Page 90 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
“You have to help!” Tommy was red in the face, panting heavily, and he bent over to catch his breath when he reached where Daniel stood. “You have to! She… she… please!”
“Help?” Daniel asked. “What are you talking about?”
“They took her!” Tommy cried. “Those men – the same ones from before. They took her and she needs your help!”
It was then that Daniel understood. Perhaps not the exactness of it, but the general thrust of what Tommy was saying. He felt his blood turn cold. He felt that pit in his stomach widen further. He felt… he felt… he felt real fear, the type that made the world around him turn dark.
“Alison?” he said.
Tommy nodded eagerly. “Yes! They snatched her – I saw ‘em. Threw her in the back of a cart and took off –”
“Where?” he asked. “Where did they take her?”
“I don’t know,” Tommy said. “Soon as I saw ‘em I came running. Please! You have to help her. You just have to!”
It wasn’t a question of whether he would or would not help. There was no maybe about it. No need to consider or think things through. If what Tommy said was true, Lady Alison was in danger and needed his help. And if that was the case…
“Show me the way.” He turned and strode from the pier.
“My lord!” Godfrey called after him. “The boat? They’re not going to wait for you if you leave. You know they won’t.”
Daniel looked back at his valet. “Is that a problem, Godfrey?”
To that, Godfrey smiled. “Not at all, my lord. Just double-checking.”
Daniel raced from the docks, Tommy leading the way. He did not care about his trip to the Americas. He did not care about what had happened between himself and Alison last night. He did not care about anything other than Alison’s safety. That, as far as he was concerned, was all that mattered.
It was easier than it should have been to find Alison. And for this, Daniel could not have been more grateful.
Tommy took Daniel to where he had seen the two men leading her away in the back of their cart, which, as luck had it, was also where they found Pickle.
“Pickle!” Tommy ran to the frightened dog, which was whining and looking lost as if hoping Alison would appear suddenly. It saw Tommy coming, and yelped and ran for him, jumping up his legs and licking his face.
“This is where you saw her?” Daniel asked. He stood by the road, taking immediate note of the deep tracks through the snow. Thank God a snowstorm had not come since she was taken, as that might have covered the tracks and made her all but impossible to find.
“Right here,” Tommy assured him. “Seen ‘em go that way.” He then pointed down the road the way that the tracks wound.
“What do you think?” Godfrey asked as he came in beside Daniel. “Who knows how far they go on for. Or where they lead.”
“We’re about to find out.” Daniel stormed toward his horse, his mind set on one thing and one thing only. “Godfrey,” he instructed as he pulled himself onto his horse. “Head into town and fetch the mayor. Tell him what you know and have him follow as quickly as possible – with help! Anyone he can find.”
“You’re going alone?” Godfrey asked. “Are you certain that’s a good idea?”
“Likely not,” Daniel conceded. “But every second counts, and I will not waste another if it means the difference between Alison’s life or not.” His stomach twisted as he considered that reality, the very real possibility that he might be too late…
No, I cannot think that way. I will not think that way! She is fine, and she will be fine. All I need to do is find her and this will all be over.
“What about me?” Tommy asked.
“Go with Godfrey,” he said. Then he hurriedly added, “I can’t risk anyone else getting hurt.” Tommy scrunched his face but nodded his understanding. It was at that point when Daniel’seyes fell upon Pickle, and an idea came to mind. “On second thought, hand Pickle to me.”
Tommy frowned. “How come?”
Daniel chuckled, despite himself. “It might help to have an extra set of sharp teeth about.”
With Pickle sitting on his lap and Godfrey and Tommy heading into town, Daniel kicked his heels into the side of his mount and steered it to follow the deep tracks that wound gently through the snow.
As he followed them, he could not help but chastise himself for how he had behaved, and how blind he was to the truth. Daniel wanted to not feel the way he did about Alison. He would have preferred it if he did not care for her, if he wished to never see her again – how easy that would make things. But where was it written that such things were meant to be easy?
