Victorian Vigilantes 01 - Saving Grace (29 page)

“That is precisely what people are supposed to think.”

“I find it astonishing you are so eager to discredit the monarchy but also so anxious to be accepted by English society.” She tilted her head and cast him a chilling glance. “Do you not see the irony in that attitude?”

Her defiance inflamed William. He pushed her against the wall and tore at her bodice. The fabric ripped easily but she fought so hard he barely had a moment to enjoy the sight of her partially revealed breasts. He moved his face to within mere inches of hers, keeping his lower body away from her flailing legs.

“You are mine, Eva, mine. Do you hear me?” William was showing more passion and determination than perhaps was wise, but Eva had always had that effect on him. “In the eyes of the law, in the eyes of your family and, most importantly of all, in my eyes. I will never let you go. If I can’t have you, no one will.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew a dagger which he flashed beneath her eyes, keeping her pinned against the wall with one arm across her chest. “Do we understand one another?”

“If you intend to kill me, then go right ahead. It is the only way you can hold on to me.”

“You little slut.” He slapped her face so hard that her head snapped back against the wall and blood trickled from her lip. “You have no right to—”

The door burst open and several strangers stood on the threshold. William was so impassioned that he barely spared them a glance. He wasn’t sure how they had managed to get that far, nor did he especially care. He had twenty strong and ruthless men in and around the house. They would deal with these three.

“Stoneleigh,” he cried, almost casually. “We have uninvited guests.”

***

Eva had been scared by the extent of her husband’s determination to hold on to her. Another moment and he very likely would have killed her. She could see now she had played it all wrong with him. Instead of defying him she should have pretended to be meek and apologetic. That would have given Isaac and Lord Torbay time to break through the cordon of guards outside. More than the agreed half hour must have elapsed and so she was confident that they would soon find a way to rescue her.

But, by God, it had felt good to stand up to him and see the confusion and anger flitting across his face. And now her beloved Isaac was here, the determined set to his features making it obvious he was ready to commit a few murders of his own.

“Ah, there you are, gentlemen,” she said, sending them a radiant smile.

“Where the devil is Stoneleigh?” William demanded to know, keeping Eva beside him by wrapping one arm around her waist and holding the dagger against her throat, its sharp tip piercing her skin and drawing blood.

There was a crashing sound in the hallway and Stoneleigh staggered into view, bleeding and clearly furious. Isaac, Lord Torbay and Parker had stepped far enough into the room for Stoneleigh to be able to enter it. Fortuitously they also had their backs against the opposite wall and Stoneleigh was unable to attack them from behind.

“Just so you know whom you’re dealing with, Woodstock,” Lord Torbay said. “I’m Torbay…ah, I can see by your loss of colour that you’ve heard of me. This is my colleague Lord Isaac Arnold.”

A speaking look passed between Isaac and Eva, which William clearly noticed.

“You!” He glowered at Isaac. “You have despoiled my wife. I’ll slice you in two for your impudence.”

“I would advise against making promises you are in no position to keep,” Lord Torbay replied in an amiable tone. “The guards you posted at the front have been dealt with, as have the ones at the rear. Stoneleigh here was allowed out of the kitchen to join this little party because we have score to settle with him. No other help will be forthcoming.”

“And yet he hides behind a woman,” Isaac said scathingly.

“I am not done with her yet,” William said, tightening his hold on Eva.

“It’s over,” Lord Torbay replied. “I have just sent a runner to your warehouse, where the police are waiting on my word to move in and arrest everyone, including your Sikh guests.”

Isaac stepped forward. “Let her go and fight me like a man.”

“I’ll kill her.” William’s eyes flashed with desperation. “I have got nothing to lose now.”

Lord Torbay yawned as though he found the entire confrontation a massive bore. “And then we shall kill you,” he replied indolently.

Eva was close enough to William to see the fear in his eye. He was like a caged animal, ready to strike out randomly in the hope of escaping, and she was in the direct line of fire. She glanced at Isaac and could see the frustration in his expression. William understood the game was up and probably preferred to die here in a fight in his study, rather than be publicly hanged. The only problem was, he appeared intent upon taking Eva with him. Dear God, she couldn’t allow that to happen. She had only just found Isaac and was damned if she would part with him now.

