Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
“Heya!” a voice called to Alison from over her right shoulder.
Alison recognized the voice, but she did not know from where it came. With Pickle held under her arms, she started and paused, then turned slowly… only to break into a friendly smile when she saw who it was that had called out.
“Tommy!” she laughed in surprise.
It was the young boy from the village. Dressed in his usual cheap coat and worn through pants, wearing a hat pulled over his messy blond hair, and with pink cheeks from the cold, he beamed as he raced across the grounds toward her.
“Nice day for a walk, ain’t it!” Tommy said as he came closer. “A bit on the cold side, but what else can you expect with all the snow about?”
“That is a very good point,” she agreed, still laughing. “Which begs the question…” She cocked an eyebrow at him as if in judgment. “What on earth are you doing out here?”
He shrugged. “Just exploring, is all. It’s a free country, ain’t it?”
“Not really,” she shot back. “But the last I checked there is no law against going for a walk.”
“There better not be,” he said as if serious. “It’s all I got to do.”
“Ah, so boredom is the reason.”
Pickle squirmed in her arms to get closer to Tommy, so she put the little dog down in the snow. It yelped and started jumping up his legs, which had Tommy laughing gaily and petting it.
“He likes you.”
“What’s not to like.” He petted Pickle further, scratching behind the dog’s ears and giggling all the while. “What is it you’re doing out here?” he then asked her.
“I live here, thank you very much.”
“Outside?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “That there is my home.” She turned and pointed to the manor which sat just beyond the grounds. “In all its glory.”
It had only been a few days since she last visited, but the manor looked different to how she remembered it.
It appeared bigger, somehow. More isolated, and lonely.
There was no life to it, no sense at all that anyone lived there or would want to.
It sat stark against the white backdrop, a sense of foreboding emanating from the walls.
The truth of the matter was that Alison had no real desire to return home.
There was nothing there for her, and it would only add to her feelings of loneliness.
But she also did not want to remain with the Earl, and she figured that if she was going to be left alone then it might as well be in her own house.
“Say…” An idea then came to mind, and it had her smiling. “What are you doing now, Tommy?”
“I told ya, didn’t I? Walking.”
She laughed. “How you feel about walking a young lady back to her front door? Do you consider yourself a gentleman?”
Tommy stood up straight and put his hands on his hips. “I am!”
“I am sure you are. And, say you manage to see me home safely, how would you feel about…. Oh, some tea and biscuits? And whatever food I can find.”
Tommy’s eyes flashed with hunger. “I think that’s only fair.”
Alison could not say why, but she found herself growing attached to the young boy.
Maybe it was because she was feeling so darn alone?
Or maybe it was because he was the one person that she knew who did not seem to want anything from her.
In his eyes, she was not a lady, she was not someone who was in need of protection.
She was just a friend, and Alison did not realize how much she needed such things until now.
“Come on then.” She held out her hand for Tommy to take. “Before the storm comes.”
Tommy took her hand, and where she meant to lead the way, he took charge and walked in front. She laughed at the showmanship, and how seriously he was taking his role. For the first time all day, Alison found a reason to be happy.
That was until they came upon the front door of the manor…
“You left it open!” Tommy cried. “You know how dangerous that is?”
“No…” Alison released Tommy’s hand and hurried down the drive. “I certainly did not.”
The front door was wide open, and Alison knew beyond question that it had not been the last time she was home.
That was when she’d returned to gather some clothes of her own, at which point she had used the servant’s door to come and go.
The front door was supposed to be locked tight. But that it was not…
A stone dropped in the pit of her stomach, and she realized exactly why it was open. Just as she remembered suddenly the very real reason that Daniel had been so insistent on her staying with him.
“Oh no…”
“Someone is inside!” Tommy cried when they both heard a loud crash echoing from beyond the open doors. “Your family?”
“No,” she said cautiously, staying back while reaching for Tommy’s arm. “My family is away on holidays. The house is meant to be empty.” She bit into her lip as she considered, knowing immediately what she needed to do. “Tommy, let us return next door.”
“What?” Tommy wrenched his arm free. “I promised I would see you home safely, I did.”
“You did, but –”
“Who goes there!” Tommy cried out and then, before Alison could stop him, he charged indoors.
“Tommy!” she cried after him.
Pickle was next to charge in, barking all the while.
“Pickle!”
