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

Chapter Six

T heir journey continued with only an hour’s delay while the magistrate took Lucas’s statement and that of Beatrix. Lucas remained by her side the entire time, hoping to lend quiet support. They left as soon as they had signed their statements. But the day was morose for reasons beyond the dismal weather.

Beatrix hardly spoke two words the entire ride.

Lucas did not press her since she was still too overset to engage in light conversation. However, when her eyelids fluttered closed later in the day, he drew her against him. “Rest yer head, lass. I dinna mind.”

“But you are working on those contracts.”

“I’ll look at them later.”

She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, Lucas.”

“Anytime, lass.”

Lady Rochester witnessed their exchange but made no protest. She had to understand how badly her niece had been shaken up by the attack.

The following day, they were given a choice of routes to take. The roads diverged just north of Leeds at several points. The one taking them most out of their way but offering the prettiest views was the road running directly eastward. It would require them to pass through York before cutting north through the moors to the seacoast town of Whitby.

Lucas was faced with a decision.

Should he keep to the main route and shorten their journey to Edinburgh? Or take that eastward road through the Yorkshire moors? It would add a day or more to their travels, but what was an additional day or two in the scheme of things?

He wanted more time with Beatrix, did he not?

He also sensed the plentiful views of the water once they were on the coastal road, and riding northward, would help settle Beatrix’s tension. She had been skittish all day yesterday, startling at the least little thing and shying away from anyone who approached her. “What do ye think, Posy?”

He knelt down to pet the little pug’s head.

Posy was another one affected by their near abduction. He hadn’t left Lucas’s side since that morning, weaving himself in and out of Lucas’s legs so that he almost tripped over the wee beastie more than a couple of times. “Is it the coast road for us?”

Posy barked his assent.

“Yes, I agree. Let’s tell the ladies.”

Despite the earliness of the hour, the sun was already warming the earth and air. It would be blazing hot by midday. This was another reason to ride closer to the sea. They might catch a cooler breeze along the water.

“M’lord,” the innkeeper’s wife said, “Lady Rochester asked me to tell you that she and Lady Beatrix will be down shortly. My lads will escort them and carry their bags. Lady Beatrix said to specifically tell ye that ye are not to come up to fetch her. She has two able legs and can make her own way down.”

“Thank ye,” he said with a chuckle, knowing he may have been a bit overprotective of her last night. But he had been concerned about her. Little more than a day had passed since Beatrix’s frightening incident. How could he not be mad with worry?

He also ached for the damage those villains had done to her beautiful innocence.

Not in a sexual sense, thank goodness.

But they had destroyed her unspoiled view of the world.

As a lad growing up in Stonehaven, whenever he had been overset or angry about something, he sought the solace of the sea. Whether it was to take a swim, walk along the beach, or climb up the cliff walk to the heights overlooking the roiling waters, the view seemed to calm him and allow him to think more clearly.

“Holmes,” he said to his driver when the carriage was brought around, and the man descended from his perch to await the ladies. “We are going to take the road along the moors, then turn north at Whitby.”

“Aye, m’lord. It is a wise idea. I don’t think Lady Beatrix will do well if we stop at another of these crowded coaching inns. The roads along the coast are less traveled, and the inns are smaller, quieter. They draw a local crowd, not passing riff-raff.”

Lucas nodded. “My thoughts exactly. These busy inns might be an ordeal for her. Do ye think we can make it to Whitby by sundown tonight?”

“Unlikely, but I am not ruling it out on such a fine day as this. I know the area well. Grew up around here. We won’t be stuck without a place to stay.”

“Thank ye, Holmes.”

The amiable, older man nodded.

Lucas liked him. Holmes had a good head on his shoulders. He was a portly fellow, obviously one who enjoyed a good meal and a good drink, but also a thoughtful fellow if the careworn look to his face was any indication. No doubt driving carriages under constant strain from the elements, the sun, wind, cold, and rain had added crags and wrinkles to his features, but those did not mask his good character.

Lucas could see the attention Holmes gave to the horses and the respectful way he comported himself when not on duty. He knew the man would be considerate of Beatrix’s feelings, and that gave him some relief. He did not need their coachman blabbing about the incident that had shaken the poor lass to the core. “Good. I’ll bring the ladies out. I am eager to be on our way.”

Beatrix and her aunt walked out together just as he was about to go inside to hurry them along. He could see by Beatrix’s expression that she could not stand to remain indoors any longer. Her cheeks were pale, her eyes rounded in alarm whenever someone darted by, and she was trying to put on a brave face to cover up her fear.

Lucas took her arm to help her in their carriage. “I was just coming to get you.”

“But I told the innkeeper’s wife not—”

“Beatrix, I have faith in ye. I know ye will get over this. But give yerself time, lass. Dinna push yerself before ye are ready.”

“I hated being so helpless, Lucas.”

“I know. Nor have I forgotten my promise to teach ye about defending yerself. But we have a long journey today, and the sooner we get started, the better.”

