“Thank you, but I am not hungry.” He bowed, then walked away. Of course his direction took him by her. She was just turning as he reached her; there were only a few feet between them now. He made himself look away—and saw the man running toward her, knife raised.
“Abby!” Diving at her, he carried her with him to the ground, covering her body with his.
Raising his head slightly, he watched Ben, Alex, and Michael Deville running across the street, chasing the man who’d tried to attack her.
“Are you all right?” Daniel looked down at her.
“I—yes. What happened?” Her eyes were wide, searching his face.
Daniel fought the urge to touch every inch of her to ensure she was all right.
“I didn’t hurt you?”
“No. What just happened, Daniel?”
“Tell me you are unhurt?” He heard the desperation in his words.
“I am unhurt, but I don’t understand what happened.”
“The man had a knife.” Her eyes were so close, she was so close. Just a few inches and—
“Abby!”
Daniel was hauled upright by rough hands. She was taken from him and pressed to Lord Raine’s chest.
“Are you all right?” He kissed her forehead, and Daniel was relieved to see the love there. He could be in no doubt that at least Raine cared for his sister.
“Yes, Gabe.” She leaned into him, closing her eyes. The hand her brother passed down her spine shook.
Daniel wanted to hold her so badly, his hands clenched into fists.
She is not yours and never will be.
“Christ, Abby!” Michael Deville returned at a run, and Raine relinquished his hold on her. She was then hugged again.
“Did you catch him?” Lord Raine asked his brother.
“The Hetheringtons are still in pursuit. I wanted to check on Abby.”
“Are you well?” Finn asked Daniel.
“I am.” He kept his eyes on Raine. Now the fear had gone he was angry again. Irrationally so. Now he knew she was safe he was going after the man that should be protecting her. “May I suggest in future you are more diligent about your sister’s welfare, my lord,” Daniel spat out.
“My sister’s welfare is always the most important thing in the minds of myself and my brothers,” Lord Raine said stiffly, now inches from Daniel.
“That knife was about to plunge into her, my lord. Think about that for a second or two! Had you not been taking me to task, then this may not have happened!”
“Enough now, Daniel.” He felt hands pull him back. He turned from Raine to look at Abby.
“Are you all right, Lady Abigail?” She was pale, and her clothes dusty, and yet still beautiful. Damn it.
“Thank you.” She looked solemn.
Ben and Alex returned, shaking their heads.
“We could not catch him,” Ben said.
“Something to note, Raine,” Will said, “is why out of all the people on this street today, that man chose to attack your sister?”
The shock on the expressions of the Deville brothers was matched by Daniel’s. He’d not thought of that until now.
Chapter 17
Abby walked with Nathanial into the Upton ball two days after Daniel had saved her from that knife-wielding man. Two days where she’d attempted once again to get Dimity back into her household and to forget about Daniel.
“Smile, sister. You are scaring people.”
“This is my social facade, brother. I find it deters fools.”
Around them were walls covered in silk and expensive ornaments. Gilt-framed artwork hung depicting things from portraits to scenery. It was not a home but a showpiece.
“Gabe has one of those. It deters women,” Nathan said.
“I find it hard to believe you actually try to deter women.”
“Only the nice ones.”
“Very amusing.”
“It is you who keeps saying we are keeping company with the wrong women.”
“You are, but I also know you can be polite and gentlemanly should you need to.”
“Good Lord, I do believe that is praise.”
Gabe, Zach, and Michael were behind them as they walked the long carpet to where they would greet their hosts. They did not usually all attend these gatherings—one or two of them accompanied her—but her brothers had been spooked by the incident with the knife, and now they were even more suffocating, if that was possible.
If she was honest, she was spooked also. Daniel had saved her, but why had someone wanted to harm her in the first place? She had no enemies.
“I have been thinking, Nathan.”
“There is always a first for most things.”
“And have decided I want to go to Devon to visit with Aunt Louisa and my cousins.”