Page 94 of Embracing the Earl (The St. Clairs 3)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Bow StreetRunners had arrived, truncheons in hand, primed for a fight.

Luke addressed them. “You’ve been told of the auction going on inside The Blue Door. The woman I love is in there. Do whatever it takes to get her back.”

“We will, Lord Mayfield,” one of them said. “Step aside and let us do our job.”

The five hardened men raced up the stairs, gripping their truncheons, and burst through the doors. Luke followed them, along with Jeremy, Evan, and Walton. Cigar smoke hung in the air and screams and shouts began as they disrupted the gaming. Scantily clad women began running and gentlemen of theton, seeing what was happening, raced to reach the door and fade into the black night.

Luke didn’t care about the gamers or whores. Reaching Caroline was all that mattered.

The men whipped and snapped their clubs, creating a path through the chaos. One runner grabbed a woman by the arm and shouted, “Where’s the auction?”

“Upstairs. To the right.”

Luke ran up the staircase and down the hall, ahead of the detectives, who sounding like a small army. Throwing open the last door he reached, a tiny waiting room was revealed. Two young women lay sprawled on the ground in revealing gowns, their cheeks and lips stained a dark red. An older woman started shrieking as the runners poured in behind him and ran through the anteroom into a larger one, where a raised stage stood.

Luke saw who stood on that stage.

Caroline...

A man held on to her, fondling her breast as laughter filled the room. Then Caroline’s head snapped up and her foot slammed down on the man’s. He cried out, releasing her. She whirled and viciously kicked him in the bollocks and he fell to the ground, gasping.

Luke followed the runners as they spread throughout the room. He ignored all the shouts and made it to Caroline. Quickly, he stripped off his coat and wrapped it around her, lifting her in his arms.

“Luke.” She repeated his name several times as he carried her away, through the anteroom and back into the wide corridor.

“You’re safe, love. It’s over.”

She stiffened in his arms. “Belinda! Emily! Where are they?” She began struggling. “I must help them!”

He saw Jeremy and Evan emerge, each of them with one of the unconscious women in their arms.

“See? They’re unharmed,” he reassured her. “We’ll get all of you away from this place.”

Tears cascaded down her cheeks. “I thought I would never see you again.” She hiccupped loudly.

Luke lowered Caroline to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. He smoothed her hair and then cupped her bruised cheek. “You’re going to see so much of me that you’ll grow tired of me, Caroline. I love you, my darling. I plan to spend every minute of each day with you.”

“You love me?” she sobbed. “I love you. I have for what seems like forever.”

“So have I, my love.” With that, he kissed her tenderly.

“Lord Mayfield? You need to leave,” a voice said.

He looked up and saw one of the runners near him guiding the man who’d touched Caroline. The man was now handcuffed and being led away. Fury exploded within him and he released Caroline.

“No,” she said, touching his arm. “Let them handle it, Luke. Please. I just want to go home.”

He swept her into his arms again and carried her all the way to the carriage. Jeremy and Evan had already arrived and Walton was aiding them in getting the two women into the vehicle.

Another runner hurried up. “Were there just the three ladies?” he asked.

“Yes,” Caroline replied. “We are all safe now.”

“I’ll need to interview you, my lady, and get as many details as I can so these villains can be charged,” the detective said. “Can you manage speaking to me tomorrow morning? Along with the others?”

“Yes,” she said firmly. “Come to the Marquess of Merrick’s at ten o’clock. We’ll all be available to answer your questions.”

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