Eight Hunting Lyons (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Chapter Five

T he air remained laden with moisture, and the sky was a dark gray tumble of clouds that threatened rain as Beatrix peered out the window of her guest chamber the next morning. She wanted to give Posy a run outdoors before the rain began to fall in earnest. The hour was early, but she had heard the inn’s staff quietly talking below as they prepared the common room for the influx of guests soon to be upon them, so she knew others were already stirring.

“Come along, Posy.” She knelt to take him in her arms and made her way down the hall with him securely tucked against her. Several travelers passed by and smiled politely as they, too, made their way downstairs in preparation for an early start to their long journeys ahead.

She passed by Lucas’s door and considered knocking at it, but Posy suddenly began to wriggle urgently. “Oh, dear. Hold it in, you wee beastie,” she said, knowing this was a sign his little bladder was about to burst.

She raced downstairs, daring not waste a precious moment rousing Lucas when she would not be more than a step or two from the inn’s parlor door and others would be around to hear her cry out if there was any trouble.

She smiled at several more passing guests and some of the staff as she hurried to the inn’s parlor and opened one of the lovely glass doors that allowed in light on sunny days and led into the garden. Posy was now trembling from the struggle to hold himself in, but he wouldn’t budge.

“Come along, little prince. You know you cannot hold it in much longer. Be quick about it, or you’ll be caught in the downpour.”

He glanced from her to the rain and then back at her as though to say, you want me to go out in that ?

She could not help but laugh as she bent to nudge him out. “It is hardly more than a light mist. You are Poseidon, are you not? God of the seas. A few droplets will not hurt you. Be brave and march out there.”

He finally obliged.

She was watching him dart to a tree and attend to business when she heard someone come up behind her. “Well, if it isn’t the lovely lass.”

She turned to face the two men who had followed her and Lucas around the pond yesterday. In truth, she was surprised either of them were up at this hour. They had been heavily in their cups last night and should have slept like the dead.

Both had red-rimmed eyes, pasty faces, and must have awoken with pounding headaches, for their hair was unkempt, their clothing looked slept in, and their eyes also had a glazed, unfocused look to them.

She ignored their attempts to make conversation, hoping they would take the hint and go on their merry way. But it was not to be. There was nothing she could do but continue to ignore them until Posy trotted back inside.

The moment he did so, she lifted him in her arms and scurried past the unsavory pair to settle in the common room. “Good morning, Lady Beatrix,” one of the serving maids said cheerfully as she settled at a table closest to the foyer in the hope Lucas would easily spot her.

“Good morning, Betsy,” she said, her heart still pounding. “Has Lord Lyon come down yet?”

“I just came on and haven’t seen him yet, m’lady. But I expect he will be down soon. He did not strike me as the sort to lay abed without purpose. Shall I send one of the lads up to fetch him?”

“Oh, no. As you said, he’ll likely be down shortly.” She glanced over her shoulder, dismayed to find the two men had followed her in. One could only hope they had given up on making her acquaintance and merely wished to eat before they left the inn.

The common room was beginning to fill now, but there were still plenty of tables available. The pair settled at the one immediately next to hers and continued to ogle her so that she felt quite uncomfortable.

What did they want with her?

Well, she knew what they wanted.

That they did nothing to hide their desire was most unsettling. Her hands began to shake, and her heart would not stop pounding. “Betsy, please leave my cup and plate undisturbed. I’ll be right back. I think I had better go knock on Lord Lyon’s door.”

“I will set a place for him, m’lady.”

“Come with me, your royal highness,” she muttered, scooping Posy back into her arms and keeping tight hold of the little pug.

He emitted an indignant bark to protest being taken from his food. “You are staying close to me,” she said in a whisper, ready to give the order to bite if either of those men followed her upstairs.

Perhaps she had made a mistake in not staying in the common room, she realized a moment later. Not only had those men followed her out, but they were close on her heels. She hurried up the stairs and down the hall to knock at Lucas’s door. “Lord Lyon, are you up?”

No response.

She knocked louder and a little more desperately as the two men now took positions on either side of her. “Lord Lyon.”

“You won’t find him in there, my pretty,” one of them said, tossing her a lascivious smile. “He’s seeing to your carriage. Join us for breakfast.”

Her stomach churned, and her throat suddenly felt tight. “Very kind of you, sir. But I prefer to wait for Lord Lyon. Please excuse me.”

