beating. He hasn’t awoken since.” Raina saw Thorn’s man Sammy leading the doctor to the bedroom.
Raina continued to listen as they entered the bedroom. Thorn led Ivy from the room for the examination. She watched as Ivy paced along the hallway in a nervous fret.
“Stay calm dear, this stress isn’t good for the baby.” Thorn halted Ivy pulling her into his arms.
They stood there quietly holding each other. Both their thoughts on the man lying bloody and beaten in the room beyond. He bent his head drawing her lips in a sweet gentle kiss. It was a kiss filled with compassion.
Raina closed her door and leaned back against it. She tried to slow her heart from racing. He was injured again. Was it her fault? She realized when she set the fire it would draw the attention towards him, but she trusted in him to disappear. She had observed his patterns these last few months, and he always left town after she destroyed Shears’s warehouses. What happened this time?
For her own peace of mind, she needed to see him. Raina undressed and slipped into Abigail Whitlow’s disguise. She adjusted the extra padding before she slid into the oversize dress and thick shoes. Pulling the wig off, she twisted her long black hair into a bun then put the wig back on by securing it to her head with pins. She lit a lamp by the mirror and applied make-up to her face. When she stood up, she looked herself over to make sure she wasn’t forgetting something in her disguise. Assured she looked the part she moved to the door grabbing her shawl along the way.
Wrapping the shawl around her shoulders, she stooped as she opened the door. With a slow pace she walked into the hallway. By the time she emerged the hallway was empty. The bedroom door was open, the Thornhills and the Duke of Kempbell were whispering amongst themselves. Raina tapped on the door quietly.
“Can I be of service?” Mrs. Whitlow asked.
“Please come in Abigail. I am afraid Ivy’s brother Charles has gotten himself into a bit of trouble. Can you sit with Ivy for a spell? George and I need to investigate a few things and I don’t want to leave her alone,” Thorn asked.
“I will send for tea while we look after young Charles here,” Abigail replied. While her eyes examined Charles, looking for any signs of movement from him.
Thorn bent his head and whispered into Ivy’s ear. He leaned over to place a kiss upon her head before he walked away.
“Thank you, dear Abigail we are forever in your debt. If you can, please try to get her to lie in bed, this cannot be good for the babe,” said Thorn.
Mrs. Whitlow nodded in agreement.
Thorn and the Duke left, and Abigail yanked the bell for the servants. When the butler arrived, she requested tea to be delivered to the room. She then pulled up to a chair next to Ivy and waited with her. They both watched as he laid there sleeping. At every moan they winced to themselves, feeling his suffering as their own.
“He does all this for her,” Ivy whispered.
“For her?” Mrs. Whitlow asked.
“A woman he does not even know, but from what he feels here,” Ivy said as she placed her hand over her heart.
“A woman who he loves, how romantic. May I ask who the young lady is?” Mrs. Whitlow questioned.
“Her name is Raina LeClair. It is a true mess Abigail. I’m not so sure she is worth it, not when he keeps ending up injured.”
Raina tensed when she listened to her own name. Her face paled as she glanced at Charles then back at Ivy, not believing what she heard. Charles loved her? Impossible.
“Does he love her deeply?”
“I don’t know Abigail. I do not even think he knows. It is a long story, I don’t even know where to begin,” Ivy explained.
“Well why don’t you tell me, while we wait for your brother to awaken.”
“Yes, maybe that will help; to talk to somebody different on this,” Ivy agreed.
Ivy told Abigail how Charles went searching for this woman whom had kept him captive earlier this year. She explained the whole mess with Charles and Shears. Meanwhile a maid returned with tea and sandwiches. As Abigail served them she listened to Ivy tell her story of falling in love with Thorn again; while they tried to uncover the terror plot that Shears was bringing upon England.
“This woman Raina had your brother held captive?” Mrs. Whitlow asked.
“In the beginning she was working with Shears. But I believe she began to have feelings for my brother and her allegiance switched. We think she was also working with Zane Maxwell to help bring Charles to safety.”
“Why do you believe Charles loves her?”
“He told me he has feelings for her and needs to find her to explore these feelings. Charles has never felt this type of connection.”
“It could be nothing but infatuation my dear.”
“I do not believe so anymore. He won’t stop in his search for her and in doing so, he will get himself killed by Shears.”
“Maybe she does not have feelings for your brother the way he feels for her and it would be best if your family can convince him of this.”
