The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

clouds fast approaching, Livie realized with a shiver that the weather had taken a rather drastic turn while they’d been sequestered inside the modiste’s shop. The sunny sky had disappeared, only to be replaced with a whisper of fog and what felt like a drizzle of rain starting to gather momentum.

A storm was brewing and Livie wanted to get Charlotte back home before it hit. It appeared most pedestrians had come to the same conclusion, as the street was nearly deserted.

“Come, let’s get to the carriage before it gets worse.” Livie had to raise her voice to be heard over the wind that was starting to howl. “You hurry on ahead.”

Thankfully, Charlotte heard her, and gave a nod in understanding before rushing ahead to the carriage. Following along at a more sensible pace, given she was more than likely to trip if she made haste upon the slippery ground with her leg, Livie eventually arrived at the carriage, too.

She paused in her stride when she didn’t recognize the man holding open the door. And as she was about to question the fellow, she noticed the pistol he had nestled beside his cloak, pointed directly at her.

“If ya scream, I’ll shoot ya.” The man smiled at her, his rotten yellowed teeth flashing with spittle that had gathered at the corner of his mouth.

He was only a few inches taller than her, but he was stocky and looked as if he may have been an ex-boxer with his squashed, flat nose. He was dressed in brown trousers and a sweat-stained shirt, and his beady brown eyes were staring at her in calculation.

“An’ if ya try to run, me mate who’s keeping ya little friend company in the carriage will shoot her, but not before he has ’imself a bit of fun wif ’er first. Understand me, love?”

Livie peered inside the carriage compartment and saw that there was indeed another fellow seated on the opposite side of where Charlotte was sitting, with a pistol nestled in his hand, pointed directly at Charlotte. Rage, short and sharp, gripped her as she saw Charlotte’s terror-stricken eyes as she huddled in the corner.

How dare these men accost them, and in Sebastian’s carriage of all places? Did they not realize who they were dealing with? But Sebastian couldn’t save them now. Livie would have to do something to get them out of this predicament, though she had no idea what.

And the fact that Seb’s men were nowhere to be seen was not a good sign.

Her gaze skimmed over the man in the carriage. He appeared as though he hadn’t had a good meal in a long time and was so thin Livie imagined the wind could knock him over. If Charlotte and she could get him alone, they’d definitely be able to overpower him.

Not so of the man standing in front of her. Livie could tell he was enjoying the power of being in control, and it would be dangerous to underestimate him. Pressing her lips tightly together, she took in a deep breath of air. It was imperative that against such a man, she stay calm and in charge of her emotions, and not give in to the fear that had her whole body braced for an attack. If she did, he would only take pleasure in it.

“As you can see, I cannot run anywhere.” Livie held up her cane. It was best he thought her immobile and rather useless with her limp, then hopefully he would underestimate her and allow her to keep her cane, which she had to hold on to at all costs. It could very well be their only means of protection and escape.

The man laughed. “I was told ya walked funny. But where are me manners?” His hand darted out and he snatched her cane from her. “Let me take that for ya.”

Livie stumbled slightly. “I need that to assist me to walk!”

“Ya won’t be walking none where I’m taking ya, now will you?” He laughed again, seemingly amused by the idea.

“At least let the girl go,” Livie implored. “She is an innocent bystander in all of this.”

“I have my orders,” he replied. “Now, get in the carriage.”

Refusing to budge, Livie eyed him in defiance. “You are aware my father is the Duke of Beresford?” Livie was hedging her bets mentioning such a thing. It could assist or it could hinder them. “Kidnapping me will make you the most wanted man in London. My father and brothers will stop at nothing until you are found and punished.”

“I ain’t scared of no aristocracy, me lady. I answer to a higher power than that.” He pushed her toward the carriage, and Livie staggered to the door. “Now get in!”

“How will I walk without my cane!” She swiveled around to see him standing right behind her.

“Ya must think I’m stupid,” he scoffed. “The silver on this ’ere handle must weigh a damn ton. I ain’t givin’ it to ya to clonk me on my head wif it. And I’ll take that pistol in your skirt pocket, too.” He grinned. “Slowly and no funny business or your friend is dead.”

Damn it. Slowly, she pulled out her pistol and handed it to him. Without either of her weapons, a feeling of overwhelming distress started to build in her chest, and Livie had to tamp it down quickly. She turned back to face the inside of the carriage, unwilling to let the man behind her see her upset.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the man pass her cane up to the driver, who she noticed was not the same man who’d driven them here, then he pocketed his pistol and hers. Before Livie knew what he was about, he put both his grubby hands around her waist and shoved her into the carriage.

Charlotte shrieked and immediately helped pull her onto the seat next to her, as the man climbed in behind her and sat next to his companion on the seat across from the ladies.