Make Me Love You (27 page)

“What was the noise?” he demanded.

“ ’Is lordship’s boat got blown out of the water.”

Rory’s brow rose, the good one, as he looked Dominic over with light gray eyes. They were nearly the same height. Dominic was more muscular, but the man who’d somehow escaped a death sentence was heavier and barrel-chested. But to be the head of the villagers—or whoever they were—he wasn’t that old, maybe nearing thirty.

“Are you titled, or just a fancy dresser?” he asked Dominic.

“Titled, not that it’s relevant to the situation.”

“Oh, but it is.”

Brooke felt the muscles in Dominic’s arm flex against her cheek; in fact, his whole body tensed. She had a feeling his eyes had just gone feral, too. He was preparing for battle, and that terrified her, considering that five weapons were still pointed right at him.

But she was amazed by his temperate tone when he said, “I would suggest you lower your weapons. We mean you no harm.”

Rory shrugged. “Can’t say the same. It’s too bad about the boat, though. It would’ve fetched a pretty price. But come along. You’ll get to have your say before I decide whether you live or die.”

Dominic didn’t budge. “I’d like to hear more about your village before I decide whether to accept your invitation.”

That caused a few snickers, but Rory had already walked off, assuming they would follow. Someone called after him, “ ’E ain’t moving, Rory.”

Rory glanced back. “Shoot the female in the foot if they aren’t walking in front of you in two seconds.”

“Do you really want to die today?” Dominic said in a quiet, malevolent tone.

“Oh, ho!” Rory laughed. “And now I have my leverage—the woman. Good of you to volunteer that, mate. But do come along. We’ll have a drink and talk before anyone gets hurt, and we’ll see if you have something to bargain with.”

Dominic put his arm around Brooke and held her tightly to his side before he started walking.

“They’re some sort of criminals, aren’t they?” she whispered. “This close to shore, maybe smugglers?”

“Without a ship? More likely highwaymen hiding in the woods if they have ‘fast’ horses—unless that was a lie.”

“But it sounded like they’ll dicker for our release.”

“For promises? Not likely.”

“Don’t underestimate the power of a titled lord. That Rory fellow probably knows if you give your word, you’ll honor it.”

She was trying to be optimistic to tamp down her fear, but it didn’t work. Dominic wasn’t armed. If he tried to fight their way out of this, he was going to get shot, repeatedly, and he was a big target. It was all well and good that he’d threatened to kill their captors, but if
he
died . . .

B
ROOKE LOOKED AROUND THE
clearing in the woods where the criminals apparently lived. With only four decent-size huts it certainly wasn’t a village. A fifth appeared to be under construction; a wagon filled with lumber was parked next to it. She didn’t see any gardens or shops, not even a road leading here. A large campfire burned in front of one of the huts. A big pot hung over the fire and benches surrounded it.

A dozen or so people were there, though half of them were women holding young children. Most of them eyed Brooke and Dominic warily, but one young woman smiled shyly at Brooke, as did a few of the children.

They were led to the campfire. Rory picked up a flask on the ground and took a swig from it, then offered it to Dominic, who shook his head. Dominic removed his arm from around Brooke’s shoulders when Rory gave her a long look. She realized Dominic was preparing to fight.

Rory took a step back before asking, “D’you need some time to cool off, then? Before we talk? We usually do our
robbing on the highways, but we don’t turn away donations that come our way.”

“You can take what little I have on me, or you can loan me two of your horses and I will return them with a purse containing a hundred pounds.”

“Or I can hold you for ransom, gov’nor. A hundred, eh? I’m thinking you’re worth a lot more’n that.”

“The Prince Regent is already holding me for ransom,” Dominic snarled.

The men laughed, obviously not believing him.

“And what’s his holiness asking of you?” Rory asked.

“A ring on her finger.”

The uproarious laughter when Dominic pointed his thumb at her got Brooke quite indignant.

But Rory stepped closer to her and grinned. “I’d pay that ransom.”

It might have been the remark, or because the man was about to touch her cheek, but Dominic suddenly lunged at him. They fell to the ground, and despite there being a half dozen weapons trained on him, Dominic still landed a fist to Rory’s cheek before three men dragged him off their leader.

“You might be a lord, but you’re not too smart,” Rory said angrily as he got back to his feet. “A cooling-off time it is, then. Tie his lordship up and make bleedin’ sure the ropes are tight. As for her—”

“I’ll be seeing to her,” a female voice interrupted.

Brooke turned to see an older woman approaching. Gray haired and gray eyed, she was a little beyond middle years with a weathered face. Her eyes swept over Brooke in a calculating manner before she gave Rory a stern look.

Dominic was struggling so fiercely with the three men
holding him that two of them were already on the ground. But four others jumped in to help restrain him. He might still have won that battle, but he stopped trying when he heard the woman add, “D’you not recognize a gently reared lady? She’s coming with me, boy.”

Brooke held her breath, waiting to hear Rory laugh and tell the old woman to go away. He didn’t. Instead he turned to help his men tie up Dominic, and the woman led Brooke to the hut at the far end of the clearing. It was much nicer inside than she had expected. She even found the strong smell of fresh wood pleasant. A double bed had a brightly colored quilt on it. There was a table with four chairs, even a rug on the wooden floorboards. The furniture all looked old and heavily used.

“Make yourself comfy, dearie. I’m Matty.”

Brooke swung around when the old woman followed her into the room. “Please, what are they going to do to my fiancé?”

