“Damn,” he heard Nick swear. “Jack?” he said softly.
“We’re going to climb down,” Jack told Bleven. If only he could see the duke or his men, then he could gauge the odds. As it was, he had no idea what they were facing. “We have two ladies with us. They have nothing to do with what’s between us. You have to let them go.”
Bleven laughed. “I don’t have to do anything, Lord Blackthorne. Now get on the ground before I shoot the lot of you.”
“Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” Dover called. “I can’t get down. I’m tied on my horse.”
“I’ll get you,” Nick called.
Jack had no choice except to lower Lady Madeleine first, making her vulnerable. But he swung down beside her as quickly as he could. He pushed her behind him, so he was protecting her from the front and the horse was at her back. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself.
And he was quite good at not forgiving himself.
In the filtered moonlight, Jack saw Nick lower Miss Brittany, then pull her with him as he went to untie Dover.
Dover promptly slid off his horse and crumpled to the ground, whimpering something about “hopelessly behind schedule.”
“How does that man know your name?” Lady Madeleine whispered in Jack’s ear.
Jack clenched his jaw. He’d been afraid she was going to ask him that. “We’re old friends,” he said vaguely.
“Interesting friends you have.”
“’Ands up!” Bleven’s man called.
Jack obliged. Why the hell hadn’t he thought to bring a weapon with him? Of course, when he’d left his town house this morning, he’d only intended to have a cup of coffee and read the papers. No weapon required.
Perhaps if he’d known his brother was in Town . . .
There was the hiss of flame, and then three lanterns illuminated the road, revealing at least eight men, including Bleven, moving out from the forest. Jack caught sight of his brother, hands in the air, and then one of Bleven’s thugs stepped in front of Jack, blocking his view. The thug grabbed his arms and dragged him away from Lady Madeleine.
Another thug went for her, but Jack growled, “Don’t touch her.”
He was backhanded for his efforts, but he saw Lady Madeleine rush over to her friend. The two women stood huddled together.
“Your traveling companions have improved,” Bleven said, stepping in front of Jack and Nick, who had been brought before the duke. “But your manners haven’t. Show some respect, boys.”
He snapped his fingers, and Bleven’s men pushed Jack and Nick onto their knees. Jack didn’t resist. He wanted Bleven to think he was docile and accommodating.
Bleven looked down at him. “That’s better. But not good enough.”
In a flash of black, his booted foot struck Nick in the jaw. With an ominous pop, Nick fell over.
“Lord Nicholas!” he heard one of the girls call, but Jack saved his strength. When the blow came for him, he was ready.
Bleven was a wealthy and powerful man. He was shrewd and cunning and ruthless. But he wasn’t particularly creative. The duke moved to strike him exactly as he had Nick. Anticipating the move, Jack brought his hand up, caught Bleven’s foot and pushed.
Arms careening wildly, Bleven went down. As Jack expected, the duke’s thugs—mindless bullies eager to please their master—rushed to help him. There was a moment of chaos during which Jack grabbed his brother, pulled him to his feet and yelled, “Run!”
Of one mind, Jack and Nick arrowed for the girls. Jack grabbed Maddie and pushed her into action. Nick did the same for Ashley. Behind him, he heard shouts of “After them, fools!” Jack spared a glance for Dover, who was huddled in a ball on the ground, then pushed Maddie in front of him and steered her toward the trees.
They’d barely cleared the road when the first shot exploded behind them. It was wild and hit a tree far to their left, but Jack pushed Maddie down to protect her from the next shot.
“Goddamn it!” Nick swore, crouching beside Ashley, who had jumped behind a tree. “How the hell did he find us?”
“I don’t know,” Jack panted. “But we’ve got to go back.”
“Back?” Ashley screamed.
