by Wendy Vella
“They knew her, Mr. Sinclair.”
“What?” Cam blinked several times, he was struggling to think clearly. His body was shaking, and his veins were filled with icy fear. Someone had taken Emily away from him.
“The man who put her up before him on his horse called her Miss Tolly,” Bids said, looking worried. “Heard it clear from here.”
“Christ!” Think, Cam. Panic was clawing at his insides, scrambling his thoughts. He had to find her.
“Unhitch the horses. We’ll ride for the next village or inn and secure faster ones.”
“I’ll bind your head first,” Bids said when he was standing.
“We have no time.”
“We don’t have time for you to bleed to death either,” his driver said. “Necktie please, sir.”
Cam ripped it from his neck and handed it to him.
Minutes later he was riding as if his life depended on it. His head had settled into a dull throb, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.
He’d taken Emily away from London and her security, and this had happened. Was it connected to the abduction in London... surely it had to be. How was she suffering? Were they hurting her, where had they taken her? Thoughts tumbled with relentless consistency over and over inside his head. Does she think me dead?
She loved him. That thought alone pushed him harder. They had a life to live together, and he would do everything he could to ensure that, no matter how long it took or the cost to him.
His family would know what was happening; he could sense their distress, feel their urgency. They would come, he never doubted that, but were still hours away.
The acrid stench in his nostrils refused to abate, telling him that his connection to Emily was now even stronger. The union of their bodies had bonded them, but the union of their hearts had made them one, and now he would smell her fear, and yes, pain, although he could not stand to think of her hurting.
“A village up ahead, Mr. Sinclair!”
Bids’s words had Cam urging his horse faster, until they were galloping into the small town. Dismounting with haste, Cam made for the stables.
“How may I help?” A man came to meet him.
“I need three of your fastest horses at once!”
“You’re bleeding, sir. If you’ll allow it, I’ll have my wife tend you.”
“I have no time, I—”
“Fetch her,” Bids said. “He needs tending. Send something to fetch the carriage please, it has a broken wheel, some thirty minutes back.”
“I’m not waiting, Bids. Once the horses arrive I am leaving.”
“You’ll be no help to her if you faint, and I’d be remiss in my duties to your family if I don’t have you tended afore we leave.”
“Damn it, Bids, Emily—”
“Has a head start, but with fresh, fast horses, and your head feeling better, we’ll catch them with hard riding. A matter of minutes, Mr. Sinclair, and nothing more.”
“I’ll see to it at once, and have my wife here in a trice, sir.”
Cam nodded, then watched the man throw out orders with the skill of a drill sergeant.
“Have you seen three riders? I doubt their faces were still covered, but they were in the company of a lady?” Cam asked as the man returned with his wife.
“Four riders did come through here a while ago. Three stopped at the end of the village, while one came in and collected supplies from the inn. I was watching from the doorway, as I like to see who comes and goes.”
Cam bit back a curse as the man’s wife dabbed something on his head.
“It needs cleaning and stitching. You shouldn’t ride on it, sir.”
“No time,” Cam said. “Just pour something over it, then bandage it and we’ll be leaving.”
“They could have disguised her, but they only had three horses,” Bids said, looking worried, which was his usual expression, but in this case it was warranted.
“They hid one,” Cam said, he then cursed loudly as the woman poured alcohol over his wound.
“It had to have been planned. In fact, they were possibly following us since we left London,” Bids said as Cam tried to regain his breath. “I’m not sure why they waited until now to stop you if that was the case.”
“That I don’t know,” Cam gritted out. “But likely they waited for the weather to ease.”
He chaffed at the seconds it took to have his head bandaged.
“She fought you know.”
“What?” He looked at Bids.
“At first Mrs. Sinclair threw herself down on top of you, and then when they came at her she pulled out a knife from her skirts, and fought. Three men there were, and she held them off, standing over you, keeping you safe.”
Cam swallowed down the emotion inside of him.
“Takes a powerful love to behave in such a way, and a powerful lady is my belief.”
Cam could imagine how fierce she looked, and prayed she stayed strong until he found her.
I’m coming, Emily.
Emily could hardly breathe through the smelly cloth that covered the lower half of her face. She rode on her own horse, hands tied before her, and was consumed with worry for Cam.
Is he all right? Has someone come to his aid?
She knew he would be all right, knew it inside her, but the fear still consumed her.
I love you. He’d said those words to her, and her heart had felt fuller. Even though the situation had been dire, the feeling had gripped her. Now all she could think was that he was lying somewhere hurt without her, and she could do nothing to help him. With every mile she traveled, her despair increased... but so did her anger.
“I will remove the gag if you promise not to scream, my dear.”
The man she knew as Mr. Jackson rode beside her. Keeping her eyes forward, she refused to acknowledge him.
How had he found them? Had he followed them from London, been planning this all along when his attempts to wed her had failed?
