Lady Vixen (70 page)

Nicole's
heart sank as the coach righted itself, but comfortingly she fingered the
concealed sword cane. Edward, she decided, with a tight little smile curving
the generous mouth, was in for a nasty surprise.

The
object of her thoughts clambered aboard the coach a moment later and said in a
disagreeable tone of voice, "Those incompetent fools! You would think for
the money I'm paying them, they'd know how to drive."

Nicole
made no comment; her heart beat rapidly in her breast. She would act now, now
while he was still slightly agitated by the unexpected accident and before they
traveled a great deal farther. Her eyes bright with determination, she waited
only until Edward had seated himself. Before he had time to realize what had
happened, she struck swiftly, the sword held unerringly in her hand, and he
found himself staring down two feet of naked blade. Instinctively he shrank
back against the seat, and Nicole commanded with deceptive softness,
"Stay, Edward. Do not startle me or I may accidentally skewer you."

Edward
froze, his eyes riveted on the blade barely inches from his face. Nicole had
wisely chosen his face as her target, knowing Edward would do just about
anything to protect his beautiful features from being mutilated.

Scornfully
Nicole regarded him as he vainly attempted to melt into the cushions of the
leather seat, thinking unaccountably of Christopher's insolent actions when she
had held a pistol to his head in Allen's cell that night on Grand Terre.

Not
bothering to hide the contempt she felt, Nicole ordered, "Call your
coachman and have him turn the carriage around. We are going back to
Brighton."

Seeing
all his hopes for a rosy future disappearing, Edward was so moved he forgot
about his face, and furiously he jerked up, only to be halted instantly when
the blade nicked him very delicately on the cheekbone. "Damn you,
Nicole!" he swore viciously, frantically dabbing at the minor scratch with
a fine white linen handkerchief. "Damn you if you have scarred me!"

Her
eyes narrowed, the lips were a grim line, and she replied evenly, "And
damn you, my dear cuz, for what you tried to do to me! Now order this coach
turned around or next time I shall mark you permanently. Do it!
Now!"

Reluctantly
Edward complied, pounding against the wall for the coachman to stop. The coach
halted, and a moment later, Edward's eyes burning with hate, he angrily spat
out the command to return to Brighton.

The
driver and postilion exchanged resigned glances —gentry! Mad as hatters and
never knew what they wanted. But as the coachmen had already been paid for the
long journey to Gretna Green, gold that would
not
be returned, they were
willing without further argument to drive the much shorter distance back to
Brighton.

The
coach was wheeled about, and Nicole permitted herself a brief sigh of relief as
the horses picked up speed heading toward Brighton—and home. She did not allow
her guard to drop, realizing Edward was more dangerous now than at any other time.
If he were somehow to gain the upper hand—God help her! Instinctively her grip
on the sword cane tightened. She would kill him before she would let herself
fall into his power again.

They
rode in silence—Edward sullen against the seat, and Nicole's eyes unwavering on
him—the sword a deadly barrier between them.

She
had no idea of the time, nor how long or how far they had traveled; but it was
long after dark, the silver moon was high in the black sky. Help, she felt
certain, must be on the way. Galena would have returned long ago and the alarm
sounded. Even now Christopher or Robert would be in pursuit of them. At least
she prayed it was so. Edward was intimidated for the moment, but Nicole knew
her cousin well. While she was confident of her own abilities, especially with
the added force of the sword cane, she would be relieved to have the protection
of the Saxons once more. How dependent upon them I have grown, she thought with
a wry smile.

As
the miles passed, the rocking motion of the coach had a soothing effect upon
her, and Nicole relaxed slightly, only to stiffen and to watch Edward narrowly
as he moved restlessly across from her, the sword following every movement.

Irritably
he said, "Oh, put that damn thing down! I'm not about to try anything as long
as you hold a sword. I'm not a fool, you know!"

