The Rebellious Rake (The Notorious Nightingales #4)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

“ S hh now,” he said. “I have you.” She was shaking and making small noises he couldn’t interpret. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head.

“Where are the watch?” He squinted through the dark.

“Just me,” she whispered.

He wasn’t sure what emotion those words produced inside him, but both anger and pride battled for supremacy.

“P-peppermint.”

“Pardon?” He looked down as she raised the head she’d burrowed into his neck.

“You always carry them,” she whispered. “Need sugar and to get this foul stench from my mouth.”

He thought that odd, but he was connected to the Nightingales, who were that and more, so Ram managed to free a hand enough to dig around in his pocket and find the small bag.

“Open up.” She did like a baby bird, and he dropped the peppermint inside. She made a loud sucking sound and then gave a small sigh. Ram then put one in his mouth, as the stench down here was so thick that he, too, could taste it.

“I felt anger as I left the tea shop,” she whispered. “Was it you?”

“It was. I couldn’t believe you were foolish enough to wander about at night on your own.”

She made a small pfft sound and then said, “I felt it turn to rage and fear when those men grabbed you.”

“Pardon?”

“I—ah, I felt it.”

“You felt what I was feeling?” She didn’t reply. “God, you’re one of them, aren’t you?”

“One of them?” Her words were spoken to his neck, as once again her face was pressed into it.

“You have an ability like the Nightingales.”

“Perhaps. Are you all right, Mr. Hellion? It was you they took, and those men were quite rough.”

“I am, thanks to you. I thought you’d brought the watch and they were fighting with me?” He decided not to press her about her clairvoyant abilities now, but he would.

“I know how to fight.”

“They were strong men, Flora. You could have been hurt.”

Her hands had his lapels in a death grip, and her face was pressed into his neck. Her head turned from side to side as she shook it. “I wasn’t, because they were scared and ran.”

“You did those voices?” This time she nodded.

“I must tell you that I don’t like small dark spaces, Mr. Hellion. It was all right when I was busy trying to save you, but now….” Her words fell away.

“I don’t like rodents,” he said, running a hand over her hair. She’d lost her bonnet somewhere in the struggle. “Shall we attempt to find our way out of this hell so we can breathe again?” Ramsey was suddenly aware of just how cold it was down here .

“I want that,” she whispered. “And, Ramsey?”

“Yes, Flora?”

“I have no idea what just happened or why those men took you, but right now you stand between me and complete hysteria, so I will tolerate you until we are outside once more. I-I shall dislike you again tomorrow.”

“I am forewarned,” he said, inhaling her hair. She always smelled nice—subtle yet alluring. A hint of floral with something else mixed in. “But right now we need to run because they are going to get reinforcements.” He inhaled again.

“Are you sniffing me?”

“I’m attempting to rid my nasal passages of the vile smell down here. Short of stuffing a peppermint up there, this is the next best thing.”

“Do you know another way out of here?” Flora’s words held a little strength now, but her hands still gripped the lapels of his greatcoat.

“It’s not a place I frequent, but I’m sure there must be other avenues to leave by,” Ram said. He then stepped back an inch and pried her hands off his coat. “Thank you, Flora, for saving me.”

“W-welcome,” she whispered.

“Come along. Let’s make haste.”

He took her hand in his and began moving along the passage counting his steps. Running would be foolish, as they’d surely trip and fall, but haste was definitely needed. He had Flora to protect.

“Flora, are you all right?”

“My eyes are closed.”

“May I suggest you open them before you trip and take me down with you?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Focus on my wonderfully broad shoulders and back.” The fact she didn’t censure him or, at the very least, snort at his words told Ram just how terrified she was. “We should be quiet now, as those men will be back with more numbers added to their ranks.” Flora didn’t reply to that.

Ram concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other while keeping his free hand on the wall to his left. There would be another way out; he just needed to find it. He asked if she was all right every time his count reached one hundred. She always replied with yes. Ram counted when he needed to focus. It was something he’d taught himself as a child, and it helped him concentrate on what needed to be done. He also thought about her.

She had been brave and reckless tonight, which surprised him. Flora had always seemed proper and uptight.

“Arrrgh!” Her scream was at least muffled by her hand. Ram spun, ready to take on who threatened her, and felt the nose nudging his groin. Reaching out a hand, he found matted fur.

“Dear God, what is that?” Flora whispered.

As it wasn’t eating his hand, he ran his fingers along the large snout to an ear. Then another.

“It’s either a small bear or a large dog.”

“Do they have bears in London?” Flora asked, gripping his fingers tighter.

“Not ones who live here as their natural habitat. Hello, dog, what are you about?” As he was running his hand down its flanks, he felt the entire body wriggle. “Well now, you’re a happy fellow for being down in this rancid-smelling sewer.”

