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“I am glad to be of assistance, then.”
“And I’m truly hoping that Miss Hardy is among the missing women.”
“As am I.”
Lord Hawthorne grew solemn. “But if she isn’t, I promise you that I will keep looking for her.”
“You would do that for me?”
His face softened. “I would,” he replied, “especially since you have done me a great favor by allowing me to abduct you.”
She attempted to muster up a smile but failed miserably. “It will be an adventure.”
“You will be safe; I assure you of that.”
She nodded. “I believe you.”
“Why is that?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.
“I don’t rightly know,” she replied.
The coach came to a creaking stop. “Get into the sack,” Lord Hawthorne ordered.
He placed the gunnysack on the floor and Madalene stepped into it. As she crouched down, he pulled the bag over her head and she could feel him securing the top with the rope.
The door opened and she felt the coach dip as Lord Hawthorne exited first. He reached back in and grabbed her. She stifled a gasp as he flung her over his shoulder, which he did as if she weighed no more than a bag of feathers.
The inside of the gunnysack became stifling hot, and Madalene sought out one of the many holes to feel the cool air on her skin. She could hear men’s muffled voices as they passed them on the street, appearing to be unaware, or unconcerned, that she was being abducted.
“We are almost there,” Lord Hawthorne whispered.
A few moments later, she heard him pound on a door, then say, “Where should I put the girl?”
She didn’t hear a response, but Lord Hawthorne started walking again. He carried her up a flight of stairs and down what she imagined was a hall.
He pounded on another door, and she heard it creak open. “I have the girl.”
“Bring her in,” came the reply.
Lord Hawthorne took another five steps before he lifted her off his shoulder and lowered her to the ground.
“Want to look at her?” Lord Hawthorne asked.
“Why not?”
Madalene could feel Lord Hawthorne untying the rope and then the gunnysack fell to the ground around her. She blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, and she was vaguely aware of other women somewhere behind her. Being carried with her head downward had made her dizzy, though she supposed her dazed appearance was helpful in this circumstance.
A brawny man crouched down in front of her and grabbed her chin. “She will do quite nicely,” he declared, his eyes lewdly roaming her face. “She’s a pretty little thing.”
Lord Hawthorne’s face was expressionless as he replied, “That she is.”
“Where did you find her?”
“She must’ve lost her chaperone, because she was walking alone on the street. I grabbed her when no one was looking,” Lord Hawthorne said.
The man tugged down on her jaw, causing her mouth to open. “She has some nice teeth. She will be a fine prize for any man.”
Madalene jerked her head back and the man’s hand dropped. “I will belong to no man,” she declared forcefully.
