Lord Maxwell’s Quest, page 14
Max had told himself it was because of the quest and that he couldn’t be distracted, or Rosemary would find the ancient vase first. When in truth, he had lost interest in his mistress once Rosemary was present. There was no comparison between the two women, and Max found his mistress lacking. Just as he really had no desire to bed the woman who was blatant in her pursual of his body.
However, the celibacy that followed Athens had certainly not been intentional. He’d simply not had the opportunity.
Which was a lie he told himself. In truth, there was only one woman he wanted, and he could not have her. It didn’t matter that she’d had a lover, Max would not disrespect Rosemary by making her his when he had no intention of ever marrying. As he explained to Rosemary, it would be impossible to continue his quests if he had a wife. Therefore, until he was ready to withdraw to the country and live a boring existence, he’d remain a bachelor.
Except, if Rosemary was his wife, it need not be so. She’d not want to be bound to a piece of land any more than he would.
Max shook the thought from his mind.
Just because they were getting along, didn’t mean they should marry, and he was only pondering such because he’d been bloody celibate for nearly two years, something he’d rectify once they found the bloody sword.
He glanced out the widow again. Rosemary was back out on the walk. She looked one way and stopped from crossing the street. Men on horseback and then two hackneys and a carriage passed before the view was clear again. Except, Rosemary wasn’t there, and where she’d been standing was her bouquet of flowers and a book.
Rosemary wiggled, kicked, and tried to scream as one of Rylan’s men carried her down a dark alley, but it did little good. At least she assumed it was one of Rylan’s thugs because she couldn’t imagine why anyone else would grab her.
In her boot was her knife, if only she could get to it, but her assailant had one of her arms pinned against her body, and she couldn’t reach far enough to get to it because of the way he was holding her.
She should have never parted from Max. He probably didn’t even know what had happened to her. She didn’t know what was going to happen to her, which scared her more than anything.
Rosemary used to believe that there was nothing to fear and that she was brave. She’d been wrong. Not knowing what was about to happen to her was scarier, and she renewed her kicking and scratching with her one available hand, but she might as well have been slapping at a wave of water for all the good it did.
The man finally stopped when they reached the end of the alley, unable to go any further because of a brick wall, and he set her back on her feet before pushing her against the wall.
She shouldn’t have gone into the bookshop. She should have gone into the pawn shop with Max.
Was he alone, or were Rylan and his other men about? Had one of them followed Max into the pawn shop? Was he now in danger too?
“I thought you two would never separate.”
“I don’t have the sword,” she said.
He grinned, revealing his missing front teeth. “Yes, you do. You’re all cautious going about your business head down, sneaking about, but once you have information, you relax, like you started to do today. Trent did too, which is why I know you found it.”
“We didn’t,” Rosemary cried.
“I don’t believe you,” he sneered. “But we’ll get it soon enough because we’re going to keep you in exchange.”
“We have not found the sword.”
The henchman laughed. “He’ll get it to us quickly once he knows that we have you.”
“What makes you so certain?” Rosemary countered. “He could take off with it and neither of us will see him again.”
At that, he laughed. “Nay. He’d not abandon his lover.”
Rosemary gasped. “We are not lovers.” Why would he even think so? “He’s not to be trusted.”
Except, she did trust Max and hoped he came looking for her soon.
“Something’s different about him too. Which is why I know he’ll come after you.”
Max would try and rescue her, and he’d be harmed in the process. Her panic rose in an instant, and Rosemary let out the loudest scream she could muster before he clamped a hand over her mouth.
“Scream like that again, and I’ll be giving him your dead body instead.” He glared at her. “Do you understand me?”
She nodded.
He took his hand away and Rosemary screamed again, this time while she brought her reticule up with all her might and hit him in the head. It did little good as there wasn’t much inside, unlike her satchel.
The sting and pain from the back of his hand hitting her cheek jerked Rosemary’s head to the side as stars blinked in her peripheral vision. She lost her grip on the reticule as it went flying out of her hands.
“I’ve enough of you.” He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket then shoved it in her mouth, tying it behind her head. As much as Rosemary pushed and pounded on his chest, it did no good, and her panic rose higher.
“I’m taking you to Rylan so he can deal with you.”
She was going to choke, vomit. She might stop breathing, as she could barely catch a breath now, and no matter how much she fought and kicked when he hauled her off the ground again and tossed her over a shoulder, her efforts did little good because his strength overpowered her.
“He’ll teach you to do as you’re told.”
Rosemary strained for her boot to grab the hilt of the blade, but she couldn’t reach. Tears filled her eyes at what she feared would happen to her once he took her to Rylan. Or what they might do to Max because he would bring the sword to rescue her. They could both very well end up dead.
The man shifted slightly, relaxed his hold for only a moment, but it was just enough room for her to stretch. In an instant she had the kaiken in her hand, and praying her aim was true, she thrust it with all her strength.