He helped her aunt and Posy in next, then climbed in and took the seat beside Beatrix. “The moors are wild and beautiful,” he said as they rolled away from the inn. “Have ye ever seen the area, Lady Rochester?”

“No, never.”

“I haven’t either,” Beatrix added, smiling as Posy jumped onto Lucas’s lap and made himself comfortable.

“Ye’ll enjoy it, lass. We’ll be passing close to York. Do ye wish to stop there for the day?”

She seemed surprised by the question. “Are you not in a hurry to reach Edinburgh?”

“Aye, but a day or two delay will not be a problem. In truth, we have made better time than I expected and are a little ahead of schedule.”

She clasped her hands together. “Would you mind if we avoided crowds and pushed on?”

“Not at all. I prefer it.” He wanted to take her hand but knew it was not possible. As it was, the two of them seated side by side was something to be frowned upon. But Lady Rochester seemed to be warming to him.

Although he could not hold Beatrix’s hand, he managed to maintain contact with her body as the carriage jounced along the rougher roadway. His shoulders were broad, and she was a light, little thing. She bounced into him constantly, giving him the opportunity to reach out to her often enough. When she drifted off to sleep, Lady Rochester once again said nothing as her head fell against his shoulder. He moved his arm to settle her against his chest in order to make her more comfortable.

Indeed, Lady Rochester even cast him a grin when he found himself with Beatrix tucked under his shoulder and resting her head against his chest while Posy slept on his lap, his little legs poked up in the air.

“They both trust you and feel quite comfortable with you, Lord Lyon.”

He nodded. “Ye know I wouldn’t harm them for the world.”

“I know you would never do such a thing intentionally.” She took a moment to stare at Beatrix and make certain she was asleep. “But I am so worried she will be hurt.”

“I would never—”

“I know. It is not you that concerns me. But you and I shall have this discussion another time. Before we reach Edinburgh.”

He did not know what Lady Rochester meant by it. If she wasn’t worried about his hurting Beatrix, then was she referring to Lord MacGlory? He wanted to assure her that he would continue to watch over Beatrix and protect her if it became necessary, but Posy startled awake at that moment, and his movements stirred Beatrix.

Lucas grinned at the sleepy pair. “Posy, did ye dream of chasing a rabbit? Was he bigger than ye, laddie?”

Beatrix laughed softly as she sat up. “I expect most creatures are. What did you call him when you first met him? A hedgehog?”

“He’s no bigger than one, but his heart is mighty and proud. Isn’t that right, ye little prince?”

Beatrix cast him a dreamy look, her eyes still having the slight droop of sleep and her lips pink and sultry.

How was he ever going to part from the lass?

Well, he knew the answer.

He wasn’t.

If she wanted him, then he was hers.

They stopped briefly along the way, first at a tea shop in a village not far from York, then in the late afternoon in the village of Malton, not far from the imposing Castle Howard, seat of the Earl of Carlisle. But he knew they could not travel much further, for the moors were dark as pitch at night and dangerous because of the shifting sands that could swallow a carriage whole.

They found a charming inn upon reaching the village of Pickering.

While Beatrix’s aunt had tea in the parlor, Lucas and Beatrix took Posy for an evening stroll as twilight fell upon them. The air was warm and pinescented. The sky had taken on the exquisite hues of pink and coral. “Care for a lesson in the art of defense?”

Beatrix looked up at him in surprise. “Now?”

“It is as good a time as any. Nothing fancy, lass. Just a few tricks for ye to know, though I hope ye’ll never have the need again.”

She nodded. “Yes, please tell me what I did wrong when those two villains came upon me and Posy.”

Their footsteps crunched along a pebbled path that ran beside the inn. They remained in sight of the establishment as they made their way toward a nearby meadow. Lucas had no intention of taking her beyond the stone wall that stood at the edge of the meadow.

Nor did he intend to actually put her through the rigors of a soldier’s training. He merely meant to give her a bit of instruction on how to bring a man down. “Lass, ye were too gentle with those men.”

“But I tried to kick them. I punched the one who was holding me, though I could not hit his jaw hard enough. Your fist is much bigger. He fell over as though struck in the face by a boulder when you punched him.”

“I was able to knock him out because of my brute strength. But ye’re a little thing, so ye needed to be more clever about it. Everyone has weak spots on their body. The eyes. The nose. The throat.” He cleared his own throat. “And for men, we also have a weak spot between our legs.”

She blushed. “I couldn’t…”

“Aye, lass. Ye could, and ye must. Anything is allowed in order to drop an assailant to his knees. Although if he is holding ye from behind, that will not work unless ye can turn around and ram yer knee hard into him. But what ye could have done while he was behind ye and holding on to ye was reach back and poke him in the eye. His instinct would have been to let ye go while he put a hand to protect his eye.”

