Rogues Always Wear Black: A Steamy British Historical Romance Novel (Forbidden Kisses Book 1)

by Catherine Mayfair

  “You always know when to save a woman,” she said with a laugh as she walked over to pour herself a drink from the nearby cart of spirits. “Lord Harrison attempted to kiss me no more than three times, and he just asked me to go and view his gardens next weekend.”

  Stephen laughed. “I can do one better. Lady Colborne offered me her hand in marriage.”

  Louisa gave her a wide-eyed stare. “Certainly she did not say such a thing?”

  He nodded. “It seems the wine muddled her mind and now she is left snoring in one of the guest rooms.”

  With a laugh, Louisa handed him a glass of brandy. Stephen thanked her, and he took a sip, the warmness tickling his throat. “So? What of Lord Harrison?” he asked. “Have we learned anything of importance?”

  “Besides his lust for money and me?” she replied with a grin. “Yes. Do not ask me how, but I learned the man sells his own servants. We can discuss the details later.” She shook her head in disgust before taking a sip of her wine. “We have done this nearly a dozen years, and I am still shocked by what some of these men do.”

  “I understand all too well. I wonder if it will ever end.”

  As he took a drink of brandy, his thoughts turned to Constance. When she came down the stairs earlier, he had never seen a woman more beautiful. Everything in his heart told him to let the woman know what he felt for her, but his mind warned him against such an announcement. It was far too dangerous, and he would not risk hurting her.

  “The look in your eyes,” Louisa said, her head tilted as she studied him. “You are a man torn between heart and mind.”

  “How did you know?” he asked with a light chuckle. “Am I losing my ability to conceal my thoughts?”

  Louisa laughed. “Not at all, but we have known each other far too long. Tell me, what is bothering you? And do not tell me it has nothing to do with Constance.”

  Stephen sighed and turned the glass in his hand. “She told me that she loves me. I admit I feel the same for her, but I cannot bring myself to tell her. If anything were to happen to me, she would be left to mourn, and I cannot allow her to be forced to endure that pain.”

  “It is no different from the pain you still carry,” Louisa said as she placed a hand on his arm. “One of which you can never rid yourself no matter what you do.”

  “You sound like Constance. She told me very nearly the same thing.”

  “As your friend, I wish only the best for you. I tell you this because I love you…as a friend only. What would cause greater harm to the woman? For the two of you to share in a love together before you meet a horrible death? Or for you to meet that same death, knowing you never told her you loved her? Everyone meets their death at some point, some just happen sooner than others.”

  The realization of her words overwhelmed Stephen’s heart. “You are right,” he said with a thoughtful nod. “It would be far worse if I never shared what was on my heart with her.”

  Louisa went to reply, but the door opened and Mosley entered with a bow. “Forgive my intrusion, my lady, but I am worried.”

  “About what?” Louisa asked.

  “Miss Constance and her sisters.”

  Something caught in Stephen’s throat. “What of them?”

  “A man came to the door,” the butler said, “Speaking of a Lord…oh, what was his name? Felcher. No. Forcher? No. Ah yes, a Lord Flecter.”

  Stephen’s blood ran cold. “Do you mean Lord Fletcher?”

  “Yes! That was it. The man said that a Lord Fletcher had found them, and they were to meet him outside. Now the carriage is gone, as are they.” He shook his graying head. “I did not expect them to leave, my lord.”

  Stephen cursed himself. He should have been keeping an eye on those three. “How long ago did they leave?”

  Mosley brought his wrinkled hands to his head. “I-I’m not sure, my lord.”

  “Think, man! How long?”

  “Stephen, enough!” Louisa snapped at him. She turned to Mosley and lowered her voice. “Do you know how long it has been?”

  “Perhaps thirty minutes ago?” the butler murmured. “I am sorry. My memory is not what it once was, but I believe it has not been more than half an hour.”

  “Thank you, Mosley,” Louisa said as she patted his hand. “You may go.” When the butler had left, she said, “When did you see them last?”