“Stop,” Flora whispered.

Ram fell silent and heard the thud of feet and murmur of voices.

“It’s the men, Ramsey. I can feel their anger that you got away from them. ”

“Flora, if they catch us, you must get out of here. It is me they want, not you.”

“I’m not leaving you!” She leaned in to yell the words in a loud whisper.

“You will because if we both are caught, who will save us?” He had her there, as this time she fell silent.

“We won’t get caught” was her reply. Clearly, she wasn’t one to lose an argument—something else he could add to the list of things about her that annoyed him.

“Dog.” He watched as she bent at the waist to address the animal. “Lead us from this place at once.”

“So not only do you have this ability you speak of, but you also speak dog?”

“It is not my senses I rely on fully but also my intellect,” she said haughtily, or she tried to, as her voice shook.

“Forgive me for teasing you. You saved my life, and I am forever grateful for that, Flora.”

“As you should be. Now lead on, dog. I have no wish to st-stay in this confined space longer than necessary.”

Ram gave the dog’s head a final pat. “Go and seek, doggie.”

The animal surprisingly did walk away from them.

“You should fasten your necktie around its neck,” Flora said.

“What? Absolutely not. My neckties are made of the finest silk.” The sound that came from her lips was well worth him saying what he had.

Ram had noted he liked annoying this woman—even, it seemed, in danger, as they were, and slogging through sewer water with no avenue of escape.

“Just do it.” She attempted to snap the words at him, but he could hear the tremor in her voice. Being down here was truly terrifying for Flora Thomas .

He sighed and unwound his scarf, then wrapped it around Flora’s neck. He then removed his necktie. “In books, the heroine usually rips off the hem of her chemise.”

“Should you need blood staunching, I-I vow to do so. For now, make haste, Mr. Hellion. Thank you for your scarf, but I’m sure your need is greater, as I already have one.” Her words were now muffled, as he’d covered her mouth.

“My manly neck is quite warm, thank you, and my name is Ramsey,” he said, fixing the length of silk around the dog’s large neck. It stood docile while he did so. Ram then made a noise like he did when urging his horse to walk, and they were moving once more.

“Wait, danger is coming,” Flora whispered.

Ram stopped, and heard the thud of feet again, but this time growing closer. Tugging her hand, he urged the dog forward, and soon they were running. Seconds later he found what they needed to hide. An intersection offered a larger opening. Feeling along the wall, he found a man-sized indentation. He pushed Flora in there and followed. She turned and pressed her face into his neck. His arms wrapped around her shivering form, holding her close. The dog, whose lead he’d dropped when they started running, pressed in behind him.

“Everyone, quiet now.”

“I think that dog has been a pet,” Flora whispered. “He is doing as you say.”

“Very likely.”

“And is lost like us.”

“Also likely, now shut up.”

“Talking helps with the fear.”

“It also helps the bad men intent on murdering us locate our position.”

She made a harrumphing sound but fell silent. He prayed the dog didn’t bark or growl. Lowering a hand, he found a soft ear and rubbed it. The dog’s full weight leaned into him.

“They have to be here somewhere!”

“We don’t find him, we don’t get paid!”

“Keep looking. Now there’s five of us, he won’t escape so easy.”

“The watch?—”

“I think that wasn’t real.”

The men were standing near where Ram and Flora hid. He rested his head on her shoulder while her fingers once again clutched his lapels. The dog was still and silent, lapping up the ear rub.

“I think we go right.”

“Could be left though.”

“You and Nigel go left, then. We’ll take the right. Whistle if you find him.”

Ram waited for the thud of feet to grow distant. Glancing down in the small dark space, he saw Flora was looking up at him, her face now inches from his.

“It will be all right, Flora. I won’t let them harm you, and we will get out of here.”

She didn’t speak, just kept her eyes on him. In that moment, Ram realized that he felt closer to her than he’d ever felt with another woman, which of course was natural, as they were thrust together through fear. But right then he felt more. A need burned deep inside him for this woman. He had to keep her safe. Had to?—

“Ram?”

“Yes.” His eyes stayed locked on hers. They were close enough that he could see her panic. He’d lowered his head slowly and pressed his lips to hers before he could think better of it. Soft, sweet, and over in seconds.

“Come along, let’s get you home.” Ram nudged the dog out before she could speak. He then took Flora’s hand, and they headed back the way they’d come, the dog once again taking the lead.

Walking in silence now, with her small hand in his and him holding the necktie, they were almost like a family out for a walk… in a sewer. Clearly, he was losing his mind. Ram prayed they found a way out soon for both their sakes.