My Fair Lily (15 page)

“Will he start with the best horses first?”

“No. Here’s where the art of the process comes in. He starts slowly, perhaps with an attractive mare or high-stepping filly, something to pique one’s interest. Then he’ll raise the stakes a bit with a promising colt that is likely to attract several bidders. If that colt lands his owner a nice price, then the auctioneer knows he’ll have a successful auction, for the losing bidders will be that much more eager for the next
promising colt on the roster. But he won’t put him up right away.”

“Why not? I’d think the bidders would grow impatient.”

“They will, and that’s precisely what the auctioneer hopes for. He doesn’t want them easily gratified.”

“Oh, I see. He wants that slow build, that teasing promise of fulfillment.
Like the romantic hero’s chase for the heroine in Eloise’s novels. There’s no fun if the heroine easily falls into the hero’s arms. He must be tempted, then thwarted and made to suffer before his ultimate triumph.”

She tucked her arm in his and allowed him to lead the way to the auction area. “This is all so fascinating. So exciting.”

“Better than your books?”

“Much better. My heart’s racing in anticipation, and I’m not even bidding. How do you feel? What if someone bids against you on Hades? I doubt anyone will fight for the sweet little mare though. You ought to buy her at a good price. But how high are you willing to bid for Hades? Do you think you’ll be swept up in the heat of the moment?”

“I know what he’s worth, but I’ll let him go if the price is too high.”

She nodded, smiling up at him. “I thought as much. You don’t
seem the sort to lose control. Ever.”

“I try not to.” He gazed at her, his expression thoughtful.

She shrugged and looked away as the auctioneer pounded his gavel to signal the start of the auction. She felt Ewan’s gaze still on her and felt her body respond with hot tingles up and down her spine. Her blood heated, and those little butterflies in her stomach began to flutter about in their usual Ewan-spurred frenzy.

She was glad not to be bidding. She obviously lacked the ability to control her own feelings. Indeed, had she participated, she would have been one of those dupes whose desires were so easily manipulated. Goodness, if Ewan were on the auction block, she
would have offered
her entire fortune to have him. Quite pitiful really, considering he would not have bid on her were she on the block. He was only
interested in Scottish ponies.

Though the auction proceeded quickly, it still took almost an hour for Hades to come up. The little mare had come up early on and only Ewan had bid on her. Still, Lily had been in agony until the
auctioneer banged his gavel to signal the end of the bidding.

But Hades was the sort of horse to rouse a man’s desire, and she expected several well-heeled gentlemen would try to buy him. The auctioneer signaled the start of bidding. Lily found herself gasping and squealing and clutching Ewan’s arm each time the stakes were
raised.
Ewan’s attention was on the prize and not even her childish
enthusiasm
could distract him. Good thing. Several men were passionate about
that horse, but Ewan’s cool control won out.

While Laurel and her uncle went with Ewan to secure his purchases, Lily went back to the little mare’s stall to tell her the good news. Not that she had the ability to speak to horses, but Lily was bursting with excitement and wished to share it with that gentle
creature.

She was still smiling and petting the gray mare’s nose when
someone came up from behind her and not so gently shoved her into the stall. “What the—” She fell beneath the mare’s hooves, startling the
old girl, who did her best to avoid hurting Lily. But she was just a horse and didn’t understand what was happening. The assailant moved toward Lily, obviously not intending to stop with just a shove. He picked her up and pushed her against the hard, wooden boards of
the wall before she had the chance to catch her breath and scream.

Lily expected to recognize her assailant, believing it was Desmond once again releasing his fear and frustration on her, but when she turned, she saw a large, unkempt ruffian with a knife in his dirty hand
and an evil gleam in his bloodshot eyes. “Is it my purse you want? Here.
Take it.”

“I’ll have it an’ ye as well. Think ye can get the better of
m’master. This’ll teach ye.”

Lily had to think quickly. She pretended to surrender, and then at the precise moment brought her knee to his privates with all the force she could muster. As he bent over with an angry yelp, she grabbed the pin from her hat and stabbed it into the hand that was
holding the
knife. He shrieked and dropped his knife. Lily used his momentary distraction to race from the stall.