She had her hands free but no weapon. She glanced frantically around her, seeking inspiration. Her eyes fell upon the ledger that had fallen to the floor, forgotten by Eva. It must contain the name of William’s paymaster and, if she had to die, at least Lord Torbay ought to have possession of it before William thought of it and threw it on the fire. She shifted her eyes sideways and saw Lord Torbay understood at once. The problem was, if he stepped forward, William would act.

It was stalemate.

The only sound in the room was the crackling of logs in the grate, William’s heavy breathing and the occasional snarl from Stoneleigh, pinned against the wall by Parker’s dagger.

Then the door swung open, surprising them all, and a tiny person ran into the room.

“Mama!” Gracie cried.

William, distracted by Grace’s entrance, momentarily loosened his hold on Eva for just long enough for her to wiggle free. With one hand she picked up the ledger and tossed it to Lord Torbay, seconds before William’s hand also reached for it. He growled with rage and turned his attention to her. She evaded him by grinding the heel of her shoe into his foot, scooped Grace into her arms and fell against Isaac, who thrust her behind him.

“Mama.” Grace was crying.

“Shush, darling, it’s all right. Everything is all right now.”

Eva wondered how Grace could have found her way downstairs alone, then saw Olivia standing in the doorway, smiling at her. Eva’s heart overflowed with gratitude. Olivia had clearly gone in search of Grace, seen what was happening in the study and was quick-witted enough to plan a diversion. Grace had never been in danger, but had provided the distraction necessary to save Eva.

“It’s over, Woodstock,” Lord Torbay said.

Isaac shook his head. “No, Jake, he’s mine.”

Eva wanted to scream with frustration. There was no reason for Isaac to put himself in danger, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to talk him out of it. He wanted revenge on Eva’s behalf for all she had suffered at this man’s hands. They would fight to the death, she just knew it, and Isaac might not win. William was fit and proficient when it came to duelling. She couldn’t bear it if she lost Isaac, even though common sense told her they could have no future together. She looked towards Lord Torbay, hoping he would intervene. He merely shrugged and sent her the ghost of a wink.

“My choice of weapons,” William said, now sounding calm and supremely confident.

Well he might, Eva thought, trembling as William predictably reached for his precious duelling swords in a display case on the wall. He tossed one to Isaac, hilt first, and Isaac caught it one-handed. He tested the flexibility and weight of the blade, then put it aside as he shed his coat and waistcoat and loosened the sleeves of his shirt. Then he pulled the ascot from around his neck, sending Eva a heated look as he did so, presumably because, like her, he was recalling the use he put his neckwear to the last time he shed it in her company. It had been held in place by a superb pink sapphire pin. Isaac walked across to Eva, who still had Grace in her arms. He ruffled the child’s hair and then calmly inserted the pin in Eva’s torn bodice. William’s seething hiss could be heard across the room.

“Keep it safe for me, if you please,” he said indolently. “I shall not be long.”

“For the love of God, take care,” Eva whispered. “He’s no slouch with a sword.”

Isaac’s responding smile was devastating. “Neither am I,” he said, gently touching her face. “Especially when something is so very worth fighting for.”

He turned away from her. Eva could only watch, a growing sense of unease trickling through her, as he helped to move the furniture aside and someone opened the doors to the drawing room next door, more than doubling the amount of space. It was now a large room, but was it large enough for two men with razor sharp swords to avoid one another’s blows?

“Ah, Mr. Stoneleigh,” Olivia said cheerfully. “How’s your back? You did considerable damage to my table when you landed on it. I have a good mind to send you the bill. I believe Lady Eva managed to damage you as well.” She tutted. “You’re really not very good, are you?”

Stoneleigh flushed and spit on the floor. Parker punched him in the gut and then bound his hands behind his back, tight enough to make Stoneleigh wince.

“This is the woman who threw you?” William sent Stoneleigh a scathing look and returned his attention to the fight about to take place.

“You might be able to save yourself from the gallows if you tell us everything you know,” Lord Torbay said to Stoneleigh in a lackadaisical drawl. “It’s up to you.”

