Ash jerked awake when the vehicle rolled to an abrupt halt. Lila moved swiftly, diving for the door and almost falling out because the steps weren’t down. The footman had already come to her aid, unaware his masters had not asked them to stop. But warm fingers curled over her wrist and prevented her from taking those few steps to freedom. She turned her fiery gaze upon him.
“Release me.”
Ash shook his head.
“Release me. You cannot hold me captive. You cannot take me there.”
Lila yanked against his hold and her shoe slipped from the edge of the carriage. Were it not for the diligence of the footman, she would have taken a tumble, but he gripped her arm as she slipped and made an inelegant journey to the ground. Before she could gather her wits and take in the surroundings of the narrow country road lined with blackberry bushes, Ash was upon her, grasping her wrist once more.
Sense deserted her. “No.”
She would not be manhandled or told what to do any longer. Everyone was forever telling her what to do. Her whole life had been governed by other people’s expectations of her, and now these men were going to ruin her one chance of freedom and finally fulfilling what she’d been planning for her whole life.
They were going to ruin her. The unfairness of it all made tears burn in her eyes. Why did she have to witness that awful scene? Why could it not have been someone else? Other, silly, selfish thoughts ran through her mind. Why couldn’t the killer have just been some random attacker? Of all things to happen to her, she simply had to witness the attack of a serial killer. How typically Lila of her.
She flailed. She scratched. Pushed against the impenetrable wall of muscle that counted as Ash Cynfell’s chest.
“No, no, no,” she cried. “You will not take me there. You will return me home. I refuse to partake in this. Return me home now, and we shall be saved from scandal.”
Ash gripped her other arm and shook her lightly, drawing her attention to his face. Tears clouded her gaze. Frustration burned in her chest. She wriggled again, but he held firm.
“I care little about scandal. And surely a whiff of scandal is not worse than death at the hands of a madman?”
“I think I’m in the hands of a madman now.” Her voice had risen so high it cracked.
He winced. “I would rather ruin you a hundred times over than see you dead.”
She stilled at this. There was something dark and—dare she say it?—enticing about the way he’d said ruin. It no longer sounded like the worst outcome in the world. She’d wager many a woman would give anything to be ruined by one of the Cynfell men.
But not her. She struggled again but to no avail. No, not her. She would not fall for his charms, whatever those were. His piercing eyes and his firm chest or the lines in his brow. Yes, those were his charms, somehow. She suspected her friends would think her madder than the killer if she declared as much, but for some strange reason, his darkness appealed.
What a fool she was.
“You need to release me,” she said softly.
“No.” His eyes grew darker when his pupils widened.
It was then that she realised she—or perhaps he—had brought them chest to chest.
“I cannot go to...to that place. I shall be ruined for certain. Take me home.”
“No.”
“Do you not care that you are ruining me? Have you no heart?”
“No.”
She hardly heard the last no. He was so close, so very close. Her gaze dropped to lips surrounded by a light scattering of dark hair. Her heart did a kick against her ribs then pounded hard in her ears.
“I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe,” he murmured.
“Even risk going to jail?”
“Yes.”
Goodness. That one tiny word made her pulse go into overdrive. She could hear nothing apart from her heartbeat and her breaths rasping in her chest. See nothing expect his lips filling her vision then his intense eyes when she glanced up. Her body felt weightless, lifeless. Only the parts of her that were touching him felt remotely attached to her.
What was happening? Was she really so foolish that the notion of this man risking his life to protect her would render all sense from her?
Apparently, yes. For she was now as malleable as clay. He could do with her as he wished. Let him take her to Stourbridge House—a den of vice renowned for scandal and every immoral act possible. Let him ruin her in the eyes of the world. Let him...kiss her...
Ash’s gaze dropped to her lips. She held her breath. His Adam’s apple bobbed once, twice, then he snapped his gaze to hers.
“I will do all I can to protect you. From the killer and from scandal. I swear no blame shall come upon you.”
He eased his fingers away from her arms and a strange burst of heat flourished where his hands had been in contact with her body. At the same time, heaviness weighted her stomach. Had she really wanted a kiss from her kidnapper? There was something wrong with her. Perhaps she needed rest or sustenance. Or something.
But not a kiss from Ash Cynfell. Why, he was nothing like any of her suitors. Yes, he did not sport a ridiculous moustache or slather himself in pomade, but it was more than that. He didn’t try to charm her—at least not in the way she expected. He did not offer flattering words or kiss her hand. There were no flirtatious looks thrown her way or the occasional dashing smile.
So why would she want a kiss from him?
Ridiculous.
She straightened her skirts and glanced up and down the lane again. Lila couldn’t see over the blackberry bushes but far ahead there was a cottage. It would be impossible to dash toward it and demand aid. Ash would be upon her before she had taken two steps. And they had been travelling several hours. Who knew where in the country they were? There was no escaping him really.
Eyeing him, she pursed her lips and released a long breath. “I am relying on you to ensure I am untouched by scandal,” she said haughtily, whilst not really believing he was capable of doing as much.
