Seduced at Midnight

wrists back and forth, one painful stroke at a time, still working on the rag. She soon managed to get the rag out of her mouth but held it between her teeth in case her kidnappers looked her way. Elation filled her at her success, but unfortunately, loosening the rope wasn't going as well. Her fingers were numb and stiff, the rope coarse and stubborn. Sweat trickled down her spine, and her arms ached from her frantic efforts.

Just then the unmistakable squeak of the unoiled door opening sounded, and Julianne's heart stuttered. There was no doubt in her mind who had arrived.

Clearly her abductors knew as well, because they both left their post by the window and moved silently toward her. Her stomach turned when she saw they both carried knives.

Pulling in a mighty breath, she spat out the rag and yelled, 'There're two of them, Gideon! They have knives, and they mean to kill you.'

A flurry of obscenities came from her kidnappers, and they ran toward her. One of them, a bearded man with dark, matted hair and small, close-set eyes, growled at her, 'Shut up,' while trying to stuff the rag back in her mouth.

Julianne furiously twisted her head back and forth to thwart him. 'If you think you're going to kill Gideon Mayne, you're a fool,' she taunted, desperate to keep his attention on her as long as possible. 'He could slice you into pieces while blindfolded and shackled.'

The man went suddenly still and stared at her. Then he muttered a foul word and turned toward his accomplice. 'Christ, Will,' he said in a hissing whisper, 'did ye hear that? The Runner wot's comin' for her is bloody Gideon Mayne.'

Even in the darkness Julianne could see that the man named Will paled. 'Damn me to hell and back,' Will whispered. 'Wot are we gonna do, Perdy?'

'I don't know. But I know wot we ain't gonna do.'

Will swallowed audibly and nodded. 'Right.' He cleared his throat then called out, 'Listen here, Gideon Mayne. We want to talk to ye. We haven't hurt the lady, and we ain't gonna hurt you neither.'

'Don't believe them, Gideon. They said they were going to kill y-'

Her words were cut off when Perdy clapped his hand over her mouth. 'Shut up or I'll-ouch!' He jerked his hand back and glowered at her. 'Damn minx bit me.'

Taking advantage of his surprise, Julianne pulled her bound legs to her chest then gave a hard kick. Her heels connected with Perdy's midsection, and he let out a grunt as he fell back onto his buttocks.

'Wot the hell are ye doin' over there?' Will ground out. 'Can't ye take care of one tied-up woman?'

'Course I can,' Perdy grumbled. He grabbed Julianne by the hair, and pain shot through her scalp. She let out a cry, and he stuffed the rag back in her mouth, then rose to his feet.

'There's a pistol trained on both of you,' came Gideon's voice out of the darkness. 'If either of you so much as blink, I'll blow a hole right through your heart. Whichever one is left will get my knife in his gut.'

Both men froze. 'Put down your knives,' Gideon ordered. 'Nice and slow. Right by your feet.'

Will coughed then said, 'There's something ye should know-'

'If you speak again before I tell you to, whatever you say will be your last words,' Gideon said in a deadly voice that sent shivers down Julianne's spine. 'Now do as I said. Before I get angry. And kill you anyway.'

Working frantically, Julianne managed to spit out the rag and pulled in a deep breath. She didn't want to speak and distract Gideon, so she just kept yanking on the ropes, noting with grim satisfaction that she'd made some progress.

She watched both men set their knives on the wooden floor then slowly rise.

'Good,' said Gideon from the darkness. 'Now kick them toward the crates.'

After the knives skidded across the floor, Gideon ordered, 'Facedown. On the floor. Hands behind your head.'

After they'd obeyed, Gideon said in a chilling voice, 'If you move, I won't hesitate to kill you.' Then he said softly, 'Julianne, are you hurt?'

'N… no. But I'm bound.' She gave a mighty twist of her wrist, and it slipped free. 'Was bound,' she corrected, her voice filled with satisfaction, as she pulled the rope off her. 'I just managed to free my hands.'

'Excellent. You gentlemen are very fortunate the lady isn't hurt. Now, one of you- and only one of you-is going to tell me who you are and why you kidnapped this woman.'

'Um, well, it's like this,' said the one named Perdy. 'This bloke came to us earlier tonight, said he'd pay us handsome to grab the lady from the party.'

Julianne didn't hear Gideon moving toward her, but suddenly he was next to her, his fingers lightly pressing against her mouth, his lips next to her ear. 'Don't speak unless I ask you something, and then just go along with whatever I say,' he whispered. He leaned back, and his gaze fastened on hers. Fear and relief rushed through her, but she firmly shoved them aside and nodded. In a single slice he cut the ropes binding her ankles, then pulled her to her feet.

With one strong arm wrapped around her waist, he loudly said to the kidnappers, 'Tell me about this bloke who hired you.' He then immediately whispered to Julianne, 'Can you stand on your own?' At her nod, he released her and scooped up the ropes from the floor. Then he pressed something into her hand. 'Take this knife,' he whispered directly in her ear. 'If anyone comes near you, stab them. Except me.'

Julianne's fingers curved around the handle, and she nodded, praying she wouldn't have to use the weapon.

'Bloke didn't give his name,' Perdy said.

'What did he look like?'

'Couldn't tell. It were dark, and he wore a hooded cape. A dandy he were, though. Had one of them rich bloke voices. Gave us a gold watch and some blunt, said we'd get the rest after the job were done.'

'How much more?'

'Twenty quid.'

'And what precisely was the job?' Gideon asked.

'Kidnap the lady. Use her as bait to get the Runner here.' Perdy hesitated. 'Then kill the Runner.'

'And what was to become of the lady?' Gideon asked in a silky voice.

'We were to let her go. Leave her in Hyde Park. Unharmed.'

'My lady, I believe you are proficient with a pistol, are you not?' Gideon asked her.

'I am very proficient with a pistol, Mr. Mayne,' Julianne replied, hoping she sounded proficient as opposed to scared out of her wits.

'Excellent. I am going to tie these men. If one of them makes any sudden moves, I want you to blow his head off.'

'I'd be delighted,' she said in the same voice she used to accept invitations to dance.

'No need to be blowin' anybody's head off,' Perdy said quickly. 'We ain't movin'. Are we, Will?'

'Hell, no. Jacko would have our head if we did.'

Julianne sensed Gideon stiffen, and she wondered who Jacko was, but before she could think on the matter, Gideon nudged the closest man's hip with his boot. 'What's your name?'

'Perdy.'

'And your friend's name?'

'Will.'