When a Rogue Meets His Match - Elizabeth Hoyt Page 0,156

chains clanking. He shook his head, his complexion waxy, his eyes bright with panic. “No, no,” he croaked. “That’s not—” His hand was shaking where it still gripped the knife. “His Lordship toppered me senseless, and when I woke, it was dark and I was chained like this. And he was going to…and he was trying to—” Elliot stopped. “I was only defending myself.”

“He’s lying, the little vermin,” Marstowe shrilled.

“I’m not lying.” Elliot’s small voice cracked.

King walked into the room and retrieved Marstowe’s coat from where it had been hung high on a peg. With unhurried movements, he rifled the coat’s pockets until he found what he wanted. He let the coat drop to the floor and tossed a key to Adeline.

“Unlock the boy.”

Adeline crouched and released the fetters, and Elliot scrambled back.

“You chained a child to the wall,” King commented in a tone so chilling that it sent shivers down Adeline’s spine.

“I had to,” Marstowe wheezed. “He deserved it. He’s a thief—”

“No.” Elliot was shaking his head miserably. “I didn’t steal anything. Honest, I didn’t—”

“I believe you, Elliot,” said King. “And I know exactly what the baron tried to do.”

Elliot’s eyes went wide.

“I believe you,” King repeated. He had returned to the wide entrance of the room and was looking around him, almost absently, as if trying to remember if he had misplaced something in its confines. “Go with Adrestia now, Elliot,” he said.

Adeline stared at King, though he did not meet her gaze.

“Should I fetch a doctor, sir?” Elliot asked.

King gently extracted the knife from the small boy’s fingers. “You will find my horse in the square in front of this townhome,” he said. “Take it and go to the Lion’s Paw. Do you know where the tavern is?”

Elliot nodded.

“Good. When you get there, ask for the Darling brothers and tell them that I require them to attend me at this address.”

“How d’you know they’ll be there?”

“They are always there at this time of night when they are in London.”

“Are they doctors, sir?” The child was still shaking.

“This man is not going to need a doctor,” King murmured to Elliot. He crouched in front of the boy and straightened his jacket, brushing a stray piece of straw and dust from his shoulder. “I am going to take care of this so that what this man tried to do to you, he will not do to anyone else. Ever. Do you understand?”

Elliot nodded.

“Good. Now wash your hands and face in the snow before you go out front,” King instructed.

Adeline’s throat tightened at the careful gentleness of his words and actions.

He straightened and guided Elliot out of the room, pointing him down the alley toward the wide stable door. “Your instructions, Elliot,” he said. “What are they?”

“Go with Adrestia. Wash. Then horses. Then the tavern and the Darlings. Tell them to come here.” His voice was stronger, some of his color returning.

“Very good. But I do not want you to come back in these stables under any circumstance. Do you understand?”

“Yessir.” He started toward the stable door.

King finally met her eyes.

“You’re sending him on a fool’s errand,” she whispered. “Marstowe will be dead long before anyone can be fetched. He is bleeding from a major vessel in his leg.”

“I know. The Darlings will be counting on that.”

“Oh.” Adeline bit her lip.

He put a hand to her face, touching her cheek. “Take care of Elliot. Please.”

Had he said anything else, Adeline would have fought him. Instead she nodded. “Of course.”

She caught up to the boy at the end of the alleyway, stepping out into the night air, the wind biting at her exposed skin.

“You need to go back,” Elliot said the second the door closed behind them. “You can’t leave him.”

“He asked—”

“He sent me away, and we both know why. What he’s gonna do.” The child who suddenly didn’t sound like a child at all was looking up at her, his expression fierce. “But he asked you to stay.”

“No, he asked—”

“Not right now,” Elliot blurted, sounding almost impatient. “Before. At Helmsdale. He’s never asked anyone to stay.” He poked her in the chest with a small finger. “Ever.”

Adeline stared at the boy.

“You can’t leave him now.”

Slowly Adeline nodded. “You’re right.”

Elliot jerked his head. “I know. ’Sides, I don’t need no damn nanny to ride a horse to the Lion’s Paw.” He spun and vanished into the night, heading across the gardens toward the townhome.

Adeline watched him go for a moment before she turned and silently let herself back into the stable.