The Runner's Enticement (Men of Circumstance Book 2) (13 page)

Chapter 23

Nate fought a battle with himself. As he paced beneath the largest shade tree on the south lawn, he wavered badly.

He wanted Anna to meet with him so he could finally learn the identity of her mystery man.

And he needed her to avoid him so he had a reason to visit her chamber—and her bed—once more.

He gave his head a hard shake.
Regain control of yourself
. With a job to do, allowing a highbred miss, no matter how alluring, to distract him was
not
an option. He might be on the verge of ending his own career but if he did, it would be a decision made by
him
. Not something he did in disgrace because he couldn’t solve a simple robbery case.

If a hidden blackmailer couldn’t derail Nate’s dedication to the case, he certainly wouldn’t allow his ill-advised feeling for Anna either.

Nate’s thoughts drifted to the latest letter he’d discovered upon his return to his room after leaving Anna’s bed. As before, it had contained a single line.

Don’t forget, I’m watching and hunting . . . and you are my prey.

Absorbed in his thoughts, he didn’t notice Anna’s approach until she spoke from behind him. “I told you I’d be here.”

Ignoring the shot of disappointment that he wouldn’t be using pleasurable means to coax his answers, Nate turned to her. “Forgive me for having my doubts. You have become quite effective at avoiding my company.”

She blushed at his direct accusation. “Yes, well, I could hardly encourage a repeat of last night.”

He froze. It was the first time either of them had mentioned their night together.

His cheeks abruptly warmed, something a man of his experience didn’t do when reminded of his sexual encounters. Anna might be small in stature, but she had spirit. He couldn’t help craving her more because of it.

Thinking it best to leave last night where it was for now—behind them—he didn’t take her bait. Instead, he asked, “Would you care to sit?” He gestured to a nearby bench.

“I’d rather stand.”

“Really? I thought you’d like the chance to rest your injured toe.”

She blanched and he knew he had her. She’d been lying. He just couldn’t imagine why. The tears he’d seen in her eyes and the misery on her face had been very real, so why the deception? Unless it had to do with him. Could she regret last night?

He was an idiot. Of course she did. Not only had he taken her innocence and the chance to someday present her virginity to her husband, he was a lowly, bastard-born Runner. She probably feared he’d offer his hand in consequence of what they’d done, and then she’d be trapped in a marriage with a commoner.

He tamped down the rage igniting in his gut. Yet again, a lesson in how inadequate and unwanted he was. He might be good enough to warm her bed but he’d never be sufficient for anything else.

Knowing he was losing focus and his one chance to obtain answers, he brushed aside his folly.

As hard as he tried, his words still carried a bite when he finally asked what had been uppermost in his mind since the Witterson’s. “Do you have a secret paramour, Anna?”

Her eyes widened until the deep turquoise became surrounded by white. “Excuse me?”

He was being unfair and slightly cruel since the very evidence she’d had no other lover had been wrapped around his cock. Nonetheless, after witnessing her regret at what was probably the most amazing night of his life, it was impossible for him not to voice the unjust accusation. “I saw you, Anna. At the Witterson’s. There is no point in lying.” He gave her just enough to incriminate herself.

Instead of looking guilty, her delicate hands fisted and anger poured off her. “I was right. You
are
a horrible investigator. What were you doing at the Witterson’s? Hadn’t we agreed your services were not needed?”

Her continued denial fueled his fury. “That had been your plan all along, hadn’t it? Feed me some excuse to keep me away. All so you can dally with your
lover
in the garden.”

“I was wrong. You’re not incompetent. You are insane.”

“Princess, there is no denying it. Despite your unwillingness to have me present, the fact remains I was there. I witnessed everything.”
In for a penny or a pound,
he decided. “Even discounting your assignation, I caught him leaving the estate. Imagine my surprise at finding the very man you had a tryst with—in a dark garden—slinking away from your father’s house. Too much of a coincidence for me.”

She sputtered, as if she couldn’t form words. A peek inside her head at this moment would no doubt provide the answers he sought. As of now, all he had was her self-righteous anger.

Anna took a noticeable breath and briefly closed her eyes. “I’m going to ignore the inanity that after last night you have the nerve to accuse me of having a lover. Outside of that, who I spend time with or speak to while at a gathering is none of your concern.”

Her display of boldness—and the word ‘lover’ flowing from her lips—stirred his cock. Unfortunately, with the current level of rage flashing in her eyes, he wouldn’t be indulging in more pleasurable sparing with her any time soon. What the hell was he thinking? There would be
no
more intimacy with her.
Ever.

