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So much for seeing this as a business arrangement. You just want her for more.
Nathan ignored his jeering thought. He had to keep this as a business arrangement. No getting his heart involved. But that was easier said than done when he was struggling to stop thinking about kissing her.
Eleanor was going to be far more trouble than she was worth.
Nathan was sure that there was someone following him, but each time he turned around there was nobody there. Footsteps were coming from somewhere, but Nathan couldn’t see who they belonged to. Was someone following him or was he just jumping at shadows?
Nathan reached into his pocket for his pistol. He wasn’t taking any chances.
Then pain exploded in the back of his head. Nathan stumbled and fell onto his hands and knees. Stars were appearing before his eyes, and the world tilted. Someone then kicked him in the ribs, knocking all the wind out of him. Nathan ended up on his back, clutching at his chest. Another kick went into his side, which made Nathan want to be sick.
Get up, you fool. Get up and fight!
Nathan tried, but the world was still spinning. Then a heavy weight landed on his chest and something long and thick pressed down on his neck. Nathan tried to cry out, but he couldn’t breathe. He bucked and writhed, but he couldn’t get out. He was truly trapped.
Now he was beginning to panic.This can’t be happening. No! I don’t want to die like this.
He was starting to slip into blackness when there was someone shouting. Nathan couldn’t hear the words, but he knew someone else was there. Suddenly, the weight on his neck and chest disappeared, causing Nathan to gasp for air. He rolled onto his side, pressing his head against the cobbles as there was the sound of a scuffle and running feet.
Then someone was kneeling beside him, shaking his shoulder.
“Nathan! Nathan, it’s me!”
“Simon?”
Nathan’s voice was barely a whisper. His throat felt like it was on fire. Nathan slumped onto his back and saw his friend looming over him. He had never been so happy to see a welcoming face.
“What...where is he?”
“I chased him away. I saw what he - you weren’t moving.” Simon was scowling but there was genuine fear in his eyes. “I thought he’d killed you.”
“He very nearly did.” Nathan licked his dry lips. “Caught me off-guard from behind. I didn’t get a chance.”
Simon growled. Then he took Nathan’s arm.
“Come on, let’s get you out of here. My carriage is close by. We’ll be out of here before you can blink.”
That sounded like a very good idea to Nathan. He couldn’t wait to get away from here.
Chapter Eighteen
“Eleanor?” Marion gently prodded Eleanor’s knee with her finger. “What are you sewing there?”
“Hmm?” Eleanor blinked, focusing her gaze on her friend. “What?”
“Are you sewing an embroidery design or doing it directly onto your dress?”
Eleanor looked down and she bit back a curse. She had somehow managed to stitch her skirt into the embroidery, a part of her dress now attached to the cloth stretched in her sewing circle. How had she managed to do that? Sighing, Eleanor took out the needle and began to unpick all the stitches.
“I guess I just wasn’t paying attention.”
“I’ll say. I’ve never seen anyone do that before. That’s quite impressive.” Marion frowned. “Maybe you should do something else that won’t involve you getting stuck to your sewing. You’re clearly distracted.”
“This was supposed to distract me.” Eleanor huffed. “It’s not working.”
She managed to get herself unsewn. It was only a few stitches. At least Marion had stopped her early enough, or she might have been wandering around with her skirt carrying a new design. It would have been fun to explain that to her father. He might start thinking Eleanor was drinking herself.
If only she could get something to settle her mind. After last night’s revelation from Nathan, Eleanor had been unable to sleep properly, thinking about what could have happened had she come upon someone who could bring her harm because she was simply looking after children they wanted. Whoever was taking these children was the lowest of the low, in her opinion.
