A stifled sob escaped Ellen’s throat. “You said you loved me!”
“Ido, my darling,” Jacob replied silkily, “but in loving you, I gained some justice, too. Now, be a good girl and sit down. You are not going anywhere.”
Phoebe beckoned. “Ellen, come here. Do not listen to him.”
But Ellen did not move, rigid with fear and heartache. She wore the expression of a scared girl whose world had just crumbled.
“Ellen, come here,” Phoebe urged, taking action.
She pushed right past Jacob and grabbed her sister by the hand, pulling her back toward the chamber door with all the strength she possessed. It was not too late for Ellen. No matter what Jacob said, Phoebe would see to it that Ellen’s reputation survived and that she would find herself a worthy gentleman. She did not know how she would do it, but she had enough friends in high places to make it happen.
They were almost at the door when Phoebe was wrenched backward. Her head whipped around in time to see Jacob’s arms closing around Ellen’s waist, yanking her away from her sister as hard as possible. But Ellen was holding onto Phoebe with all of her might, and in doing so, Phoebe was pulled wherever Ellen was.
Jacob let out a growl of exasperation, letting go of Ellen altogether. He stomped toward Phoebe instead, grasping the back of her dress. Meanwhile, he drew his free hand back, his fist poised in the air as if he meant to punch her.
“You will not win this,” he hissed. “I shall give you one more opportunity to leave alone. If you do not take it, you shall regret it, and I shall still be victorious. Iwilltake your sister to Gretna Green, Iwillmarry her, and youwillbe stuck with me for the rest of your miserable life. Indeed, I shall be a thorn in your side, from this day on, if you do not—”
A blur barreled in through the chamber door, almost knocking out Phoebe and Jacob in the process. The shock loosened Jacob’s grip on Phoebe’s dress, and she wrenched free, stumbling back to see Daniel charging at Jacob, shoving him hard across the room.
Daniel stood to his full height, breathing harshly, his fists clenched. “Touch either of them again, and you will find yourself on a ship to the Continent by tomorrow morning, where you will be escorted to a friend of mine who does not tolerate weak men on his battlefields.” His gaze darted to Ellen. “Miss Ellen, go to your sister at once.”
Ellen did not hesitate, racing into Phoebe’s open arms. Phoebe clutched her tightly, holding the frightened girl’s head against her shoulder in case what happened next was not suitable for an innocent lady’s eyes.
“Barnet, thisisa surprise.” Jacob tried to grin, but there was a twitch in his lip. “I did not know you were here. Do not tell me that you have decided to stealallof the Wilson sisters for yourself?”
Daniel shook his head slowly. “I would encourage you not to taunt, Dowding. You are in no position for it.” His voice was eerily calm, sending a chill down Phoebe’s spine. “I am quite serious when I say that I will make yourlife miserable if word of this unfortunate business ever reaches a single ear beyond these walls. My friend, Captain Winter, is always in need of young, healthy men to join his ranks. And you know there is not a single corner of this country where you could hide, where I would not find you, if you try to gossip and run.”
“Have you forgotten, Barnet? I amnota healthy young man. I have a record of it,” Jacob replied, sounding increasingly uncertain.
Daniel laughed darkly. “You escaped training with the militia with your lies once, but you will not do so again if I hear Ellen’s name mentioned unkindly even in passing in the scandal sheets.Youhave forgotten my influence, Dowding, and the connections I possess. It might sound like a hyperbole, but I do indeedhave the means to put you on a military ship and have you sent to the Continent by tomorrow morning. You, of all people, know that I do.”
“Come now, are all of you so devoid of humor?” Jacob laughed awkwardly. “I love the girl. I wish to marry her. I would have thought that the two of you would understand that, considering your affections for one another.”
Phoebe saw Daniel’s jaw clench as Ellen quietly whispered, “I am sorry, Sister. I… told him everything.”
“What you have done is not love,” Daniel replied. “What you have done is an attempt to perpetuate a pattern of wickedness with Miss Ellen. You had no intention of marrying her, so do not pretend otherwise. Now, what will your decision be? Will it be the army, or your silence and some semblance of decency?”
Jacob’s nostrils flared, his entire face agitated with frustration. Evidently, he did not like to be beaten, but when faced with an impossible opponent, it seemed he knew he had no choice but to surrender.
“Give me one hundred pounds,” Jacob said icily. “One hundred pounds for my silence on the matter. With it, I might even journey to Spain or Italy, where everyone is less strait-laced.”
Daniel tutted under his breath. “Fifty, and you will be grateful for it.”
“Fine,” Jacob muttered. “I never thought you would become a sap with age, Barnet, but I suppose these Wilson sistersarerather persua—”
Daniel struck him in the face, a hard smack that rattled him and echoed around the room. “One more word, and I will wrestle you out of here, put you in the carriage, and take you to the docks myself, without delay. Am I understood?”
Jacob hissed, tears glinting in his eyes as the smarting sting reddened his cheek. “You are understood,” he growled. “I will be waiting for that fifty pounds.”
“Come, ladies.” Daniel turned to address the sisters, shepherding them out of the door and into the hallway beyond. “I think it is high time we took you home, for the innkeeper did say that no one should shed any blood, and I believe we are moments away from that if we do not leave now.”
A lump formed in Phoebe’s throat as she felt his hand on her back, steering her gently down the hallway to the stairs. She had no idea what might have happened if he had not appeared when he did, and though he had clearly defied her orders for him to stay downstairs, she could not be angry with him.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Daniel offered a sad smile. “There is no need to thank me.”
Her heart cracked a little more.