Not getting anywhere with their current level of animosity, he changed tactics. With firsthand knowledge this man couldn’t be her lover, still his instincts blared Anna’s relationship with the stranger was far from friendly.

His voice calm, he asked, “If he isn’t your lover, why his hasty retreat from the estate and his desperation to avoid me?”

Anna relaxed, though her eyes retained the heat. “Unlike you, I don’t presume to know anyone’s state of mind. I can only assume if a stranger was intent on running me down, I’d do all in my power to evade him.”

She had a point. He had gone after the man rather vigorously when he’d spotted him ridding away from the house. Nevertheless, even after spying the man from a distance at the Witterson’s, he knew something wasn’t right about the fellow and his connection to Anna.

“How about something as simple as his name? Can you at least offer that?”

She paled, her unease apparent. There was certainly something there. If only he could discover the nature of this man’s association with her. Did she harbor such an aversion to him that she couldn’t trust him to help her? Even after last night?

Nate took a step toward her. “Anna, let me help you.”

A struggle waged in her eyes before she blinked the turmoil away. Instead, she regarded him with a clear determination. “I don’t know what you are referring to. I have no need for your help. And I will not be giving you his name so you can accuse an innocent man of some unjust crime.”

He studied her silently, hoping his weakness that begged for her to confide in him remained concealed. The last thing he needed was for her to know how far she’d dug her superior little claws into him. He had a feeling after Anna his life would never be the same. Probably because he’d be in jail for strangling her stubborn neck.

“So be it, Anna. I’ll find my own answers.” He stepped close to her, finding he appreciated the way she lifted her head to meet his eyes. Her body might be petite and possess a subtle beauty, but there was nothing timid about her. All of which heated his blood.

He resisted the urge to smooth his thumb across her cheek. “Just know, despite what you think of me, you can trust me. If you need my help, simply ask. Let me help you.”

Her eyes searched his in silence.

About to lose his control and haul her into his arms to taste the sweetness of her lips, he took a step around her and trudged to the house.

Chapter 24

“We must stop meeting like this.”

Anna couldn’t decide what was worse; Mr. Rollins’ unsavory tone or his general off-putting appearance. Though it hardly mattered since there was nothing she could do about either.

Let me help you.

Of course Nate’s words had to haunt her, now when she was once again about to betray her father and surrender another piece of his revered collection. The man couldn’t leave her in peace, even in her mind.

“What do you have for me this time? I hope it is enough to cover the current debt. I’d hate for you to lose your precious school.”

Mr. Rollins’ voice cut through the darkness. No longer attempting to be a gentleman, his evilness was open for all the world to see. Unfortunately, he currently directed it at her.

Not about to cower, she kept her voice strong. “It is.”

“I will be the judge of that. Let me see what you have.”

With only the faint moonlight, the small item she held in her hand didn’t look like much. But Anna knew all of her father’s pieces held a wealth of value.

Instead of removing it from her hand, Mr. Rollins snatched her wrist with his icy fingers and pulled it close for his inspection. In light of his bold behavior, she was glad she’d taken the extra risk of discovery and set their meeting place so close to the house. Doing some detective work of her own, she knew Nate had retired for the evening and currently all of his men were positioned on the other side of the house.

It had taken her two nights to work out the timing of their rounds. In the end, the sleepless nights had been worth it.

Mr. Rollins’ thumb slid along the inside of her wrist and under the cuff of her sleeve. Knowing he waited for her reaction, Anna squelched the wave of repulsion and managed to suppress her flinch. She needed to be done with this before Nate’s men changed post.

“Are you satisfied?” she ground out the question between her teeth.

“Lady Annabel, you’ll know when I’m satisfied.”

Anna would rather have ants crawling over her body than the disgust of his words. Before she could wrestle her hand back, he gave a loud sigh, captured the trinket in his free hand, and released her.

“This will appease me for now. But I’m growing tired of our deal and I’m calling in the debt.”

Blood rushed from Anna’s head and she swayed on her feet.
No, this can’t be happening!

“You promised if I kept current on payments, I’d have adequate time to pay off the debt.”

“That was before I had a Runner chase after me.”

Nate. She ought to have known. She should be infuriated but with her current level of despair, she couldn’t summon the emotion.

Mr. Rollins didn’t give her the chance to argue. “We knew how this was going to end. Even if I allow you time to make payments, you’ll eventually lose heart in extracting artifacts from your father’s collection and renege on the debt. I’m merely saving us both the time and you the anguish.”

