by Wendy Vella
Lamplight lit her room, and she realized night had fallen, and that she had been missing now for many hours. Had anyone realized she was gone and started looking for her?
“I am extremely tempted to keep you for myself, Charlotte,” Mr. Hollander said, coming into her room once more. She let him touch her arm and trail his fingers over her chest and down one breast.
Fighting back the shudder of revulsion, she gave him a blank look.
“I used to watch you bathe.” The fingers touched her ribs. “I’d come into your room and watch you sleep sometimes, and I was tempted to pull back the covers and take you, but because your father wanted you a virgin when you married Squire Lorne, I did not.”
She said nothing, just looked up at him with unfocused eyes as she tried not to shudder at his words. She had thought herself alone in that room at night, but he had been watching her.
“Again I am to be thwarted, it seems.” He ran his fingers over her stomach. “But my sister is right, and you will fetch a high price for your innocence.”
“I-I am not innocent.” She shouldn’t have said the words, but they had left her mouth before she could stop them.
He laughed at her. “Given the life you have led, Charlotte, I would not be surprised were you not. I also know that you have the soul of a puritan, and would not give your innocence to a man you did not love, without force.”
And she had given it to the man she loved, so at least in that Charlotte could be thankful. Whatever this night and her future held, no one could take that away from her. She loved Marcus, and he had been the first man to know her intimately, even if he did not return her feelings.
“There is no need to weep, my dear.”
She hadn’t realized she was crying, but thoughts of never seeing Marcus again hurt so much that she knew they would not be the only ones she wept over him.
“Prepare yourself now, Charlotte, you are about to meet your future master.”
She let him pull her to her feet and stumbled as he led her toward the door. Her head reeled, and her feet felt as if they belonged to someone else as she stumbled against him. Dear God, what was to become of her if she could not manage to escape? Shutting out thoughts of Marcus, she tried to concentrate, tried to collect her thoughts so that if the chance to escape presented itself she could take it.
They had just stepped into the hallway when she was pushed back into the room, and the door shut in her face.
Pressing her face against the wood, Charlotte heard David address someone, questioning why he was on that floor. She could then hear no more as the voices grew distant.
Now was her chance. If she could slip from the room and find a way out, she could go back to Marcus. Could she be his mistress? Would knowing she could see him be enough for her? Her head hurt, she felt unsteady, and now was not the time to make this decision. That time would come when she was free; only then could she decide which course her future would take.
As Charlotte reached for the handle, it slowly turned under her fingers. Stumbling, she fell, landing on her bottom. Her heart plunged to her toes, knowing that she had missed her opportunity and David had returned. Watching the door open, she waited, but it was not David who appeared.
“Marcus.” His eyes lowered to where she sat on the floor. “H-help me, Marcus,” Charlotte sobbed, holding out a hand toward him.
“Thank God.” He pulled her to her feet and into his arms. Shutting the door, he leaned against it, holding her in a fierce grip. “Sssh, now.” He pressed her head into his chest and wrapped his strong arms around her, holding her close as she sobbed into his chest. “I have you, sweetheart.”
“I-I was dr-drugged, Marcus,” she whispered into his chest.
“I’m going to kill every person behind this,” he rasped, and she felt his lips in her hair. “Are you unhurt otherwise, Charlotte?”
“Yes.”
“We need to leave now, love. Can you walk?”
His endearments sounded wonderful.
“Yes, I think so.” She wanted to touch the angles of his cheekbones, trail her fingers along his jaw and then do it all again with her mouth. “It is not safe h-here,” she managed to stutter out, then realized how foolish she sounded. “I—”
“I haven’t given you a reason to trust me, sweetheart, but I want you to try now because I promise to get us both out of here safely.” He spoke the words against her lips and then kissed her. It was soft and sweet and made the tears fall faster.
“I do trust you.”
His hands held her cheeks again as he looked into her eyes before he nodded and then kissed her again. Opening the door, he checked the hallway was clear before taking her hand and leading her from the room.
Head spinning from the drug and the fact that Marcus had come to rescue her, Charlotte stumbled after him.
They walked into another room, this one lit by moonlight coming in through the narrow windows, and Marcus locked the door behind them. It had a large bed draped in red silk, heaped with pillows. Releasing her hand, Charlotte watched Marcus walk to a row of clothing. He moved with such grace for a big man, always so confident. He was a man who knew his place in the world, unlike her, Charlotte thought. She’d never known her place and was not sure she ever would. Watching as he walked along the row of clothes, she thought he was quite simply the most beautiful person she had ever known.
“So handsome and graceful,” she sighed.
He turned with a long blue coat in his hands and Charlotte realized she had spoken her thoughts out loud. He picked up something from the floor before coming back to her side.
“I’m glad you think so,” he said solemnly, before he dropped to his knees and put the shoes on her, lifting each foot gently before sliding them into a slipper.