Alison looked about desperately as if help would suddenly appear from thin air. But that was the problem with being on one’s own. When trouble came calling, there was nobody there to vanquish it.
With no choice left to her, Alison took in a deep breath as if that would instill in her a sense of bravery and hurried inside.
She heard the voices right away.
“Who’s this then?” a gruff voice demanded.
“Let me go!” she heard Tommy cry out.
“Just a street rat,” another gravelly voice answered. “What do ya think? He’s tryin’ to get one up on us.”
“What does that mean?” the first voice asked. “Up on what?”
“It was a joke, you dolt. My meanin’ is, he’s tryin’ to steal what we have rightfully stolen. Very sneaky.”
“Let me go!” Tommy cried again. “You’ll regret it.”
“Oh-ho!” the second voice laughed. “He got stones in him.”
“Stones where? I can’t see none.”
“It’s an expression!” the second voice barked. “Means he’s brave.”
“Well why didn’t you just say that?”
“Why are you such a damn fool?”
Alison’s heart was racing as if it were trying to break through her chest. Her legs were shaking so that with each step taken she thought she might collapse.
The voices were coming from Lord Pemberton’s drawing room, and despite knowing how dangerous this was, how darn foolish, she carefully made her way there.
And then what? I doubt my presence will deter them any more than Tommy’s. Probably less…
Again, the downside of being on her own. And while Alison hated to admit such things, what she would not have given to have the Earl with her in that moment.
She came upon the drawing room, pausing just outside the doorway. As luck had it – if it could be called such a thing – those inside were too busy to notice her, allowing Alison to duck around the doorway before being spotted.
“What do we do with him?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What you mean you’re not sure?”
“I’m not sure!”
She recognized the two men immediately as those who were following her at the Christmas Fair.
The tall, gangly one had Tommy by the scruff of the neck while the shorter one was pacing the room.
They both held large, bulging sacks in their hands, and a quick sweep of the room confirmed them to be filled with many of her family’s ornaments.
“And where did this dog come from!” Pickle darted about the room, barking and nipping at their heels. “This your dog, boy?”
“I ain’t tellin’ you nothin’!” Tommy snapped as he tried to wiggle free.
“Will you shut that dog up,” the short one growled.
“How’s that?”
“What you mean?”
The tall one looked confused. “I got the boy, don’t I? You should be takin’ care of the mutt.”
“I don’t want to be takin’ care of anything,” the short one snapped. “What I want to be doin’ is getting’ in and outta here quick. Dammit! What if he’s not alone?” The short one was on Tommy, grabbing him by the coat and lifting him in the air. “You alone, boy? Who else is with you?”
Tommy said nothing, doing his best to scowl at the two men. But he also dared a glance toward the door, where he saw Alison hiding. His eyes widened and he gasped and that was enough to give her away.
“Hey!” the tall one saw her. “Who’s that?”
“Get her!”
Alison cried out and attempted to flee, but the tall one was after her. He dragged Tommy with him as if he weighed less than nothing, and before Alison could do much of anything, he snatched her by the arm.
“Let me go!” she cried out and took a wild swing.
“Oh-ho!” the tall one chuckled. “We got a fighter. A darn pretty fighter – see here!” he then said eagerly as he dragged her into the room with Tommy. “What you think?”
“Let he go!” Tommy snarled. “I’m warning you!”
“See that!” the tall burglar laughed. “He’s a damn brave one. Reckon we might have to – argh!” He yelped suddenly when Tommy’s elbow found its way into the tall burglar’s crotch.
Upon release, Tommy darted across the room to escape. Which he did do, vanishing beyond the drawing room like wind in a storm.
“After him!” the shorter burglar screamed.
“My nuts!” The tall one kept a hand around Alison’s arm, but his other went to his crotch as he remained doubled over. She tried to wiggle free, but his grip was strong and there was nothing she could do.
“God dammit!” the short one snapped. “You let him get away.”
“Me? You saw what he did.”
“I saw what you let him do.”
“It ain’t my fault, Hobbs.”
The shorter one, Hobbs, groaned. “What did I say about using my name? Pike.”
“You just said mine!”
“I was making a point!”
Alison had never felt such fear. She tried to pull her arm free but was unable. She tried to look for a way out, but nothing came to mind. She was alone with these two men, and although she knew little of them, she knew well enough that they were unlikely to let her go.
At least Tommy got away… It wasn’t much, but it was something.