Neither of them moved to let her pass.

Posy growled.

The men laughed.

“Thinking to set your vicious dog on us? I’ll squash him with my boot if you dare,” the shorter of them said, his smile now malicious.

Beatrix hugged Posy to her protectively. “I shall scream if you do not let me pass this instant.”

Before she could fill her lungs, she was caught by surprise when the bigger man suddenly clamped a hand over her mouth and circled his meaty arm around her waist to draw her up hard against him. The other one grabbed Posy out of her hands.

She tried to scream, but the sound was muffled by his clammy hand against her mouth. She kicked her captor hard, hoping he would ease his grip. When that failed, she tried to kick the one holding Posy. But he merely took a step back to stand out of her reach. “Behave yourself, lass. We won’t hurt you.”

She did not believe that for a moment.

She tried to kick him again.

The one holding her now tightened his grip and squeezed hard against her ribs so that she could not draw breath. The other man had a similar harsh hold on Posy, for the little fellow was not barking. She heard his muffled whimpers and had to strain to hear even that.

Beatrix could not believe this was happening. Yes, there were dangers when traveling, but this was a reputable coaching inn with a full staff and packed with guests. What were these men thinking to do?

More important, where had everyone suddenly gone?

She realized Lucas had been right when warning that it took only a matter of seconds for this sort of thing to happen. Less than a minute had gone by, but it felt like an eternity.

How can there not be a maid close at hand? Or guests passing?

She still did not understand what these men wanted with her. Well, she knew it was for no good purpose, but in daylight among an inn full of guests?

They could not be intending to steal her purse since she did not have it on her. Nor was she wearing fancy jewels. Were they so brazen to think they would not get caught in whatever they were attempting?

Or just too stupid to consider the consequences?

They would hang for harming her.

Blood roared through her head, and her stomach began to madly churn.

How could they possibly get away with…she still did not know what they had in mind to do to her? Betsy had seen them follow her out. Others would have noticed them as well. Lucas would suspect them immediately, for he had been wary of them from the first.

She tried to scream again, but the sound was lost in the oaf’s big hand. Nor could she catch her breath while he squeezed her ribs so hard she was in danger of fainting.

It did not stop her from trying to twist around and punch him.

But that was also a failure, and she merely bruised her hand while doing little harm to his jaw in return.

Posy finally yelped loud enough for someone to hear.

Heartened, she struggled harder to free herself. Again, she wasn’t nearly strong enough, and now her head was spinning from lack of air. The man who was holding her began to drag her down the hall.

She tried to kick at doors, hoping someone would open up and run for help. She managed to pound against one door before her captor realized what she was doing. It must have been an empty room because no one responded.

The oaf moved her away from any doors, hauling her down the center of the hallway and seeming to have no fear of being caught. Was he familiar with this inn and the routine of its servants? She lost hope, for they were now at the darkened end of the hall and out of sight of anyone.

Tears flowed down her cheeks.

How could this possibly be happening?

The fellow holding her removed his arm from her waist in order to reach for the handle of a nearby door. She assumed it was his guest chamber and knew she could not let them drag her in there.

As his grip momentarily eased, she took the opportunity to punch him again. But she had not even managed to draw her arm back before she heard the other man groan and then slam against the wall. In the next moment, her captor released her and went flying onto the floor. She heard a cracking sound as he landed hard on his shoulder.

Perhaps it was his head making that cracking sound.

Maybe both.

“Lucas! Thank goodness.” She slumped against the wall, her legs too weak to hold her up.

“Be with ye in a moment, love.” He turned to the man who was now clutching his shoulder and hurling epithets at him. In the next instant, his words were cut short, and he screamed in agony as Lucas lifted him off the floor and slammed him against the wall.

He slid unconscious next to his friend.

She supposed Lucas had landed a solid punch to silence him.

Was it sinful to cheer?

Did the Good Lord not give Lucas those luscious muscles for a purpose?

She was still trying to catch her breath when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs and shouts as the innkeeper and some of his staff now came running toward them. “I knew that cagey pair was trouble,” the innkeeper muttered.

Only Lucas was left standing now, and he was seething with anger at those men who did not appear ready to wake up any time soon. As the innkeeper and his helpers bound the scoundrels to hold them for the magistrate, Lucas came to her side and began to tend her. “Beatrix, are you hurt?”

