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CHRISTIAN RODE NECK-for-nothing to get to the Rose and Crown. Just before he reached the general vicinity, he slowed down. He couldn’t ride in there lathered and spent. He had to be smart and think through the consequences of his actions. He didn’t want to do anything to endanger Alice further.
As he approached the courtyard, a boy around the age of ten came out of the stables, rubbing his eyes as if he’d just woken up. “Can I ’elp you, milord?”
“If you rub get my horse some water and walk him around the courtyard until I get back, there’s a crown in it for you,” Christian said as he dismounted.
The boy’s eyes widened. “Yes, milord.” He took the reins and patted Prince’s nose. “Come with me,” he told the horse as he walked away.
Christian took stock of the courtyard and was relieved when he saw the Pembroke carriage in the far corner. That likely meant Alice was still here. Christian took a deep breath to calm his pulse. Looking closer, he could see the coachman leaning against the carriage, taking a drink from a flask. Christian walked over. He wanted some answers.
The coachman eyed him as he got closer, wiping his lips on his sleeve. “Have you come for the lady?” he asked without preamble.
Christian covered his surprise at the coachman’s bluntness. “Yes.” He stood in front of the man and folded his arms. “What can you tell me about what’s happened?”
The coachman turned his head and spit in the dirt beside them. “That valet, Jasper is his name, has been ordering everyone around, acting like he’s Quality and not a servant like the rest of us. Came to me with some faradiddle about Lady Alice trying to spare the earl embarrassment by bringing him here to sober up.” He barked out a laugh. “Like a duke’s daughter would be going to an inn during her own party. And without her maid!” The coachman looked at Christian. “I thought it all a bit havey-cavey and made sure that groom in the duke’s stables heard where we were going. I was hoping someone would come for the lady.”
Christian inclined his head. “You have my thanks. How long have they been inside?”
“Not long, but you’d best hurry.” The coachman took another swig from his flask. “Lady Alice is known for her kindness to everyone, no matter what their class. I’d hate to see her hurt in any way.”
Christian took his leave, turning on his heel to walk toward the entrance of the inn. With a glance in the downstairs windows, he didn’t see anyone resembling Alice. His gut clenched and the feeling he needed to hurry intensified. He ran a hand through his windblown hair, trying to figure out the best way to find her. If he burst inside, that might call undue attention to himself and put Alice in more danger by forcing Jasper into a standoff.
No, he’d go around to the back.
Creeping around the side of the inn, the moon gave off barely enough light to make out the shadow of the back entrance. Opening the door, he slipped inside and found himself in a small hallway between the kitchen and the common room. A staircase was across the way. Just as he moved toward the stairs, a large man pushed through the kitchen door and nearly barreled into him.
The man stumbled back and let out a frustrated grunt, “What the―” he started, before he looked at Christian. Quickly schooling his face into a pleasant expression, he wiped his hands on his apron. “My lord, what can I do for you? I’m afraid the rooms are full for this evening, but I can offer you a warm lamb stew.”
He turned toward the light and smiled. Christian froze at the sight. Tall. Blonde. A longish nose. This man could nearly be the valet’s twin.
That’s why Jasper had chosen this inn as the exchange place. He had relatives here. Ones that would help him.
Christian grabbed the man’s shirtfront and slammed him against the wall. “You so closely resemble the Earl of Pembroke’s valet, that I can only assume you are an accomplice to his plans. Treason is a hanging offense, if you didn’t know. And I will make sure you hang right next to him.” He let the man go, but stayed close. “Where did he take her?”
The inn owner held his neck, gaping at Christian. “Jasper took them upstairs. First door on the right,” he said, his voice trembling. “But I haven’t done anything worth hanging over. I only provided a room and a parlor. No harm in that.”
“You can state your case to the magistrate.” Christian turned and took the stairs two at a time. He carefully opened the first door on the right. As he walked in, he noted the empty chair by the fireplace and an unconscious Pembroke on the bed. Walking closer, he stood over Pembroke’s pale form. Had they left him for dead?
He had to find Alice.