She darted out and fell against another hard wall. Ewan. He tightened his arms around her. “What’s the matter?”

Laurel was two steps behind him. “She’s afraid of mice. Did you see one in the stall?”

Lily was too frightened to answer.

Ewan took a closer look at her. “Bollix,” he muttered, handing her over to Laurel and heading into the stall before she could stop him. “Bloody bastard. Who are you working for?” Ewan growled,
then she
heard the thud of fists against bodies. To Lily’s frustration, she
couldn’t make out the rest, for Laurel was tugging her away.

A group of men heard the commotion and began to gather by the stall, further shutting her out. Men being men, they were quick to take bets on who would come out the winner, though she could have told them the blackguard stood no chance against Ewan. As the fight spilled
out into the pathway, she saw Ewan knock the man to the ground with two swift punches. He hauled the dazed man to his feet, obviously
searching for a Tattersalls official to take him into proper custody.

Lily could see he was angry, his dark eyes blazing as he scanned the bloodthirsty crowd. And angrier as his gaze fell upon someone else of interest. He released the man and shouldered his way through the crowd, grabbing his cousin. “Desmond,” Lily muttered, drawing Laurel toward the pair.

“Who’s Desmond?”

“His despicable cousin. The one who threatened me and Meggie at Madame de Bressard’s shop. We’d better stop Ewan before he kills him.”

Laurel held her back. “Are you serious? You can’t get between
those two. It’s too dangerous.”

As if to prove her point, Ewan drew his fist back to begin pummeling his cousin. At the same time, the blackguard he’d released a moment earlier and three of his friends ran forward, quickly surrounding him. “What are you waiting for? Get him,”
Desmond ordered, sneering as the assailants obeyed him and attacked Ewan.

Desmond hurried off, leaving Ewan alone to defend himself against the unsavory foursome. Though there were dozens of bystanders nearby, not one man stepped forward to help Ewan. He
was in trouble, clearly
outnumbered, and he stood no chance of escaping unharmed, especially if those men carried weapons. “Laurel, find Uncle George.”

Laurel nodded. “Stay out of it, Lily. Promise me.”

“I can’t. Someone has to even the odds until help arrives.” Lily grabbed a wooden board that lay near her feet. Ewan had shattered it over one of the brigands a few moments ago. She avoided Laurel and rushed forward with careful purpose, holding her breath in order to remain calm as she entered the melee. She struck two of the assailants with precision, catching them at the back of the knees. Their ungainly bodies responded as she knew they would, the precise blows causing their legs to buckle. They lost their balance and fell to their knees.

She swung the board at each man’s head, each time striking with a resounding
thwack!

“Lily, by all that’s holy!” Her uncle grabbed her and lifted her out of harm’s way.

“No! I have to help him.”

“I’ll do it.” George unceremoniously dumped her beside Laurel, quickly removed his jacket, and rushed forward to haul the other assailants off Ewan.

The crowd cheered. Big bodies flew into the makeshift stalls, splintering wood and frightening horses. Several horses broke loose and
galloped across the auction grounds, chased by their owners... angry owners, for no one wanted to lose a precious source of income. Buckets were overturned, bystanders splattered by more big bodies falling into water troughs.

Though it seemed to Lily as though years had gone by, the fight
actually ended almost as quickly as it had erupted. Ewan and her uncle were the only ones left standing. Lily let out the breath she had
been holding. “Thank goodness.”

She rushed to Ewan. “Are you hurt?”

He didn’t have time to respond before the Tattersalls officials arrived and promptly ejected them. Lily was surprised and indignant. “Us? You’re tossing
us
out? We’re the victims here. Where were you when that ruffian shoved me into the stall and tried to steal my purse? And when his companions attacked Lord Carnach and my uncle? I’m appalled. Your directors will hear about this, mark my words. I
won’t let the matter—
arghh
!”