For now she would do as he asked, but when and if the chance arose to escape she would be taking it. She was stronger now, stronger because of Cam’s love. She would cower to no one again. Emily Sinclair would no longer live in the shadows, but at the side of her husband, and she would not let this man take her away from the life she wanted.
He would come for her if he could.
Cam had given her strength, and self-belief. He had annoyed, irritated, and teased it into her, and then last night he’d given her heaven in the guise of his body. Today he had given her his heart. She wanted that in her life and more. Emily was now greedy to go after all of it... everything that she had once believed herself unworthy of having.
Disguising the anger that raged inside her, she looked at Mr. Jackson and nodded to indicate she would behave... for now. But when the chance presented itself for her to scream for help, she would be doing so at the top of her voice.
“Why are you doing this?”
His lips thinned as an angry snarl formed on his face.
“Had my original abduction succeeded, then I would not have been forced to take such drastic measures.”
“It was you that day who took me off the street?”
“It was, and then your family would not let you out of their sight, so I could not make another attempt. So I tried to court you, show them I was a candidate for your hand, but no, they would not have it. Your brothers have a misguided belief that you are important to them, Miss Tolly. However, we both know that cannot be true.”
“My name is Mrs. Sinclair,” Emily said, controlling her temper.
“Ah yes, they married you to one of their own to stop the gossipmongers tattling about you. It matters not, I simply want you as a ransoming tool, then I will release you.”
“I don’t understand.” Emily grappled with what he said.
“I need money, Miss Tolly. When I abducted you that day, I would simply have held you until your brothers paid the ransom, as they would have, and everything would have r
eturned to normal when I released you to them, but that idiot husband you now have saved you. Then one of those fools I paid to take you, chose to cut the carriage free rather than hurl you from it, leaving me without transportation.”
“He is no idiot,” Emily said as calmly as she could. “He is my husband, and the man I love.”
She did love him very much, Emily realized as a flush of heat suffused her chest. She loved Cam, and oh the feeling was wonderful... or it would be if he was not lying injured somewhere. Dear Lord, let him be all right; she could not believe anything else, would not let herself imagine him anything but the large, vital man she had always known.
“He saved you, and thwarted my plans! The carriage was destroyed forcing me to hire one, and thus I am more out of pocket because of you!”
She remained silent.
“So I was forced to do this. I will ransom you, and then return you.”
“But surely there was another way?”
“I can borrow no more money, and after the time and expense you have cost me, it became something of a challenge for me to get your brothers’ money, especially as Mr. Huntington refused me twice when I applied to join one of his consortiums.”
“So this is revenge, and a need for money?”
“Exactly that, and your brothers have enough of it.”
“You are quite mad,” Emily said as calmly as she could. She’d lived with a madman and knew the signs.
“No, I am desperate and you have thwarted me at every turn. This time I ensured that would not happen, and in capturing you I will get my revenge on your family.”
Emily now knew his identity and what he had done, and that he was in debt. He would never release her, especially if he was to return to the life he had led before in London. It was not logical, nor feasible. The thought was a chilling one, as that meant he would dispose of her in some way.
“We shall ride to a location, I will send word to your brothers, then when I receive the money, I will let you go.”
She had to escape, or she would never see Cam or her family again.
I love you, she vowed silently, praying that Cam was safe.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Each village Cam rode through told him they had not seen Emily, but a group of four riders.
“It has to be her, Bids.”
“’Tis my belief you are right, Mr. Sinclair.” The driver’s expression had not changed since they had started. Like Cam, his fears for Emily had grown with every mile they traveled.
“How is your head?”
Cam grunted a response. It hurt like the devil, but anger was keeping it under control. Emily, his wife, the woman he loved, was now vital to his existence. She was his, and someone had taken her from him, and that someone would pay, and pay dearly.
He felt it then, the small fission of awareness.
“My family is coming, Bids.”
The driver had been with their family for many years; he had seen much, and did not question Cam’s words.
Bids’s core role in the Sinclair family was as a driver, but also a worrier. He worried if one of the twins or Warwick hurt themselves. He worried it anyone in the family left the house without him driving them; in fact he was worse than an overprotective parent, but they tolerated him as it was well meant. But Bids also knew that they were different, and his loyalty to them was unflinching, thus he never shared this knowledge with anyone. Cam could think of no man, other than those in his family, that he would have at his side at this moment.
“I don’t mind telling you that’s a relief, Mr. Sinclair.”
“We will change horses here, and continue,” Cam said, riding into the inn’s small courtyard.
They had been riding for hours now, and were he had soon realized, heading back toward London. Anger had held him upright, and his need to get to Emily. The bandages on his head were soaked with blood, and he was dizzy, but he would not stop, not until he had her safe.
“You need to eat here, and have that wound cleaned and rebandaged, Mr. Sinclair.”
“I’m well, Bids, don’t fuss.”
“Just the same, I’d like you to do it.”
“There is no time.”
“They can’t keep up the punishing pace, just as we can’t.”