He was toying with her. She could hear the smile in his voice and knew he gleaned pleasure at her distress. She would not aid his amusement.

“How much time do I have?”

A single eyebrow arched. She’d surprised him.
Good
. He’d had his way for far too long. She might be dying inside but he didn’t need to know that.

“I commend your pluck but we both know your attempt will be futile.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about. How much time?”

“Very well. A fortnight. No more. Since it would take half of your father’s collection to pay off the debt, there will be no point. You might as well cede your school now and save yourself the trouble.”

She refused to believe he was right . . . even though he was. She couldn’t fail in her attempt to save the school. To make it better. To give it a purpose her mother would be proud of.

“A fortnight, Mr. Rollins. You will have your payment.”

Anna didn’t wait for a reply before she escaped to the safety of the house.

The next day, as Anna sat in her office at the school, Mr. Rollins’ words swam around her head. A fortnight. Fourteen days. She ran her fingers across the same desk her grandmother had occupied—the one her mother should have had the chance to use. Unless she found her fairy godmother, it could all be gone.

A deep voice invaded her grief. “Something troubling you?”

Even more annoying than Nate’s initial conceit was the quiet caring he’d developed.

“Other than you constantly hovering in the corner of my office?”

After his last attempt to get answers from her, their dealings had been strained. He’d returned to his usual Runner behavior, apparently forgetting he’d felt every curve of her naked body.

She, on the other hand, couldn’t forget. Not about their night together and not about his gentle request for her to put her trust in him and allow him to help her. At the possibility of being saved, she’d had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting out every last secret she held.

His chuckle pulsed through her. At least they hadn’t resorted to their usual level of hostility. That would taint the memory of their lovemaking and she wasn’t prepared for that.

“I see your sunny demeanor has returned,” he remarked.

“Better to have lost and retrieved than to never have possessed to begin with.”

A knock on the doorframe kept him from answering, but not before his warm laughter filled the room and wrapped around her.

Intent on ignoring the feelings he provoked, she turned to the visitor. Shock at seeing Foxmoore standing in the doorway pushed past unwanted thoughts of Nate.

“Lady Annabel, I hope I am not interrupting.”

She rose to greet him but Nate spoke first. “I thought you were in London.”

“I was, but I have some information pertaining to the artifacts. Lawson also wanted me to inform you of some developments regarding another one of your cases.”

Foxmoore’s voice held a serious note. Whatever the news, it wouldn’t be good. She could only hope it didn’t include her role in the thefts.

“Let's step outside.” Nate shuffled his friend to the door and Anna saw her opportunity to gain information disappearing.

“Wait.” Both men stopped at her outburst. “There is no need to leave. Since it involves my father, I have a right to know any developments. As well, I don’t wish for any of the students to overhear you.”

Silence reigned. Prepared to battle Nate, instead he surprised her when he nodded at Foxmoore before reentering the room. To ensure their privacy, the earl closed the door.

Without being asked, Foxmoore started to share what he’d discovered as she stood frozen . . . waiting for the axe to fall. “Upon returning to London, I contacted some collectors I’m familiar with. The ones who had the best chance of knowing if anyone was offloading Egyptian artifacts. While none had been involved directly, two heard of some items recently becoming available.”

She held her breath, certain he would implicate Mr. Rollins and therefore seal her fate.

“However, no one actually knows who holds the items or what the exact antiquities are. It appears most information is based on rumors and talk.”

Even as she started to breathe once more, Foxmoore added, “The only useful clue I’ve obtained is whoever has the objects, is residing in this area. Hence my return. If there is any way to learn more, it will have to be done locally.”

Nate grumbled, “We are nowhere closer to knowing anything useful.”

For entirely selfish reasons, she failed to see the problem.

“Not exactly,” Foxmoore answered. “I have eliminated most of the collectors in my circle and any of their acquaintances. Which indicates whoever has the stolen items is new to collecting. Probably someone who became involved due to opportunity.”

Anna remained silent as Nate considered the possibility. She could envision his Runner intuition working inside his head.

“Do you think you will be able to find out anything else? Do you have any local connections?”

Foxmoore smirked, his enjoyment at playing detective apparent. “I’m an earl, I have connections I don’t even know I have.”

As Nate smiled at his quasi-in-law, Anna couldn’t help thinking it didn’t bode well for her. It was enough having Nate determined to solve the mystery of the thefts. She couldn’t contend with Foxmoore’s renewed dedication. Between the two, her role in everything was bound to be uncovered.

Even with her future in question, she couldn’t summon the proper level of distress. Maybe she was ready for full revelation. Particularly since the truth would come out in the matter of a fortnight anyway.