Ivy laughed bitterly, �
��Oh, believe me Thorn has tried.”
“How so?” Abigail bit out.
“Thorn tried warning Charles off Raina. That she was a woman bent on revenge, but Charles argued that she was a woman who was hurt and needed his love to heal.”
Raina was shocked at the story Ivy told her and didn’t know how to respond. Could what Ivy said be true? Did Charles truly have feelings for her? If so, it would not matter. The only way to avenge her family was to destroy the man responsible for it. If casualties happened along the way, then so be it. It was impossible anyhow. She may never heal from this destruction. Nor did she want to. The anger and hurt kept her going. Without it, she could not carry out what she has planned. Maybe when this was over, her heart would heal. But for now, she was not ready.
She grasped Thornhill was angry with her for holding Charles captive. He might be furious with her after this incident with Charles, even though she had nothing to do with his current injuries. Raina no longer held Thornhill responsible for the death of her father, but he still was not her friend. It upset her to learn he was against Charles looking for her. While she did not want Charles chasing the countryside in finding her, it comforted her to know somebody cared for her. She decided that she could use Thornhill’s dislike towards her to her advantage.
“Maybe your husband is right my dear. Charles's best interest should be to move on from this girl.”
“I think you might be right Abigail. How will we convince him to forget her?” Ivy questioned.
“Talk to your husband and come up with a plan to stop Charles from chasing this Raina LeClair. I am sure the two of you together can persuade your brother that he needs to let her go.”
Raina saw the effect her words had on Ivy. If Ivy could convince Thorn to keep Charles from looking for her, Raina could complete her mission without the life of Charles Mallory on her conscience. She watched Ivy lay her head back against the chair and close her eyes. She brought her hand up to her mouth and yawned.
“Why don’t you go to bed my dear, I will sit with your brother,” Mrs. Whitlow offered.
“Oh, I can’t let you do that Abigail.”
“You must rest for the baby, I will stay with him until your father returns.”
Ivy yawned again, “All right. You are a cherished friend Abigail.”Raina smiled a bittersweet smile at Ivy. She bore such guilt for deceiving her, but this was for the best. She would be gone in a week. That is all the time she needs to finish her plans. Then Charles would be healed, and she could disappear to a different place as a different person.
Raina helped Ivy to her feet and assisted her, at the door she called for Ivy’s maid to help her to her bedroom. As Ivy walked away, she slid back into the room, closing the door quietly. Walking over to the side table, she turned the flame lower on the lamp. Flames from the fireplace lit the chamber. Their light danced in between the logs of wood, bathing the area in a soft glow.
Pulling the chair closer, Raina sank into the cushion, relaxing for the first time in ages. She gazed at him as he slept on. She placed her hand on the bed, sliding her fingers in between his. The warmth of his hands blanketed her cool hands. Her whole body seemed chilled to the bone. Not from the cold, but from fear. Fear of being discovered, fear of her plans, but most of all the fear of being alone. But she wasn’t alone right now, she had him.
She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Breathing him in, her body relaxed more. She felt the brush of his breath as he blew on her hair. Bending her neck back she looked upon his face. His eyes were closed, but she imagined them open. She remembered them as a dark green, unless he was teasing her, then gold flecks flickered against them. She wished she could see him smile now.
Raina raised her hand and brushed the lock of hair from his eyes. She then traced his face with her fingers, gently brushing across his sores. She wanted to take away his pain with her touch. He moaned from her caress. It wasn’t a moan of pain, but one of relief. As if her touch was healing him. She slid her fingers across his lips. He opened them slowly and sighed.
Before she realized what, she was doing, she raised her head off his shoulder and brushed her lips across his. Softly kissing away his pain. Her tongue traced the outline of his lips, tasting the blood from them. She moaned at the agony he was suffering. Kissing him gently she felt his lips move against hers, she pulled back, staring at his mouth. She looked up and saw that his eyes remained closed.
Whimpering in pain, she heard him moan a name. A name that made her freeze above him.
“Raina.”
He could not be asking for her. She did not quite believe Ivy’s story of Charles’s affection for her. It was not possible he had any love for her. They barely knew each other.
Raina pulled away, she had to leave before he awakens. Also, it would not look good if she was caught lying with him. There was no believable explanation she could give.
Before she rose from the bed, Charles’s arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her body across his. Raina put her palms on his chest and tried to pull herself from him, but his arms were iron bands holding her to him.
