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“My foot. I lost my slipper, and I stepped on something. My foot aches.”
“Show me.”
Annalise shook her head. “I wrapped it with a piece of my petticoat. I lost my slipper along the way—”
“I know. I found it but ended up losing it again during the fight.” He looked around.
“It doesn’t matter, I shan’t be able to wear it, but how did you find it? How did you find me?”
Blake cupped her cold cheek in his hand. “I shall always find you, darling.”
Annalise leaned into the touch, her eyes wet with tears. “I thought I’d never see you again,” she said hoarsely.
“I know, my sweet. Me too.” He hugged her tighter.
“Who are those people? What did they want?”
Blake swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth. “They came for me,” he said with a gravelly voice. “They came for me, my darling. They wanted me to stop the manhunt. I’ve been looking for my captors ever since I docked back in England. These thugs were the ones who kept me imprisoned. Only they were hired goons. Someone else sent them after me. The same someone who now wanted to silence them. They captured you to demand ransom so they could leave England. I am sorry.”
“It isn’t your fault,” she said softly.
Of course, it is.Blake didn’t want to argue the point. “Let us go. You’re getting cold.” He took Annalise’s hands and warmed them between his.
“It hurts to step on my foot,” Annalise said with an apologetic smile. “Perhaps if we walk slowly—”
“Not to worry, darling, I shall carry you.”
“You don’t have to. I can limp—”
But Blake had already bent his knees, squatting before her. He took her right arm and slung her across his shoulders. Annalise yelped as she landed with her torso on top of his shoulders, her legs dangling. Blake straightened with a grunt and moved toward the bandit hideout, his chest burning with every step.
They walked in silence because Blake could barely breathe, much less speak. He supposed Annalise wasn’t all too comfortable speaking upside down, either.
When they finally reached the hideout, there were horses tied outside.
He entered the building and gently sat Annalise on the floor. Ford’s associates were there, carrying an unconscious Ford out of the house.
Jarvis came closer to Blake as he noticed them. “My lady,” he addressed Annalise. “I am happy to see you are well.”
“Thank you.”
He turned to Blake then. “The thief-takers will take care of Ford, but he is in poor condition.” Jarvis didn’t look well himself. He was holding a cloth to his shoulder, and his forehead glistened with sweat. “They need the carriage. I shall help them convey the other thugs. Can you two ride?”
Blake shook his head. He didn’t think he’d be able to stand for long, much less walk or ride.
“Well, there’s room for one of you in the carriage. You don’t look too good. Perhaps you should go with Ford, and Lady Payne will ride—”
“No,” Blake interrupted swiftly. “I just got her back. I am not leaving her.”
“Blake, it’s the only reasonable—”
“No,” Blake interrupted once more. Firmer this time. There was no way he was letting Annalise out of his sight again.
“Well, can you wait? I can send for my carriage, but it’ll take some time.”
“Yes, waiting is splendid,” Blake muttered and slowly sat beside Annalise against the wall.
Jarvis looked at him, worry creasing his brow. “I shall leave one of the men to guard you, but”—he took out a musket and handed it to Annalise—“if anything happens, shoot.”