He looked at the stubborn set of both his drivers’ faces.
“My wife has been abducted, and I need to get to her,” Cam said slowly. “I must get to her, just as you would, were our positions reversed.”
“I’d not stop at anything, God’s truth, and yet I’m afeared for you.”
“I am well, and my family will be there to help soon. A while longer, Bids, is all I ask of you.”
Grim-faced, the driver nodded.
They changed horses, collected food, then ate it on horseback. By the time day eased into dusk, Cam’s body ached and his head swum with pain and blood loss. He would not be able to stay upright for much longer, no matter how much he willed it.
“Food is what you need,” Bids said as they rode into yet another village, this one bordered by a stream. Cam had long since stopped feeling the cold that sliced through his body and buffeted him. He was numb to all but Emily... his love.
“They are here,” he said suddenly, dismounting as a charge of awareness ran through him. He staggered a few steps. Righting himself, he looked up the road he had just traveled. Cam watched seven horses thunder into town.
“Thank God.”
He stepped into the street, and seconds later they were all there. Each talking over the other as they dismounted and ran to him. Touching him, hugging him, letting them know they were close, as they always did. He had never been more grateful for his family than at that moment. Wolf, too, had come.
“Are you well, brother?”
“He took a blow to the head.” Bids stepped up and answered Dev’s question.
“Emily,” Cam said, leaning into the arm his brother had wrapped around his shoulders. “They have taken Emily, Dev. We have to get her back.” He heard the raw emotion, just as they did. The need and desperation to have her back with him was etched in each word.
“Let’s get him inside.”
“No,” Cam said in answer to James. “I must go after her.”
“We will.” Essie stepped up and cupped his cheek. “I promise we will find her. But first let us care for you. Ten minutes, and then we can be back on the road.”
He could not fight them all, so found himself being propelled into an inn. A private parlor was procured in minutes by James, who was not opposed to throwing around his title when required. Cam was then forced down onto a chair. Bids started relaying the story as Essie leaned over him.
“Let me see now, Cam.”
“’Tis nothing.”
Ignoring his attempts to push her away, she began to unwrap the bloodied bandage while James and Max asked questions. He watched her face, but she kept that lovely smile on it like she always did when she treated him or anyone who needed her attentions. The gentle sister who could be fierce as a lioness when required.
“You’ll live.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. She then stepped aside and Lilly moved closer.
“Let me help you now, Cam.”
He felt the heat of her hand on his head, and then the burning sensation followed by relief.
“Only a little.” He gripped her wrist. Lilly could heal with a touch, but it hurt her to do so.
“It will not cause me too much pain, brother, rest easy. Plus, your siblings are helping, which gives me strength.”
He found Dev’s eyes; they were bright with his power. He had his hand on Lilly’s neck; Eden held his hand and Essie hers. He felt the humiliating sting of tears behind his eyes and tried to blink, tried to will them away.
“All done,” Lilly said.
“Sit now, Lilly, and drink the tea I prepared for you, my love,” Dev instructed as he dropped down to his haunches before Cam. “Food also, Essie. Ensure she eats.”
Cam heard the hum of vo
ices behind him as his brother looked at him, the green eyes so bright they glowed like gems.
“We will find her, Cam.”
“I-I feel as if my heart has b-been ripped from my chest.”
His brother held up a hand and Cam gripped it as if they would arm wrestle, as they had often as children. He gripped it tight.
“Help me find her, brother.”
“We have everything on our side to do that, Cam. My sight, Eden’s hearing, and you and Essie only add to that, as does Lilly. Her brothers will do whatever it takes also. Put your faith in us now, as we have ours in you many times.”
“God’s blood, I never wanted this,” he hissed. “Wanted this vicious emotion and pain. Vowed to leave that to you lot.”
“And yet now you feel it because you love her, as I suspect she loves you.”
Cam nodded. “It is all-consuming, Dev. My heart feels bigger, and my need for her is obsessive. Tell me it will pass. Tell me this insanity will ease, for I fear I cannot live like this forever.”
“The love will never go, but the madness of it will ease given time, Cam, and then you and Emily will have your life together. This is my vow to you.”
“I’ll take it, and hold you to it.”
They held tight for a few more seconds, then Dev released him and rose, as did Cam. He was stronger now his family were here. Lilly had healed him, and he was ready to do what he must to find Emily.
“You did what you could, brother, never doubt that.” James stepped forward.
“I did not do enough.”
“Your wound tells a different story,” Max said, his eyes banked with rage. “But now we ride.”
The door opened, and a man told them fresh horses were ready.
“Yesterday, Edward came to see me,” Max said. “He had some interesting news.”
Cam was instantly alert. Edward was Max’s right hand man.
“A man called Mr. Carmichael allegedly tried to abduct a merchant’s daughter in Scotland two years ago to ransom her for a large sum of money. He failed, and then disappeared.”
“And this is important because?” Cam demanded.
