“First we get you to safety and then I will send a footman to go in search of them,” Roswell replied.
“I can go—”
He cut her off. “No! I can’t risk anything happening to you,” he said, his words brokered no argument. “You will be much safer in our coach.”
Perhaps it was the panicked look in Roswell’s eyes or the way he spoke with such vulnerability, but whatever it was, she found herself nodding in agreement with him. “All right. I will do as you say,” she said.
“You will need to put the pistol away or you might garner some unwanted attention,” Roswell advised.
“You are right,” she responded as she slipped it back into her reticule.
Roswell firmly grasped her arm, but not in such a way that hurt her, and he started leading her out of the gardens. She snuck a peek at him, noticing his somber demeanor. It was a side of him she had not seen before. He seemed so distressed, yet there was also a sense of determination about him.
Roswell’s head throbbed as he watched Anette in the coach. They had hardly said a word to one another since they arrived at the coach and that was fine by him. He was furious at himself. How had he allowed himself to be so distracted that he’d failed to notice someone coming up behind him? He already knew the answer. It was because of Anette. He had let his guard down around her.
Fortunately, he had only been hit with a rock. Next time, it could cost him his life. He couldn’t risk being distracted by Anette again.
Botheration.
Why would someone want to abduct Anette? Was it a random attack? He didn’t know and that was what bothered him the most.
Anette’s voice broke through the silence. “Are you mad at me?”
“No,” he replied.
“You seem like you are mad at me.”
“I am not.”
“Then what is wrong?”
Roswell ran a hand through his hair and immediately regretted the action. It caused his head to hurt even more, if that was even possible. “If you must know, I am mad at myself.”
“Why?” she asked. “You did nothing wrong.”
“I should have done more to protect you.”
Anette stared at him incredulously. “You could have hardly done more since you were hit from behind with a rock,” she argued.
“Thank you for the reminder,” he grumbled.
“I meant no disrespect.”
“I know, but I should have seen that man approaching me from behind,” Roswell said. “It was my fault that you were almost abducted.”
“I do not see it that way,” she responded. “Besides, I was able to scare him off with my pistol.”
Roswell frowned. “I put you in an impossible situation and, for that, I am terribly sorry.”
“I do not fault you for what happened, you must know that.”
“You are kind, but I failed you today.”
Anette considered his words for a moment before saying, “I am not some weak-willed young woman that needs a knight in shining armor. I am more than capable of protecting myself.”
“You were able to scare the man off this time, but what about next time?”
She lifted her brow. “Why would you think there would be a next time?”