  Stephen glared at the woman. “I have no time for this! I must find them.” He turned to leave, but Louisa grabbed his arm.

  “You will calm yourself before you ride out in a panic and bring harm to yourself and them.” Her voice was commanding and somehow found its way into his senses.

  “I escorted Lady Colborne to the guest room while Constance was still in the ballroom. I was not with Lady Colborne not five minutes before she was asleep. I came straight here after.”

  Louisa took his drink and placed it and hers on a nearby table. “Mosley was right; they have been gone no longer than thirty minutes. They cannot have gotten far. Come, we will go find them. They will be back here within the hour.”

  Stephen nodded and hurried out of the room. Once outside, the moonlight guided their steps toward the stables. He regretted not only failing to protect Constance, but not telling her first of his love for her. If anything happened to her before he found her, he would never forgive himself.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Though Mary no longer sobbed, Emma continued, and both trembled in Constance’s arms as the carriage began to slow. They had been traveling close to an hour, and Constance had still not developed a plan of escape. The road was rough and the carriage jostled as the moon cast its light on the face of the giant named Hawk.

  “Sir?” she said, finding the courage to speak, though her heart threatened to stop beating. “Where are you taking us?”

  The man glared at her. “To your home. I already told you this.”

  “And Walter? He is your partner?”

  Hawk snorted as the carriage shook after hitting a hole in the road. “I have no partner. But if you’re asking the reason for his betrayal, I’d be more than happy to explain. He did it for her.” He pointed a finger the size of a sausage at Emma. “His desire for her is so great, he was willing to betray all of you, or so he said.”

  Emma choked a sob, and Constance pulled her tight against her. “How much did he tell you?” Constance asked.

  “I know of the Man in Black, about what he does. I also know all about the camp and how you all live in both the camp and that grand house.”

  “The men who live in that camp are strong,” she said with as much courage as she could muster. “And you will not be able to harm them.”

  The man laughed again, and Constance thought the windows would break. “It’s none of your concern any longer. Your concern is getting your sister to quit her bawling before I stop her myself. And trust me, you don’t want me doing that.”

  Constance turned to calm her younger sister. She had no doubt the man would do as he threatened, and she did her best to console Emma, rubbing her back and patting her head. “It will be fine, but you must remain quiet,” she whispered in the girl’s ear.

  Emma nodded, and Constance felt something touch her head. It was an ornate silver comb Sally had placed in Emma’s hair. Then an idea came to mind, and Constance pulled the comb from her sister’s hair and hid it in her hand.

  “She will be quiet now,” she said. “May I put my head out the window a moment?”

  The giant eyed her with suspicion. “Why?”

  Placing a hand on her stomach, she replied. “I am feeling a bit queasy. If I get some air, I may be able to keep down my dinner. You would not appreciate it if I became sick all over your shoes.” When the man glanced at the window, she added, “You cannot believe I would be able to throw myself through the window, do you?”

  “No, I suppose not.”

  She slid down the window and put her head through it. As she made a point of taking a deep breath, she dropped the comb on the ground b
efore pulling herself back into the carriage.

  “Thank you,” she said. “That was exactly what I needed.”

  The man gave a grunt but said nothing.

  The carriage slowed, and it was not long before they pulled up in front of a small cottage. Smoke bellowed from the chimney, telling her someone was already there.

  “Get out,” Hawk commanded.

  “Where are we?” Constance asked. She gave a startled cry when the man grabbed her by the neck, his grasp tight.

  “Do not question me.”

  She shook her head to show she would not, and he released her. As she alighted from the vehicle, she rubbed her neck. To the left sat a leaning building she assumed was the stable.

  To her surprise, Walter came walking up to them, and Constance shot him a glare of disgust, which he returned with a smirk.

  “I shall take my payment now,” he said with a commanding tone. He grabbed Emma’s arm, but Emma pulled away. “You will come with me,” he barked.