Walking back into the hall, Christian went next door to the adjoining parlor. The door was closed. Christian tried to push open it open, but something heavy was blocking the other side. Throwing his shoulder into it, he finally pried the door open enough that he could get in. Stepping over the valet’s unconscious form lying in front of the door, he turned his attention to the other two people in the room.
And for the first time since Alice had disappeared, he smiled.
She had the Frenchman on his knees, her dagger to his throat. “About time you arrived,” she said, breathing heavily. “He has the list in his pocket.”
Christian hurried forward, reaching into the man’s jacket pocket and taking the list out. After a cursory glance at it, he tucked it into his own pocket. Once it was safely in his possession, he drew the Frenchman to his feet.
“Did he hurt you?” he asked, looking Alice over from head to toe.
“I’m fine,” she said, but blood on her arm belied her words. Her gaze followed his as she looked down at the wound. “It’s a scratch.”
Christian looked her arm and torn dress. Anger fired through his veins. He twisted the Frenchman’s wrist behind his back until he cried out in pain. “If I didn’t know what was already in store for you, I’d kill you myself,” he said in the man’s ear.
“I’m afraid the lady already has,” the Frenchman moaned as the blood from his leg wound dripped on the floor. “You will be spared the privilege of hanging me.”
“You won’t die that easily, monsieur.” The Duke of Huntingdon and two other agents walked through the door, inching the valet’s body farther into the room. The duke looked down at Jasper, then up at Alice and Christian as he took in the scene. “Dubois. Let me properly welcome you to British soil. I never thought to see you so far from your master’s side. It will be an honor to bring the first lieutenant of the French secret police to my superiors.”
Dubois roared his frustration and tried to lunge for the duke’s neck, but fell weakly at his feet instead. The duke stood over him for a moment, then, with a flick of his wrist, motioned the two agents forward. “Take him to the coach and make sure he is securely chained. I will be there shortly.”
The agents nodded, then each one moved to either side of Dubois. Taking him by the arms, they dragged him from the room. Once they were gone, the duke went to Alice’s side.
“I was worried,” he said, his voice gruff as he held out her wounded arm. “But apparently it was for naught. You’ve done well.”
She moved closer to her father and smiled. “Papa, I was right about Pembroke. He was innocent. His valet, Jasper framed him because his little brother was killed spying for Wellington.” Alice’s forehead creased as she looked down at her arm. “Winnie is going to be cross with me. There’s blood on my gown and she says it’s nearly impossible to get out of silk.”
Her father kissed her forehead, letting out a relieved breath. “I’m going to have to make arrangements for Jasper and his brother. They have a bit of explaining to do.” He turned to Christian. “Would you see my daughter home?”
“Of course, Your Grace.” He offered his elbow to Alice, and she took it with her good arm. He put his other hand over hers, grateful to have her at his side again.
They walked down the narrow stairs, her steps slow and measured. “Is your ankle paining you?” he asked, “or your shoulder?”
“No, I just don’t want to trip on my gown and fall down the stairs at your feet.” She darted a glance at Christian and he laughed.
“You’re worried about swooning at my feet?” He leaned in and raised his brows, enjoying the blush spreading across her cheeks. “Because you think I’m so handsome?”
She pushed away from him slightly, letting out a disgruntled puff of air. “What a vexing rogue you are.”
“So you don't deny it?" He pulled her close to him as she shook her head in mock dismay. He laughed again and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall,” he assured her. “Whether you think I’m handsome or not.”
Alice rolled her eyes, but they did manage to reach the landing at the bottom of the stairs safely. Once they were near the back hallway, Christian steered her into the kitchen. No one was inside and the inn was eerily quiet. Presumably, the duke had taken the innkeeper into his custody, and the downstairs portion of the inn had closed when they left. Either way, he wanted to take care of Alice whether or not anyone was about.
Sitting her down on a stool, he turned to the cupboard and took down a bottle of whisky. After pulling out his handkerchief, he tore it in two.
“What are you doing?” she asked with an amused smile, color high in her cheeks.
“Taking care of you.” He gently lifted her arm. The fabric of her dress had been cut cleanly from the shoulder to the elbow. Pulling apart the threads that were barely holding the sleeve together, he bared her arm. The cut didn’t look deep, but would need to be cleaned and dressed.