“Please…” She tried to stand up and appear brave. “If it is money that you are after, perhaps I can help you.”
“Oh, we know you will help,” Hobbs sneered. “The question is, what kind of help are you going to give?” He had a bulging sack flung over his shoulder, and he kept it there as he looked Alison over, his beady eyes flashing mercilessly. “Pike, leave me alone with this one, will ya?”
“What? How come?”
“’Cause I said to.”
“That ain’t fair. I’m the one that got her. Cost me my right nut to do it.”
“And I care?”
“It’s not fair! We’re partners. Why are you always givin’ orders.”
“I’ll give you more than orders in a minute!” Hobbs snarled at Pike. “Now, give her to me!” He tossed the sack at Pike, who groaned as it hit him in the chest. He dropped Alison’s arm, only for Hobbs to snatch her and then drag her further into the room.
“No!” she cried out pathetically.
“That’s right,” he chuckled as he threw her against the table. She landed hard, hands going flat on the polished surface of the tabletop. She tried to turn, but he was on her, one hand grabbing her by the hair and yanking it back. “Fight me. I like a bit of fight.”
“You’re going to love me then.” The words were spoken softly, but there was a darkness to them. A chill swept through the room so that even Alison gasped as if from fear.
She looked up and relief flooded her, because Daniel stood in the doorway like darkness smothering the light.
His expression was rueful. Fire spewed from his eyes and snarls ripped from his bared teeth. His hands hung by his sides as if he was relaxed, but she could see how stiff he walked, how ready he was. Two against one and she almost felt bad for the two men.
Behind him appeared Tommy, who wore a similar expression to Daniel’s, even if it was nowhere near as effective.
“Who are you?” Hobbs sputtered.
“Hobbs…” Pike took a step back.
“Let the lady go.” Daniel took a step into the room.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Pike said.
“Quiet,” Hobbs snapped. Nonetheless, he let go of Alison and took a nervous step away. As he did, his eyes flicked to the window at the room’s end. “This is all a misunderstanding,” he eased as he took another step back. “But seeing as you caught us in a good mood, we’ll let you go.”
“A shame I am not of the same mind,” the Earl said darkly. “Lady Alison, to me.
She did not wait for Daniel to give the command twice. Alison rushed across the room, quick to duck behind Daniel. The moment she did, she felt the immediate sense of protection wrapping around her like a blanket in winter, the sense that she would never be in danger again.
Daniel did not look at her. He stood tall, blocking the retreat of the two men and slowly penning them inside the room.
“Pike…” Hobbs licked his lips. Another step back and he grabbed at a second bulging sack that sat on the table. “Seems it’s time we leave.”
“I was thinking the same.”
“You may try,” Daniel said. “And I wish you well.”
Alison stared at Daniel with a gaping mouth and wide eyes. How calm he was. How in control. He faced down the two men like a wolf might two sheep, no sense at all that he was in danger or would be.
It reminded Alison much of that first night she had fled to his home. How safe and protected he made her feel. More than that, how determined he was to ensure that nothing happened to her.
Perhaps I was wrong about him…
What happened next happened quickly.
Hobbs hefted up the sack and launched it at Daniel. It caught the Earl by surprise, forcing him to catch it. That was when Pike tossed his own sack, sending Daniel backwards. This gave the two men enough time to charge the window, at which point Hobbs grabbed a chair and threw it through the glass.
Glass shattered. Alison screamed. Pickle barked. And the two men leapt to safety without once looking back.
Strangely, Daniel did not go after them.
Rather, he turned and went immediately to Alison. He took her by the arm and pulled her away from the cold, his eyes searching her, his face scrunched with worry.
“Are you hurt?” he asked. “Did they do anything to you?”
“What? No,” she said, surprised by the concern etched in his voice. “Nothing. I am fine – they are getting away.”
“As I told you the first night, I do not care about that.” He looked at her with such seriousness that she might have thought him to be furious, but she knew better.
He was terrified, she saw. And she could feel the worry pouring from him.
“You are what matters. Now, you are certain that they did not hurt you?”
Alison smiled softly, reaching out and touching his arm. “I am sure. You came just in time. You… you saved me.”
“I’m fine too, ya know,” Tommy added from behind. “Not that you care none.”
To that, Alison laughed. She could not help it, but the emotions burst from her before she could stop them. She laughed and laughed and did not care. The danger was gone, she was safe again, and it was all thanks to Daniel. Her protector.