Page 73 of The Swan Syndicate
“The banns were printed. There’s no getting out of them.”
“Oomph.” The air was momentarily knocked out of her as he repositioned her over his strong shoulders. “I told him I didn’t want to marry him.”
“You have no say in the matter. And if you keep screaming, I have a rag and rope handy.”
“You wouldn’t.”
He nodded at MacDuff. “Sorry for interrupting your meal.”
Stella lifted her head enough to catch the smuggler’s gaze. He didn’t like what was happening, but he glanced around the room, quickly making a decision not to get involved. Though, there was a storm roiling in his expression. He probably wasn’t going to get those French firearms.
Damn it. She’d been so close.
Thomas didn’t slow as he stormed out of the inn. Lando was still outside, and he blocked the guard as Thomas stormed by with her still beating on his back.
He carried her past several buildings before turning into an alley with Lando right behind him. When he was far enough away from the street, he set her down.
She was spitting mad as she glared at the two men. “You fools. I was seconds from getting the information about his network.”
“Change of plans, luv.” Beckworth stepped out of the shadows.
She spun around, her anger still burning. With one hand on her hip, she pointed a finger at him. “You know he’ll just follow us.”
He gave her his cheeky grin. “Good god, let’s hope so. Otherwise, listening to all that caterwauling is time I won’t get back.”
24
“Take Stella back to the ship.” Beckworth took a step backward then disappeared into the shadows.
Stella turned on the rest of the men. Fitz, Thomas, and Lando glanced up, down, and around the alley, anywhere but at her. “What the hell? MacDuff was going to tell me about his network.”
“We didn’t have a choice.” Fitz stepped forward. Brave man. “Cheval is here, and he’s looking for MacDuff.”
She hadn’t expected that and paced a tight line in front of the men. “So, you had to pull me out.” She began to nod, then stopped and looked at Thomas. “Where did you come from? I mean, it’s nice to see you, but how?”
“Hensley sent me once he received Jamie’s letter with his next two stops. I rode like hell to get here.”
“They say timing is everything.” She turned back to Fitz. “Where did Beckworth go?”
He glanced at his feet then at Lando before saying, “He needed to get back to Lane. He’s watching Cheval on his own.”
She wasn’t fooled. Beckworth wasn’t handling this well. He hadn’t wanted her to be the conduit with MacDuff, and Chevalshowing up increased the risk. Once again, he was fighting between his commitment to the mission and his concern for her. But walking off in a snit during a mission wasn’t professional and, well, it pissed her off, regardless of how much she understood it.
“Fine.” She took Lando’s arm. “Take me back to the ship. Or should I be going back with Thomas?”
“Thomas will go back with us,” Lando said. “Fitz will continue his surveillance.”
She dropped her hand from Lando’s arm and walked quietly with her head down between the two men. If anyone spotted her, she would appear defeated. It certainly matched her emotions.
She remained detached as they boarded the ship, crossed the deck, and descended to the galley. When she turned for her cabin, Lando called her back.
“Jamie will want us in his office.”
She didn’t think her shoulders could drop any lower, but they did. Instead of turning left, she turned right then leaned against the wall, waiting for Lando to take the lead. She dropped onto a stool closest to the door, irritated that she wanted to dart out of it like a bunny chased by a fox, unable to shake the depressed feeling of watching Beckworth walk away without a word.
She understood it. Of course, she did. And she kept saying it over and over in her head, but the mantra did little to restore her energy.
“Stella. Stella, did you hear me?” Jamie asked.
