“Who?” the blackguard barked.
“The nob she’s been shagging.”
“My husband,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster.
The older man began to turn red. “Yer what?”
“I telled ye, Da—”
“Shut it. I asked her.”
“My husband.” Grace raised her chin and revised her opinion of boxing. She’d happily watch Matt pummel these men into the dirt.
“She’s lying.”
She narrowed her eyes at the younger man, and said in a voice laced with ice, “Someone is, but it is not I. If you know what’s good for you, you will release me immediately.”
Grace fought down a wave of fear and nausea, and prayed Matt would find her soon. The hackney jerked to a halt.
“What ye doin’?” the blackguard next to her bellowed. “Get moving.”
“You ain’t paying me enough for me horse to be ruined,” the driver shouted back.
The younger man stuck his head out the window as a fist slammed into his nose. Blood spurted everywhere. Black spots danced in front of Grace. She would not swoon. Not now when she had to get away.
The cur next to her screamed as Duke lunged, snapping at the opposite window.
Abruptly, the carriage door was wrenched open with such force she thought it had been torn off its hinges.
Matt’s strong arms were around her, dragging her out of the coach. Grace clung to him, trembling from head to foot.
He held her tightly, as he ambled toward a team of horses. “I’ve got you now. You’re safe.”
Finally the beating of her heart began to slow, then she started to tremble. “I never want to go through anything like that again. What did they want?”
His hand rubbed her arm, soothing her. “I’ll find out.” His voice was rough. “Addison here will take you home. Wait at Worthington House until I return.”
“But I want—”
“Grace, what you don’t want is a scandal. Trust me to take care of the matter.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he was correct. Anything that reflected on her would also reflect on their sisters. “Very well.”
He lifted her up into the curricle. “Go to the mews and enter through the back.”
Hector handed Matt a piece of paper. “In the event you’d like to see them depart our fair shores.”
* * *
Matt waited until Addison’s carriage had turned onto Bourdon Street, before turning his attention to the scoundrels who’d abducted his wife. The street was thin of company, but not deserted. Mac and three other grooms held the men, while Daisy and Duke stood growling and showing their impressive array of teeth. Matt unfolded the paper.
Captain Brumhill ship the Cabalva
He stepped over to the hackney and addressed the driver. “What did they tell you about this?”
The man rubbed his nose. “That she were a runaway.”
His jaw ached, and he loosened it, trying to ease the pain as he speared the two kidnappers with a hard look. “Who hired you to abduct the lady?”