Nicole
smiled without amusement. "Oh, but you are! No one but a fool would have
attempted such a stupid way out of his difficulties. Did you truly think me so
much of a ninnyhammer that I would go along with you? I could see you trying
this trick on some young foolish maid already half in love with you. But me,
Edward, of all people! How could you be so ridiculous?"

Edward
shot her a look of pure hatred. "Because," he said furiously,
"you cheated me out of a fortune! It was
mine,
all mine, and then
you had to come back. I needed it—you didn't! Why you could marry any number of
rich men, men richer than you are, and you would have no use for it."

Her
voice was hard as Nicole replied, "I think it is up to me to decide
whether I need my fortune or not. Certainly not you! Your family has grown rich
enough off of me during the past years, and I think you are more than just a
little greedy to want it all. Remember, except by marriage, we are in no way
even related. I may call you cousin, but it is a courtesy title only, and to
want the entire fortune that my family has amassed over many years is, I fear,
the height of avarice. I did not 'cheat' you out of a fortune, I merely
returned to claim what was rightfully mine . . . and you would do well to
remember it!"

There
was nothing that Edward could say to her cutting words, and resentfully he
gazed out the window of the coach, damning the unkind fate that had so misled
him. It wasn't fair that he should come this far and then be thwarted by a mere
female, he thought indignantly. If only he could snatch that damned weapon from
her —then everything would be right again. Only this time he wouldn't wait to
defile her, nor would he treat her with politeness. This time she'd learn that
it wasn't wise to interfere with his plans.

Some
of his confidence returned, and Edward shook off his earlier cowardice and
covertly assessed Nicole. She was only a woman.

Nicole,
ever wary, like a hunted vixen, knew the moment Edward's attitude changed. She
sensed it in the air the way an animal does, and her body tensed. Unafraid, she
faced him, her beautiful features betraying no sign that she suspected him of
action, and as Edward shifted position, she said levelly, "Edward, I
wouldn't try anything if I were you. I am not some missish female who faints at
the sight of blood—I have seen blood before and seen men die before. I can and
will kill you if I am compelled to . . . the choice is yours. But know that you
are not dealing with some hysterical female—force me and I will skewer you
without regard."

Edward
swallowed painfully, slightly taken aback at the determined tone of her voice.
It gave him pause, but his situation was too desperate now to heed her
warnings. If Nicole escaped him, not only would he still be in debt, a debt he
could not pay, but the scandal this abortive escapade would create would
completely and utterly ruin him—he might even face criminal charges if the
Saxons wished to face the furor such an action would engender. This was no
prank that could be explained away, nor could he buy his way free—once in
Brighton he would have to face the consequences of his actions, something he
had never done in his entire selfish life . . . something he had no intention
of doing now. He would teach this stupid bitch a lesson—
his
moment would
come before they reached Brighton. And he'd be ready for it, she would see.
Just wait, dear cuz, he thought malevolently, just wait, you'll not outtrick
me!

Edward's
moment came not five minutes later, although it wasn't what he expected. The
wheel that had skidded off the road earlier had been damaged in the mishap. The
momentum of the carriage and a particularly sharp curve were its undoing, as
the damaged wheel's hub could not bear the combined onslaught and with a
grinding shudder simply disintegrated, the spokes snapping like brittle straws.
Without the spokes for support the rim of the wheel crumpled like old
parchment; the now unbraced rear axle tore up a deep furrow before the cursing
driver brought the horses to a stop.

