Chapter Thirty-Five
Phin approached the townhouse belonging to Lord and Lady Smithson not from the front lane facing Grosvenor Square, but from the rear. He wished to check in with Iago and ensure all was in place before entering the ballroom as a guest.
He found his man where he expected, hidden near the house.
His other men were spread about in various spots around the premises—watchful and prepared to intervene should anyone attempt to take Eleanor from the house.
Aadesh was also somewhere nearby, preferring to seek out his own covert location.
Though Phin did not know the man well and couldn’t be sure of his ultimate goals, in their current caper, he was certainly an ally.
Aadesh’s immediate objective was clear and unwavering.
He would ensure the safety of the necklace if nothing else.
And right now, that necklace was around Eleanor’s throat, which meant Aadesh would be keeping as close an eye on her as Phin himself.
Joining Iago in the shadows near the house, where they had a view straight into the ballroom through the terrace windows, Phin remained silent for a moment.
His gaze scanned the interior, seeking a stunningly fair young lady dressed in a gown of dark rose.
He spotted her easily as she’d taken up position near the windows as discussed.
Though she stood alone amongst the shifting crowd, there could be no mistaking her for anything other than magnificent.
Phin’s heart jolted. Fear and admiration and so much more filled him.
“We’ll keep anything from harming her, my lord,” Iago whispered beside him, reading his mind as he so often did.
Phin nodded. But he couldn’t shake the fear that had taken root inside him. He’d never been so uncertain of a plan. He suspected it was because there had never been so much at stake before. But they’d done what they could to cover all avenues of risk and ensure Eleanor’s safety.
So, why was his instinct screaming to abort?
Taking a step forward, he peered intently at the guests moving through the crowd around Eleanor.
As their casual glances swept for her position, they swiftly sharpened, obviously focusing on her unusual adornment.
But, aside from subtle covetousness and occasional glimmers of envy, no one signaled any kind of recognition when gazing at the jewels around her lovely neck.
Phin had been in some extremely precarious and terrifying situations.
He’d once nearly fallen off a mountainside cliff.
He’d peered into the depths of an active volcano.
He’d faced vicious predators in the wild and even more vicious villains in black market alleyways.
He’d engaged in countless duels—with and without weapons.
But he’d never felt such an intense spike of anxiety as he did while watching Eleanor in that ballroom.
Anxiety and the deepest admiration. She was breathtaking.
She was his.
Dammit. He sounded like Ackerly.
He fisted his hands.
It was in that moment that Phin saw the fair-haired gentleman with the intense stare heading toward Eleanor. Alarm shot through him like a bolt. There was too much possession in the man’s eyes as it settled upon the jewels circling Eleanor’s throat.
It had to be Ackerly.
“That’s him,” he murmured tensely. “I’ve got to get in there.”
When Iago didn’t reply, he glanced back over his shoulder to see only empty shadows.
His man was gone.
Alarm spiked, but before he could react, a heavy cloth was thrown over his head from behind and something slammed against the back of his head with stunning force. Stars danced before his eyes as a whooshing sound filled his ears.
Shame, terror, and the deepest regret rushed through him.
Then nothing.
*
The moment she spotted Lord Ackerly—approaching her position with a smooth, direct stride, his gaze locked upon the jewels around her throat—Eleanor touched the fingertips of one hand to the opposite elbow, giving the agreed upon signal to indicate Ackerly’s engagement.
She had not yet seen Phin enter the ballroom, but she trusted he was near.
There was also Iago and Aadesh watching from somewhere.
She wanted to make sure it was clear that their quarry had taken the bait.
As Ackerly neared, she tilted her chin and thinned her gaze.
She had expected some clear reaction from the man. Anger, perhaps. Frustration, maybe.
What she saw was subtle amusement and sharp confidence.
The look in his eyes was intensely focused but the rest of him had reverted to his former slightly self-deprecating demeanor. The accusation and threat he had directed toward her on their last couple encounters was gone. He was oddly…comfortable.