  “No!” Constance cried, but then she gasped when Hawk pushed Walter away.

  “Unhook the horses and see them and the carriage stabled. I’ll take the women to the cottage. Once you’ve finished with that, then you can take your bride.”

  Walter glared at Hawk only a moment before sighing and turning to do the man’s bidding. Constance was so caught up in her own fear that it came as a shock when Hawk pulled back his fist and slammed it into the back of Walter’s neck with a distinct crack. Walter crumpled into a heap on the ground, and Hawk leaned over and pressed fingers to the man’s throat.

  “No need to worry about him anymore,” the man said with little emotion. “He’s gone.”

  Constance had to swallow back bile as she stared at Hawk. The man was not only a kidnapper, he was a murderer, and she had no doubt that, if they entered that cottage with him, there was a great chance none of them would leave it alive. She glanced at Walter, and though she was angry at him for the part he played in all this, the waste of life saddened her.

  As she stared down at the broken body, memories flooded her mind. She and her sisters sitting with their mother, sharing stories and laughing. The heartache of her mother’s death. The punishment of being locked in their room by their stepfather for days at a time without food or water. But most of all, the memory of the promise she had made to her mother on the woman’s deathbed.

  “Look after your sisters,” her mother had mumbled. “See they remain well.”

  “I will. I promise.” Constance had done all she could to keep her sisters safe, and yet, here they were, once again in peril. Well, she had had enough!

  “The man betrayed us and stole my father’s gold watch,” she lied as she jutted her chin as if Walter’s death was of little consequence. “I will take it back as well as the money he stole.” She began to lean toward the dead man, but Hawk grabbed her arm and pushed her back.

  “I’ll do it,” he said with a scowl.

  When the giant leaned down to search Walter’s body, Constance seized the moment to whisper to her sisters. “Run, quickly, and do not come back no matter what you hear!” Her sisters stared at her with wide eyes, and Constance pushed them. “Now!

  The two women ran, and Constance turned just as Hawk began to rise. Summoning all her courage, she threw herself onto his back, her arm crossing under his chin.

  Hawk roared with rage. “You fool!” he growled as he pried her arm back, making her scream in pain. She may as well have been a small child for all she could keep him from removing her arm from his neck and throwing her on the ground with a grunt. She struggled to regain her breath, her head hurt and her back throbbed, but the man remained leering down at her.

  “I warned you,” he said. “Now you will pay.” He lifted her like a rag doll and threw her over his shoulder. She lacked any strength to fight him, but her sisters had escaped, and that was all that mattered.

  ***

  Stephen rode alongside Louisa, doing his best to keep his anger under tight rein. What he wanted to do was to scream out in frustration, but that would do him little good. He needed to keep his wits about him if he was to find her and her sisters.

  “Where can they have gone?” he fumed. “This is madness! We cannot find them in the near dark!”

  “You have hunted and tracked in worse conditions,” Louisa replied in that irritatingly calm tone she used whenever he was frustrated. “Just keep vigilant and look for any evidence. We know they went this direction because of the divots the horses left in the mud at the end of the drive.”

  “Yes, you are right,” he said with a sigh, and he turned his attention back to the road. Then, between the shadows of two trees, the glint of something caught his eye, and he heeled his horse closer to it. Jumping from the saddle, he hurried over and picked up what he realized was a hair comb made of silver and adorned with red jewels.

  “I recognize that,” Louisa said. “I believe Emma was wearing it earlier.”

  “And if it was left by someone else?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No. That is a new style, first of all. Plus, if it had been there too long, any travelers, especially those on foot, would have found it by now. And I assure you, no one would have passed it by; it’s worth at least three months’ wages for most people.”

  Stephen glanced around and then whistled in hopes of hearing a reply, but none came.

  “Do not despair,” Louisa said. “I will take this road,” she motioned to the right. “You travel ahead, but only ten minutes ahead. Meet me back here if you find no other clues.”

  He nodded and mounted his horse.

