Dauntless (Gentlemen of the Order 1)

“You can’t let him take her!” came Dunn’s outraged reply. “I need her to help me out of a fix.”

Noah turned and punched the fool hard in the chest, knocking him back onto the truckle bed. “You’ve lost the right to act like the concerned brother.” Dunn was likely to say something to make Hemming shoot. “This is your damn fault.”

And it was Noah’s fault, too. He should have forced Eva to remain in the carriage. He should have conducted a thorough search of the trunks and crates. Daventry was right. But he’d been so blind with rage upon seeing the snake slithering in his bindings he’d lost focus.

Hemming edged out of the door, dragging Eva with him.

Noah followed slowly, mindful not to make any sudden movements.

“Don’t take another step,” Hemming said, guiding Eva sideways down the first few steps. “Move, and I’ll shoot her.”

Their descent was awkward and clumsy. It proved almost impossible to navigate the dark stairway while holding a woman hostage and pointing a pistol at her head. Eva stumbled, but the devil caught her.

The choking lump in Noah’s throat pressed against his windpipe. History often repeated itself. Families tended to suffer the same crippling blows. A man might be destined to lose every woman he loved. Perhaps it was foolish to hope, to dream.

But there was a stark difference in this scenario. Noah’s mother had smiled and professed all would be well. Eva’s ghostly complexion and trembling lips spoke of terror. She wanted to live. The truth of it was plain to see.

Amid the gloom of the stairwell, their gazes met.

No doubt she could sense his torment as clearly as he sensed her fear. Perhaps that was why she made the sudden move, took advantage of an opportunity. When she drew a deep breath, he knew she was about to do something reckless.

“Don’t,” Noah mouthed, shaking his head.

But he was too late.

The moment Hemming moved to step down, Eva elbowed him so hard in the stomach the man lost his footing.

In the sudden panic, the pistol flew out of Hemming’s hand and bounced down the stairs. The succession of loud thuds echoed and would surely alert Bower.

Arms flailing and nostrils flaring, Hemming tried to grab onto something stable.

Aware of the imminent danger, Noah raced forward just as Hemming grabbed the back of Eva’s pelisse to prevent himself from falling.

Time slowed.

Bile lodged in Noah’s throat as he watched Eva stumble back. The look of horror on her face cut through his heart, sharper than any blade. No. It could not end like this. No. He could not watch another woman he loved perish. It would be the end of him. The end of everything.

Eva managed to grip the handrail with her left hand. She reached out to Noah with her free hand, a desperate plea for him to save her. He was able to grab hold of her wrist seconds before Hemming lost his grip of her pelisse and tumbled down the stairs.

Relief stole the strength from Noah’s legs. He flopped down onto the step and dragged Eva into his arms. Their breathless pants mingled as they embraced. He stroked her hair, muttered thankful prayers. He felt so blessed to have a second chance he almost forgot about Hemming.

“Watch out!” Cole cried, throwing himself on top of them as the shot rang through the stairwell.

In those few seconds when no one moved, a man couldn’t help but fear the worst. Cole was deathly still as he smothered them with his muscular body. Noah was aware of the rise and fall of Eva’s chest, aware that he had escaped being hit by the lead ball. And the hurried thud of footsteps retreating on the stairs spoke of Hemming’s escape.

“Eva, are you all right?”

“Yes, though I fear Mr Cole is hurt.”

“Cole?”

Silence.

“Cole!”

A groan rumbled deep in his friend’s chest.

“Good God! Have you been hit?”