Read Online Come the Dawn by Christina Skye - Free Book Online Page B

help.
    But Thorne seemed to be the one having difficulties at that moment. The man in the battered hat had recovered from India’s jab and come growling to his feet. Now the two men were closing in on Thorne.
    “Run,” he ordered, his eyes never moving from his attackers. “Damn it all, get yourself to safety, woman.”
    India could only sigh at this example of utter folly. What honor would she have if she left now? Instead of picking up her skirts and fleeing as he expected, India pulled her stick from beneath her arm and waited for the best moment to attack.
    “What are you doing? Get yourself away, I said!” Thorne’s breathing was labored as he circled the two ruffians.
    India’s stick rose through the air again, swift and silent in the moonlight. It hammered down on the man to Devlyn’s right, sending him to his knees. A moment later Devlyn finished off the other attacker with a right hook and a sharp left undercut.
    The two lay on the cobblestones grunting in pain as Devlyn brushed off his coat, scowling at India. “I told you to run.”
    “And I decided to stay. It would have been two against one, hardly fair odds.”
    “You’re a woman, blast it. You shouldn’t even be out alone, much less fighting with such riffraff.”
    “You would prefer that I ran away and allowed you to be slain?”
    “It’s not a question of preferences, damn it all!” Devlyn took her arm, trying to tug her down the street. “We’ll speak of it later. This is no time and place for—”
    India shoved his hand away. “On the contrary, this is precisely the time, Lord Thornwood. I am to run away, clutching at my skirts, abject with terror — is that what you expect of me?”
    “Blast it, I never said—”
    “That is precisely what you said.”
    Thorne’s face hardened. “At any moment those two are going to come around. We will not be here when they do so, however. We must go now! ” He eyed the darkened houses around the square.
    “You have no right to give me orders.”
    “No?” Devlyn’s eyebrow rose in a mocking slant. “You tell me that I am your husband. Should I choose to exercise my legal rights, giving you orders would only be the beginning of what I might do to you, my lady.”
    “You wouldn’t dare!”
    “Do not think to try me.”
    India’s fists slid to her hips. “I am going home. Do not interfere in my life.” She spun about in a whirl of muslin, but had gone only a foot when a shadow lurched past her. Without warning, a pistol barked and she cried out, pitching forward to the rough cobblestones.
    Thorne fired, but the footpads were already out of range, vanished into a dark alley that led to the north. Cursing, he caught India in his arms and scanned her face.
    She was pale, her jaw tight. When Thorne looked down, he saw that a line of blood darkened her gown.
    “Little fool,” he said harshly. But his hands were trembling as he started back toward Belgrave Square, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that the woman in his arms couldn’t even hear him.
    ~ ~ ~
     
    The surgeon seemed to take forever. Devlyn was on his hundredth trip between the upstairs bedroom and the front door when the older man arrived, looking rumpled and anxious.
    “It’s the youngest girl, I take it? I trust her fever hasn’t returned. A pity, because she seemed to be doing so much better when I last saw her.”
    “No, it’s not Alexis this time. A woman has suffered a pistol wound.”
    “By God, London grows more dangerous by the day!”
    Thorne led him up to the bedroom where India lay, her eyes closed. She seemed far too pale, and was barely breathing. He looked at the doctor. “Well?”
    “Most irregular.” The doctor cleared his throat. “The propriety of this—”
    “Damn the proprieties! Just pull her through, and you can name your price.”
    The doctor rolled up his cuffs as he bent to his bag. “My price does not change per patient, Lord Thornwood. I suggest you go fetch a glass so that I can