“Ah.”
He arched a brow in question. To be fair, it was a very brief response to his honest answer.
“Well,” she ventured in reply to his look, “I suppose it makes sense that you cannot possess power without possessing a shield.”
“Wise words.”
She smiled at him. “I do declare my brilliance.”
A rare snort came from him. Louisa was about to tease him further when the driver called out, and the carriage started to slow. More shouts filled the air.
“Dear Lord, what is going on?” Louisa peered out of the window to try to catch a glimpse. She suddenly recalled Theodosia mentioning being robbed by highwaymen and gasped.
“What is it?” His face joined hers, and she swore the small hairs on their cheeks touched.
“I think it’s highwaymen.”
She felt him stiffen, and he suddenly pulled her away from the window, dragging her up against him, which meant she was practically sitting on his lap again! But this time she wasn’t distracted by a kiss.She felt everything.
His arms encircled her like a vise.
“Devil take it.”
Louisa still hadn’t shaken off her shock of their sudden close proximity. His body had turned as hard as steel, the exact opposite of how it had felt this morning.
His breath tickled her ear right before his words followed, “Stay inside. I’ll handle them.”
“I’m on your lap!”
He stilled before swiftly depositing her next to him. “My apologies, I reacted out of instinct.”
She shook off her daze. “They shall be armed. How will you handle them? You are not made of marble, you know.”
His lips twitched, but only for a swift second. “I know, but I shall be fine.” Two fingers caught her chin as deep eyes bore into hers. “Give me your word that you will stay here.”
“I cannot do that.”
“Damn it, Louisa. This is a dangerous situation. I need your word.”
She placed her hand over his mouth. “What if I get dragged out of the carriage or they threaten to kill you if I don’t step out?” She held his gaze. “I cannot make this promise.”
“Then at least give me a few minutes.”
“Fine.” She could do that.
He placed his hand on the door, shooting her a last glance. “Are you ready?”
Louisa didn’t know what he planned to do, but she gave one curt nod. “As I’ll ever be.”
Oliver flung open the carriage door to come face to face with... Louisa’s eyes widened as a man came up to the door and filled her view—a bloody, bedraggled Helgate.
“What happened?” Oliver demanded.
“Those damn Furys.”
Louisa swallowed at the sight of his bruised face. Her gaze darted beyond him, her heart sinking to her shoes. “Where is my brother? Where is Leo?”
“They took him.”
