Page 78 of Inventing Vivian

Chapter 20

Vivian held tightly to Benedict’sarm as the pair stepped through the door and onto the street.

The men surrounding Devon were large. They wore dark coats and hats, and none of their faces showed any trace of emotion. Her stomach felt hard and heavy as she looked about for a means of escape.

“I thought something seemed suspicious,” Lord Hargreave said. The viscount’s face was shadowed by the brim of his hat. Only his white teeth glowed beneath. The effect made Vivian shudder. “Wondered why you insisted on this exact location for our meeting, Barnaby. Thought we might follow you for a bit tonight.”

He gave Mr. Barnaby a shove, sending him to the ground in front of the other men.

Vivian moved to help him, but the sight of Lord Hargreave’s pistol pointed in her direction stopped her cold.

“Interesting choice of friends, Barnaby,” Lord Hargreave said. “You’re Winston Kirby’s daughter, I believe.” His gaze moved over her clothes. “And the new Lord Covington.” He tipped his head, looking at Benedict, and his eyes narrowed menacingly. “You’ve an interest in my... recent acquisitions? You could have just asked.” His lip curled in a sneer.

“I do not seek to purchase your disgracefully acquired merchandise, my lord,” Benedict spoke quietly.

Vivian could feel the anger in his voice. She knew he was thinking of Zhang Wei and what Lord Hargreave’s greed had cost.

Lord Hargreave snorted. He looked from Benedict to Vivian and then into the warehouse. “What do we have here?” He stepped into the doorway and crouched down, peering into the crate. When he rose, his face was hard. He motioned to his men. “Search them. Find the photograph.”

“It will be all right, Vivian,” Benedict said in a quiet voice. “Trust me.”

One of the men grabbed her arm, feeling roughly through her coat pockets. He found the photograph plate in just a moment and gave it to Lord Hargreave.

Vivian felt hot tears behind her eyelids. She looked at Benedict. Though he was still angry, he seemed to be assessing rather than panicking.

The viscount held the plate up to study the image by the light of a gas lamp. “Oh, this will not do at all.” He dropped the plate onto the ground, shattering it.

Discouragement pressed heavy against Vivian’s chest. All their work for nothing. And Zhang Wei...

“You must know I can’t allow you to live after that,” Lord Hargreave said. He gave his pistol to one of the men. “Make sure they’re not found.”

His words hit her ears like blows. Vivian’s knees went weak, and her nerves pulsed with fear.

She looked to Benedict, eyes wide as terror choked in her throat.

He stood calmly, shaking his arms, loosening his hands. He leaned his head from side to side, stretching his neck.

One of the men pulled Barnaby to his feet.

Another, a man with a pistol, came to Benedict, poking him in the back to get him walking.

Without warning, Benedict spun. He grabbed the barrel of the gun with one hand, until the man’s arm was fully extended. With a swift motion, Benedict slammed down his other forearm, breaking the man’s elbow. The pistol clattered to the ground, sliding into the gutter as the man howled in pain.

Vivian stared, as did the others. Benedict’s movements were so rapid, she could hardly process them.

While everyone was distracted, Devon elbowed the man nearest him in the nose. He grunted and grabbed at his face. Devon tackled him to the ground, and the pair struggled for that man’s gun.

Another of the men rushed toward Benedict but stumbled when Mr. Barnaby held out a foot to trip him. At the same moment, the last of Lord Hargreave’s men lunged at Benedict, swinging a fist. Benedict twisted to dodge the punch and simultaneously grabbed the man’s arm. He spun behind his attacker, then struck the man’s shoulder with his elbow, dislocating it with a sickening noise.

The man shouted and cursed, rolling as he held his arm, and his partner, who had been struggling with Mr. Barnaby after being tripped, managed to extricate himself from Mr. Barnaby’s grasp and regain his footing. He held up his fists and began swinging at Benedict.

Benedict moved from side to side, dodging the punches. He delivered a kick to the side of the man’s head that sent him flying back.

Vivian saw movement from the corner of her eye. Lord Hargreave was moving toward the pistol in the gutter.

She rushed for it, snatching it away just as he reached for it. She stood, pointing it at the viscount.

The man laughed, shaking his head and making a tsk-tsk noise. “Give it to me. A pistol is not a plaything, young lady.”

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