It wasn’t until he broke away that she realized she hadn’t been breathing. She was light-headed and dizzy, and she had to clutch him to keep from falling over. She closed her eyes, hoping the world would stop spinning.
When she opened them, he was still looking at her.
“You were right,” he said.
She shivered at the husky timbre of his voice. It made her want to grasp his shirt and pull him back to her.
But she didn’t.
“Right?” she asked, managing to keep her voice from wavering.
“We shouldn’t have done that.”
“I’m always right,” she moaned, not in the least pleased by that fact at the moment. “I should start listening to myself.”
“Lady Madeleine!” Mr. Dover called again. “These men are growing quite . . . impatient!” His voice squeaked, and Maddie knew she had better get out there.
“I have to go,” she said.
“Oh, no you don’t.” He put his hands on either side of her head, trapping her. “I won’t let you risk yourself.”
Maddie scowled at his attempts to control her. She’d been right again. “Move out of my way. I don’t need protection.”
“The hell you don’t.”
She tried to hold her temper. “You’re just like my father, always trying to stop me from helping.”
“Maybe he stops you because he doesn’t want to have to rescue you. Now stay here.”
“You stay here.” And she darted under his arm and sprinted back toward the road.
Blackthorne was close on her heels. She thought she heard him mutter, “You’d better be right this time,” but then she saw poor Mr. Dover, and she slammed to a halt.
The large man from the village was holding Mr. Dover captive, the man’s big beefy arm tight about his skinny neck.
“Mr. Dover!” Maddie’s hand flew to her lips.
“We won’t ’urt him, me lady. Just give us the coachman and we’ll let you pass.”
Maddie took a deep breath and moved forward. Cutting her gaze to the carriage, she saw Lord Nicholas hidden in the shadows. He was rubbing his head, looking groggy. She prayed he would stay put.
Blackthorne was a lost cause. He was so close on her heels that he stepped on her slipper.
When she was beside the carriage, she turned to glare at him, but he only rammed into her. “Stand back,” she hissed.
“Lady Madeleine, I’m not your problem.” He indicated the beefy man.
She turned back to the road. “Sir, I have what appears to be unfortunate news.”
The beefy man’s eyebrows came together, and Mr. Dover whimpered. Maddie opened her mouth again, then closed it abruptly. She simply couldn’t tell this man his daughter was a loose woman. She glanced at Blackthorne, took a deep breath, and lied. “Our coachman has apparently run off and left us.”
There was a sound of protest from underneath the conveyance, and Maddie kicked dirt back, hoping a mouthful of grime would shut Lord Nicholas up. Didn’t he realize she was trying to save him?
She gave the beefy man and his companions a sad smile. In fact, she did feel sad for them. “We are as distraught as you. And I can only imagine how your daughter must feel,” she said sympathetically. “Perhaps she will find another suitor?”
One of the men on horseback sniggered. “’Ardly likely! She’s got a face like an ’orse—”
The beefy man turned abruptly, and the man quickly closed his mouth. Poor Mr. Dover swung this way and that as the beefy man moved.
