“Probably no’. Even if they did, they would no’ talk.” She frowned slightly. “It would be better if ya were found safe away from the Dials.”
Yes, of course. She was foolish not to think of that. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but Fiona probably hadn’t had time to get all the way home and bring back help yet.IfFiona had gotten home. That thought made her chill. What if the two men chasing her had caught her? Or maybe she was lying on the street somewhere. Better that she got back, the sooner the better.
“You are right. Can you lead me to a street where I can get a hack?”
Emma nodded. “Follow me.”
…
Alasdair stepped out of the second pub none the wiser than when he went in. Looking across the small plaza, he saw Gavin and Fiona emerge from a third one. From the expressions on their faces, he didn’t have to ask to know they hadn’t been successful either. He met them at the base where the Dials had once stood.
“Nothing?”
Gavin grimaced. “Nobody seems to have seen or heard anything.”
“I still think ye should let me go in that one.” Fiona pointed to the door behind him. “’Twas where the men came out of.”
“Which is why it is too dangerous for you to go inside. Someone might recognize you.” Christ, he hadn’t wanted her to be in St. Giles at all, but he didn’t trust she wouldn’t return if he tried to send her home in a hack. He’d reluctantly agreed to let her partner with Campbell only because if he discovered who the bastards were himself, there would be bloodshed for sure.
“I agree with your brother,” Gavin said as Fiona looked as if she would argue. “Just because no one admitted to anything does not mean they do not know who the men are. If they see you, it could get back to them quickly.” She still looked mulish. “You did say there were four of them. Not good odds.” He looked around. “Especially here.”
“I can fight, ye ken.”
“I have no doubt, but it is much smarter not to when the odds are against us.” Gavin smiled at her. “And less painful.”
She puffed a breath. “Then what can we do?”
“We fan out,” Alasdair said. “You and Campbell go to that place where you gave out coins. Maybe some of the street urchins will be about.”
“Good idea,” Gavin said. “They will remember you gave them money and might be more willing to tell us if they saw anything.”
“And I will go back to where I left Kelso,” Alasdair said. “It’s possible these men were hired to abduct Lorelei and Fiona. In that case, they might have had a carriage waiting.” He pulled a watch fob from his pocket. “Let’s meet back here in half an hour.”
“Right.”
Alasdair waited, scrutinizing the fronts of the pubs as his sister and Campbell disappeared around a corner. No one came out to follow them and he didn’t see anyone slip out from the shadows, either.
Satisfied that they weren’t going to be attacked, he turned and headed down St. Martin toward the stable. Turning onto Cranbourn Street, he stopped so abruptly he nearly tripped over his own boots.
He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. Two females were standing about a block away, their backs to him, and appeared to be looking for a hack to hail. The one seemed little more than a girl and he didn’t recognize her at all, but the other… He blinked and rubbed his eyes. The other had long pale hair the color of moonlight and even from here, she didn’t look as though she belonged in the area. She was too finely dressed. Could it be…?
The lady turned and he saw her face. And then he was running toward her.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Lorelei!”
Lorelei heard her name called and barely had time to register that it was Alasdair. He ran to her and swept her up into his arms, his hands roaming over her back, pressing her close, before sliding up to capture her face in his palms. His eyes were dark as the depths of a forest and that was all she noticed before his lips were on hers.
This was no gentle, soft kiss like those she’d dreamed of or the brief one she’d experienced at Strae Castle. His mouth was hot and demanding, his tongue seeking entrance to hers, then delving into its depths and plundering thoroughly. Pleasure such as she had never known coursed through her at the onslaught. She could feel the desperation in him. Or maybe it was her own. Even as her hands wound around his neck and she clung to him, he pulled her even more tightly to him as though afraid to let her go.
Which was perfectly all right with her. This kissing thing was much better in real life than it was in her dreams or even from her memory. This was utterly incredible and completely mind-shattering. Tingles that turned to tremors shot through her as his mouth did incredulously delicious things to her. The world faded away—sights and sounds disappeared—and there was only this: Alasdair’s mouth on hers, kissing her over and over as though he could never have enough.
Slowly, reality filtered back into her brain as the kisses turned softer, lighter, more gentle. She felt, rather than heard, him give a great shudder and then he relaxed his hold, his hands slipping to her waist as he took a step back.
There was an awkward moment as they stared at each other, not quite knowing what to say after what had just transpired. There were so many emotions all trying to bubble to the surface. To hide her confusion, Lorelei said the first thing that came to her.
“So you do not think of me as a sister?”