“Show me, Lucas. He was close to you in size.” She turned her back to him. “Put your arms around me. I mean…well, you know…”

“Aye, lass.” He put an arm around her waist and drew her up against him so that her back was pressed against his chest. This was going to be more difficult than he expected because he could not stay unaffected by her nearness. “Yer best response is to act quickly before I manage to pin both yer arms securely in my grasp. The moment I reach for ye, what ye need to do is pivot and poke yer fingers in my eye. That will momentarily blind me.”

He released her and stepped back. “All right, are ye ready to try it? I will come at ye from behind again. As soon as ye feel my touch, turn and aim for my eyes. But kindly dinna actually gouge me.”

“I will be careful,” she assured him, her expression earnest as she absorbed his instructions.

“Ready, Beatrix?”

She nodded.

He moved to place one arm around her waist and the other at her mouth as her assailant had done. She was quick on her feet and immediately turned and aimed for one of his eyes. But she kept her fist closed to avoid actually poking him in that sensitive spot.

He smiled at her. “Well done. Had ye kept yer fingers outstretched, ye would have got me good and momentarily blinded me. As soon as I let ye go, what would ye do next?”

She raised her fists. “Hit you again.”

“No, ye bloodthirsty lass,” he teased. “Yer next move is to run away and scream like a banshee to attract a crowd.”

She nodded. “I see your point. Yes, rest assured I shall run. But there were two men, so I might not have gotten past the other one. What if he had caught me before I escaped?”

“Same thing. Fingers to the eyes. Or ye could have kicked him hard in the soft spot between his legs. Or punched him hard in the throat. The point is, ye only stand and fight if ye canno’ manage to avoid an assailant’s grasp.”

“Oh.”

“A little thing like ye would never win a straight fight. So ye fight dirty. Eyes. Throat. Soft spot. And ye should also look for anything to use as a weapon besides yer puny fists. A fire shovel with which to hit him over the head. Soot to toss in his eyes. A pistol, if ye have one.”

She shook her head. “I carry no weapons on me. Should I, Lucas?”

“No, lass. It isn’t necessary unless ye’ve had training and have the nerve to shoot a man dead. Because if ye draw it out and canno’ use it against him, he will grab it from ye and turn it on ye.” He took her hand to lead her back to the inn, as it was starting to grow dark.

The moon was now visible, as were several of the brighter stars. Within the hour, it would be too dark to see anything other than the moon and stars shining above them.

That view would be spectacular.

What better place to kiss this lass than on a night like this?

Aye, right out here amid the warm summer breeze and the scent of lavender in the air.

Nor was he worried about highwaymen or another manner of scoundrels, for the area was slim pickings and not worth their time.

If anything, he was worried about himself.

The girl ravaged his senses.

Toss in a blanket of shimmering stars and a silver moon, and he was going to kiss that lass until her lips were numb.

He whistled for Posy, needing to turn his attention to the impertinent little prince in order to distract him from kissing Beatrix here and now. The wee beastie came running back and hopped into his arms. “There’s a good lad,” he said, chuckling as he petted Posy.

The dog was a glutton for affection.

“He’s still so grateful to you for saving us,” Beatrix said, her eyes alight and her smile genuinely warm. “This was so helpful. You have no idea how it eases my mind to know I need not be powerless.”

“We’ll work on the other matter when we get to Edinburgh. I dinna know if yer father will be forthcoming about yer dowry or anything else ye may have coming to ye. But the worst he can do is refuse to tell ye.”

Her smile faltered. “No, the worst he can do is send me away again. It broke my heart the first few times he did that to me. Then he simply stopped sending for me at all, and that hurt more than you can ever imagine.”

“Och, lass. In this, yer father is a monumental fool.” He wished he could assure her that things would be different this time. But Lord MacGlory was a stubborn Scot and not likely to change his ways. “Dinna worry about it, Beatrix. Ye canno’ control his thoughts and actions. If he tries to send ye back to England again, come to me.”

“He’ll discharge you if you dare to meddle.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Do ye think I care? If he tries to force ye into an unwanted marriage, ye come to me for that as well.”

“And put your bright future at risk? What could you do other than gain his ire? He’s my father and still has control over me.”

“Not in Scotland, lass. Our marriage rules are different.”

She stopped at the entrance to the inn and stared at him. “What are you saying, Lucas?”

He cupped her cheek. “I should think my meaning would be obvious. I will never allow anyone to hurt ye, no matter who they are to ye. I am willing to marry ye and give ye the protection of the Lyon name. My name.”

“You would offer me a marriage of convenience?” She frowned. “How is this fair to you?”

“Do ye think I could live with myself knowing I had delivered ye into a situation of misery? No, Beatrix. I could not abide it. Bessie must have understood this when she paired ye with me at the Lyon’s Den.”

“My father would never forgive you for interfering in his plans for me.”

He arched an eyebrow and grinned. “Lass, do ye not know me well enough by now? We Scots live to quarrel, especially amongst ourselves.”

She shook her head vehemently. “You would be giving up everything for me.”

His eyebrow was still arched, and his grin broadened. “Is there something wrong with that notion?”