Page 54 of A Murder, a Marquess, and Miss Mifford
"Freddie, help!"
His blood thundered in his ears, as he raced towards the sound of Emily's voice. Outside in the alleyway, the surrounding mews buildings lay in darkness, the servants otherwise occupied in the main house.
"Freddie!" Emily's voice called again, and Freddie turned his head in the direction of her voice.
There she was, at the end of the alleyway, being dragged along by a deranged looking Mr Bunting.
"Give it up, Bunting," Freddie roared, "I am carrying a pistol and I'm a crack shot."
Only one of his claims was true, but the confidence of his tone caused Bunting to hesitate. Sensing his distraction, Emily wriggled free from Mr Bunting's grasp, and sprinted towards Freddie.
Her captor gave a roar of annoyance and made to follow her, but quickly rethought his decision, and instead fled into the dark shadows of the night.
Freddie made to follow him, but his progress was impeded as Emily flung herself into his arms.
"You saved me," she sobbed, pressing her body against his, "Oh, Freddie. I knew you would come for me."
As Mr Bunting had already gained a considerable head-start, Freddie decided it would be rather pointless to chase him. That task was best delegated to the Runners, who would apprehend the culprit in no time.
Feeling almost weak with relief, Freddie pulled Emily against him, inhaling her scent deep into his lungs.
"Are you hurt?" he whispered, stroking her hair away from her face so that he could see her properly.
"Just shaken," she assured him, her eyes meeting his.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Freddie could not help but feel a surge of desire for the woman in his arms. He pulled her against him again and brought his lips crashing down on hers.
Their kiss was raw, filled with a frenetic energy that Freddie was uncertain he would be able to control. He gave a growl of desire, as he claimed Emily's lips with his, lost to the pleasure of his senses.
"Ahem."
Freddie and Emily immediately sprung apart, at the sound of the new arrival. They turned and found Northcott and Lord Crabb, both with their gazes turned to the night sky.
"Gentlemen," to hide his embarrassment at having been caught so unaware, Freddie greeted both men in a deep baritone, which sounded most unlike his natural voice.
"We have discovered the true killer," Freddie continued, "Mr Victor Bunting, son of Baron Mannix. He attempted to kidnap Emily, but I interrupted him mid-act. He fled on foot, in the direction of the river."
"Why would he have attempted to kidnap you?" Lord Crabb queried of Emily, and Freddie was glad he did, for he had been wondering the same himself.
"I stumbled across Mr Bunting engaged in a scandalous act with a young lady at Lady Collins'musicale," Emily explained, "Where they were also sighted by Lady Hardthistle. The baroness wished to force Mr Bunting into proposing to the young woman, but as she had no fortune, he was rather disinclined."
"Rather disinclined?" the duke echoed, his eyes dancing, "That's something of an understatement."
"I was in the gardens, recovering from the earlier drama," Emily continued, a blush staining her cheeks at the memory, "When I bumped into Mr Bunting. He must have recognised me, for he went rather queer. Before I knew it, he was dragging me down the garden path and threatening to throw me in the Thames."
Freddie felt his blood run cold, as he realised the grave danger that Emily had faced. He rather regretted his decision not to pursue Bunting, for there was nothing Freddie now wanted more than to pound the living daylights out of the slimy pilchard.
"Luckily," she finished, turning to Freddie with bright eyes, "Lord Chambers was here to come to my rescue."
She reached out and placed her hand in Freddie's, and it was in that moment that he understood that they would be joined together for their lifetime, and for whatever lay beyond.
"Capital job, Chambers," Northcott saluted him.
"I got there in the end," Freddie agreed, with a self-aware chuckle, "Though, not before taking a few wrong turns."
"What say we return inside?" Northcott decided, "I shall summon the Runners, and send them out in search of Mr Bunting."
They were all in agreement, though as they traipsed through the garden, back to the house, Northcott suddenly halted.