The chances were she would return home ruined and have to go back to the country to marry some ancient earl with the worst moustache she’d ever seen who wasn’t aware of her utter ruination.
“I will protect you,” he vowed.
Lila sighed again. Protect her from scandal...or the killer...or herself? Because in spite of it all, she really did want a kiss from Ash Cynfell.
Ridiculous.
Chapter Five
The columns of Stourbridge House peeked through the trees. The carriage started up the long road toward it, and Lila peered out of the window to gain a better view. Every inch the stately home, if one didn’t know the things that happened behind those pristine walls, one would be lead to believe it to be a fine place indeed.
Ash knew better. He’d been here before—briefly—with a young lady in need of aid and at the same time had tracked down a man his brother was looking for.
But he knew the owner of this den of vice well enough. Lady Anna Dubois—now simply plain Anna, as she so insisted—had been in town during his first years there, and they had been friends until her ruination. He still wasn’t entirely sure of the circumstances, but after an unexpected inheritance, Anna had left town.
Stourbridge had become her livelihood. Specialising in the sinful, the worst and most scandalous of society could be frequently found there. He had seen Anna on her infrequent trips to London, and she was a far cry from the vivacious woman he’d known.
He glanced at Lila, whose eyes were wide and her lips parted. She didn’t belong in a place like this. Innocence shone from her every part of her. Even as he’d held her close after her near escape attempt and felt her chest rise against his, he could only think how beautiful and radiant she was. How he was being complicit in ruining that. True, he hadn’t thought any of this through, but he prayed he would be able to take the blame for what had occurred and she wouldn’t be ruined.
However, Lila’s safety was more important than any of their rep
utations and not only one would expect her to be here, but Anna had extremely tight security.
He aided her down from the carriage once they’d stopped and tried not to recall how close he’d been to...Goddamn, yes, as much as he hated to admit it, he’d wanted to kiss her. What was wrong with him? Here he was claiming he’d bring her out of this unscathed while images of her sprawled naked upon his bed with her lips parted and her eyes begging him for more plagued him.
Because her eyes had begged. Lila—little, innocent Lila—had silently begged for his kiss whether she knew it or not. But she couldn’t know that he would want more—that he already wanted more. So much about her appealed to him. Which was ridiculous. They could not be more opposite. She exuded energy, youth, and happiness. Sometimes, when the headaches struck, he felt seventy. He’d already proved bad for her. He wouldn’t make things worse.
“So this is Stourbridge...” she breathed, glancing up at the tall columns. “I expected it to be less...grand.”
“Stay close to me,” he warned, taking her hand and putting it through his arm. He tried not to think how proud he would be to have her on his arm on any other occasion.
“If it is dangerous, why have you brought me here?”
“It’s not dangerous. Miss Dubois, the proprietor, would never let anything happen to you. She is very set on ensuring all women under her roof are protected.
“By women you mean—” she leaned in and dropped her voice “—ladies of the night?”
“Well, yes.” He led her up the steps to the front door, but she froze. “Lila?”
“I cannot go in there. I shall surely be ruined. You expect me to spend time w-w-with—” She shook her head. “No, I just cannot. Take me home.”
She tried to turn, but he gripped her arm and yanked her close. Lila stumbled a little and regret at his rough actions fired in his gut.
“I brought you here because no one would ever think to look for you here. At Stourbridge, everything is secret. No one shall ever find out you were here, I swear. You are more likely to come to harm in a travelling inn. Anna—”
“Anna?”
“The owner.”
“You know the woman?”
“We are friends, yes.”
Her back went a little rigid at this and her lashes fluttered. “I see.”
“Anna will keep you safe, I swear it.”
She looked back at the building, and her shoulders slumped. “I suppose I have little choice.”
As they continued up the steps, he heard her muttering to herself and couldn’t help but smile in spite of the circumstances. No doubt she was cursing him and everything he’d done to her. Not that Ash blamed her.
They were greeted by a young woman who clearly had every intention of turning them away until Ash said Anna’s full name. The girl turned away, closing the door momentarily. When it opened again, Anna greeted them.
Unlike the other woman, Anna wore a prim shirt, tied tight at the neck with a cameo and a long skirt. With her glossy dark hair pulled severely back and no makeup as near as he could tell, she was a far cry from the beautiful debutante that had once graced the finest ballrooms in London. Had he seen her in the street, he never would have thought her the madam of a place like this.
“Lord Ash Cynfell.” She glanced behind him. “And Harris, I’m assuming. Whatever are you doing here?”
“We’ve come to ask for your aid, Anna,” Ash said gravely.
She glanced between all three of them and nodded before stepping back. “Come in.”
Lila stiffened beside him, and he noted her gaze had fallen upon one of the many sensual statues in the room. It was at that point, he wondered if he had lost his mind entirely. Now not only did he have this beautiful young woman to care for but he had to do so in surroundings that were designed to make a man think of one thing and one thing only—sex.
He swallowed hard.
Harris followed them in and chuckled. “Now this is my sort of place.”
Ash glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his gaze at his brother in a way he hoped said behave.
Harris offered a grin that said maybe.