Ewan picked her up by the waist, scooped her over his shoulder, and hauled her to their waiting carriage. “Och, lass, you’re wasting your breath. They don’t care. Leave it alone. Your uncle and I will
deal with the matter privately.”

“When? After everyone hears your cousin’s lies and believes them? They’ll never listen to the truth, no matter what you or Uncle George say.”

Ewan nudged her into the carriage. Laurel and her uncle scrambled in after her. Ewan stepped in last, settling his brawny frame beside her. He cast her a warning glower when she opened her mouth to utter more protest. “Enough, lass. M’head’s still
spinning.”

She stopped complaining. Ewan was the victim in all this and
he’d
already heard her righteous indignation. “What about Hades and the
little mare? We ought to have picked them up.”

“They’ll be delivered to my stables,” Laurel assured. “What shall we name the little mare?”

Lily knew that her sister was trying to distract her from the incident. “We should leave it to Meggie.” She sighed, knowing nothing could be done until Ewan and her uncle spoke to the authorities. She glanced at Ewan. He was rubbing his jaw with his left hand and resting his
swollen
right hand on his thigh. Though his expression was stoic, there was a glint in his eyes that revealed he was in pain. “Oh, dear. Is your hand broken?”

“No.”

She turned to her uncle. “How are you? Any bruises? Cuts?
Broken bones?”

“I’m sure I’ll be full of aches and pains tomorrow, but no serious harm.” He grinned. “Felt good to throw a few punches, but I think
this afternoon’s bout will satisfy me for the next forty years.”

Laurel leaned forward. “Lily, how did you fell those two brutes? You hardly swung that wood board but they tumbled to their knees so fast, I’m sure they had no idea what struck them. And come to think of it, how did you escape that ruffian who had you pinned in
the stall?”

“What she lacks in brawn,” her uncle explained, “she makes up
for
in brains. She aimed for the pressure points, the parts of the body
that respond in a predictable way to contact. The backs of the knees are exceptionally sensitive.”

Lily nodded. “And when the villain drew his knife, I simply
stabbed him with my hat pin.”

There was a collective gasp from all three companions. Ewan pinned her with his glower. “He drew a knife on you? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t wait long enough for me to say anything. You simply
went after the man in that protective animal rage of yours. Anyway, the knife had fallen under the little mare’s hooves and she wasn’t going to let him get anywhere near her. She probably kicked him for good measure.”

“Och, Lily. He might have killed you. I should never have left you on your own.”

“You? I’d think Laurel and Uncle George are more responsible for me, they’re my family after all. Not that anyone is responsible for me. I can take care of myself. As I said, I got him with my hat pin. I
doubt he meant to hurt me, just scare me.”

“He drew his knife,” Ewan muttered, the quiet menace in his
voice sending a chill through her.

“Well, yes. That is a fact.” She swallowed hard. “Oh, my goodness! Ewan, is that blood on your shirt? Your blood?” She leaned closer, but it was hard to see in the dim light of the carriage. “Take off your coat. Now. Or does it hurt too much? I’ll do it.”

Her uncle held her back. “Lily, leave him be.”

“But he’s hurt!”

“I can see that.” He thumped on the carriage roof and ordered the driver to take them straight to the Farthingale residence. “My medical bag is there. Ewan, our footmen will help you into the house.”

Lily shook her head. “There isn’t a spare bed in the house. And there are too many Farthingales about. Laurel and I will help him next door to Eloise’s while you grab whatever supplies you need and meet us there.”

Which is what they did, Eloise’s footmen assisting Ewan into one of the several available guest quarters, while Lily, Laurel, and Eloise hurried upstairs before them to ready the chamber. Ewan looked pale. Angry, but pale. He was now clutching his side with his
swollen right
hand. There was a widening crimson stain on his dark brown jacket, but Lily allowed herself a small breath of relief. The stain appeared too far
above his liver and other vital organs for the villain’s knife to have struck one of them. Still, if he were stabbed, the knife point might have pierced his lung. She studied the rise and fall of his chest to assure
herself that he wasn’t wheezing or having other difficulty
breathing.