Ash snatched up the weapon the fellow had been holding and stood over him as Pierce kept him pinned. The threat of the baton plus several large men were enough to quell the would-be killer. Gideon had to be grateful he’d let his brothers get involved. The man was huge, with well-muscled arms and a thick neck. Gideon was hardly weak, but he couldn’t have taken him on alone.
He brushed the dirt off his trousers and ignored the pain in his side. It was just a little bruising as far as he could tell.
“Are you all in one piece, Pierce?” he asked, whilst his brother kept the man held to the ground. “Took quite a fall.”
Pierce flashed him a grin. “This chap took the brunt of it, didn’t you?”
The man grunted in annoyance. “Let me go.”
“I don’t think so,” Gideon said. He nodded to Pierce to get the man to his feet, and Gideon bound his wrists. Behind him, the gentle tap of the baton against Ash’s palm was threat enough to keep him under control. “I have a few questions for you. And if you are wise, you will answer them.”
They had already planned where they would keep the man. There was an old gamekeeper’s cottage that still existed on the land. None of them particularly wanted this brute around Viola or the children so they’d agreed this was the best place to keep him. They led him there with only a little fuss, which Gideon solved with a sharp jab to the stomach with an elbow.
“Next time my brother shall use the baton,” he said, letting the threat linger in the air.
“I’ll get you,” the man hissed, but the threat came out weak and breathless.
Gideon could not bring himself to feel scared. He glanced at his three brothers, and they all chuckled. Sometimes he forgot how useful it was to be part of a family. Between them, they could conquer anything.
The old cottage sat in what had once been a clearing. Now ivy and moss clung to the stone walls whilst bushes had encroached on the area. The building was still in one piece, however, with a sturdy wooden door and mottled green glass windows.
“Let things go a bit, Julian,” Pierce muttered.
“Don’t blame me, our father left it like this.” Julian shrugged. “I guess I ought to fix it up and make use of it though I cannot fathom what we’d do with it.”
“Well, it will do well for our friend here for the moment,” Ash said.
“Indeed it will,” Gideon agreed, thrusting the man into the dank and dark interior.
The instant chill that swept over him made him shiver. He was mightily grateful he was the one doing the capturing and not the other way around. It could have been very different had Cleo not risked her life to warn him.
“There’s still some furniture.” Pierce kicked a battered old table. “Think one of these will hold him?” He motioned to a chair.
“I think so.” Gideon led him over and forced him down onto the chair. The man fought against him so Gideon gave him a sharp punch to the gut, and he sagged. With the help of Ash, they bound him tightly to it.
“What is your name?” Gideon demanded.
“Does it matter?”
Gideon glanced at Julian. His brother nodded. Gideon replied with a grim smile before he brought his fist around his face. His fist pounded and a little blood burst onto the man’s lip.
“Let me explain this to you. No one shall come looking for you. No one will care if we hurt you. Julian here is one of the most powerful men in England, as I am sure you know. When you agreed to this job, you made a grave mistake. I find that strange really, because somehow you do not strike me as a foolish man. So why, then, did you say you would do it?”
“Money, of course.” The man grinned. “Always money.”
“I think there is more to this than money, but I shall get to that in a moment. First, I would still like your name.” He leaned over the man. “If you do not cooperate, I will leave you here to die. You might think that I can do worse to you but believe me, starvation is the worst death. You will die slowly and painfully. A lonely death.”
“You wouldn’t dare. A toff like you wouldn’t get his hands dirty.”
Julian stepped closer. “All of us would. That is what happens when you threaten one of our own. None of us would lose a minute’s sleep to think of you dying and decaying all alone here.”
Gideon grinned. “See? If you think toffs cannot be ruthless, you have clearly not spent enough time with them.”
The man swung his gaze between them all. He seemed to shrink in defeat. “My name is George. George Wetherby.”
“That’s a start. Now, George, I want you to tell me everything you know about Niall Harper. Everything, if you please.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Irresponsible...reckless...foolish...” Cleo’s father paused to draw a breath for which she was quite thankful because he was beginning to look rather red. He glared at her. “Honestly, Cleo, I expected better from you. Your mother and I know you can be a little wild, but you went too far this time.”
“I am sorry, Papa.” She lowered her eyes to the Oriental rug in front of her.
Last night her mother had simply been grateful to see her after Gideon had ensured she was safely home. She’d been greeted with a huge hug and hoped that would be it. But, of course, she could hardly expect her parents to be happy with her riding off into the night. As much as they had allowed her more freedoms than many girls, even that was too much for them.
“No more.” He thrust a finger at her. “Do you understand me? You are to be a married woman before long and this gallivanting around the countryside will not do. Even Niall has expressed concerns over some of your behaviour...”
She snapped her gaze up. “What has he said?”
Her father huffed. “Do you really think, as your fiancé, that he finds it acceptable that you spend time alone with Gideon. I mean, we all know he’s a good friend of yours, but things change, Cleo. You will be married soon.” Pinching the bridge of his nose, he eyed her. “After last night, I have to be firm. You cannot see him alone again, and he will not be welcome at this house.”