“My father’s physician can do it.” She looked down at her arm and bit her lip, quickly turning her face away. “I didn’t realize there was quite so much blood.”
He touched her under the chin and gently turned her face until she looked into his eyes. “The sooner we disinfect the cut, the harder it will be for infection to set in. I’d rather do this now.”
She nodded and Christian let his thumb trace her jaw, wishing he could take the pain away for her. “This is going to hurt a bit. I’m sorry.” Quickly, before she could think about it, he poured the whisky on the cut, catching the excess with one half of his handkerchief.
She ground her teeth together and whimpered, but no other sound escaped. Christian worked quickly. In the field, staving off fevers and infection had been the biggest priority. Many men had received minor wounds, only to die from the infection that set in afterward. He wasn’t about to let that happen to Alice.
Once the wound was clean, he bound it with the other half of his handkerchief. Tying it off with a small bow, he bent over and kissed it. She touched his hair, her hands running over his head, soothing him, then guiding him upward until his mouth touched hers. Tasting her lips, and being close enough to feel her against him warm and whole, made this kiss something he’d never felt before. All the pulse-pounding anxiety and fear easily turned to passion and yearning for the woman in front of him. He couldn’t get enough.
Letting his hands rove over her back, he pulled her to a standing position and pressed her closer. “Alice,” said, savoring her name as he imprinted little kisses from her jaw to her ear. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Never.” She arched against him and tried to slide her arms around his neck, but pulled back with a hiss. “Oh, my arm,” she said, wincing. “I’m sorry.”
“Forgive me for forgetting myself.” He gave her one last chaste kiss before he stepped back. “We need to get you home.”
“I didn’t mind,” she said with a saucy grin.
Christian looked down at her and the moment froze in time. There she was, in a stranger’s kitchen, her dress torn and bloodied after a battle, but with a smile on her face. Her courage and zest for life made him want to hold her against him and never let her go. This was a night that would be impressed upon his mind forever.
She was brilliant.
He kept her arm in his and walked her carefully to the back door. With one last glance around, Christian led her through the shadow-darkened path to the courtyard. When they turned the corner, they nearly came face-to-nose with Prince. The boy walking him around the perimeter grinned when he saw Christian.
“I held him, just like you asked, m’lord,” the lad said.
Christian pulled a crown out of his pocket and gave it to the boy. “You earned it, lad.”
The boy took the money and stared at it a moment before he put it in his pocket. “Wait until I show my ma!” And he ran off.
Christian took off his greatcoat and put it around Alice, turning her so he could fasten it at her neck. It fell nearly to her ankles. “I rode here as fast as I could. I’ve never been so frightened in my life. I can’t help but think if only I’d arrived sooner, you might not have been hurt.”
She looked up at him, her eyes bright. “I knew you’d come for me. I stayed calm as best I could and tried to remember my training. I think I surprised Dubois.”
Christian chuckled and shook his head. “I don’t doubt you did. You’ve surprised me from the moment I met you. And tonight you single-handedly saved the list and thwarted a traitor. You should get a medal.”
“For now, I’d like a warm bath.” She leaned into him, and Christian held her close with one arm, the other rubbing her back in soothing circles.
“Will you ride with me? Or should I ask for Pembroke’s carriage to be readied?” Christian knew what he wanted her to choose, but waited for her answer.
She grinned. “We’ve come this far. I want to see it through to the end. And I must say, it seems fitting that we ride back to Langdon Park together. Too bad we can’t sport a victory flag of some sort.”
The corners of his mouth turned up as he pulled her close. “We make a good team,” he said. “And I don’t think I want that to end.”
Alice reached out and pushed his hair back from his forehead. “Neither do I.”
He bent down and claimed her lips. She had battled tonight and won. She was wounded, but alive, and his pulse thrummed through him as he pressed her closer. Alice returned his kiss with fervor, her lips branding him, as she slowly and carefully threaded her good hand through his hair. All the worry and fear that had run through his veins tonight melted away. It was only her. Her sweet scent of rosewater was now mixed with the faint smell of blood— another testament of her strength and character.
She’d proven herself a hero tonight. And whether he was the one handing her a weapon or standing at her side to fight, he knew he always wanted her with him.
Together. Always. In victory or defeat.
