“I told you that I would never leave you,” he said firmly, as he stroked a comforting hand down her back.
Sephy closed her eyes. She wanted to believe that, but how could she know for sure? She reluctantly pulled back and turned to face the countess. She reached out and took the lady’s hand in hers with a gentle squeeze. “Thank you, Charlotte.”
“It’s what friends are for,” she returned softly. “And you have been a genuine one to me through the years.” Tears shone in her eyes. “I just wish your mother had opened her eyes to what was truly important. I would have given everything for her.”
Sephy’s heart went out to Charlotte, but she relaxed against Hunter, who held her close to his warm, firm chest. She yearned to turn back the clock to the moment when she was curled up next to him in bed, where she could always believe that it would be that way forever, instead of the uncertainty that she currently faced. He might have devised a plan to free her, but where did they go from here?
As they stopped in front of the duke’s townhouse, the place she had long thought of as home, they stepped to the ground just as the click of a pistol pierced the air around them.
Hunter instantly shoved Sephy behind him as he faced off with Lord Gregory, who slowly exited the hackney behind them and trained the gun on him with a steady hand. “You have something that belongs to me, Falcourt.”
“Miss Welton is my mistress.”
“She was your mistress,” Lord Gregory corrected. “As of this evening, she is my property. She is mine in exchange for her mother’s debts.”
“Then it appears you chose a losing hand, Lord Gregory,” Hunter said evenly. “Because Miss Welton isn’t going anywhere with you.”
The man dared to laugh. “You don’t think so? Perhaps we should speak to the queen and see which man she will side with on this matter. I guarantee it will be me, for she has quite enjoyed my company of late to that of the insane man running our country.”
Hunter stilled. “You’re having an affair with Queen Charlotte?”
“Don’t look so surprised. It was how I’ve managed to move about London without any trouble.” He held out a hand. “Now, come along, my dear, unless you wish to see your lover’s blood spilled all over the street.”
Sephy knew she would never forgive herself if anything happened to Hunter. She stepped to the side and held up her hands in surrender. “You win, Lord Gregory.”
She started to move forward, but another click of a pistol came from her right. Darwood had his weapon trained on Lord Gregory, having exited the vehicle from the opposite side. “I’m afraid I also can’t allow this transaction to take place.” He smacked the side of the coach, which took off. “And if you must persist on this course, rest assured the countess has been sent to fetch the watch.”
Lord Gregory didn’t appear concerned. “Your efforts will be futile. I told you I have the queen’s confidence.”
Darwood lifted a brow. “Do you? Because the last I heard, you had fallen out of favor with her. She doesn’t appreciate being tossed aside for other women, which seems to be quite a habit with you.”
For a moment, Sephy noticed that Lord Gregory’s confidence slipped slightly, but he recovered easily enough. He grinned tightly. “If that’s the case, then I should be leaving England.” He turned back to her. “But not without what I came for.”
Hunter’s back visibly stiffened in front of her. “Over my dead body.”
Lord Gregory shrugged. “That can be arranged. You’ve dogged my heels for years. Frankly, I’ll be glad to be rid of you.” As he lifted the gun with malicious intent, Sephy screamed and ran in front of the duke with her arms outstretched.
Someone fired. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the impact of the steel ball tearing through her skin, possibly ending her life right then and there, but the only thing that followed the shot was the acrid scent of gunpowder that filled the air.
She opened her eyes to see the viscount’s pistol was smoking, while Lord Gregory clutched at his bleeding arm, his pistol having fallen from his useless fingers. “You bastard!” he snarled at Darwood, but when he would have made a move to retrieve his weapon, Hunter rushed forward and kicked it far out of his reach, and then delivered a punishing blow to his jaw, which sprawled him out on the ground, where he lay still.
***
Hunter returned to Sephy, and she collapsed in his arms. As Darwood joined them, he reached out and clasped his shoulder. “Thank you, Avion.”
The viscount merely nodded. “It was rather fulfilling to play the hero. I could certainly get used to it.”
Hunter couldn’t help but laugh, and it felt wonderful to do so.
A short time later, the countess returned with several men from the watch, who carted Lord Gregory’s limp form away.
Persephone and the countess shared an exuberant embrace. “I’ll never be able to repay you,” she whispered to Charlotte.
“I shall be quite compensated if I get to attend your wedding.” She winked at Hunter, while Persephone turned a becoming shade of red.
A blushing harlot, Hunter thought in amusement. But, in truth, she had never been anything of the sort. She was just… his. And he intended for her to remain that way for many years.
After Lady Virsage and Darwood took their leave, Hunter lifted Persephone into his arms. “I have plans for you this evening, my dear.”
As he carried her over the threshold, she ripped the powdered wig from her head and tossed it onto the floor. The red-gold hair that he’d been fascinated with from the moment he’d first laid eyes