Her mouth dropped open. “But, Papa...”
“I am sorry, but you have forced my hand. If this continues, Niall shall no doubt break off the engagement and then you shall be ruined, my dear. I do this because I care about you, I hope you understand that.”
She could not help think if he cared about her he would not have encouraged her match with Niall but even she knew that was not true. Her mother and father cared deeply about her future and just wanted to see her looked after.
“So I am to remain prisoner in my own home?”
“Do not be so dramatic.”
“Well, that’s how it seems.”
“You will remain in your bedroom for the remainder of today. I shall have your supper sent up.” He gave a weary sigh. “I do not relish these actions, Cleo, believe me. We have always prided ourselves on being able to trust you fully, but it seems we cannot.”
“Papa, please...”
“I shall expect to see you tomorrow when Niall visits and no sooner. And you shall apologise to him for your behaviour.”
“But, Papa!”
“Enough, Cleo.”
Her father left, slamming the door behind him. She eyed the white panelled door. Her father was truly angry with her, and she almost could not blame him. After all, she had given them a terrible fright. But she was so angry at him for listening to Niall. Had he been feeding them lies to ensure she stayed away from Gideon and could never know the truth?
She slumped onto the bed and twined her fingers together. Was Gideon well? He’d said he had a plan for today, to get the man who intended to hurt him but what if it had all gone wrong?
Knots tangled her stomach. What would she do if he was hurt or worse? It was silly that even whilst she had been considering Niall’s suit, she had never stopped to think that it would mean her life would change so dramatically. Everything she had known would change, even if Niall had been a good man, and her friendship with Gideon would
have come to an end.
She simply could not picture her life without him.
Especially not after that kiss. Cleo put her fingers to her lips. She had kissed a few boys. Hardly ladylike behaviour, but she didn’t regret those kisses or else she would have felt an utter fool never having kissed someone at her age. But she had never kissed anyone like that. Never really wanted to.
With Gideon, however, she had felt all...itchy. Like she wanted to burst out of her clothes and press herself up against him. It really was the most romantic and amazing moment of her life.
She wanted more.
More kisses. More Gideon.
Would he be willing to give her that or was that kiss merely a symptom of his concern for her? All she knew was she would have to find out, regardless of the consequences.
As long as he was all right.
Lying back, she stared at the canopy above with its little embroidered flowers. She thought back to the times they shared as children, when they’d run about the fields and picked wild flowers. Gideon had been a typical boisterous boy but she had hardly been the prissiest of girls so they had muddled along nicely. Why, though, had she never thought of kissing him until recently? Had she taken him for granted?
“Yes, you did,” she told herself. And now she could potentially lose him, she wanted him all the more.
Cleo jerked upright. Something jolted through her. She wanted him terribly, horribly, painfully. A deep ache in her chest told her that she missed him. It was not a sensation she was unused to but it was all the more prominent now.
She lay back again and closed her eyes. Could it be...? Did she really...?
The next time she opened her eyes, the room had grown dark. No one had woken her for supper so she had to assume it was not terribly late but still she had slept for several hours. The previous nights’ events must have worn her out. She scrubbed a hand over her face and sat up.
She stilled. Something tapped at her window. That must have been what had woken her up. She waited and the noise presented itself again. Rain or hail perhaps, though it didn’t much sound like it.
In the dark bedroom that was not at all like her own, she stood and pressed a hand to her rapidly beating heart.
“There is no such thing as ghosts,” she reminded herself. “And you are a grown woman. It will be nothing.”
In several quick strides, she made her way to the window and flung back the partially drawn curtains. A scream nearly escaped her.
Nearly.
Thankfully, she flung a hand across her mouth and took two steps back before recovering and flinging open the window.
Looking a little damp and harried, Gideon practically fell through.
“Gideon,” she gasped, helping him to his feet. “What are you doing?”
She peered over the small ledge that counted as a little balcony for one to peer out over the countryside. “You could have fallen to your death!”
He pushed a hand through his hair and shut the window. “That I well know,” he murmured.
His gaze softened as it landed on her face. She resisted the desire to pat her hair. After falling asleep, she was no doubt mussed and her face was likely red and crumpled. But this was Gideon. He had seen her at her worst many a time.
“You know we have a perfectly serviceable door,” she whispered.
“Unfortunately I was not allowed entrance through it.”
“So you climbed up the side of the house? Gideon, you are mad, I always knew it.”
His lips quirked. “A little.”
She couldn’t help but grin. “I am mightily glad you are alive though. Have you come to tell me what happened?”
“Yes. I didn’t expect for your father to turn me away, though.”
“I do not blame him really. I gave him quite a scare. But now he thinks that I should be kept locked up until the wedding!”
“Not to fear, there will be no wedding if all goes to plan.”
“What is the plan?” She took a step back and urged him farther into the room. It must have rained a little on his journey as the curls falling over his forehead were slightly damp, as was his Norfolk jacket.
