The Langley Sisters Trilogy Boxed Set (90 page)

“Yes, I know the address as I had to reply to there with our acceptance to his picnic,” Finn said.

They reached the northern end of the park and Will signaled a man. “You, there.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“I need you to stand here and direct some men who will approach on horseback. I want you to tell them that Lord Ryder and Lord Levermarch have gone to find Lord Anthony.” He then added the address.

Luke handed him some money before they rode off. They did not speak again until they arrived at the address. The house was in a respectable part of London, with others of equal quality flanking it. Luke handed his reins to Finn who would stay out here with Ace. Pounding on the door produced nothing, so they went around the back and knocked on the servants’ entrance and still no one answered. Finding a window at ground level, Luke smashed it using a stone from the garden, and climbed inside, followed by Will.

“It’s empty!” Luke looked around the walls; no pictures or furniture. Going from room to room, they found nothing until they reached one of the bedrooms on the second floor. Here there was a bed and clothes, but nothing further.

“What the hell is going on?” Will walked around to a desk that had pieces of paper and other items scattered over it. Finding a note, he opened it as Luke searched through the clothes that were discarded on the floor.

“He’s got nothing,” Will said minutes later. “These are markers that are being called in, and bills from outraged suppliers. Lord Anthony has obviously been living a lie, and has set about discrediting and trying to remove you because he wanted to marry Bella.

“And Bella’s dowry was supposed to save him,” Luke whispered.
 

The sound of a fist banging on the front door had them both running back down the stairs. Luke unlocked it and threw it open. Finn and his brothers stood outside with Ace still on his horse holding the others.

“Anthony has nothing, he’s been living a lie and has been trying to get rid of Luke to clear the way for him to marry Bella for her dowry,” Will stated.
 
“She told him this morning that she would not marry him, and I was with her when she did so. I saw the rage in his eyes. It was real, and both Bella and I commented on it.” Will looked grim as he finished speaking.

“Where would he take her?” Luke’s words cut through their conversation. “You’re noblemen; tell me what he will do now.”

“He’ll take her to a Gretna Green, or a church if he already has a license,” Ben said.

“Christ, we could look everywhere. Do you know how many bloody churches there are in a day or two’s ride from London?” Alex looked horrified, Luke swore long and low, which no one blinked at.

“She’s mine,” he snarled, “and no one is taking her away from me now.” Luke looked at each of the men before him. “You need to know that even if he marries her I will have her, whether I have to kill him to achieve it. Bella and I cannot live without each other, nor will we.”

“You can’t—”

Luke impaled Alex with a look. “Yes,” he said softly. “I can. She is my life as I am hers. I will not allow her to live an unhappy one with another, nor will she allow me to live without her.”

Finn broke the silence. “It’s the way of things when you love, Alex. It would have been no different for Will or I. We would kill for Phoebe and Livvy, and one day you’ll know why.”

Will nodded. “I’d destroy anyone who hurt Livvy.”

Ben and Alex looked at the other and whistled, but said nothing further.
 

“Don’t look, but behind Alex, there is a man who has been hovering on the corner of the street. He keeps looking up here and then away,” Finn said softly. “I suggest Ben and Alex go now, stroll towards him, and see if he runs. If he does, you give chase. When you catch him, bring him here.”

The twins nodded, shaking the hands of each man. Alex then slapped Ben on the back and together they started walking. Luke shook his head at Ace as he started to dismount and he remained on his horse. He watched the twins elbow each other as they walked, chatting loudly, from the corner of his eye.

“They’re on the opposite side of the street from him, and so far he has yet to move. Ben has just given Alex an elbow in the stomach which has sent him stumbling across the road,” Finn said.
 

Luke hated standing here knowing Bella was in danger. He hated that the twins were doing something while he was not. He wanted to go after her, but knew he had no idea which direction Anthony had taken. He didn’t think the man would hurt her, but after what he had done to Luke, he knew what he was capable off and that sent a chill down his spine.
 

