' Lyon?'
'Yes, Christina?'
'Be careful.'
'I will.'
'Oh, and Lyon?'
'Yes?'
'You'll try not to make too much of a messr won't you?'
'I'll try.'
He winked at her before closing the door behind him. Christina tied the rope around the two door handles, forming a tight double knot. She blew out the candles and settled down to wait.
The minutes dragged by at a turtle's pace. Christina kept straining to hear sounds from the back of the house. For that reason, she was quite unprepared to hear a scraping sound coming from the front windows.
They weren't suppose to come through the front of the house. Lyon was going to be disappointed. Christina felt like instructing the villains to go around back, then realized how foolish that suggestion would have been. She decided she'd just have to wait it out in hopes they'd give up trying to breach the windows and eventually try the back door.
'Christina?'
Her name was called out in a soft whisper, but she recognized the voice all the same. The Earl of Rhone was trying to get her attention.
She pulled the drape back and found Rhone hanging on the ledge, grinning up at her. The smile didn't stay long-nor did Rhone, for that matter. He suddenly lost his grip on the ledge and disappeared. A soft thud came next, followed by several indecent curses telling Christina the poor man hadn't landed on his feet.
She was going to have to fetch him out of the hedges, she decided. He was making such a commotion he was sure to alert the mischief makers.
Rhone met her at the front door. He looked a sight, for his jacket was ripped away from his sleeve, his cravat was soiled and undone, and he was favoring one leg.
He was such a clumsy man, she thought, yet her heart wanned to him all the same. Lyon must have confided in him. Christina believed he'd ventured out to give his friend assistance. It was the only answer for such an unexpected visit. 'You look as though you've already lost one fight. Rhone, behind you!'
A crash echoing from the back of the house nearly drowned out her voice. Rhone caught her warning, however. He reacted with good speed, wasted little time by turning around to face the threat, and used his right shoulder to shove the door into the face of a wiry-looking man trying to barrel through the opening. His legs were buckled to the task, his face red with exertion.
When it became evident he wasn't going to get the door closed without her help, Christina added her own strength.
' Lyon!'
Rhone 's shout made her ears ring. 'Go and hide someplace,' Rhone gasped out to Christina, his voice strained.
'Christina. Go back inside the salon.'
Lyon 's voice came from behind her. Christina thought only to glance over her shoulder to explain that her weight was needed to get the door closed, but the sight that met her pushed her explanation out of her mind.
She slowly turned around and took a tentative step forward. She was too dazed to move more quickly.
The transformation in the Marquess held her spellbound. He didn't even resemble an Englishman now. His jacket was gone, his shirt torn to the waist. Blood trickled down his chin from a cut on the side of his mouth. It wasn't a significant wound, and it didn't frighten her. Neither did the splatter of blood on his sleeve, for she instinctively knew the blood wasn't his… no, she wasn't frightened of his appearance.
The look in his eyes was another matter. He looked ready to kill. Lyon appeared to be quite calm. His arms were folded across his chest, and his expression was almost bored. It was all a lie, of course. The truth was there, in his eyes.
His bellow shook her from her daze. Christina didn't even spare a backward glance for Rhone as she ran toward the drawing room.
'Get out of the way, Rhone.'
Rhone didn't hesitate to follow Lyon 's order. As soon as he jumped back, three men the size of giants lunged inside. They fell, one atop another. Rhone stood in the corner, hoping Lyon would ask for his help.
Lyon stood in the center of the foyer patiently waiting for the three cutthroats to get back on their feet. Rhone thought that was just a bit too accommodating of his friend.
He was outnumbered, outweighed, outweaponed. The men now crouched in front of him all held knives in their hands. One of the bastards clutched a dagger in each hand.
Someone started to snicker. Rhone smiled. The poor fool obviously didn't realize Lyon still had the advantage.
The fat man in the center suddenly lashed out at Lyon with his blade. Lyon 's boot caught him under his chin. The force of the blow lifted the man high enough in the air for Lyon to slam his fists into the man's groin. The attacker blacked out before he hit the floor.
The other two attacked in unison just as another man came charging up the front steps. Rhone heard him coming, reached out, and kicked the door shut. The howl of pain radiating through the door told Rhone his timing had been excellent.
Rhone never took his gaze off Lyon. Though he'd seen him in battles before, Lyon 's strength continued to impress him. Lyon used his elbow to crack one man's jaw while he anchored the other man's arm away from him. He dealt with him next, and when Rhone heard the snap of bone he knew Lyon had broken the man's wrist.
Bodies littered the entrance when Lyon was done. 'Open the door, Rhone.'
'Hell, you're not even out of breath,' Rhone muttered. He got the door open, then moved out of the way as Lyon, showing not the least amount of effort, lifted each man and threw him out into the street. 'We work well together,' Rhone commented. 'We?'
'I watch, you work,' Rhone explained. 'I see.'
'What happened to Splickler? Did he come in through the back door, or did he run away?'
Lyon grinned at Rhone, then nodded toward the pyramid of bodies at the bottom of the steps. 'Splickler's on the bottom. I think you probably broke his nose when you slammed the door in his face.'
'Then I did do my part,' Rhone announced, puffing up like a cloud.
Lyon began to laugh. He whacked Rhone on the shoulder, then turned to find Christina standing in the center of the doorway.
She looked like she'd just seen a ghost. The color was gone from her cheeks, and her eyes were wide with fright. Lyon 's heart lurched. God, she must have seen the fight. He took a step toward her but stopped when she took a step back.
He felt defeated. She was afraid of him. Lord, he'd meant to protect her, not terrify her.
Christina suddenly ran to him. She threw herself into his arms, very nearly knocking both of them to the floor. Lyon didn't understand what had caused the change in her attitude, yet he was thankful all the same. Relief washed the rigidity from his stance. He put his arms around her, rested his chin on the top of her head, and let out a long sigh. 'I'm never going to understand you, am I?'
'I'm so happy you aren't angry with me.'
Her voice was muffled against his chest, but he understood her. 'Why would I be angry with you?'
'Because I broke my promise,' Christina reminded him. 'I left the salon to let Rhone in the front door.'
Lyon looked over at his friend. 'I specifically remember telling you to go home.' He frowned at his friend, then suddenly noticed his appearance. 'What happened to you? I don't recall you getting in the fight.'
'A little mishap,' Rhone said.
'He fell in the hedge,' Christina explained, smiling over the embarrassment she could see in Rhone 's face. Why, the man was actually blushing.
'The hedge?' Lyon sounded incredulous.
'I think I'll walk home. Your carriage is probably waiting in front of my townhouse, Lyon. I'll have your driver
