Chapter Twenty-Three
Elspeth jerked awake to the sounds of thumping and men's muffled voices. The dimness of the room didn't help with her startled confusion. Cyrus's heavy, strong arm wrapped tightly around her waist reminded her they were in the cellar of the tavern next to her shop.
She held her breath, listening to the deep voices on the other side of the blocked door. Henry's men had broken into her building!
"Cyrus," she whispered, shaking him a bit. "Someone's over there."
"What?" he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.
"Henry's men are in my cellar."
Hissing a curse, Cyrus leapt up, snatched his baldric from the floor and withdrew the lethal-looking sword.
She quickly pushed to her feet, praying those men wouldn't find their hiding place.
For a long moment, Cyrus stood before the door, listening.
How many men were over there, searching? If they did realize the cupboard hid a door, could Cyrus defeat all of them?
The knaves must have broken down the front door of her shop or mayhap the cellar door. She hoped they had not injured or killed the tenants who lived on the upper floors.
The voices grew more distant as footsteps thudded on the steps leading up to the dress shop. She released a breath, thankful they were leaving, and Cyrus wouldn't have to fight all of them at once.
Still silent, he glanced back at her, both concerned and relieved. She had never been more thankful for him. He was the most protective man she had ever met. A blazing hot memory from last night reflected in her mind. Maybe she should've been mortified about her wanton need for him, but she wasn't. She yearned to plaster herself to his big, brawny body and do it all over again.
His dark eyes reflected the scorching arousal she felt, then he glanced away. "Is there a way to get onto the roof?"
"Why?"
Before he could answer, the door from the tavern opened and footsteps pounded down the wooden staircase. Her heartbeat vaulted into her throat. Was this the owner or their pursuers?
"Stay behind me, Elspeth," Cyrus hissed as he strode forward, sword drawn.
"Could be Master Brown." She prayed she was correct. But, nay, the first two armed men who descended the steps were ones she had seen in Henry's gang. She glanced around the floor for a weapon and spotted their discarded wine bottle. She grabbed it and hid it behind her skirts.
"MacGirk! They're down here!" the young ginger-haired man announced.
The disgusting guard who had groped her in Henry's great hall descended the steps next. Gawking, he shifted his wide eyes back and forth between her and Cyrus. She wished she could bash him on the head.
"I'm glad you've joined us." Cyrus's sinister voice even gave her a chill.
MacGirk swallowed hard. "Come back peacefully and we'll nay hurt the lady."
"Burn in hell," Cyrus seethed.
MacGirk clenched his jaw as if summoning courage. "You're outnumbered. Think you can best three men at once?"
Cyrus swirled the tip of his blade in the air. "We're about to find out."
Gripping the bottle tightly, Elspeth held her breath. All four men launched forward into a melee. Although terrified that Cyrus would be struck instantly, she could not take her gaze off him. He swiftly wielded his blade with astonishing skill, striking first one man's sword and then another. Before the first man could regain his stance, Cyrus had dealt him a killing blow.
Within moments, MacGirk's two fellow guards dropped to the ground, their throats cut, leaving MacGirk to confront Cyrus alone. Face pale and eyes wide, MacGirk bolted up the steps.
"Come back here, coward!" Cyrus bounded after him to the top of the steps, then a moment later, returned. "Too many patrons in the public room. I cannot endanger them. Damnation! I wanted to put that blackguard out of his misery. I saw what he did to you while you were tied up."
She released a breath. "Thank God you weren't hurt." She eyed the two dead men lying on the floor.
"Come. We must leave here. He'll bring reinforcements." Cyrus opened the door and shoved the heavy cupboard out of the way. After they took their belongings through, he replaced it. "I need to get onto the roof. With this bow, I can take out several on the ground. Henry couldn't have many able-bodied fighters left."
