Page 64 of When a Lady Kisses a Scot
“One move and I’ll take more than that.”
Jack eyed Reggie’s pistol lying on the cobbles between Reggie and Sophie.
“Don’t—” She held her voice low and steady. “Iwillpull this trigger.”
Bertram came closer, pinning Jack in his sights. “Move away from the gent or I’ll blow ye in two.”
As Bertram held Jack at bay, Sophie scooped up Reggie’s gun and tucked it in a pocket of her cloak. Brandishing her pistol, she moved toward Gavin.
He blinked, seeming to recognize her despite his barely conscious state. “Sophie.” His head sagged forward as if too heavy for his neck.
“Can you come to me, Gavin?” Odd, how her heart ached with each word.
He nodded weakly. Jack moved to block him.
“I meant what I said,” Bertram warned.
“Bugger off, old—”
Bertram fired a warning shot, striking the ground inches from the hoodlum’s boots. “Move away from the gent, and I won’t have to put the next one into your gullet.”
“To hell with this,” Jack muttered. Turning on his heel, he bolted.
“We must move quickly.” She trained her pistol on Reggie. “He’ll be back, no doubt with reinforcements. Gavin, can you make it to our carriage?”
“If the bloody world would just stand still,” he muttered.
“I will help you in a moment. First, there’s a matter to be dealt with.”
He nodded weakly and propped a hand against the ebony door of his coach to steady himself.
She aimed the Sharps Pepperbox at Reggie’s gut. “Do not even blink. I’d love an excuse to try out my shiny new pistol.”
“I’m bleedin’,” the hoodlum groaned. “Ye’re a heartless one, aren’t ye?”
“Given that you and your cowardly friend attempted to abduct me and were intent on murdering this man, I’d say the fact that you are still breathing is testimony to my good nature.”
Bertram retrieved a set of binding cuffs from a jacket pocket, yanked Reggie’s hands behind his back, and secured them.
“I didn’t think ye had it in ye, ye ancient scarecrow,” the thug muttered.
Bertram puffed out his chest. “East India Company, Afghanistan.”
“What are ye goin’ t’do with me?”
“The two of you planned to toss this man into the Thames. Perhaps you’d like to take a turn plunging off the bridge,” Sophie said coolly. “To paraphrase your associate, let’s see how well you can swim with your hands cuffed behind you.”
Reggie squirmed, and though she couldn’t see his features in the dim light, she felt quite certain sweat must be beading his forehead. “We was only jestin’…we wanted to scare the fellow. No harm done.”
“Tell me what you’ve done to him.” She infused her tone with steel.
“We didn’t hurt nothin’ that won’t heal. He’s a weak one, he is.”
“Really, now? As I see it, you’re the one who appears ready to bawl. Now, tell me what you’ve given him. It’s apparent he’s been drugged.”
Reggie shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Do you really expect us to believe you?”
