Read Online A Dangerous Liaison With Detective Lewis by Jillian Stone - Free Book Online
Authors: Jillian Stone
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neck, I have you to think about.”
She sighed. Loudly.
“Those blokes out there would likely shoot me dead, and then where would you be? Back in the hands of your abductors.”
“I can’t see that abductors are much worse than faithless jilting abandoners.”
He blinked. A painful silence permeated the humidair between them. Far off, bursts of steam and the creak of luggage carts echoed under the vast architectural canopy covering the platforms.
She averted his gaze and bit her lip. “That was unkind and uncalled for under the circumstances—”
“No. You’re quite right on every count—an inexcusable act of deceit and cowardice, hurtful and very wrong of me. But we are in no position to sort this all out.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Fanny, I must ask you for a truce.”
Those plump lips pursed into a bow. “For how long?”
“Several days.”
She brushed the floor pavers with the toe of her shoe. Her gaze eventually returned his. “You’ve got several hours, Detective Lewis.”
He held out his hand. “Settled.”
She hesitated before shaking. “Do not take this to mean you are forgiven.”
Rafe nodded in agreement. “Out of the question.” He returned his revolver to an inside pocket. “When is the next train out of Waverley?”
“I believe the last train to Glasgow leaves at eight o’clock.”
Rafe stared at her. “This evening? Excellent. This is good news.”
She rolled her eyes. “Summer schedule.”
Rafe flipped open his pocket watch. “Bollocks, eight o’clock.” He stole another glance around edge of the storefront. The two natty blokes stood in front of platform five. He recognized at least one of the men as apursuer. Rather a well-dressed gang of thugs. Minions, he supposed, but whose? He scanned over to the next platform. A porter lifted a heavy-looking chest and handed it off to another man standing in the baggage car.
“Blimey, they’ve got the wrong train.” He motioned her up beside him. “Come.” Rafe pointed to the correct platform. “See the luggage cart just to the right?” She nodded. “We’re going to make a run for that train.”
“We’re leaving Edinburgh?” Without having to look, he knew two small frown lines formed between her brows.
“Only for a day or two.” He grabbed her hand and trotted silently toward the platform. They hugged darkened storefronts and a telegraph office as they made their way toward the train to Glasgow. The porter signaled the engineer and the locomotive began a slow chug out of the station. Rafe sprinted toward the moving cars. “Stay with me, Fanny.” He glanced back as he released her hand. Game little Fanny was only a step behind him, skirts flying.
Rafe reached a passenger carriage door. The evening was warm enough to have the train windows down. Sweat trickled down the side of his brow as he signaled a man having a smoke. “Scotland Yard, open the door.”
Rafe leaped onto the step and turned back. The well-dressed thugs monitoring the wrong train had spotted them and were giving chase. Rafe glanced ahead. They were about to run out of platform. The faster man closed in behind Fanny and took a swipe at her.
Rafe leaned well off the step of the compartment and stretched out a hand. “Jump, Fanny.”
Chapter Six
T he moment she leaped into the air, time reversed itself for a fleeting moment. She and Rafe were at play in the wilderness park of Lochree. He extended a hand to help her up from a tumble she’d taken on the grass. Now, he reached out again—strong arms, pulsing with life, lifted her onto the train and pulled her against his chest. She listened to the pounding of his heart as she gasped for breath. Safe in his embrace, her nose brushed against the smoky tweed of his jacket. Hints of sandalwood soap and man scent. His scent.
Rafe hung his head out the open door. “Ha! Lost the buggers.” He turned to her and winked. “You always were a damn fine winger.”
“Until your mother found
She sighed. Loudly.
“Those blokes out there would likely shoot me dead, and then where would you be? Back in the hands of your abductors.”
“I can’t see that abductors are much worse than faithless jilting abandoners.”
He blinked. A painful silence permeated the humidair between them. Far off, bursts of steam and the creak of luggage carts echoed under the vast architectural canopy covering the platforms.
She averted his gaze and bit her lip. “That was unkind and uncalled for under the circumstances—”
“No. You’re quite right on every count—an inexcusable act of deceit and cowardice, hurtful and very wrong of me. But we are in no position to sort this all out.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Fanny, I must ask you for a truce.”
Those plump lips pursed into a bow. “For how long?”
“Several days.”
She brushed the floor pavers with the toe of her shoe. Her gaze eventually returned his. “You’ve got several hours, Detective Lewis.”
He held out his hand. “Settled.”
She hesitated before shaking. “Do not take this to mean you are forgiven.”
Rafe nodded in agreement. “Out of the question.” He returned his revolver to an inside pocket. “When is the next train out of Waverley?”
“I believe the last train to Glasgow leaves at eight o’clock.”
Rafe stared at her. “This evening? Excellent. This is good news.”
She rolled her eyes. “Summer schedule.”
Rafe flipped open his pocket watch. “Bollocks, eight o’clock.” He stole another glance around edge of the storefront. The two natty blokes stood in front of platform five. He recognized at least one of the men as apursuer. Rather a well-dressed gang of thugs. Minions, he supposed, but whose? He scanned over to the next platform. A porter lifted a heavy-looking chest and handed it off to another man standing in the baggage car.
“Blimey, they’ve got the wrong train.” He motioned her up beside him. “Come.” Rafe pointed to the correct platform. “See the luggage cart just to the right?” She nodded. “We’re going to make a run for that train.”
“We’re leaving Edinburgh?” Without having to look, he knew two small frown lines formed between her brows.
“Only for a day or two.” He grabbed her hand and trotted silently toward the platform. They hugged darkened storefronts and a telegraph office as they made their way toward the train to Glasgow. The porter signaled the engineer and the locomotive began a slow chug out of the station. Rafe sprinted toward the moving cars. “Stay with me, Fanny.” He glanced back as he released her hand. Game little Fanny was only a step behind him, skirts flying.
Rafe reached a passenger carriage door. The evening was warm enough to have the train windows down. Sweat trickled down the side of his brow as he signaled a man having a smoke. “Scotland Yard, open the door.”
Rafe leaped onto the step and turned back. The well-dressed thugs monitoring the wrong train had spotted them and were giving chase. Rafe glanced ahead. They were about to run out of platform. The faster man closed in behind Fanny and took a swipe at her.
Rafe leaned well off the step of the compartment and stretched out a hand. “Jump, Fanny.”
Chapter Six
T he moment she leaped into the air, time reversed itself for a fleeting moment. She and Rafe were at play in the wilderness park of Lochree. He extended a hand to help her up from a tumble she’d taken on the grass. Now, he reached out again—strong arms, pulsing with life, lifted her onto the train and pulled her against his chest. She listened to the pounding of his heart as she gasped for breath. Safe in his embrace, her nose brushed against the smoky tweed of his jacket. Hints of sandalwood soap and man scent. His scent.
Rafe hung his head out the open door. “Ha! Lost the buggers.” He turned to her and winked. “You always were a damn fine winger.”
“Until your mother found
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