He shrugged out of his jacket, and Cleo placed it over the chair in front of the dressing table. She urged him to sit next to her on the bed.
“We captured the man who tried to kill me. Needless to say he was none to happy about the outcome.”
“So you told your brothers?”
He nodded. “Thankfully Pierce and Ash were staying or else it would have been just Julian and I, and it turned out we needed Pierce’s fierce right hook.”
A tiny shudder wracked her when she thought of how it could have turned out had they not helped him. Gideon leaned in and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. The instant comfort and warmth the move offered surprised her. She darted a look at him.
“You look pale,” he said, as though explaining why he was holding her.
“I just hate to think of you being hurt by that man. He was huge. He could have so easily killed you.”
“I do not doubt it,” he said, his expression grim. “But he will not hurt anyone else. We are holding him at an old hunting lodge of my—of Julian’s father’s. Once we have Harper, we shall hand him over to the bobbies. I’ve no doubt he’s wanted for many crimes.”
“That’s good.”
“St. Clair—” he paused. “My father is watching over him. Pierce and Ash have gone to Leicestershire. According to the chap Harper hired, we are not the first people to have a run in with him. A wealthy family in Hinkley were threatened and blackmailed when the husband got involved with Harper’s dealings.”
“So you think they might have proof?”
“Yes, and if we can’t persuade them to step forward perhaps they shall give it to us.”
“I truly hope so.” Cleo leaned into him.
“I do too.” He inched a hand under her chin and coaxed her to look up at him. “Cleo, about last night...”
She dropped her gaze. “You don’t have to apologise.”
Gideon chuckled. “I had little intention of doing so.”
Her gaze flew to his. “Then...”
“I’ll confess I am not sure what my intention was.” His gaze fell to her lips. “Repeating it perhaps.”
“Oh.”
There was a noise from outside the room and they both stilled. They waited as footsteps thudded past. Cleo’s heart throbbed, her breath heavy in her ears. The footsteps retreated. She released a long breath.
“I had better leave.” Gideon stood.
Desperation burst in her chest. “Don’t leave me.” She gripped his shirt. “I cannot stand being locked away whilst you put yourself in danger for me.”
A soft smile graced his lips. “But, Cleo, you are worth it.” He gripped her chin. “Do not fear; I will not leave you waiting long. We shall have Harper ready to confess within the day I’d wager.”
“Gideon,” she protested. The idea of remaining in her room whilst this all went on was almost beyond comprehension. Did she really have to stay here like some fairy-tale princess awaiting her rescue?
“I can’t stay. If I am caught here, there will be hell to pay.”
She thought of her father’s temper. The idea of him calling Gideon out for a duel or some such crossed her mind and she shuddered. Releasing his shirt, she helped him on with his jacket and opened the window for him. He put one leg out, then the other.
“One of my brothers shall send word tomorrow, regardless of what happens,” he told her. “I shall not leave you waiting on news.”
She nodded. Her heart throbbed desperately at the thought of him leaving her. Should she tell him how she felt? Try to find out how he felt?
“Be careful.” She touched a finger to his chin.
He flashed her a grin and leaned forward to press a bruising kiss to her lips. As he stepped out of the window, he gave her one last look.
“I love you, Cleo.”
Chapter Sixteen
<
br /> Rain began to fall with relish as Gideon rode back to Lockwood land. He shoved his hair back from his face. Even the cold seeping through his clothes couldn’t keep the grin from his face. He’d seen Cleo’s face when he’d left. She loved him too. She had to.
After all this was over, there was no damn way he’d let her go. He’d wasted too many years. All his fears of marriage had fled. How could he and Cleo ever become like the marquess and his mother? He knew Cleo to the bone. His parents had been practical strangers.
He eased the pace, feeling the ground become boggier as they rode. The woods offered a little respite from the rain. He’d join St. Clair tonight and watch over George, then hopefully they would have news from Pierce and they could act. He’d go straight to the police with the news then warn her parents. There was no chance they would want her marrying a criminal. If he was lucky, Cleo would no longer be engaged by tomorrow evening.
He dismounted once they entered the shadowed maze of the woods. The evening was drawing to a close. He hoped St. Clair wasn’t freezing his arse off. The old man was strong as an ox but he was still old. The idea that he actually cared if he froze to death was a new one, but it didn’t bother him as much as it might have before. Perhaps he was beginning to care for the man a little.
A gentle glow emanated from the cottage. Gideon tethered his mount and pushed open the door. “Christ, its bloody cold--” He froze. “Dammit.”
He raced over to his father’s side. St. Clair lay prone on the floor, blood crusting to the side of his head. His eyes were closed. Gideon pressed a shaky finger to his neck and released a breath when he felt the gentle beat of a pulse.
The chair on which George had been tied to was toppled and the rope lay on the floor. A little blood stained the leg of the chair. Apparently it had been used as a weapon.
“Damn, damn, damn.” He should never have left him alone, even if St. Clair had insisted he could handle the man easily enough.
The Cynfell Brothers Page 75
