Page 116 of The Moonstone Pirate
Draco surveyed the street and then cast McTavish a sideways glance. “All I can say is this Walter fellow may be something other than you think.”
McTavish’s eyes widened. “Then heisa Crown agent?”
“I am not at liberty to tell you. All I am saying is that he managed to steal a heavily guarded, prize stud from Eldridge’s stable and rode him here despite having at least a dozen Eldridge men on his trail. Think about it. This Walter is very clever. He will have lured you, the solicitors, and Lord Eldridge and his underlings here to Moonstone Landing, where he just happens to have a fully armed garrison at the ready.”
“Blast it, Draco! You could have mentioned this sooner.”
“I am mentioning it now.” Draco strode down the high street. “McTavish, you saved my life once, and now we are even. Don’tforget my warning about that fellow Lemuel. Get him out of here. What you do with him afterward is your business, but I never want to see him in Moonstone Landing again.”
McTavish nodded, and they soon parted ways.
Draco ambled over to the Kestrel Inn stable, where he pretended to chat with Mr. Matchett, but in fact had an excellent view of the tavern and the harbor.
He watched as McTavish walked behind the tavern and emerged a moment later with two of his men. One of them, that troublesome Lemuel, was missing.
Yes, he was trouble, that one.
“Bloody hell,” Draco muttered, feeling a sudden sense of dread. He hurried to the tavern, slipping in through the back door, and had no sooner entered than he heard the smash of a door and a lady’s scream.
Imogen.
Parrot was barking furiously.
Draco tore up the stairs. “Bloody hell.”
Had Lemuel spotted her peering out the window?
Imogen screamed again.
Lord!Was he too late to save her?
Chapter Eighteen
Imogen knew somethinghad gone terribly wrong when she heard two swift knocks at the door. This was not Draco’s signal, and her fears were confirmed when Parrot suddenly leaped in front of her and began to growl. “Did they see me, Parrot?” she asked in a frightened whisper.
How could McTavish’s men have known she was up here? She had been so careful.
Well, obviously not careful enough. Would Draco ever forgive her?
“His lordship’s askin’ for ye,” said a grizzled voice from the other side of the door.
Parrot barked before she had the chance to silence him.
Drat.
Now the villain knew for certain she was in here.
Hearing his harsh laughter, she grabbed one of the hearth irons for added protection, a sturdy iron shovel that she now held raised as the latch rattled. Suddenly, the entire door was smashed off its hinges and an enormous man carrying a knife lunged in.
Parrot immediately leaped forward to defend her, digging his teeth into the hand that held the knife. But the man struck back, punching Parrot.
The brave dog let out a yelp of pain that cut Imogen to the quick. Knowing she had to stop that ogre before he mortallywounded Parrot, she swung her shovel at his head with all her might and managed to strike him solidly in the face just as he pivoted toward her.
She swung again as he stumbled forward and managed to land a solid blow to the back of his head. None of this would have been possible had Parrot not kept his teeth dug into the man’s hand and refused to let go.
She swung a third time, landing another solid blow to the man’s head that brought him to his knees. In the next moment, he toppled over. His face slammed against the floor so hard, his head bounced before smacking the floor again.
Imogen was breathing so hard, she had not the strength to release a sob.