She threw her arms around him and burst into tears. “I don’t know.”

So much for bravery.

She was spineless and scared out of her wits.

“Och, I should not have left ye. I dinna realize ye would be up quite this early, lass. I only took a moment to see to our carriage.”

“It isn’t your fault, Lucas. I promise, it wasn’t mine either,” she said between sobs. “I went downstairs to walk Posy and—” She gasped. “Is Posy hurt?”

“No. Betsy has him now. She’ll take him downstairs and feed him. She’ll treat him like a little prince.”

She nodded and then allowed her head to fall against his shoulder. It was a fine, strong shoulder. “They cornered me in the parlor. I pushed past them and went into the common room, but they followed me in there as well. They were leering at me and made me feel so uncomfortable. I should have stayed there instead of coming up to fetch you. But they sat so close and would not stop staring at me. It never occurred to me that they would attempt to abduct me or that the hallway would be so empty.”

“Ye did nothing wrong, Beatrix. Let me make certain ye’re not hurt.”

His touch felt divine as he gently ran his hands along her limbs and then along her ribs. “Nothing appears to be broken, lass. Do ye feel any pain when I touch ye here?” He pressed very lightly on the right side of her rib cage.

“Ow, there. Just a little. He squeezed me so hard, but…do you think he cracked one of my ribs?”

“I dinna think he broke any, or ye would have been howling. Ye may have a bruise for a day or two. I think that is what hurt ye when I poked that spot.”

“You were gentle,” she assured him, raising her hand for him to inspect it. “I tried to punch him. My hand is a little sore. I think I bruised my knuckles when I hit him as hard as I could. But I did no damage to him.”

“Let me see.” He wrapped her hand in both of his, warming her as he gently felt along the bones. “Nothing broken by the look of it. Och, ye’re shaking. Let me take ye back to yer room.”

“No, that will be worse. My aunt will worry, especially when she hears they tried to abduct Posy, too.” She cast him a wan smile. “Just give me a moment to settle my nerves.”

“Take all the time ye need, Beatrix. I won’t leave yer side.”

Since she did not want to be near those men when they awoke, she took a few short breaths before asking to be led away. “I still have my plate and tea waiting for me downstairs. I’ll be all right. Take me away, please.”

He kept an arm around her as he led her downstairs and settled her in a chair. He then ordered a fresh cup of tea to be brought for her. “At once, my lord,” one of the serving maids said and immediately bustled off to fetch it.

Beatrix’s hand shook as the cup of steaming liquid was set before her, and she tried to raise it to her lips. She set it down with a sigh before it spilled.

“Give yerself another moment,” Lucas said gently, drawing his chair closer to hers. The look in his eyes was dark and turbulent. She knew he was blaming himself as much as those men for what had happened.

But how could he be blamed for taking a moment to see to their carriage?

“What was their purpose, Lucas? I am trying to understand what they were doing, but I cannot make any sense of it.”

He placed his hand atop hers and gave it a light squeeze. “There was no sense to their plan. Were they able to understand the consequences of their acts, they never would have accosted you. But there is a short-sightedness in some people that prevents them from seeing beyond their noses. I suppose this is how the term ‘a senseless act’ came into being. People do venal things to others and have no sense of shame for it or understanding of the punishment awaiting them when they are caught. And they are often caught.”

“I don’t think I’ve properly expressed my gratitude to you for saving my life.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”

“No, lass. It is no’ required. I am so sorry I did not keep a closer eye on the pair. I would ask ye if ye would rather not travel today, but I dinna think ye want to stay here a moment longer than necessary.”

“I don’t,” she agreed. “As soon as my aunt is ready, I want to leave. Oh, Lucas! Will the local magistrate want to question me? This will delay you even further.”

“He’ll only need yer statement, Beatrix. Perhaps mine, too. We may get it all done before yer aunt wakes,” he said, casting her a comforting smile. “Dinna be worried about delaying me. I will no’ leave without ye no matter how long it takes. Ye are all that matters.”

“I think I am going to burst into tears again.”

“Let yer feelings out, lass. Never good to bottle them inside ye so they fester.”

“But I am a MacGlory, and we are supposed to be strong and clever. I am none of those things. I should have stayed right here and sent a boy up to fetch you. Foolishly, I never considered they would follow me to your room. Then when they caught me, I did not know how to defend myself. How stupid and useless is that?”