  “They are close. Take heart; we will find them.”

  “I know,” Stephen replied. “And I will never lose them again.”

  With a nod, Louisa rode past him, her horse moving down the lane as Stephen continued on the main road. His mind filled with regret as he urged the horse to move faster. How he wished he had told Constance what he felt for her! How he regretted not remaining in the ballroom. Now, his only hope was to find her and her sisters, and if he had to ride all the way back to Lankster Manor, he would do just that.

  ***

  The man’s grasp was firm, his strides long, as they headed toward the cottage. Constance found breathing difficult as her mind went into a panicked frenzy. She was much too weak and could do nothing against a man this size! He would not hesitate to hurt her, as he had already proven, and she prayed that one day she would see her sisters again.

  The panic nearly choked her, but then a memory came to mind. She and Stephen were in the woods training, and he had been pleased with her progress.

  “What was different this time?”

  “I admit that it had much to do with your confidence in me,” she replied. “I struggled with my doubts as I often do, but this time I pushed them aside, focused my attention, and cleared my mind. All I could hear was you.”

  “Have no doubt that you are a capable woman who can do whatever she puts her mind to. However, to do so, you must first believe in yourself. That is the key to every skill one learns.”

  Constance twisted to look into the face of Hawk and forced back the fear that had seized her. He might be large, but he was still only a man and had the same weaknesses every man possessed. So, she curled her hand into a fist, pulled her arm back as far as she could - not an easy feat in her current position, but it did not matter - and used all the force she could muster to slam her fist into the man’s nose.

  Hawk stopped in his tracks not three paces from the cottage door, his eyes alight with anger and blood dripping from his nose. Constance tried to wriggle from his grasp, but he tightened his hold on her.

  “You have angered me twice tonight,” he said, an evil smile forming on his lips. “After I am done with you…” His words trailed off and he whipped around.

  The sound of hoofbeats thumping up the drive made her look up. Her heart raced and her spirits rose as Louisa came riding toward them, her red hair flowing behind
her. With an “Oof” Constance landed on her backside when Hawk dropped her, but before he could reach his belt knife, Louisa was off her horse and slashing her own knife down the giant’s arm.

  Hawk gave a grunt of pain, and Constance scooted across the ground away from him.

  “Run!” Louisa shouted. “Your sisters are close. Go to them!”

  Constance hesitated before pulling herself up and running. After ten paces, she stopped and turned when she heard a pained cry from Louisa. The woman was doubled over, and Hawk had his fist ready to strike her again in the face.

  “Constance!” Mary cried from a thick nestle of trees behind her.

  Constance glanced at her sisters and motioned for them to retreat back to safety. Once they did, she turned back to assist Louisa, her steps quick. However, before she had gone three steps, she froze as Louisa screamed. The woman had lost her knife, and Hawk held it in his right hand as he held Louisa with his left. Before Constance could take another breath, he shoved the knife forward and buried it into Louisa’s stomach.

  The marchioness gasped and fell to her knees, her mouth gaping and her eyes wide. Blood gushed through her fingers as she crumpled to the ground.

  “No!” Constance cried. “Mary, Emma, you must run!” she shouted without turning, hoping they would heed her and get as far away as they could.

  Hawk chuckled. “I see you wish to meet her fate, as well,” he said in an almost jolly tone.

  Constance gazed at her friend, who lay in the grass, still holding her stomach and her face pale.

  “He…will hear…you cry for…help,” Louisa murmured. A faint smile crossed her lips. “The Man in Black…always does.”

  Constance nodded, placed her thumb and forefinger against the back of her tongue, and produced a perfect whistle, the sweet melody of a bird.

  Hawk threw his head back and laughed. “No one will save you,” he growled. “For no man can best me!”

  As Constance looked down at her friend, she thought of their friendship and the bravery the woman always exuded, but nothing would exceed the bravery Louisa had shown in saving her and her sisters this day. She wished the woman a safe journey into the next life as tears rolled down her cheeks.