Seeing his easy manner caused an instant rush of alarm. Why did she suddenly feel as though instead of forcing his hand, they’d played right into them.
She did her best to hide her unease as he stepped before her to give a short bow of acknowledgment.
At their last encounter, she’d spoken to him rather harshly.
It was important to continue the game they’d started until he revealed himself.
Tilting her chin, she spoke stiffly, “My lord, I do not believe we have anything to say to each other.”
He smiled. Slow. Easy. His eyes flickered swiftly from her face to the jewels then back to her face. “You know that’s not true.”
“Of course it is.”
His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped as he spoke through a firm smile, “You knew exactly what you were doing when you decided to wear that adornment.”
Surprised that he so boldly mentioned the necklace so quickly, Eleanor lifted her fingers to lightly touch the honeybee motif at the center of her throat. “It’s a family heirloom. Only recently recovered after being lost for many generations.”
She was intentionally vague, hoping he would supply his own context for his interest.
The man’s gaze was flinty and oddly intent. But then he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment before exhaling. When he met Eleanor’s stare again, his manner had firmly regained the casual confidence that was so unsettling.
“I know exactly what that is. As, I’m certain, you are well aware.” He took a step closer and lowered his voice as a slow smile curved his lips. “Whatever little drama Waring concocted, thinking he could outsmart me…” He chuckled. “Well, the truth is, you’ve saved me some trouble.”
“Lord Ackerly, I’ve no idea—”
“You can stop there, my love,” he interrupted, the endearment snaking through her with a distasteful sensation.
“The time for deception has long passed.” His eyes flickered to the jewels.
“You made certain of that. We’d both be better served by dealing in truths from this point forward, don’t you think? ”
Eleanor glanced around, seeking a glimpse of Phin. Her belly clenched when she failed to find him.
However, she did see Lydia and Bridget, both of them watching her carefully from a distance as they pretended to be engaged in socializing. It gave her some comfort, but she couldn’t shake her growing concern.
Where was Phin?
He’d promised to keep her safe. He had to be here. But where?
“I don’t know how you managed to convince that dolt to give you the artifact, but it doesn’t matter. Now that you have the necklace…and I have you,” he added darkly, “there is nothing more to stand in the way of our destiny.”
Eleanor tensed. His words reminded her that she had a role to play. This was her idea. She couldn’t misplace her courage now.
She held Ackerly’s disconcerting gaze. “Our destiny?”
“Indeed.” His stare bored into her as a wide smile flashed his teeth. “Tonight, we shall finally put the past to rest and claim the fate that should have been ours long, long ago. My bride has been returned to me.” His eyes darkened. “You will not be taken again.”
He couldn’t possibly mean what she thought he was saying. It was poor word choice. It had to be.
“You’re looking a bit pale, my love,” he said, full of false concern as he took hold of her arm and turned them both away from the dance floor. “Let us step outside for some refreshing night air.”
An icy blast of fear shot through her. Her instinct was to resist or make a scene, but even though something felt very off about Ackerly and how things were progressing, this was part of the plan.
They’d suspected he would try to get her away from the crowd, and the garden was the easiest option.
That was why Iago and Aadesh had been stationed there.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she muttered harshly, trying not to reveal to Ackerly that she’d anticipated his high-handedness. “You cannot handle me in such a way.”
His hand tightened around her arm as he pulled her in closer to his side. “Keep your lips closed,” he hissed. “It is time you showed proper obedience.”
Eleanor’s gaze bounced around at the other guests they passed.
People who quickly averted their attention, having grown accustomed to seeing her as odd, her activities as unusual.
Ackerly somehow managed to paste a benign expression on his face as he smiled and muttered, “The lady grows faint. Fresh air should help.”
Tensely accepting Ackerly’s direction, she glanced once over her shoulder to sweep her gaze over the crowd behind her.
Where was Phin?
The cooler air of the night brought her attention back to Ackerly. They’d already stepped onto the terrace and he wasn’t stopping there. With his hand painfully secure around her arm, he continued to stride out onto the lawn.