“Why do you not take some refreshments in the private dining room?” Anna motioned to the young lady who extended a hand to a side room.
“Can I have a word with you first?” Ash asked.
“Of course. Chastity, will you escort Lord Harris and...?” She rose her brows at Ash in question.
“Miss Lila Radley.”
Ash saw a flicker of recognition in Anna’s eyes. Of course, she knew everything and everyone so it should not have surprised him.
“Miss Radley, you must be hungry after your journey. Chastity here will ensure you have whatever you need.”
Lila nodded, blessedly quiet for the first time since leaving London. She appeared to have been struck dumb by Stourbridge. Not that he blamed her. Few women stepped foot here and those who did were certainly not innocents like her.
Chastity led Harris and Lila away while Anna bade Ash to follow her. They ended up in an office at the rear of the building. Decked out in white and gold, it was so unlike the rest of the house that he had peer out of the door before she shut it to ensure they had not stepped into a different building. Here there were no couples’ embraces moulded into stone or reclining naked ladies on canvas. The paintings were floral, delicate, feminine. All the furnishings simplistic but pretty.
“What are you doing here, Ash? And with that girl?”
“She’s in danger.”
Anna nodded slowly and perched herself on the desk to eye him. Arms folded, she shook her head. “You always did like to play the hero.”
“How so?”
“The first time we met you offered to dance with me when no one would, remember?”
“Someone would have offered.”
Anna had been a beautiful debutante but racked with shyness. It had turned her into a practical wallflower.
“Only once you had taken the first step.” She smiled softly to herself. “Anyway, that is in the past. Why am I offering you protection?”
“There is a serial killer in London.”
Her face remained expressionless.
“Lila witnessed an attack and was nearly killed herself.”
Somehow Anna still did not react. He wanted to shake his head at how cold she was growing as the years went by. Being hidden away at Stourbridge, managing a place like this had hardened her.
“The killer is a powerful man.”
“And you want her out of the way.”
“Until the killer is caught, yes.”
“You could not protect her in London? Her family could not protect her? The police?”
He clenched his jaw. “We can’t go to the police. We simply don’t know who to trust.”
“And you have put it upon yourself to see to her safety.”
“It was my fault she even witnessed the killing,” he said softly.
Anna shook her head. “You always liked playing the anti-hero too.”
“Whatever does that mean?”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said softly. “I’ll offer my protection for as long as it is needed. She shall be safe here.”
Ash released a breath. “Thank you, I will be forever in debt to you.”
“A Cynfell brother in debt to me. Now that is a fine thing indeed. Do you intend to stay too?”
“Yes.” He hadn’t even thought of leaving Lila’s side.
“I see.”
“You see what?”
She offered a sad sort of a smile. “Lila is a beautiful young woman. I’m not surprised you wish to stay by her side.”
“Her beauty has nothing to do with it. I would wish to protect any woman in need.”
Her audible exhale made his scowl deepen. “I know, Ash. It’s what I like about you. Rose is doing well, by the way. She is quite an asset to the house.”
She referred to the beaten woman he’d brought to her a while ago. He had not been
able to resist aiding her when he’d come across her on the darkened London streets and he knew Anna would help her.
She pushed away from her desk. “Never before have the Cynfells darkened my doorstep, and now I have had three visit,” Anna mused.
Ash did not respond. No matter how scandalous his brothers were, Stourbridge wasn’t their sort of place. Pierce had been here simply to protect a woman. They had no need to hide their deeds or pay for sex. He had to wonder at times if it was really Anna’s sort of place either.
“We shall put her in the large room at the rear of the house. I won’t tell you what we call it here but suffice to say it was designed for ultimate privacy. She shall be safe from my customers there.” Anna said this with a wry smile.
“I have my doubts you would let anything untoward happen, Anna.”
“Your precious cargo shall be safe here, I promise.”
“Thank you, I owe you a lot.”
“I think you’ll be cursing me for not turning you away when you’re dealing with the aftermath of this, Ash.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I have dealt with worse.”
Anna eyed him for a moment through a narrowed gaze. She stopped and shook her head to herself. He realised then his words must have seemed unfeeling considering everything Anna had gone through, but she was always so confident, so powerful. Not every young lady dreamed of becoming the mistress of a place like Stourbridge but it had to be preferable to a life married to some stuffy earl, surely?
A life Lila would probably end up leading once he returned her home. Everyone one of those men had not looked deserving of her.
“Anna, I—”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Come. Let us make sure Harris hasn’t already seduced Miss Radley.”
Ash curled a fist.
Chapter Six
Lila was not sure what she’d expected of Stourbridge house—and the owner—but it hadn’t been this. As she sat on the bed in her luxurious room, she twined her hands into her slightly crumpled skirts and debated the afternoon. She’d heard about there being a madam at Stourbridge, but Harris had confided Anna was indeed the owner of the house. The ladies’ columns made the assumption the owner was some mysterious wealthy lord who did not wish to have his good name tarnished. But Anna had purchased the house with some inheritance and created this den of vice. What sort of a woman would want to do that? It really was beyond Lila’s imagination.
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