“Beatrix, dinna start blaming yerself. Ye did nothing wrong or stupid. Those men were watching ye and waiting for the first opportunity to strike. They were professional thieves. I suspect their original plan was to abduct Posy and then pretend to be the ones who found him and returned him safely to your aunt to claim a generous reward.”

He took out his handkerchief to dab at the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Spirits dull a man’s mind, and these two scoundrels dinna have so much as one working brain between them to begin with. Abducting a dog is one thing, but abducting the daughter of a peer? They’ll hang for certain. But I dinna care about their unworthy hides. It is ye I am worried about. I’ll teach ye how to defend yerself, if ye have a mind to learn.”

She nodded eagerly. “I do. I never want to feel helpless again.”

“Nor would I ever want ye to be,” he said with conviction, then cast her a tender smile. “I’ll make ye as fierce as any Scottish warrior ever to face the Sassenachs in battle.”

“I would like that very much.” She smiled back at him through her tears.

He dabbed at her cheek again. “Och, lass. Dinna let this sad incident chase the sparkle from yer eyes or dampen the goodness of yer heart. Most people are honest and decent, I promise ye.”

Her hand still shook as she raised the cup to her lips again. She wanted to be strong but also felt so much better having Lucas beside her. However, he would not always be with her.

The thought saddened her immensely.

She was beginning to have feelings for him.

Perhaps it was because he had rescued her, and she was grateful. But she knew it was more. She had been drawn to him even before the incident.

Betsy brought Posy over to them and then went off to fetch Lucas his breakfast. She returned with a plate piled high. Eggs, sausage patties, and bread to sop it all up. Oatmeal. Kippers. Potatoes. “Ye’re grinning at me, lass,” he said with amusement as she watched him devour the food on his plate.

Apparently, the incident had not interfered with his appetite.

But this is why she thought of him as rugged as any Highlands warrior. There was no question he was overset about the incident, probably blamed himself for not protecting her when none of this was his fault.

He had wanted to punch those men for the way they had ogled her last night and would have been pleased for the opportunity given this morning if not for the seriousness of the circumstances.

But she could see the anger still seething inside of him and knew he held not a trace of remorse in knocking them unconscious.

Indeed, he would rip out their throats if they dared come near her again.

He probably regretted not doing it when he rescued her.

She rather liked that feral quality about him.

“My aunt and I eat like birds. I marvel at the amount you can take in. I hope you do not take it as criticism. It is not meant that way at all. You are much bigger than we are, and it must take quite a bit to maintain your muscle.”

He chuckled. “Have ye noticed my muscles?”

She blushed. “Now you are just teasing me. Of course, I have. Who wouldn’t? And I think you know it, and rather like that the ladies look at you.”

She expected a witty retort from him, but he turned surprisingly quiet.

“Lucas?”

“I know we are sitting here trying to pretend everything is now all right. But yer hands are shaking, and my temper is still in a hot boil. I am so sorry, Beatrix.”

“No, Lucas. Stop thinking you did anything wrong. You said it yourself, they were professionals and knew exactly when to strike.”

He sighed and plucked Posy from her hands. “We are never going to let Beatrix out of our sight again, are we, laddie?”

The pug licked his face.

“Your new best friend,” Beatrix remarked. “You saved him, too.”

When they had finished their breakfast, he rose and brought her up with him. “Come along, lass.” He took gentle hold of her hand and tucked Posy comfortably under his arm.

She liked that he held her hand instead of taking her by the elbow or placing her arm on his as was done in polite society.

The touch of their hands felt intimate.

Possessive.

Could he be starting to like her?

There was something in the way he held her, as though they were meant to be together.

As though they belonged.

However, her aunt seemed to think she was destined for the Marquess of Greenock. Was it true? Why could she not be destined for Lucas? Any woman would fall in love with such a man.

Serving maids smiled at him as he led her up the stairs.

He smiled back at them.

Obviously, he was not looking to give up his bachelorhood any time soon.

She resolved not to think about him with anything more than gratitude.

But her heart ached as she stood beside this rugged man.

Would Greenock have saved her?

Would Greenock have held her hand and wiped her tears?

Would Greenock be as devastating to her senses as Lucas was?