Eva could see Stoneleigh knew the game was up and he was now considering his own skin. “I don’t owe him nothing.” He cocked his head at Woodstock. “What do you want to know?”

“You spineless bastard!” William roared.

“So much for loyalty amongst thieves,” Lord Torbay muttered, appearing to find Stoneleigh’s attitude amusing.

William and Isaac faced one another, weapons drawn. Eva thought she should leave the room and not allow Grace to see this, but was unable to move. She had to be there. Superstition persuaded her that if she left, Isaac would fail. She saw Mary hovering in the passageway and passed the child to her, closing her eyes and praying like she hadn’t prayed in years.

A clatter of steel on steel caused her eyes to fly open again. Both men were light on their feet and they appeared to be evenly matched. A furious clash of blades, so fast and skilful Eva could barely keep track, caused her heart to stop. She could see they were having a fine time of it, which infuriated Eva. How dare they enjoy themselves when she was near dead with fear for Isaac?

Olivia moved beside her, looking totally unconcerned.

“Are you not worried for Isaac?” Eva asked accusingly.

“Not in the least. He knows what he is doing.”

“Is he winning?”

Olivia shrugged. “Hard to say. At the moment they are evenly matched, but Isaac will prevail.”

“I wish I shared your confidence.”

“I have fought him many times. He is skilled, cunning and, on this occasion, has great motivation.”

Eva harrumphed. “Thank you for sending Gracie in. You saved the day.”

“Yes, I thought it would give you the second or two you needed.”

“Now, if you can’t stop laughing when I am beside myself with worry for Isaac, then I shall be happy to excuse you.”

“Men do like to fight, my dear, there’s no help for that.”

Eva shot her new friend an ironic look. “So too do some women.”

Olivia laughed harder and spread her hands. “Well, you have me there. That’s what comes of having four older brothers. I insisted upon joining in their games, you see.”

Eva sniffed and then clutched Olivia’s hand, fear spiralling through her when William’s blade ripped through Isaac’s shirt sleeve.

“It’s all right,” Olivia said. “He did not draw blood.”

“Not yet.”

“Isaac’s trying to spare you the ignominy of a public trial.”

“He means to kill my husband if he possibly can?”

Olivia shrugged. “It would save the state the expense of a trial and the inconvenience of hanging him. I don’t mean to be so blunt but there is really no other way to say it.”

Eva returned her attention to the fight. The antagonists were both breathing hard, no longer testing one another but clearly waiting for the chance to strike a killer blow.

“No!” Eva clapped a hand over her mouth and had to be restrained by Olivia. Otherwise she would have dashed forward to help Isaac. William had caught him and blood poured from a wound just above his waist. “I can’t stand it.”

“Shush, it’s just a scratch.”

Olivia’s apparent unconcern helped to calm Eva. Isaac merely grinned at William, not appearing to feel any pain.

“I’ll allow you that one strike, Woodstock,” he said.

William snarled. “I shall enjoy finishing you off in front of my ungrateful wife.”

Isaac’s grin abruptly faded and he sprang at William in a co-ordinated move that was both graceful and deadly. William had clearly overestimated the amount of damage he had inflicted and couldn’t stave off Isaac’s thrusting sword, aimed straight at his heart.

William was dead before he hit the floor.

***

Isaac appeared to drift in and out of consciousness while his wound was sewn up and dressed by a doctor Jake had on standby just outside. Eva wanted to hold his hand but had Gracie in her arms again and wasn’t ready to pass her to anyone else, not even Mary. She watched as men summoned by Torbay swarmed all over the house, making sure everyone inside of it was taken into custody for questioning.

“The warehouse is being raided about now,” Lord Torbay told her. “I just sent word for the police to go in.”

“And Franklin will be looked after?”

“Of course.”

Isaac was taken back to Grosvenor Square in the same carriage as Eva. Gracie had fallen asleep in Mary’s arms and the nursemaid discreetly looked the other way while Eva smothered Isaac’s face with kisses.

“If you ever do anything so foolhardy again,” she scolded, “I will take a sword to you myself.”

“It’s over, darling,” he said. “You and Gracie are free of him forever.”