'Stay right here,' Milford told Caroline with a sigh of resignation. And then he was in the thick of it. Milford's fist connected with the foul man's jaw and he went reeling backward. The man's friends immediately entered the fight.
Caroline watched, horrified, as she ducked flying glass and bodies. The odds were terribly uneven, and she had the real worry that Milford would be injured.
The owner of the tavern decided to grasp his opportunity and reached out. He pulled on Caroline's hair, trying to drag her around the corner of the bar toward him. She yelled and immediately wished she hadn't, for her voice interrupted Milford. He turned to look at her, leaving himself quite vulnerable.
'Watch what you're doing!' Caroline yelled as she picked up a full bottle of whiskey from the bar and whacked the tavern owner. The odious creature went down with a crash, and Caroline hurried to move behind the bar. She decided that Milford needed a little help and began to throw bottles at the men trying to best him.
Her aim wasn't terribly accurate, and one man made it all the way to the bar and half over before she could hit him hard enough to stop his advance. He collapsed with a loud moan, draped over the rail.
Several of the other patrons had entered into the battle and Caroline wasn't sure just who was on whose side. All the bottles were gone from the ledge behind her and Caroline had to look below for more ammunition. She shoved the cashbox out of her way and found a new arsenal. The owner must have had to deal with trouble in the past, for there were several long, curved knives, two loaded pistols, and a club that was entirely too heavy to lift, let alone swing.
Caroline chose the pistols. She placed one on the bar and held the other in her hand. The odds had just turned in Milford's favor, she decided, though from the way he was trying to take on three men all at once, Caroline didn't think he realized it.
The glint of steel caught Caroline's attention. A man standing in the far corner lifted his arm and was about to throw a knife at Milford's back. Caroline immediately fired. The knife dropped and the man screamed his outrage.
The fighting stopped and everyone, including Mil-ford, turned to look at the man clutching his hand.
And then everyone turned to stare at Caroline and she felt that she should offer some sort of explanation. 'Knives are not allowed in this brawl,' she announced in a prim, dignified voice. Her intent was clear. She picked up the second pistol and looked at Milford. 'Well?' she asked when he continued to gape at her. 'Are you going to get on with it or shall we leave?'
Milford let out a growl, grabbed two men by their necks, and slammed their heads together. They both went down just as another lunged forward. And all the while, Caroline waited patiently for it to be over.
It happened sooner than she had expected. The door to the tavern pounded against the wall, tearing from its hinges. The sound might not have been sufficient distraction to the fight in progress, but the roar coming from the man looming in the doorway certainly was.
Bradford looked ready to kill. Caroline was thankful that he was on their side. 'You took your sweet time!' Milford yelled between punches.
Bradford found Caroline. She gave him a smile, letting him know that she was fine, and his expression immediately turned from furious to casual interest. Caroline watched him slowly disengage himself of his jacket, fold it carefully, and place it over the back of a wooden chair. He was taking his sweet time! Milford called out again and Bradford finally took charge.
He made short work of it and Caroline, even though she had recognized his strength, was now amazed by it. He never indicated the least amount of strain, even as he lifted a man twice his weight and launched him through the door. Another and then another followed, until the pavement was littered with groaning bodies. Bradford dragged the last off Milford, dispatched him through the doorway with a swift kick.
He still looked impeccable, though his hair was a bit unruly. Milford, on the other hand, looked a mess. His coat jacket was torn, his breeches filthy. She watched as he flexed his hands and adjusted his cravat.
'Drinks are on the house.' Caroline's announcement turned both men to her. 'That is, if I can find a bottle.'
'I believe, my dear, that you have thrown all of them,' Milford commented.
'You were supposed to guard her,' Bradford muttered with exasperation. 'Caroline, come out from behind there. The hack is waiting.'
Caroline nodded and slowly made her way over the bodies in her path. Bradford walked over to see what obstructed Caroline and shook his head. 'I'm not going to ask,' he commented to Milford, who had joined his side.
'It's best that you don't,' Caroline returned. 'In your eyes I should be swooning or weeping now, shouldn't I? Milford? Slumming has real possibilities,' she went on. 'And brawls certainly are exciting. Why did you give it up?'
Milford laughed and Bradford frowned. He took hold of Caroline's hand and pulled her out the door.
It was cramped inside the hired vehicle and Caroline was forced to sit on Bradford's lap. He was frowning, and Caroline thought that he wasn't even listening to the conversation.
She knew he wasn't upset with her, for he kept stroking the side of her cheek in an absentminded manner as he stared out the window.
When the carriage came to a halt in front of her home, Caroline smiled at Milford and said, 'It has been a lovely evening, my lord! First an opera and then a brawl! And I had never experienced either before.'
Bradford had removed himself from the hack and stood waiting to assist Caroline. Milford delayed her, taking hold of her hand and placing a kiss on her palm. 'Until our next adventure, Lady Caroline.' His eyes sparkled with mischief and Caroline laughed with appreciation.
'There will be no more adventures,' Bradford stated in a voice that sounded quite determined.
Caroline allowed him to assist her and meekly followed him up to the door.
'Bradford, are you truly angry with me?' she asked in a whisper.
'I will not allow you to be in jeopardy,' Bradford returned. He took hold of her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace. 'I don't want anything to happen to you.' He leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Deighton opened the door and Caroline reluctantly walked inside. She was disappointed that Bradford hadn't followed her.
Their talk would have to wait until tomorrow, she thought. Then he would admit that he loved her. And everything would be wonderful.
Chapter Nine
'Someone tampered with the wheel,' Bradford told Milford as soon as they were on their way. 'It was meant to come off.'
'You've been making enemies again, Brad?' Mil-ford inquired. He wasn't smiling now. Caroline was safely inside her home and he could show his concern and anger. 'We could have been killed.'
'Whoever is out to get me doesn't concern himself with details,' Bradford commented. 'Caroline's an innocent in this and I won't have her placed in further danger.'
'What do you plan to do?' Milford asked. His frown of concentration matched Bradford's own.
'I'll find out who's behind this and deal with him,' Bradford predicted. 'But until I have my answers, I won't see Caroline. As far as everyone is concerned, we are no longer involved.'
'You'll explain it to her, won't you?' Milford asked. He agreed with Bradford that he should avoid Caroline's company until the threat was over. But he also thought of Caroline's feelings and how the separation would affect her.
'No. It's for the best that she also believe I've lost interest. Otherwise she won't be very convincing. It's imperative that everyone believe or she might be used as a lever against me.'
'And Braxton? Will you speak to him?'
Bradford shook his head. 'No, he might break down and confide in Caroline.'
'Where do we start?' Milford asked. 'The sooner we find the man, the better. With Harry do you suppose?'