She shook her head. “My boy is mercurial, especially when he sees an opportunity to make us rich. He’s sunk his teeth into that idea, now that he knows your man is a lord. So there’s no telling what he’ll do if it don’t happen.”

Brooke paled a little more. Had she really hoped to hear a less terrifying outcome? But if this woman was Rory’s mother, could she help them? Rory had listened to her and let Brooke go with her. If Brooke could somehow gain her sympathy, maybe . . .

“Rory is your son?”

“Indeed. Rory’s a good boy who abides by his own code of honor—usually.”

Brooke wondered what that meant but decided not to ask. The woman sat down at the table and indicated Brooke should
join her. “You have a nice home. How long have you lived in these woods?”

“Less than a month. We pick a new highway to work every year. With prices on our men’s heads, we can’t stay in one area too long, so we build anew each year far from the roads, but not so far that a well-traveled new highway can’t be reached in a few hours. How long have you and your man been affianced?”

“I’ve only known him a week.” It seemed so much longer!

The woman looked surprised. “And you’re so concerned about him already?”

“He’s a good man, a concerned son. His mother has taken ill. We were on our way to London in a tearing hurry because he’s so worried about her.”

“But you want the marriage?”

“I do, but he doesn’t.” Brooke sighed.

Matty pointed at her emphatically. “I always tell a girl who believes she’s found herself a fine fellow, seduce him if you want him to love you. And you’re dealing with a proper lord who wouldn’t fail to marry you after he’s bedded you.”

Brooke had started blushing at the word
seduce.
Alfreda had had the same idea, which is why she’d given Brooke the potion that she had in her valise. But even if she wanted to, how could she now when they might not even be alive come morning?

The woman tsked. “Rory is too unpredictable. It would be a shame if you was to die without knowing what it’s like to lie in the arms of such a handsome, virile man as your fiancé. Maybe I can get Rory to agree to let you talk some sense into the lord, convince him to pay Rory his due. Don’t worry, dearie. At least, I can arrange for you to spend your last night with him.” Matty turned to leave.

“I’ll need my valise!” Brooke called out, in case the woman really could do as she’d just said.

But as hours passed, Brooke began to suspect Matty had only given her false hope. Dusk came. She’d been standing at one of the two windows that faced the campfire, and she hadn’t caught a glimpse of either Rory or Dominic the entire time. But she could see two guards keeping their eyes on her hut. Was Dominic coming to terms with Rory in one of the other huts? Or was he being beaten now that he was restrained? She was terrified by what might be happening to him and what might happen to her soon. But what if the mother did have enough sway to bring Dominic to her during the night?

Hungry, tired, she still stood vigil at the window, too afraid not to.

“H
E WANTS THE MOON,
” Dominic said angrily. “I offered him several alternatives, even sanctuary in Rothdale village for him and his friends—against my better judgment.”

Brooke had leaped at Dominic the second he walked through the door and was still hugging his waist fiercely. “Did he agree?”

“He still wants the moon. And if he keeps us here too long waiting for it, I won’t have anything left to offer him. The Regent will have taken it all.”

Embarrassment overtook her when she realized what she was doing, though Dominic was so frustrated he probably didn’t even notice. She stepped back. “Did you explain that?”

“
That
is none of his business. Then that old woman called him away. I could hear them arguing behind the hut they had me in, though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. But then I was untied and escorted here to you. Do you know why?”

“She’s his mother. I think she wants me to convince you
to give Rory what he’s demanding. She made it sound like this would be our last night if you don’t.”

“Last?”

“She seems to think the matter will be settled one way or another in the morning.”

“Then we need to escape tonight.”

“How? The door and the windows face the campfire where there are guards watching this hut.”

“I’ll break the boards in the back once most of this camp is asleep.”

The hut was newly built. She didn’t think he could break any freshly cut boards without making a lot of noise that would alert the guards. She didn’t see any way out of this if Dominic couldn’t come to terms with Rory. But he was here with her now. Rory’s mother did come through on that! And Brooke had dug the potion out of her valise as soon as it had been brought to her. But it wasn’t going to do her any good if Dominic didn’t have a drink she could surreptitiously pour it into.

She could make the suggestion, but she didn’t think he would be open to an early wedding night when he was still so determined that there would never be a wedding. But the man excited her in myriad ways, and being alone with him in this small room, with a bed nearby, was affecting her. God, she wished he weren’t so handsome. She wished she could be indifferent to him. She wished she could figure out some way to bargain with him so this marriage could be more palatable for
him,
but all she wanted to do was kiss him again. How shameful, but that was certainly his fault for being so adept at it. Yet there wouldn’t be a marriage if they couldn’t get out of this camp of criminals alive. So this might indeed be her last and only opportunity to find out what it would be like to go beyond the kissing with him.

“Get some sleep,” he suggested. “I’ll wake you when it’s time.”

“I’m too hungry to sleep.”

The door opened again. A guard stood in the doorway while Matty came in with a tray of food, a lantern—and a bottle of wine! She set the tray on the table and said to Brooke, “Here you are, dearie. This might be your last meal so”—Matty cast a quick glance at Dominic—“enjoy every bite.” Then she walked over to Dominic and wheedled him with compliments and pleas to take pity on those less fortunate, great generous lord that he was. Brooke wondered what the woman was up to now, when she hadn’t been a bit supplicatory earlier. She supposed Matty might be too afraid of Dominic to threaten him with dire consequences, but then he had taken on a really menacing aura from the moment the weapons had been pointed at them.