He didn’t know the best place to send it but Luke would and they might need the help Coventry could provide.
Then he penned another, this one longer. As quickly as he could, he outlined what he had learned about the thefts, the marquess, and his own solicitor through his investigation. Then he addressed it to his sovereign leader and called his butler in to see it delivered and to have two horses saddled.
The note was a precaution in case he didn’t make it back from this rescue mission. He wanted to know the marquess would be brought to justice.
He had just finished and barely a quarter hour had passed when Luke barged into his study. “I’ll tear them apart with my bare hands.” No trace of the easygoing rake remained. Before him stood a man harder than any he had ever met.
It didn’t bear repeating, though he felt the same as he thrust the note to Coventry at Luke to read. With a nod, Luke scribbled the address across the top. His butler, always a man with impeccable timing, entered just in time to retrieve it. He handed both letters to the man. “I’ll send them at once, Your Grace.”
“Let’s go.” Luke turned on his heel and began marching out the door.
Ryker followed, noting the several pistols strapped to Luke’s body. He’d holstered his two favorites as well.
“If you were thinking that we might wait until we had more men, I’ll go alone,” Luke warned.
“I wasn’t.” Ryker stepped in front of Luke leading the way to the back door and the barn beyond. “I took the liberty of having two of my horses saddled for us.”
“You’re going to have to keep your head,” Luke growled. “I don’t know that I can keep mine.”
“I’ll try my best.” Ryker’s chest tightened again. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to ride and then he wanted to hurt people.
But the thoughts wouldn’t stop. He’d only just found her. And though he’d tried to tell himself she was a sound decision, the truth was, it was so much more than that. She’d drawn him in from the second he’d laid eyes on her. Tricia made him laugh, caused him to ache with longing. Bloody hell, he was in love with her and he hadn’t even told her. Why hadn’t he shared that with her?
And now, someone was trying to take her away. As he climbed in the saddle, a low growl rumbled deep from in his chest. Winters had no idea what fury was coming for him.
The two men set out, tearing through the streets of London.
While they made it to the docklands with amazing speed, it seemed to take an eternity.
Approaching the Billingsgate dock, the two men dismounted and found a post to hitch their horses.
Mr. Hart materialized from the shadows. “You’ve made it in good time.” His eyes swept over the two of them. “But I wish you’d brought more men.”
“More are coming,” Luke’s voice vibrated with anger. “How many men do we have to face?”
“I’ve seen six.” Mr. Hart gestured toward one of the warehouses lining the street. “They’ve brought them there.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hart.” Ryker said. “I wonder if we might take the six without too much trouble.”
Mr. Hart grimaced. “My fear is there are more I haven’t seen. I am peeking through windows, but I can co
nfirm both ladies are safe.”
Ryker breathed a small sigh but Luke took two steps forward. “Let’s get them now before…”
“Sussex,” Ryker grabbed his arm to stop him. “You told me to keep my head. I am telling you that we put them at risk if we barge in there without enough men. It gives the assailants too much time to hurt them or leave with them if we can’t subdue them quickly.”
“Damn it all to bloody hell,” Luke growled out. “That’s my wife and my child.”
“I know.” Ryker rested his hand on the other man’s shoulder. He gave it what he hoped was a comforting squeeze. “We’ll get them out.”
They began searching the outside, noting the entrances, peeking through the windows. It calmed Ryker further when he spotted Tricia and Tabbie sitting on a bench side by side in the large open room of what looked to be an abandoned factory, their hands clasped. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see any more as he ducked down to avoid being spotted by one of the armed guards.
But she was there, and she was safe. Everything would be fine, he was sure of it.
He heard the sound of several horses coming down the street, and Ryker froze, hiding himself from view. He’d only counted six men as well, but if these were reinforcements for Winters then he and Luke had a much more difficult job.
But a quick glance had him sighing in relief. It was Coventry with three other men. “I came as quickly as I could.” He jumped down from his horse with a sprightliness Ryker wouldn’t have expected.