When she looked up her eyes locked with his. His eyes were bloodshot and unfocused. She had to get away from him. But before she might move, he raised his head and kissed her as tenderly as she kissed him. As if he was trying to heal her wounds. The wounds that were not visible. The wounds she kept open to protect herself from hurting any more than she already did.
His lips brushed across hers, coaxing them wider. When her lips opened underneath his, he slid his tongue in to brush across hers. Long slow strokes to comfort her, to draw her pain into him.
Raina moaned as her body relaxed against his, sinking into his kiss and arms. She kissed him back softly, afraid to want more. But when the kiss changed more passionately, it scared her, and she tried to pull away. Her elbow dug into his side and he let out a scream.
She scrambled off him and the bed. Staggering back, her knees hit the chair. Her body sunk into the cushion, so as not to be discovered.
She stared as he brought his hands to where her elbow had slammed, his eyes clenched in pain. He let out long moans and curses. As he tried to pull himself up, Raina watched as dizziness overcame him. Charles reached out his hand to her for help.
She shrunk deeper into the chair. She wanted to comfort him, but she froze in fear he would recognize her. If he did, she was ruined.
“Who are…?” he started to say when he collapsed back onto the bed.
Raina was still, too afraid to move. She watched him as he lay there. His chest rising and falling in deep shallow breaths. When he made no sudden moves and his eyes stayed shut, Raina gradually moved closer to him.
His face was pale from his exertion. When he still did not move, Raina realized that he had passed out. She reached out and gently brushed the hair back from his forehead. Her hands trailing through his thick golden hair. Her fingers shook as she caressed him.
Sinking to her knees she slid her hand into his, her fingers clasping his. She laid her head on their enclosed hands. A tear slid along her cheek, sliding between their fingers. More tears followed as she wept for the aches he endured.
Pain caused by her. If what Ivy said was true, then she was the reason he was hurt. Could she give up her revenge on Shears to keep Charles safe? What meant more to her; destroying Shears or keeping Charles safe? She knew what her answer was, without having to decide. Which meant she realized what she had to do.
She had one more mission to complete while she was in London, then she would disappear forever. Raina could never be with Charles; he was too good for her. There were things from her past as well as her present he would never understand. She did them out of survival. He deserves a better woman than her.
Looking up, she watched him as he slipped into a deeper slumber. She only ever saw him like this; injured and sleeping. A few months ago, as she nursed him back to health she watched him while he rested. There was something about him that put her at peace.<
br />
He always brought her a sense of calm. When he awoke those green eyes searched into her soul, Raina was always lost. Lost to the magic of Charles Mallory. Lost to something she was too afraid to explore. All she had to do was reach out and grab the magic, but everybody knows magic is not real.
Charles tightened his fingers, the slight pressure startling Raina out of her musings. As she looked up, she saw he still slept but was muttering in his sleep. When his fingers squeezed tighter, Raina gasped. He began to thrash on the bed. Not wanting him to break open his injuries, she tried to calm him.
With her free hand she ran slow soft strokes over his chest and whispered to him that he was well. She continued this as he calmed, hoping that he could return to his restful slumber.
“There, there Charles. Please settle,” Raina soothed.
He quieted at her voice and touch, relaxing back into a peaceful rest. She watched as he went back to sleep. Pulling her hands away, she lifted the blanket to cover his chest, but was taken by surprise at his whisper.
“Raina.”
Backing away from the bed, she watched him hoping that he was not awake. When his eyes didn’t open, she knew it was time to depart. She was on the verge of losing her cover.
Hurrying to the door, she opened it to leave. When she took one last look over her shoulder at Charles, she walked right into the Duke.
“Steady, Mrs. Whitlow.” He reached out to stop her from plowing into him.
Raina pulled back, she always seemed to be running into him. With her eyes downcast, she murmured, “I am sorry to run into you again Your Grace, I am going to retire for the evening. Let me get a maid to sit with your son.”
“No need madam, I will sit with him for a spell. You need your rest, you will have a full day tomorrow with Ivy and my grandson.”
Raina curtsied, “I bid you goodnight then Your Grace.”
“Let me walk you to your bedroom,” he offered.
“Oh, no. I will be perfectly fine.” Raina tried to escape his company.
“Nonsense, I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t escort you safely to your room.”
Rescued By the Spy Page 5