Outside
there was chaos—the horses plunging and fighting against the reins, the front
pair of animals entangled in their traces, and the coach, tilted at a drunken
angle, right in the center of the narrow road. Inside Nicole and Edward were
locked in a deadly battle for the sword cane; neither knew what had been the
cause of the sudden unexpected violent lurch and the final tremendous jolt that
shook the carriage when the axle hit the ground. At the first rattling jar
Edward had gathered his courage and leaped for Nicole, and Nicole, literally
hurled from side to side of the carriage by the accident, fought like a vixen
at bay, the topaz eyes nearly yellow with fierce concentration. The erratic
motion of the coach gave Edward a slight edge, and he took instant advantage of
it and launched himself bodily at her, deftly avoiding the blade as Nicole
struggled to regain her balance. It was an ugly battle; Edward cursed as Nicole
twisted in his murderous grip, his body heavy on hers, pinning her against the
seat, his face thrust next to hers. With a shudder of distaste she felt his hot
breath on her cheek and struggled even more violently to free herself. Edward
had both her hands captured in his and exerted all his pressure on the wrist of
the arm that held the sword, but Nicole, breathing rapidly and painfully,
ignored the shaft of burning agony that ran up her arm, and thrashing like a
wild creature, she managed to bring a knee up between their straining bodies.
Viciously she kicked Edward in the groin area, smiling grimly at his howl of
pain. His aching hold on her wrist slackened slightly, and Nicole, giving him
no chance at all, with the swiftness of a striking snake quickly drove the
sword deep into Edward's shoulder.

A
shriek of agony broke from him and he fell back, one hand clutching his groin
the other his shoulder. With disbelief he stared across at the disheveled young
woman as she held the sword ready to strike again. At the sight of the few
smears of blood on her pelisse, Edward closed his eyes and moaned, "I am
dying! I know it. You have killed me, cousin!"

"Hardly,"
Nicole returned dryly. "You are
wounded,
cousin, and not fatally, I
can assure you. I did warn you, so you have no one to blame but yourself. Feel
thankful I didn't kill you . . . because the thought had crossed my mind."

The
sudden sound of an approaching vehicle distracted her attention, and ignoring
Edward, she leaned forward, listening intently. It took her only a second to
recognize Robert's irritated voice in the darkness, and with one last
contemptuous look at Edward, she threw the sword cane at him, opened the door,
and sprang gracefully from the carriage.

"Robert!
Stay! It is Nicole!" she cried almost elatedly, thankful for rescue so
soon. She had not relished remaining there in a disabled coach with a wounded
and petulant Edward throughout the night while the postilion went for help, and
while she would rather have had just about anyone other than Robert Saxon be
her rescuer, she wasn't in a mood to quibble.

Through
the silver light of the moon Robert peered at her and exclaimed, "My dear,
is it really you? I had not thought to overtake you for at least another hour
or more."

Nicole
gave a shaky laugh. "We have had a series of accidents; the latest you can
see for yourself." Then with a throb of relief, she added, "Oh,
Robert, I am so glad to see you! Please take me home! Are they very much
worried at Kings Road?"

Robert
started to reply, but Galena, seated at Robert's side, could contain herself no
longer, and tumbling from Robert's gig, she ran up to her mistress. "Miss
Nicole, I have been so frightened! I hurried home the instant you disappeared
with Master Edward. I met Master Robert in the hall and learned that Lord Saxon
was alive!" Throwing Robert a troubled look, she went on, "When I told
him what had happened, he guessed instantly that Master Edward was planning a
runaway marriage, and we came after you. No one even knows where we are. Master
Robert felt not a moment was to be lost, and he said that when we overtook your
coach that you should have me with you for appearances' sake."

Nicole
smiled reassuringly down at her worried face. "You've done the right
thing, Galena. Let us leave this place and go home. I am so tired and it seems
all I have done is live on the ends of my nerves for the past hours."

Robert
took the cue from her words, and stepping down, he helped Nicole up into the
gig. She took one glance at the broken-down vehicle and shuddered. Thank God
she was out of Edward's clutches!

After
having seen the women seated, Robert, a grim cast to his features, started
purposefully toward the other vehicle, but Nicole called him back,
"Robert! No! Let him be!"

At
Robert's stunned look of disbelief she said persuasively, "He can do
nothing further tonight. I have wounded him with his own sword and tomorrow
will be time enough for us to take action. Please, for my sake, let us be
off?"