“I-I’m not myself.” Charlotte felt compelled to whisper, should she say something else in an unguarded moment. Her head seemed filled with dust.
“Are you trying to retract that statement?” He regained his feet and fed first one arm and then the other into the coat sleeves before he buttoned it up to her neck.
“No.” Charlotte stared into his blue eyes. “You are those things and so many m-more.”
“And you are sweet and beautiful, and I would like to spend hours showing you how I feel about both your mind and your body, Charlotte, but as we are pressed for time, I shall do so when we reach the safety of my home.”
“Th-they drugged me.”
“You told me that, but if you had not, I would be able to tell by your eyes.”
“How do they tell you?” Charlotte wrinkled her nose.
His smile was gentle as he steered her toward the window. “There is danger in this house for us both, love, but most especially you. Therefore, we must leave now.”
“Oh, y-yes, of course.” How could she have forgotten that?
The window Marcus tried to open was jammed, so he had to use force.
“You’re very strong for a nobleman.”
“Thank you.”
“I would like to have muscles sometimes, so I could punch a few of the men I encounter.”
His laugh was soft. “I hope I am not counted among the people you wish to thump, my sweet?”
Charlotte shook her head, but as his back was to her, he didn’t see. “I could never punch the man I love.”
The window opened in a rush before he turned to face her.
“You love me?”
“I should not, but yes, I do.” Charlotte squinted as she tried to focus on him.
“Charlotte, sweetheart,”—he reached for her—”now is not the time for this discussion, but I want you to know that your words please me greatly.” Before she could draw breath, he had picked her up and was stepping out of the window and into the cool night air.
“M-Marcus.” Charlotte gulped in the air before looking down. “I do not like heights.”
“It’s all right.” He brushed his lips over her forehead, and she realized they were standing on a wide ledge that
ran the length of the building. “We are going to climb down from the window, Charlotte, but you will be safe, as I will be with you the entire way.”
She inhaled deeply, the night air feeling wonderful against her flushed face. “I’m not s-sure I can do that.”
“Then I shall carry you.”
“You cannot do that.”
“Of course I can. Have faith in the man you love, woman.”
She watched him lean over the edge and look below before waving a hand.
“I should not have told you that.”
“Yes, you should have,” he said, lowering himself onto the ladder she had not seen until that moment. “Turn around now, Charlotte, and place your foot on the first rung, and we shall climb down together.”
“I am not steady,” Charlotte felt compelled to say, as she did as he asked.
“I will not let you fall.” The deep words were spoken from behind her, and suddenly his body surrounded hers. The hard muscles of his chest pressed to her back as he caged her with his arms.
“One step at a time, sweetheart.”
They had taken only four steps downward when the sound of Hollander’s angry voice carried to them.
“She’s gone, find her now!”
“I don’t want him to find me,” Charlotte said quickly. “He is not a nice man, Marcus.”
“I won’t let him get you, Charlotte, remember what I said about trusting me.”
Charlotte didn’t speak, just nodded and concentrated on each step down. It seemed to take forever, but finally she was on the last rung.
“We have reached the ground, Charlotte.” Marcus took her hand in his.
“I’m v-vastly relieved about that, Marcus.” Charlotte was still light-headed, but it was starting to clear now she was outside.
“Come.” Another voice came from their right.
“This is Jacob, Charlotte. He is a friend and here to help.”
“Is he?” She looked at him, but could not make out his features in the darkness. “Thank you, sir.”
“My pleasure, Miss Radley. Nick has gone for the horses, Marcus, and Leo is still inside, wanting to be last to leave so he does not draw suspicion.”
“Let’s go, then.”
They hurried along the street. Marcus held her close to his side and steadied her when she stumbled.
“There!”
Charlotte heard the roar suddenly from behind them and knew that voice belonged to Mr. Hollander. She was lifted and thrown over Marcus’s shoulder, and then they were running faster. The sound of a gun made her flinch.
“The horses!” Marcus roared. Seconds later, she was being thrown onto a horse with Marcus climbing on behind.
“Go!”
They galloped through London, and she had no idea if they were being followed or not, so she just turned her body and burrowed into the warmth of the large man behind her. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held him tight.
When the horses finally slowed, she lifted her head and saw they had stopped before Marcus’s townhouse. The relief made her sag into him.
“You’re safe now.” She felt his lips in her hair as he pulled her arms from around his waist and dismounted, before reaching up to lift her down.
“We shall see to the horses, and make sure Leo is safe.”
She heard the voices but did not look to see who had spoken. Marcus said something and then lifted her into his arms and walked inside the house.
“I need food, Chadley, and tea. Please bring both to my rooms, and then alert Fred and Dandy that Miss Radley is safe.”
“At once, my lord, and allow me to say how happy I am about that.”
“Th-thank you, Chadley.” Charlotte managed a smile for the butler.
Marcus carried her up the stairs and lowered her to the edge of his bed. He then kneeled before her.
“Are you sure you are not hurt in any way, Charlotte?” His beautiful eyes were serious as he ran them over her face.
