Page 117 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

Wedmore called him off, and Margrave lowered his firearm.

Dom walked closer to Farrin. “You have always said you have eyes and ears everywhere.”

Farrin’s eyes narrowed. “Closer than you realize.”

“But I have connections in Athens.”

Dom gave a sharp, short whistle. Four Janissaries stormed into the ruins and swarmed around Farrin.

“The Ottomans have agreed to hold you until I can take you back to England to face charges.”

Farrin raged like an animal, flailing as they seized him and slapped shackles on his wrists and feet.

“You think you’ve won?” He glared at Wedmore, spittle flying from his mouth. “Do you think you’ve beaten me? I knew you would intercept my message and leave the henhouse unguarded. Everyone you love is gone. Wolfe has ended them all.”

The air rushed from Jonathan’s lungs; his surroundings blurred. Then he was running.

He cleared the wall in one leap, barreling down the path toward the horses. A low roar in his ears drowned out everything. He startled when Margrave ran past him to untie his own horse. Wedmore was a couple of steps behind.

“My lord?” He looked to Evangeline’s uncle for reassurance, but Wedmore’s grim expression said it all.

Farrin wasn’t lying.

Forty-six

Evangeline landed hard on her bottom, her screams bouncing off the vaulted ceiling. Red-faced and teeth bared, Wolfe dragged her backward. Regina and Sophia stopped at the top landing of the servants’ staircase.

“Save Auntie,” Evangeline shouted, but her sisters ran back to help.

Aunt Beatrice turned back, too.

“Find Xavier!”

Her aunt hurried down the stairs, hollering his name, with Cupid on her tail.

Wolfe loomed over Evangeline, his smile part amused, part contemptuous.

“Peach!” Sophia yelled. “Pick the peach!”

Evangeline flopped onto her back, landing between his wide braced legs, and drove her fist into his bollocks.

He howled, losing his grip on her. She crawled away, fearful of him collapsing on her. Sophia grabbed her hand and tugged her to her feet. Instead of running this time, she stood shoulder to shoulder with her sisters.

He thrust the knife at them. Regina slapped his forearm as she bent his wrist forward. The knife flew from his hand, clattering against the stone. Sophia grabbed it and tossed it out the window. He growled.

When he lunged for Regina, she jumped back.

“The warrior,” he said with a sneer. “I’ve seen you practicing in the courtyard.”

Regina’s jaw hardened. She aimed a kick at his knee, but he blocked it and knocked her off balance. She slammed into the wall, her breath leaving her in a loud whoosh. A painting crashed to the floor.

“Regina!” Evangeline snatched it by the frame and bashed him with it. He raised his arm, ducking behind it as she hit him again and again.

“Shite! Shite!”

“Help me,” Evangeline shouted.

Sophia scrambled to grab a small marble bust from a wall niche and threw it, smacking his forehead.