“Open the door and go inside. They have him and are bringing him towards the house.”

Will and Luke did as Finn asked and stood waiting for the twins to arrive.

“Why have you grabbed me?” The man Ben and Alex held was dressed in rough clothes, his hair greasy, body thin and bent, and he was protesting loudly.

“Where has Lord Anthony taken Miss Langley?”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he stammered.

Luke walked forward, keeping his eyes on the man, holding his terrified gaze. He stopped inches before him. “You look familiar to me. In fact, I believe it was you who tried to take a knife to my throat a few days ago.”

“I never saw you before.”

“And now I look closely, you could be the man who tried to run me down with a carriage, too.”

“Wasn’t me!”

“Miss Langley is my betrothed, and related to every man in this room, and it’s our belief that Lord Anthony has abducted her. We,” Luke gestured with his hand around the room, “care very much for Miss Langley and it would be in your best interests to remember that before you open your mouth again.” Luke watched the man swallow several times. “So I will ask you one final time where he has taken her. If you do not reply, then I will start beating the answers out of you.”

The man looked from Luke to the others and back to Luke.

“H-he’s gone to a church.”

“Gretna Green?” Will said.

“No, he says he doesn’t need to go there, and said something about a village called Biverton.”

“I know where that is!” Ben said. “We’ve been there, Alex, to watch a boxing match. Do you remember?”

“By God, yes!”

“Tis lucky for you that I care more about getting to her than evening the score between us, sir. But if you ever appear before me again, you shall not be so lucky. Let’s go.” Luke walked past the man and out the door.
 

I’m coming, Bella.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Bella woke, disorientated. Her head hurt as she struggled to sit upright. Her hands were bound in front of her.

“I hope your head is not too painful, my dear.”

She saw him sitting on the opposite seat, then. Lord Anthony, and suddenly she remembered being in the park.

“Why have you taken me?” She had a nasty feeling she knew why, but she still had to ask.

“We are to be married.” The smile she had always thought was pleasant was now anything but. He looked unstable all of a sudden, and Bella wondered why she had not looked at him closely before.

“You had us all fooled, didn’t you?”

“Oh, I assure you I am a lord, my dear. However, I inherited a title with little wealth attached to it. I have expensive tastes; therefore, what little there was had soon gone and your dowry will help replenish my coffers.”

“It was you, wasn’t it? The one who tried to hurt my fiancé? The person responsible for blackening his name?”

“I am your fiancé, my dear, not Luke Fletcher. As you know, he has left town, leaving you clear to marry a man more worthy of your breeding.”

“Worthy?” Bella spat the word at him. “You are the least worthy man I know and Luke is worth ten of a sniveling creature like you.”

“He is of common birth!” Lord Anthony’s face flushed with color.

“And more of a man than you could ever be,” Bella said. “You have no idea who you are dealing with, do you?” Bella took a couple of deep, steadying breaths. She was worried but not terrified. Luke would come for her and she just had to stay unmarried and unharmed until then.

“Pardon?” He looked genuinely perplexed by her question.

“My family are not normal, my lord. They will not sit idly by while you attempt to marry me. They can, I assure you, fight extremely dirty when required. And to protect one of theirs, they will stop at nothing.”

Bella watched his eyes go to the window as he swallowed quickly. She saw the flash of fear before he managed to mask it.

“They will not find us.”

She smiled. “Oh, they will, and you will be very unhappy when they do.”

“We’ll be wed by then.” This time his words were not quite as calm.

“And you think that will stop them?” Bella laughed. “You will never get my dowry, nor will they allow you to stay married to me. My fiancé will kill you without blinking, Lord Anthony, as will my brothers-in-law…actually, and my sisters.”

“You’re just telling tales, Miss Langley, trying to scare me,” His laugh was forced and shaky.
 

