“He’s also a coward. He knows I’d kill him if he touched a hair on her head.”
“He can get in line,” Blade growled. “We can’t just stand here doing nothing.”
“Have we checked the stables? There are plenty of grooms and stable hands about with the ball on,” Philip asked.
“I’ve already checked,” Trello wailed.
Blade headed for the door. “I’ll look again. I have to do something.” He made his way through the servants' entrance and even with his greatcoat on the cold penetrated to his skin. The falling snow was relentless, and he prayed Fallon at least wrapped Harriet up against the elements.
The stable was a buzz of activity, what with the carriages for the guests and keeping the horses warm. If the snow didn’t ease, they might have a full house tonight, the roads soon becoming impassable.
It didn’t take long for Blade to learn that Lord Fallon did not have a carriage in the stable yard, and he could feel his fear choke him. He asked his groom to saddle his horse while sending a boy to let Trello know what he’d learned and that he’d go searching.
As he headed out into the snowstorm, he berated himself. He’d been so pleased with his plan around his surprise proposal that he’d forgotten to watch over Harriet. She’d specifically asked them to be in the ballroom tonight, but he’d thought it would have more effect if he came out only to propose.
He vowed that no matter what, she would be his bride. He didn’t care what Fallon did to her, once Fallon was dead she would be his wife, scandal be damned—if she’d have him. He hated that now she might not have any choice. He wanted her to have her wish—to make her own decisions about her future. If he could he’d ensure Fallon did not steal that from her.
He rode around to the back of the house because if he was abducting anyone it would not be in full view of the guests. That’s when he saw the set of two prints in the snow. He kicked his horse forward. He followed them until the snow obscured them… Or was that it. He dismounted and saw that the prints diverged. His heart sped up. She’d run…
Throwing himself in the saddle, he knew exactly where she was running to—the hot pools. He urged Ghost into a gallop and headed to the pools. About half way there he saw a figure stumbling towards the house. It was Harriet, and not far behind was Fallon.
Anger seized him, and he yelled a curse into the cold air. Fallon turned towards the sound and stopped, turning round and running back the way he’d come. Blinding rage almost saw him follow until he noted that Harriet had no coat on. She’d fallen to her knees in the snow. He’d leave killing Fallon to later and instead raced to Harriet’s side.
“Blade…” Her voice was a whisper as she lay in the snow with flakes kissing her beautiful face.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered in her ear as he wrapped her in his greatcoat, oblivious to the cold from worry. She felt like a block of ice. He quickly carried her and lay her on Ghost’s neck before swinging up behind her. He pulled her into his arms and set his horse flying over the snow towards the warmth. He was about to gallop into the stable when he detoured to the servants' entrance round the back.
He saw a figure heading towards the house and it was Trello. Her brother broke into a run when he spied them.
“Well met, Trello. Help me carry her inside and get her out of these wet clothes and warm. We also need to protect her reputation, so get your father to reveal she’s taken ill, and the announcement is delayed.”
“And what of Fallon?” Trello’s voice was filled with the same rage that was gripping his body like a vice.
“He’ll keep. Harriet’s a bigger concern; she’s fainted from the cold.” By now he was striding up the backstairs towards her bedchamber, and Trello had left to find Lord Hearthstone.
Warmth. She could feel the heat seeping into her frozen limbs, and her hands and feet were tingling in a terrible way. Warmth and pain was all she felt. That wasn’t true. She felt safe. Blade had come for her.
She snuggled into his hard chest, trying to distract herself from the pain, but she let out a whimper. She felt herself being lowered to a bed, her clothes being stripped from her body, while a deep voice barked orders. Soon she was wrapped in quilted blankets and a large male body was cuddling her close.
However, the warmer she got, the more painful it became, until she was crying like a little girl.
Someone made her drink a sickly sweet liquid, and soon she was falling into a lovely dreamless sleep where the pain couldn’t find her.
She didn’t know how long she’d slept, but the sun was shining when her eyes fluttered open. She could see it had stopped snowing through her bedroom window. Disappointment rippled under her contentedness because she no longer felt the two strong, safe arms of Blade. He’d left her during the night.
But he’d saved her.
She sighed against the pillow. What a mess. Lord Fallon had tried to abduct her.
But Blade saved her, and on that lovely thought she snuggled back under the blankets, happiness making her hum a little song.
She rolled onto her side and saw Ariane sleeping in the large wingback chair near the fire, and Diane was curled in a blanket on the end of her bed. Diane was awake, and she smiled at her.
“Gosh, what a night.”
Diane scoffed. “Indeed. We told everyone you’d taken ill. Which you sort of have. Your fingers and toes were red raw with cold, but the doctor doesn’t think there is any permanent damage. Do they hurt much?” Diane had moved up to cuddle her. “If you need it, the doctor left you more laudanum for the pain.”
“I’m fine.” She hoped Diane would tell her where Blade was before she had to ask, but her sister rose from the bed to stoke the fire as there was a sharp chill in the air. “We shall ensure all the guests leave today. Some had to stay overnight because of the snow.”
Ariane awoke stretching out her neck and arms before coming to sit on the bed beside her, wrapped in a shawl for extra warmth. “Blade was quite the hero. Rushing you inside up the back stairs and barking orders to get hot bricks.”
Harriet remembered strong masculine arms holding her even as they stripped her wet clothes from her body. Her body flushed at the idea he saw her naked.
“Your brother had to pry you off him. They made him wait outside your room in the end as it was very inappropriate. Only his declaration of love and that you would be his wife saw your brother allow him to stay in the room until the doctor arrived.”
“He said he loved me?”
Ariane stroked her hair. “He was frantic with worry for you.” Harriet pushed back the bedding and made to rise, but Ariane’s hand stayed her movement. “He’s not here.”
“He’s gone? He left before Christmas day, before seeing me?”
“He and Trello have gone after Lord Fallon,” Diane told her.
She sunk back against the pillows. She should have known the men in her life would revenge this slight. “What do you think they will do when they find him?” She tried to breathe evenly. Would Trello or Blade challenge him to a duel? Would they get hurt? Or worse, if Lord Fallon was mortally injured they may be in terrible trouble.
Diane looked at Ariane. “I’m not sure. Hand him to the magistrate one would hope.”