Hector picked Pip up into his arms, aware the poor boy had been frightened badly and was shaking like a leaf now. “By whom?”
“We were to take the boy. That’s all I know.”
But someone had hired them. And a servant below stairs must have let this pair in and showed them the way to the boy’s chamber. “Take him where?”
“Don’t know, but there’s a carriage waiting in the woods to take him the rest of the way.”
“The boy won’t be going anywhere.” Hector held out one hand, fingers clenched in a fist still. “Come near this boy again, and I’ll do worse than bloody your nose. Don’t ever let me see your face again!”
The second man, obviously believing Hector meant every word, started inching down the hall away from them all, clutching his nose.
Although Hector would prefer to question them further, they were just pawns, and the boy was his priority. “Let him go, Parker.”
Parker released the fellow he’d held by the throat and straightened up slowly. The men turned and fled for the servants’ staircase; they shoved at each other as they made their escape.
When they were gone, Parker turned back to Hector. “Is the boy all right, my lord?”
“I’ve no idea yet.” Hector turned on his heel and stalked to his chambers. Pip’s grip tightened on his neck as they entered the room, and Hector sat down with him. “It’s all right, my boy,” he whispered. “I won’t let them touch you again. Let me look at you, son. Are you hurt?”
“My arm,” Pip said, sobbing softly.
Parker came to kneel at Hector’s feet. “May I see your arm, lad?”
Pip’s grip on Hector eased, and he showed Parker his arm with obvious reluctance. Hector held his breath as his valet carefully inspected the child’s hand, wrist, and forearm. “I don’t think it serious, but perhaps it should be wrapped for the night just in case.”
Hector held Pip a bit tighter against him, seething with anger that perhaps the servants at The Vynes had conspired to take Pip away from him and Ruby. “Do it yourself. Do not involve The Vynes servants.”
Hector sat back, holding the boy snug against him. He felt protective of the boy now more than ever. Hector dropped his chin to the boy’s head. “I won’t let anyone take you away from your mama or me.”
Pip’s grip on his neck tightened. “Where is she?”
“Still at dinner.” He didn’t relish telling Ruby that The Vynes was not the haven she’d believed it to be. “I’ll fetch her.”
Pip grabbed him, shaking like a leaf. “No! Don’t leave me,” he cried.
“I’m not going anywhere yet,” Hector promised, even rocking the boy in his arms a little in the manner he’d noticed Ruby do on occasion. His heart swelled with tenderness for the boy, and with fear, too. What if he’d not come upstairs when he had? Pip might have been miles away before the abduction had been discovered.
Parker returned, his hands full of pristine white pressed linen cravats ripped in half. “It’s the best I can do.”
“A sacrifice for a worthy cause,” Hector promised, ruffling the boy’s hair and making him sit up for Parker.
Pip’s wrist was bound firmly. “He needs rest, my lord,” Parker suggested.
Pip just about strangled Hector out of fear of being separated.
“It’s all right, my boy. You can stay here and sleep in my bed tonight. Parker will be with you every moment. I will have to leave you to fetch your mother. Do you still want her?”
“Yes, but I want you, too,” Pip whispered, and his grip on Hector remained desperately keen.
Although it took a while, Parker finally managed to lure Pip out of Hector’s arms with the promise of a story. The boy was taken to the bed, encouraged to lie down under the sheets and blankets, and then Parker pulled up a chair beside it.
Hector paused at the foot of the bed, watching Pip as he wriggled and fidgeted in the strange surroundings as Parker made up a story on the spot. The boy was probably still frightened, but Hector turned down the lamps a little to encourage him to drift off.
Then he returned to the bed and ruffled Pip’s hair. “Close your eyes now, my lad. We’ll have a big day tomorrow—just you and me and your mother, and Parker, too. Perhaps we’ll go for a carriage ride together. Wouldn’t that be grand?”
Pip nodded.
Hector paused beside Parker. “Lock the door after I’m gone, just in case someone comes looking for the boy again. Don’t let anyone know he’s in this room.”
“No one will get past me, my lord,” Parker promised and continued his story of a young boy who found a stallion in the woods and rode far and wide, having the greatest of adventures.
Chapter Fourteen
Ruby had perhaps enjoyed too much wine with dinner. The warm room and company had been delightful. It could only have been greatly improved though if Hector had returned to join them. She sincerely wished he had come back. There was nothing better than enjoying a good laugh with him.
But Blackwood had been unexpectedly good company tonight, and her uncle, too, for that matter. Although he did keep making remarks that could only be considered matchmaking attempts. He extolled her virtues, accomplishments, and musical talents, some of which she hadn’t pursued since the day she had married Liam. There hadn’t been too many opportunities to play the harp or perform the Cotillion in the wilds of Scotland. The Ropers hadn’t been much for frivolous amusement of any sort, really.
She stood, wobbling slightly. “Gentlemen, I’m afraid I shall have to excuse myself. It has been an enjoyable evening.”
Vyne glanced at his pocket watch, frowning. “Yes, certainly. Do retire for the night, by all means.”
“Good night, Uncle. Mr. Blackwood,” Ruby said as she dipped a curtsy to both.
Blackwood stood, too. “I think I will turn in as well. Vyne, you set a good table. I hope our business allows a repeat one day.”
Ruby swept from the room, hoping not to have Mr. Blackwood follow her too closely.
Blackwood did follow her a little way, at a distance, but then turned for his guest room and disappeared inside.
Relieved, Ruby let herself into her chamber and yawned. “I’m back, love,” she whispered, just in case Pip was still awake.
“Good,” Hector said from behind her. “I was starting to think I’d have to come find you.”
Ruby turned, startled to find Hector emerging from behind her bedchamber door. “What are you doing here?”
She glanced at the bed, startled to see it had been remade neatly. When she’d gone down for dinner, Pip had been sitting up in her bed playing with his toys, and a maid had been meant to watch him until he fell asleep. They were both gone. “Where is Pip?”
Hector came forward. “Now, I don’t want you to be alarmed.”
“And now I am. Where is Pip?”
Hector took both her hands in his. “He is in my room with Parker watching over him. He should be fast asleep by now.”
Instead of being reassured, Ruby only grew more alarmed. “Why is he there?”
“Come and sit down with me,” Hector asked, and she let him press her down into a chaise close to the fire. “There has been an incident. I came upstairs to find two men emerging from this room with Pip held between them. I made them release him, and they wisely fled.”