Page 23 of Saved By the Belle

Oh, so he was clever. How she wished that made him unattractive, “I think I liked you better when you were unconscious.”

“I’m sure I’ll oblige you soon enough.” He paused. “Where is your father?”

Belle turned to close the window.

Behind her, she heard him make a sound of affirmation. “That’s what it is.”

Annoying that he was observant too.

“How long has he been gone?” Arundel asked.

“I’m sure he will be back momentarily.”

“Miss Howard.”

At the note of alarm in his voice, she gave him a sharp look.

“How long has he been gone?”

“An hour and a half? Perhaps two hours now? I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

But he didn’t reassure her. “Where did he go?”

“To pay the rent. Usually I go, but he said to stay here since it was raining, and the streets are muddy.”

“How long a walk to reach the landlord?”

His barrage of questions was making her more ill at ease. “Perhaps a quarter hour. Maybe a little more with the mud and water.”

“Then even being generous, he should have been back an hour ago.”

“Perhaps the landlord invited him in and—”

“Miss Howard, I don’t know your landlord, but if he is anything like others I have encountered, he’s not friendly with the tenants. No one wants to evict a friend.”

Belle sighed. He was right. The landlord was an old man who usually opened the door, took the money, and made her wait outside while he counted it. Once satisfied, he sent her off with a wave until the next month. “I should go out and look for him.”

“No.” The determination in his voice made her pause.

“I am five and twenty, sir. I can make my own decisions.”

“This isn’t about your age—”

She opened her mouth, but he interrupted before she could speak “—or your sex. This is about me. If something has happened—and I’m not saying it has—it almost certainly has to do with me.”

“It’s your fault my father hasn’t returned?”

“It might be.”

“If he’s in trouble, then I must look for him. I won’t stay here and do nothing.” She grasped a hat from a hook and started for the door. Arundel was surprisingly quick for an injured man and caught her about the waist before she could reach it.

“Let go of me.” She twisted against his hold.

Chapter Seven

Her large brown eyes met his. If looks could maim or injure, he would be on the floor, writhing in pain. He might end up there at any rate as his head was swimming due to his sudden rise. If he allowed himself to feel the pain of his injury, he’d probably sink to his knees. One item they had not told him during training at the Farm was how bloody much it hurt to be stabbed.

And how much it continued to hurt.

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