Free Captive Surrender by Rebecca King Page B

such
steps.
    Not for the first time,
his thoughts turned toward the delightfully intriguing Eloisa, and
he wondered whether this determination to visit Cragdale on a
regular basis had more to do with his driving need not to let her
leave his house without having some way to contact her again. He
turned around, and froze at the sight of his visitors in the hall
behind him.
    Clearly they
are eager to leave , he thought ruefully,
but merely smiled at them as he waved toward the front door. He had
a curricle out back, but it wasn’t big enough to fit seven of them
in, so they would have to walk.
    “ Ladies;
gentleman, after you,” he bowed officiously at Robbie, and shared a
grin with the lad as they followed the ladies out into the
rain.
    The walk to Cragdale took
only a matter of minutes, but it was made in relative silence. He
was aware of the curious looks the family snuck him. Did they
really believe his offer of help? It didn’t matter, because he
would prove his mettle. He had every intention of following through
on his promise to ensure that Levant got the message and left them
alone. If visiting Cragdale, and getting to know the family, in
particular the delightful Eloisa, helped to instil their confidence
in him, then so be it.
    “ Thank you
for agreeing to help us,” Prudence murmured as they turned into the
gates at Cragdale.
    “ Oh Lord, not
again,” Eloisa whispered.
    Rufus was busy thinking
about how the top of her head reached his shoulder when he caught
her looking at him in consternation. He smiled down at her, and was
about to open his mouth to speak when he realised what, or rather
who, had caused such worry to fall upon her beautiful
face.
    “ Good
afternoon, ladies,” Levant growled. The dark scowl on his face
matched the disgruntled look he threw at Rufus.
    Prudence mentally
applauded Rufus for his insistence in escorting them home and,
rather than politely reply to Levant as good manners urged her to
do, she merely remained silent and allowed Rufus to take the
lead.
    “ I am glad
that you are here, Levant,” Rufus declared as he grabbed Eloisa’s
hand in his. She was visibly trembling with fear – or cold – and he
wanted to reassure her. To ensure that Levant was as convinced as
it was possible to be, Rufus glanced down at Eloisa and winked
cheekily, and was rewarded by a tell-tale blush that she couldn’t
hide.
    “ I understand
from the ladies here that you have been making a pest of
yourself.”
    As he spoke, his gaze
raked Humphrey coldly from head to toe. “Let you out again, did
they, Brown? How long will it be before I have to put you away for
good?” Although his tone was conversational, the ruthless menace
behind the comment was written on his face. His message was clearly
received and understood by Humphrey who, now that he faced the man
who could hold him to account for his crimes, appeared to have lost
his usual belligerence. Rather than answer, the large man merely
looked awkwardly at the ground.
    A tall, dapperly dressed
man to the right of him remained silent and unmoving, but was
watching the interplay curiously. Rufus knew that the man was
called Charles Taylor, but as yet had been unable to find out
anything about the man’s background, or even where he came
from.
    “ I take it
that you have nothing better to do with your day than associate
with him, Taylor?” Rufus drawled and nodded toward Levant. He had
done his homework well and watched the supposed man of business
jump in alarm at the mention of his name. Rufus merely smiled
coldly and turned his attention to Levant, and the rider beside
him, who seemed to have far too much of an interest in Prudence; if
the way he was staring at her was any indication.
    “ I think,
Levant, that you had better stop pestering these ladies. They have
made it perfectly clear that they are not interested in selling out
to you, or anyone else for that matter. As I am taking over their
personal business for the time being, I suggest