“Wait,” she finally said. “Where are you taking me?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“My lord,” she began as she pulled back a bit, trying to slow him. Even knowing Aadesh and Iago had to be near, she didn’t want to get too far from the house.
“I said shut it,” he snapped.
The odd tension in him, the burning focus of his glare, the suggestion of violence in his form triggered a swift and sharp response in her body.
Eleanor had never believed herself to have a temper, but it certainly flared to life in that moment. Digging her heels in for the first time since he grabbed her, she retorted, “I will not. Your behavior is shockingly unconscionable. Release me this instant.”
The man laughed and only tightened his grip, continuing to propel her forward. They’d nearly reached the wall at the far side of the garden.
Eleanor panicked. Ackerly clearly intended to take her away. Home, he said, but she didn’t believe he was talking about Lindley House. The sudden intent of violence in his manner worried her.
She didn’t even realize she’d glanced back once again—peering into the shadows of the garden, silently pleading for Phin or Iago or Aadesh to intervene—until Ackerly jerked her roughly forward.
“He’s not there,” he sneered, drawing Eleanor’s gaze back to him.
There was anger in his stare now, with a bright glimmer of satisfaction.
Dread danced down her spine. Her expression must have changed as Ackerly smiled again. “You’ve nothing to worry about, my love. Waring won’t interfere in our plans.”
Ice entered her veins. “What do you mean?”
“I cannot have him skulking around, jumping from shadows as we finally begin on our fated path,” he replied almost flippantly. “Waring kept getting in the way. But I’ve ensured that he and his men have been taken care of. You are mine now. And I won’t let you go.”
Terror nearly dropped her to her knees.
He’d done something to Phin and the others. That’s why no one had come forward to intervene. Her worry over their well-being was nearly overwhelmed by the realization that she was on her own. No one was going to save her.
Their plan had failed.
Instantly, she started to fight. With every bit of strength and power and instinct she possessed, she twisted herself free of Ackerly’s grip and opened her mouth to scream for help.
But she was too late. Ackerly must have anticipated her resistance because he was ready for it.
A single swing of his fist and an explosion of pain in her temple caused the world to spin around her.
She heard a ringing in her head then the ground came up to meet her.
As he lifted her in his arms, jostling her about, it took all her remaining strength to fight off the wave of unconsciousness that threatened to claim her.
No!
She had to keep her wits about her and stay present if she was to find a way free of this madman.
By the time her awareness sharpened enough to assess what had happened, she was slouched in the corner of a closed carriage. Ackerly was seated across from her, his expression full of disapproval.
As her flickering gaze met his, he leaned forward.
“I’d meant to present our future in a more palatable way.
I’d planned flowers, music”—he waved a hand—“an elaborate proposal. A demonstration of the abundance and beauty and charm that would be inherent in the life we’d finally live together—after so many lost incarnations. ”
Eleanor grew more and more concerned with each word he said.
Lifting her hand to her throbbing temple, she adjusted herself to sit more upright, causing a wave of dizziness and nausea. Ackerly’s nonsense wasn’t finding purchase in her brain. She needed to understand if she had any chance of combatting his intentions.
Deciding on another tactic, she forced her tone to one that was less confrontational. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Shock and anger flashed in his eyes. “How can you say that? Don’t you feel it? Fate. Our fates. Intertwining once again, coming together just as they should have that first time, before…”
His expression twisted into something dark and angry. He took a breath and continued between clenched teeth. “Before you betrayed me.”
A rush of sound distorted her hearing as blood pounded through her head. She pressed her fingers to her temple and focused her gaze on him.
“You are not making sense.” Though Eleanor feared she understood exactly what he was saying, she tried to draw him back into reality. “I never betrayed you, Lord Ackerly. I thought we were friends. You never made an attempt at courting me.”
He sneered and laughed an evil sound. “Why would I court my own promised bride?”
Her jaw clenched. “I’m not—”
“Don’t be obtuse,” he shouted, then shook his head with a look of supreme disappointment. “I thought you cleverer than this. Have you truly no idea who I am? Who we are?”