Chapter 19
Max had rushed out of the pawn shop and glanced about, trying to determine where she’d gone. At a scream coming from across the way, he darted across the street, nearly being run over by a horse cart, and reached the opposite side of the street. He paused at the book and flowers, still on the ground. Another scream rang through the air, but nobody on the street seemed to care.
He sprinted in the direction from which it had come until he reached the entrance to an alley. At first, he didn’t see anything within the shadowed alley, but then he saw one of Rylan’s men attempting to carry Rosemary away.
“Let her go,” he yelled as he raced forward, ready to kill the miscreant.
As Max came closer, he pulled the knife from his boot and took aim but feared striking Rosemary. He darted forward, knife gripped in is hand, but before he could reach the thug, Rosemary pulled a blade from her boot and plunged it into the assailant’s leg.
He howled and fell back, grabbing his leg, then the knife. His face red with anger, he lifted the knife, ready to plunge. Rosemary darted away from the man just as Max threw his knife.
The blade struck the henchmen in the back of his right shoulder and propelled him forward and into the wall, Rosemary’s knife falling from his hand.
Rosemary scrambled to pick it up.
The man groaned and rolled over, his uninjured shoulder supporting him.
Max rushed toward Rosemary. “Did he hurt you?”
She blinked up at him but didn’t say anything.
Was she in shock?
“Do I kill him now or leave him, hoping he has a slow death?”
“No.” she shook her head, eyes looking over at the henchman who was moaning. His face now turned toward them, glaring.
“Get information,” she ground out. She lifted the knife and stomped over to the thug. “Where can we find Fernsby?”
Max wanted these answers too, but he was shocked at her recovery. From fear to cold anger. It sent a chill down his spine, but he’d rather see her like this than emotionally traumatized, which he would understand if that had been the case.
The man stared up at her, eyes hard.
Rosemary lifted the knife, ready to strike. Max understood her wanting to do him bodily harm, but not certain how she’d react to taking a life, once the urgency of the situation was beyond them. So, to help her gain the answers she sought, Max grasped the hilt of his knife, the blade still in the man’s shoulder, and pressed. The man yelled as blood spread in the dirt beneath the wound.
He was not someone normally prone to violence, however, the man had tried to first kidnap Rosemary and then threatened her with a blade, and Max would kill him before he allowed Rosemary to be hurt any further.
“Where does he live,” Rosemary demanded.
“Just north of Luton. That’s all I know.”
They’d gotten the information they needed, and Max leaned forward, fist raised to knock the man senseless, then withdrew his blade.
“Halt!”
Both Max and Rosemary stiffened and turned.
Max breathed out a sigh. “Valentine. Excellent timing.”
Mr. Benedick Valentine strode forward. “What are you two about?”
Rosemary straightened. “I was defending myself.” She glared down at the man.
Max gave him one last kick and turned. “This is one of Rylan’s men. He was attempting to kidnap Miss Fairview. She stabbed him in the thigh, and I helped her gain the information we wanted.”
“He was going to keep me until Max delivered the sword,” she explained. “I told him that we didn’t have it yet.”
“Did he believe you?” Max asked.
“No.” Then she explained how the man concluded that the sword had been located.
“What information did you want from him?” Valentine asked.
“Where Fernsby lives.”
Valentine frowned and studied her face. “Did he strike you?”
Max jerked around to fully look at Rosemary’s face to note the red mark on her right cheek that he’d not noticed. Rosemary quickly covered it and winced. “It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as he will when he comes to.” She glared down at the man in the dirt.
“I’ll see that he is brought up on charges.”
“What are you even doing here?” Max asked.
“I was looking for you. Madame LeFante became worried when you never returned and sent a message to Lady Westbrook, who then became concerned, then sent for me. The women at Westbrook House gave me a list of the places they suggested you search. It was luck that I found you. The scream, however, is what drew me here.”
“We didn’t mean for anyone to worry,” Rosemary quickly assured him.
“I will report of your health and safety,” he offered. “Have you had any luck in locating the item you were searching for?”
Max glanced back at the man who had attacked Rosemary. He was watching with interest, which meant that Max hadn’t hit him hard enough, so he planted him a facer with enough force to knock him unconscious.
“Was that really necessary?” Valentine asked.
“Yes,” he and Rosemary answered in unison.
“We’ve located the sword, but we will not be able to see it until tomorrow morning,” Rosemary explained.
“Should I alert Madame LeFante that you will be returning tonight?”
Max shook his head. “We’ve taken a room at Peele’s Hotel. After we are in possession of the sword, we will decide what to do. However, I do intend to pay a call on Mr. Otto Fernsby,” Max announced. “Rylan and his men have caused injury wherever they go, and I will not let them get away with harming Miss Fairview. The man has got to stop or be stopped.”
Valentine stepped back as if startled at Max’s words. Perhaps it was the vehemence behind them. Not only had the thugs maimed and killed before, but when they attempted to harm Rosemary, they went too far.
“Perhaps I should accompany you,” Valentine offered.
“I doubt that is necessary. It’s likely Rylan and his men will still be looking for us here by the time we are finished with Fernsby,” Max insisted.