Bella looked at him steadily. “My father died and left us penniless. My sisters became highwaymen to survive, Lord Anthony. My fiancé and brother-in-law lived in India for years. They built their empire using force and their wits to survive. Do you honestly think I could make up a story like that?” It would soon be dark but Bella could see that his skin was pale, and he was sweating.

“You’re lying. I’ve seen your family. They are gentle, titled people who will accept your marriage when I present it to them.”

Bella knew she had said enough to scare him, so instead, she shrugged her shoulders. “We shall soon see if I am lying, my lord.” Feigning disinterest she looked out the window.
 

“Yes, we will, my dear. And while I understand you are trying to scare me, which you did for a while there, remember what I am capable of. I have attempted twice to kill Luke Fletcher. Believe me when I say that I will not fail a third time.”

“Your words don’t frighten me. You paid people to cause the damage you have, those were the actions of a coward, a man who relies on others to do his dirty deeds. Besides, as you have abducted me, I can only imagine that your money has now run out and you have nothing to bribe people to do your bidding anymore.”

She knew she was right, as anger filled his face and his fists clenched on his thighs.
 

“You will be my wife.”

She didn’t answer and they traveled in silence for some time, but she felt his eyes on her. She had to escape somehow and give Luke the time he needed to find her. She never doubted him, and she would do all she could to aid him.

“We will be stopping for the night soon, and I’m afraid I must once again drug you, Miss Langley, to get you to our room.”

“No!” Bella reached for the door handle. He would not drug her again; she’d jump from the carriage first.
 

“Yes,” he said, grabbing her hands. “And after a night spent together, you will have to marry me.” He tried to pull her across the seat and into his arms but she kicked out with her legs, feeling the muscles in her thigh protest with the action.

“Bitch!” He slapped her hard, but it deterred her only briefly. Lifting her bound hands she reached for his face and raked her nails down his cheek. His curses filled the carriage as his strength overwhelmed her and he pushed her onto her back, with the cloth over her face.
 

She woke the second time on a bed. It was dark, but she knew instantly she was alone. She was pleased that her hands were untied. Sitting upright, Bella pushed herself off the bed and to her feet, taking a few seconds to steady herself. Her cheek ached from his hand, but everything else felt all right. Walking towards the door, she tried the handle but it yielded nothing. Bella thought about screaming and then thought better of it. She didn’t know what story Lord Anthony had made up about her.

Making her way to the only window, she lifted it and looked outside. They were at least three stories up, and if she attempted to jump she would break something, if not her neck. Leaning further out, she ran her fingers down the side of the building and found a ledge beneath the window. It wasn’t wide; perhaps the span of her foot, but no bigger. Squinting into the night, she saw the shape of a roof at the end of the building. Could she make her way along the ledge and jump to that building. One thing was for certain. She did not want to wait here for Lord Anthony, and whatever he had planned for her this night.

Lifting her good leg over the sill, she hitched herself onto it, then lowered it down slowly to the other side until her foot rested on the narrow ledge. Gripping the window, she then swung the other one out and placed it behind the first. She started edging along, grabbing the edges of the building as she did. There was not much to hold but she managed. It was slow and arduous, but she did not hurry; it would be then that she fell. Her thigh protested the tension she was putting on it, but that would ease when she reached the end. However, then she would have to jump, which would not be easy.

The end of the building stopped her progress. Looking down, she saw the roof a few feet below. It was not far, but she would still have to jump and land without injuring herself. She fixed a vision of Luke in her head and jumped. The landing was hard, and she tried to take as much impact as she could on her good leg, but it was inevitable that the other one took some. The jolt of pain traveled through her body.
 
She took precious seconds to steady herself and then walked over the roof to find a way down. Nothing presented itself, so she lay on her stomach and dangled her legs over the edge, then gripped the edge of the roof and swung herself down, dropping the last few feet to the ground. Using a few of Luke’s curses, she limped away to where she hoped the stables were.