Page 27 of Reckless Desire

“We had better catch up with the others,” Mister Davis said.

Her heart fell. The worry in his voice was genuine. She couldn’t use him to fulfill her plan. Why hadn’t Lord Wilshire attended the party?

Mister Davis cupped her elbow and quickened their pace toward the bend around which the others had already passed. Rustling in the bushes to the left and behind them caught her attention. They started to turn toward the sound. Mister Davis cried out, then crumpled to the ground. Kenna jerked her gaze from his motionless body to the large man who stood behind them. She opened her mouth to scream, but he yanked her to him and clapped a meaty hand over her mouth.

Her heart leapt to a frantic rhythm. She clawed at the hand. He lunged toward the bushes. Kenna jammed her eyes shut and threw an arm across her face. They burst through the foliage. She snapped open her eyes. The brute was striding toward the trees bordering the garden.

Tears stung. He meant to rape her. Her head swam. This couldn’t be happening. Who was he? How did he get into Miss Davenport’s private garden? Kenna thrashed and kicked. Her heel struck his leg shin. He growled and tightened his arm around her waist.

She clawed his face. He released her mouth and seized her hands. She drew a deep breath and screamed. He jammed her arms to her side, his arm an iron band that pressed the air from her lungs. Then he clamped his free hand over her mouth again.

“Bloody ‘ell,” he cursed. “I ain’t going to hurt you, woman.”

She tried to stomp his feet.

He kept walking. She caught sight of a rear gate. He was taking her away? Dear God, this didn’t make sense. Would he kill her after he raped her? Panic froze her thoughts. The shrubbery swam in her vision. This couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t real.

They reached the gate. His hand remained clamped around her waist while he released her mouth to lift the bolt from the latch. Kenna tried to drag in a deep breath, but his hold around her waist made anything more than a feeble ‘Help!’ possible. He gave her a hard shake as he swung the door open.

“Help!” she tried shouting again.

He clamped his hand over her mouth again and growled. As he passed through the gate, she grabbed the edge and slammed it into the back of his head. He groaned and stumbled backwards two paces. His hold on her loosened. Kenna twisted free and lunged into the alley toward a parked coach. No driver sat in the driver’s seat. Was the coach empty?

“Help!” she shouted. Without looking back, Kenna raced toward the carriage. “Please, someone help me.”

The pounding of boots on the gravel sounded behind her. Her heart thundered. Tears pricked.

“Help!

The door of the carriage opened.

Her heart jumped. Dear God, please.

A gentleman’s boot appeared on the step. Through a sudden flood of tears, she recognized Lord Hensley. He stepped to the ground as Kenna reached him and she flung herself into his arms. He caught her close.

She seized the lapel of his coat and looked up into his face. “Please, help me, sir. That man tried to abduct me.”

Lord Hensley swung her into his arms. She buried her face in his shirt. She couldn’t catch her breath. Through a haze of tears, she realized he was stepping into the carriage. Kenna looked up as he sat on the cushion and settled her across his thighs.

She pushed away from him. “What are you doing?” Kenna tried to scoot off his lap, but he held her fast.” Let me go,” she demanded.

Someone appeared in the doorway and Kenna drew a sharp breath at sight of her kidnapper. The man closed the door, then the carriage listed slightly and he realized he was stepping up into the driver’s box. She froze when the horses lurched into motion.

Kenna snapped her gaze onto the viscount’s face. “What do you want?”

“Nothing nefarious, I assure you, my dear,” he replied.

She stiffened. “Then release me.”

His hands loosened around her waist and she scrambled off his lap and onto the opposite seat. She stared, willing her pounding heart to slow.

At last, she said, “Why have you kidnapped me?”

He hesitated. “I could think of no other way to get your attention.”

Kenna blinked. “You have had my attention in the past—and without kidnapping me.”

He shifted and she pressed into the cushion back. He stilled.