“What if there are other men with him?” Valentine countered.
“Fernsby is a coward, a recluse, and likely ancient, or he’d search for relics on his own instead of hiring men to do his dirty work,” Max decided. “I’ve no doubt that he lives in comfort in a country home without a care of being bothered.” As the men he employed were searching for Max and Rosemary, it was unlikely he’d hire guards to protect him.
“When do you plan on confronting this Fernsby?” Valentine asked.
“I’ll leave for Luton tomorrow morning, as soon as I’ve gotten the sword.”
“We’ll leave for Luton.”
Max stared into Rosemary’s brown eyes and knew by the determination within that she’d not let him leave her behind. It hadn’t been his intention to do so, but apparently she took issue with his use of I instead of we.
Valentine gave a quick nod. “I’ll deal with this.” He gestured to the still unconscious man on the ground.
“Thank you.” Max then went to Rosemary and took her arm. “Rylan or one of the others may be around. Though I’m surprised your screams didn’t draw more attention.”
“Perhaps it’s not an odd occurrence here.” Rosemary pulled away from Max to retrieve the reticule that she’d dropped. When she returned to his side, he offered his arm again, but she did not take it. Instead, she marched ahead, her chin high and back stiff.
All Max could assume was that she still seethed in anger, which was far better than becoming emotionally distraught.
Rosemary wiped blood from the blade, using her skirt and not really caring that she’d stain or ruin the material, then shoved it into her reticule, the hilt peeking out of the top as it was too long, the sinched it tight and grasped the knotted rope with both hands, fisting them around the cord to hide her trembling. She needed to stop shaking, but Rylan’s man had unnerved her. She’d let herself fall into a false sense of security. She was brave. She traveled the world. She carried a kaiken. She feared nothing. But she’d been just as vulnerable as she’d been seven years ago.
She’d not allow the likes of Rylan’s men to return her to being a frightened, indecisive miss again. The one she’d been at nineteen.
Rosemary shook that memory away. She didn’t want to remember that day any more than she wanted to remember what had just happened in the alley.
When they emerged onto the street, she stopped only long enough to retrieve the flowers and the book, which were still lying in the walk and turned to locate Max.
He’d wanted to help her, but she needed to do everything on her own. It was necessary that she gain control of her nerves and anger.
Rosemary swallowed and walked forward, Max by her side, yet not touching her, as if he sensed he should keep his distance, and remained there until they entered the hotel.
Why did men need to show their ultimate power in such a vile manner? He’d picked her up with every intention of carting her off as if she were no more than a sack of grain.
Why did they have the power to show just how vulnerable she’d really been?
But she would recover.
As tired as Rosemary was, and as much as her body ached from being hit and dragged about, she had survived.
Further, this time she had had her wits about her to fight and draw her kaiken. Not like last time when she’d been frozen in terror and another had to come to her rescue before any intended harm could come to her.
She’d allowed that man from seven years ago to reduce her to fear. Such would not happen this time. She had taken care of herself, and she’d not cower in a room, like she had in the tent, because she’d suddenly become aware that horrible men walked the earth.
What angered her most, however, was that she’d left herself vulnerable. She hadn’t been keeping a watch for Rylan or his men, especially when she knew they were about. She’d also believed that they’d not even attempt to harm her or Max until they were in possession of the sword, and she’d been wrong. Rosemary knew that if that man had been able to take her hostage, Max would have delivered the sword.
She vowed then and there never to relax her guard again. She also needed to return to her lessons in defense. They’d failed her today because she’d not kept up with the teachings, therefore it hadn’t been natural for her to defend herself.
Max held the door once they reached the hotel. He’d been quiet, and she knew that he was concerned, but Rosemary hadn’t been ready to talk yet. “Would you request a bath please?” She smiled at him. “I wish to wash away that filth.”
“You don’t have a change of clothing,” he reminded her.
That was a problem. “I’ll retain my shift and perhaps the hotel could see to the laundering of this dress.”
“Whatever you need,” he insisted.
Rosemary blew out a sigh. “I am fine, Max.” she assured him.
He studied her as concern marred his features. “How can you be?”
“He did not harm me. I may have a bruised cheek, but he has a kaiken wound in this thigh, and I’m not sorry for that. However, I would like to wash.”
He studied her a bit longer before he gave a nod. “Of course.”
Max waited in the chamber with Rosemary until a hip bath had been delivered and then filled with steaming water.
She gave him a pointed look.
He didn’t leave.
“Check the windows again,” Rosemary blew out in frustration. He’d already made certain they were locked twice.
“Max, I am fine. I wish for a bath. That man smelled, and it has been a few days since I’ve been given the opportunity.” She also just wanted to be alone, to gather her thoughts, to find her peace, and to settle her mind. She knew what she must do, and she wished she’d been practicing the ancient teachings that she’d once learned, but she’d gotten out of the habit. She couldn’t let that happen again.
However, she couldn’t obtain either peace or a settled mind with Max hovering as if he were waiting for her to collapse in a fit of tears.
