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Authors: Katherine Bone
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you to come to harm. I will do anything to stop Underwood from hurting the one person I cherish most.”
“But how can you stop him?” Prudence asked, swallowing thickly, fighting back her emotions. She couldn’t believe the lengths to which Tobias had gone for everyone but himself. If Lord Underwood suspected Tobias was the Black Regent and that Tobias was responsible for his insolvency, Tobias wouldn’t stand a chance. Underwood would kill him.
“I already have a plan in motion,” Tobias said. “You won’t like it, but if it works, we will be free.”
A sinking feeling weighted Prudence’s feet to the floor. This time, there wouldn’t be any lies. She would be in on Tobias’s scheme. And she had no intention of allowing her husband to put himself in danger again. “What do you intend to do?”
“Fight Markwick.”
FIVE
Sources apprise Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post that REVENUE officers scuffled with a constable at the INDIAN QUEEN after an apparent misunderstanding involving the BLACK REGENT and the Fury ’s crew. The former, having been RESCUED from a gale crushing their ship against rocks near ANSTEY’S COVE, now free of DANGER, shared drinks with the latter, toasting the highest commendations of PROSPERITY and success, much to the chagrin of Lady O.
~ Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post , 11 November 1808
Hours later, after the storm cleared, Mr. Denny exited the cottage and made his way to the stable wearing Tobias’s cloak. He led Manfred out into the light and mounted, speeding down the lane toward the manor house with a purposeful pace.
“Won’t he be an easy target?” Prudence whispered, fearing the man would die attempting to fool their enemies. She couldn’t bear the thought that she’d be partly responsible for Mrs. Denny’s loss. “And won’t the men chasing us wonder why he’s alone?”
“After they shot at us, they will think I left you here to keep you safe.Underwood doesn’t want to hurt yo u . . . yet.”
His rationale was as shocking as the idea that Lord Underwood was a greedy killer. She still hadn’t digested that information. “Mr. Denny is in immediate danger. Won’t they strike at him, thinking to kill you before he reaches the manor house?”
“My Jones is keen as a fox,” Mrs. Denny said. “Had to be to survive in the revenue service.”
Tobias bowed his head to Mrs. Denny, then ushered Prudence to the back door of the cottage. “As Mrs. Denny said, there’s nothing to fear. Prior to attending your wedding, I had men stationed in the woods close to the house. If anyone follows Denny, they’ll get a surprise they won’t forget.”
She gasped. “That’s why you had him wear your cloak.” Understanding dawned. “But if the house is surrounded by guards, why wouldn’t it be safe enough for us?” She simply couldn’t bear Mrs. Denny becoming a widow in her stead.
She expected him to look at her as if she was daft. He did no such thing. Tenderness softened his features, making her feel as though he truly cared for her concerns.
“No plan is error proof,” he said, his voice hinting that he’d seen failure in the past. “I will not take chances with your life. Underwood has proven he will do anything to get to you, including murdering me and burning down our stables. Do you honestly think the manor house will be off-limits? No. You are safer with me,” he said, running his finger down the side of her cheek, sparking a fire inside her. “And you are not expendable.”
She closed her eyes against the glorious agony his touch produced. Was it wrong to desire Tobias? To long for his kisses, his assurances, his embrace? What guarantees did she have that he wouldn’t break her heart again? None. He hadn’t said the three words she longed to hear, yet, either: I love you. But he’d sworn that everything he’d done was for her. He’d pretended to be dead to keep Lord Underwood from attacking the manse. He’d provided a
“But how can you stop him?” Prudence asked, swallowing thickly, fighting back her emotions. She couldn’t believe the lengths to which Tobias had gone for everyone but himself. If Lord Underwood suspected Tobias was the Black Regent and that Tobias was responsible for his insolvency, Tobias wouldn’t stand a chance. Underwood would kill him.
“I already have a plan in motion,” Tobias said. “You won’t like it, but if it works, we will be free.”
A sinking feeling weighted Prudence’s feet to the floor. This time, there wouldn’t be any lies. She would be in on Tobias’s scheme. And she had no intention of allowing her husband to put himself in danger again. “What do you intend to do?”
“Fight Markwick.”
FIVE
Sources apprise Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post that REVENUE officers scuffled with a constable at the INDIAN QUEEN after an apparent misunderstanding involving the BLACK REGENT and the Fury ’s crew. The former, having been RESCUED from a gale crushing their ship against rocks near ANSTEY’S COVE, now free of DANGER, shared drinks with the latter, toasting the highest commendations of PROSPERITY and success, much to the chagrin of Lady O.
~ Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post , 11 November 1808
Hours later, after the storm cleared, Mr. Denny exited the cottage and made his way to the stable wearing Tobias’s cloak. He led Manfred out into the light and mounted, speeding down the lane toward the manor house with a purposeful pace.
“Won’t he be an easy target?” Prudence whispered, fearing the man would die attempting to fool their enemies. She couldn’t bear the thought that she’d be partly responsible for Mrs. Denny’s loss. “And won’t the men chasing us wonder why he’s alone?”
“After they shot at us, they will think I left you here to keep you safe.Underwood doesn’t want to hurt yo u . . . yet.”
His rationale was as shocking as the idea that Lord Underwood was a greedy killer. She still hadn’t digested that information. “Mr. Denny is in immediate danger. Won’t they strike at him, thinking to kill you before he reaches the manor house?”
“My Jones is keen as a fox,” Mrs. Denny said. “Had to be to survive in the revenue service.”
Tobias bowed his head to Mrs. Denny, then ushered Prudence to the back door of the cottage. “As Mrs. Denny said, there’s nothing to fear. Prior to attending your wedding, I had men stationed in the woods close to the house. If anyone follows Denny, they’ll get a surprise they won’t forget.”
She gasped. “That’s why you had him wear your cloak.” Understanding dawned. “But if the house is surrounded by guards, why wouldn’t it be safe enough for us?” She simply couldn’t bear Mrs. Denny becoming a widow in her stead.
She expected him to look at her as if she was daft. He did no such thing. Tenderness softened his features, making her feel as though he truly cared for her concerns.
“No plan is error proof,” he said, his voice hinting that he’d seen failure in the past. “I will not take chances with your life. Underwood has proven he will do anything to get to you, including murdering me and burning down our stables. Do you honestly think the manor house will be off-limits? No. You are safer with me,” he said, running his finger down the side of her cheek, sparking a fire inside her. “And you are not expendable.”
She closed her eyes against the glorious agony his touch produced. Was it wrong to desire Tobias? To long for his kisses, his assurances, his embrace? What guarantees did she have that he wouldn’t break her heart again? None. He hadn’t said the three words she longed to hear, yet, either: I love you. But he’d sworn that everything he’d done was for her. He’d pretended to be dead to keep Lord Underwood from attacking the manse. He’d provided a
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