Page 24 of Sweet Hellion

Lord Munro stiffened. “Beware, madam. It is no small matter to make accusations against a nobleman.”

Gentle fingers grasped her arm. She spun too face Rhys.

“I must go,” he said.

She shook her head. Tears blurred her vision. “You cannot let them take you. It isn’t right.” A sob escaped her throat.

“Young woman, stand aside,” the major general ordered.

Emma spun to face him. “I will not. You cannot take him.”

“Lieutenant,” the general called.

A shadow appeared in the open doorway and two men entered.

“Take him,” the major general ordered.

Emma shook her head. “Nae. This is wrong.”

The men stepped past Emma and grasped Rhys’s arms.

She seized his arm.

“Emma,” he said in a harsh voice.

She jumped.

“Go to your room,” he ordered.

She shook her head. His eyes snapped onto something behind her. Someone grabbed her arm. She jerked and gasped at sight of Lord Munro’s fingers wrapped around her arm. He yanked her aside.

“Major General,” Rhys growled. “Munro will release her, or I will leave him and your men in a heap on this floor.”

The major general’s eyes flashed, but he said to the viscount, “Release her.”

“Sir—” he began.

“You heard me,” the older man cut in.

The viscount muttered, then released his grip. The major general straightened his jacket and followed Rhys and the men from the shop. Emma stumbled outside after them, but a warning look from Rhys stopped her when she had taken half a dozen steps after them. She stood and watched as they forced him onto a horse, then mounted and rode away.