“Yes, they just gave me some vile d-drink that made me lightheaded, but no one touched me. I was to be auctioned this night, sold to the highest bidder for his pleasures,” Charlotte continued. “My father wanted me gone, and this is how he was to achieve it.”
“I know. I visited him earlier, and it was he who told me the name of his steward, the man charged with getting rid of you.”
“You saw my father?”
“I held a gun to his head.”
“Oh, Marcus, you should not have done that. What will happen now?” Charlotte could not bear the thought that he was in trouble because of her.
“I would do it ten times over for you.”
Dare she believe what she saw in his eyes? Charlotte could do nothing to stop her hand from stroking the planes of his face.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“For what? You did nothing wrong, in fact, were it not for you, I would be in the hands of a man who—”
“Don’t.” He placed his hand over her mouth. “You are not in anyone’s hands but mine, and never will be again.”
The knock on his door stopped any more words, so Marcus rose to answer it. Returning with a tray, he placed it beside her on the bed before pulling a chair so close their knees touched. She watched him pour tea into a cup, then add sugar and milk before handing it to her.
Charlotte sipped, watching as he loaded cheese onto the bread before holding it out for her to take, which she did, realizing how hungry she was.
“I have not eaten since leaving here.”
“Are you sure they did not hurt you in any way?”
“I am well, Marcus, I promise you. Once my head is clear and my limbs are once again my own to control, I shall be back to the person I was.”
“Is your head clear enough to understand what I am about to say?”
Charlotte nibbled on the bread as she nodded.
“I’m sorry for letting you believe that I wished for you to become my mistress, Charlotte. That was not my intention. My words came out wrong and then you had fled before I could retract them.”
“You don’t want me as your mistress?” Charlotte wasn’t sure why this upset her, as she had no wish to follow in her mother’s footsteps, yet it did. Was she to leave this man’s life forever? The thought made her want to choke on the small mouthful she had just taken.
He took the tea and bread from her hands and replaced it on the tray, before sitting beside her on the bed.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Holding you,” he said, lifting her onto his lap. “I know you are not clearheaded at the moment, Charlotte, but I want you to try and listen very carefully. Can you do that?”
He looked serious, so she nodded.
“I don’t want you for my mistress because I want you as my wife.”
She shook her head. She had not heard that right, surely?
“Ah, Marcus, perhaps we should wait for sensible discussion until morning.”
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do.” He kissed the side of her neck. “Very much.”
“You can’t love me.”
“Why can’t I love you?”
“I’m a bastard, and my mother was a mistress.”
“I care nothing about your birth.” He kissed her jaw, and she felt the instant tug of heat.
“I-I looked after prostitutes.”
“I don’t care.” He unbuttoned her coat and push it aside. “I want you, Miss Charlotte Radley, every maddening inch.” He eased the sleeve of the wisp of silk aside and kissed one shoulder. “I love your strength, your wit, the way you champion people, and Lord, I love your body.”
The breath hissed from her throat as he reached her breast.
“You told me you loved me, Charlotte. Was that not true?”
She couldn’t think as his hot breath brushed her nipple. “No, I do l-love you.”
“Excellent.”
Charlotte found herself on her back with Marcus
looming over her.
“And is your head clear? Do you want this, or should I let you sleep?” The rasp of his voice told her how aroused he was.
“Don’t you dare leave,” she whispered against his lips, and then she grabbed a handful of his hair and tugged, closing the gap.
He made love to her. It was slow and sweet, and she was panting and begging him to take her long before he finally eased deep inside her.
“I love you, Miss Radley.”
Charlotte arched off the bed as he slowly thrust into her body.
“And I you, Lord Needly, so very much.”
They slept, and when Charlotte woke it was to find her head clear and that she still lay in Marcus’s arms.
“Marcus?” Uncertain, she turned to find him watching her.
“I love you, Miss Radley, and last night you consented to be my wife so you cannot back out now.”
“Oh, well—”
“We will live here, and you will use as much of our money as you need to help your ladies of the night. Fred and Dandy will also be here with you, so there is nothing further to discuss.”
“Are you sure?” Charlotte let him lift her and settle her on his chest.
“Yes, very sure.” He cupped her cheeks. “I’ve been waiting for you, Miss Radley, my entire life. We belong to each other.”
Charlotte let the tears fall. “I’ve never belonged to anyone before.”
“You do now.” He kissed her, and Charlotte gave up the fight. She wanted this man, and it seemed he wanted her, and for the first time in her life, she was exactly where she wanted to be. Finally, she knew her place in the world. Right here, beside the man she loved.
Lord Valorous
Lords Of Night Street
Chapter One
The Hen and Duck was a small tavern with two mullioned front windows and a large sign with a hen and a duck engaged in what appeared to be some kind of reel. Snow flurried around his ankles as Viscount Hatherton made his way carefully down the icy path to the dark-stained front door.
