“It will be over quite quickly, I fear.”
“Get off me! I’ll never marry you.” She writhed back and forth but felt his cold hands slide up her thighs, the icy chill freezing her blood. “Get your damn hands off me.”
“Once I breach your maidenhead,” he panted, pressing down on top of her until she could hardly breathe, “we will be eternally joined.”
“You’re too late,” she cried, the words accompanied by a sinister chuckle. “I have already given myself to another.”
Mr. Sutherby froze but then snorted. “Your lies don’t fool me. Nothing you can say will stop me taking you tonight.”
“No,” a deep masculine voice roared, “but I bloody well will.”
Suddenly the room appeared brighter, and she could breathe again. When she looked up, the first thing she saw was Mr. Sutherby’s feet dangling in the air, his legs jerking back and forth like a marionette and then she heard the loud thud as Alexander threw him to the floor.
Alexander.
Her heart fluttered in her chest, relief causing her to sigh.
Oblivious to Mr. Sutherby’s cries of protest, she stared as Alexander delivered a heavy blow to the man’s stomach. For good measure, he punched Sutherby on the nose, the blood spurting almost instantly.
“Alexander. You came.”
Leaving Mr. Sutherby in a crumpled heap, he rushed to her side and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Has he hurt you?” he said, cupping her face and kissing her softly on the mouth.
Evelyn shook her head. “No. I’m fine.” She stared into his silver-blue eyes, the rush of love and longing taking her breath away. “You came,” she repeated softly. “You came just in time.”
“I’d have been here sooner but—”
“I know, the wind has caused no end of trouble on the roads.”
With deft fingers, he untied the ropes binding her to the bed. When he saw the pinky-red welts branded into her skin, he cursed. “I may yet kill him for what he’s done to you.”
“It doesn’t matter. They’ll heal. All that matters is you’re here.”
She could feel the anger emanating from him, the vibration wild and erratic.
“It took every ounce of strength I possess not to rip his throat out,” he said bringing her wrist to his lips and raining featherlight kisses along the grooved sores.
“It would only serve to cause an even greater scandal.”
His expression grew dark. “About Sutherby. He … he thinks you’re an heiress.”
“An heiress? Why would he think that?”
“There was some confusion at the solicitor’s office. He was told you’d inherit five thousand pounds upon marriage.” Alexander shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I always knew he was hiding something. He was always far too affable. It’s not as though it’s a great shock to discover he was only interested in money.”
“There’s something else,” he said a little hesitant. “Charlotte Sutherby is not his sister. She’s his accomplice, his … lover. Although she had no idea that he’d kidnapped you. Greed prevailed over loyalty, and he was reluctant to share the money.”
Evelyn gasped, although nothing shocked or surprised her after the trauma of recent events. “No wonder she was so keen to see us wed. Goodness, is there anything else you need to tell me?”
Alexander’s face turned ashen and his gaze fell to his lap.
There was something else.
She’d only said the words in jest. But of course, he was referring to the reason he’d locked himself away, to the terrible scandal she didn’t give a hoot about.
His expression turned grave. “Eve … I … there is something you need to know. Something about me.”