Thoughts of Mr. Rollins’ unreasonable order scattered her attention and blocked out the conversation occurring before her. What a complete turnabout from the man who’d so gallantly offered to help her save the school. She wondered if this had been his plan all along. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed possible. He had been the one to suggest using her father’s collection when funds from the school had become inadequate to make payment.

No matter the reason, it made little difference. He held all the power. Beyond stealing most, if not all, of her father’s artifacts, she hadn’t the money to pay the debt in full. Wouldn’t it be better to admit defeat now and lay her sins at her father’s feet, begging his forgiveness?

Her stomach twisted at the realization she wasn’t ready to surrender yet. She wasn’t prepared to sever her relationship with her father.

“About that other matter—”

Anna’s mind registered Foxmoore’s words when he shared a questioning look between Nate and her. Whatever the other news, he seemed hesitant about speaking further in her company.

Nate took a moment as if weighing the options. How bad could his other cases be? Was there truly something she couldn’t be privy to? After all, she didn’t know much about his job.

Her lack of insight left her wanting to learn more. Nate’s acquiescing nod to Foxmoore made her breathe a sigh of relief.

Even with Nate’s consent, Foxmoore appeared hesitant when he continued. “Lawson wanted me to inform you that The Viper escaped.”

The sentence held no meaning for Anna but the color draining from Nate’s face spoke for itself. Whoever The Viper was and whatever his escape meant worried him.

With Nate at an obvious loss for words, the earl continued, “He was awaiting his hanging at Newgate when he disappeared from the prison.” Foxmoore pinned his eyes on Nate and Anna suspected there was more to the story. “In his place they found the body of Mr. Johnstone.”

She hadn’t thought it possible but Nate grew stiller, the only movement the tic of his jaw under its light stubble.

“Since the two hadn’t been housed together at the prison, Lawson felt it more than a coincidence your latest capture had disappeared and the body of the man who’d blackmailed your brother, and inadvertently arranged my sister’s kidnapping, appeared. What link there is remains a mystery but there is no mistaking the possible implication.”

Nate’s eyes narrowed. As the lines of his body turned rigid, she watched him take control. “My brother must be informed.”

She thought it impossible but somehow Foxmoore seemed more hesitant, though he nonetheless replied, “He already knows. He immediately removed Lizzy and the children to Frenton. Lawson has extra men guarding the estate. Your brother won’t allow anything to happen to them.”

“He knows
everything
?” Nate asked tentatively.

Foxmoore nodded. A deep quiet settled over Nate and the room. Unsure what was happening or what he was feeling, she found herself longing to go to him and offer some kind of comfort.

Following the conversation was a mystery in itself. One too difficult to unravel. Why was Nate so concerned with his brother becoming aware of the situation? Certain he had forgotten she remained in the room and afraid he would dismiss her if reminded, she kept silent.

Foxmoore’s voice cut into the quiet. “It isn’t Gabe who Lawson is worried about. Frankly, neither am I.”

There was no mistaking the knowing looking Foxmoore sent Nate. They thought Nate to be in danger. Her chest squeezed at the possibility. Somewhere between him being an overbearing guard and then becoming a spontaneous but sensual lover, she’d come to care for him.

Drat.
As if she didn’t have enough to contend with. Now she had to find the time to deal with unwanted feelings for the very man who would probably be transporting her to prison within a fortnight, the accusation of ‘thief’ looming over her. Perhaps sooner, if Foxmoore managed to track Mr. Rollins.

“If The Viper is free, no one is safe. The man is an unrepentant killer. He’ll allow no one to stand in his way,” Nate said through gritted teeth. “Gabe should have taken Elizabeth and the children to the continent. Even if Gabe’s blackmailer is somehow responsible for the madman’s escape, I have it on good authority Gabe is no longer the only target.”

Foxmoore flicked his eyes to her before returning to Nate. “Perhaps we should save this conversation for later.”

Oh, no. She couldn’t miss the rest. The more they talked the less she understood but for some reason, she desired to know everything. To understand what danger Nate was in.

Quickly she spoke up. “Truly, Foxmoore, there is no need. I can handle whatever it is. If danger is about to knock on my father’s door, I think I should be prepared.”

As if reminded of her existence, Nate turned toward her. Anna sucked in a breath at the intense blue eyes peering at her. Since day one she’d seen many facets of Nathaniel Frederickson. Never had she witnessed the level of concern he now directed her way. Their night together notwithstanding, it was as if caring was now mixed with his aversion to her.