Page 48 of The Gentleman's Seduction
Martin cringed inside. He shared that fear. The man was dangerous. “Harris, have my coach brought round at once.”
“I have a hackney already waiting,” Edwin said. “I’d hoped you would come with me.”
“Then let us make haste.” Martin didn’t bother to fetch a coat. He was on fire with a building rage. If Livvy was harmed in any way, he wouldkillStamford.
LIVVY LISTENEDto the pounding on the bedroom door.
“You little—aargh!”
The door broke open with a thud, and the desk blocking it shifted a few inches. Another thud and the desk shifted yet again. Each time the wooden legs scraped harshly on the floor, the sound made her ears hurt. She covered them with her hands and watched the desk shudder and slide inch by inch as Stamford threw himself at the door. Then he had space to squeeze through and stomped around the room. Livvy watched his boots as he paused at the window.
“Think she can get far? We’ll see,” he growled and left the room. Livvy held her breath. After several moments, she slid out from under the bed and tiptoed toward the desk and open doorway. She heard Stamford’s distant yelling from below on the first floor. There weren’t any servants about as she quickly rushed down the stairs and headed for the front door. If she could just get to the street…
Pain ripped through her skull as she was yanked backward by her hair.
“Think yourself a crafty bit of muslin, do you?” Stamford’s deadly purr pushed her to fight. She reached up and clawed his cheek, drawing blood. He hissed and released her, only to strike her with a closed fist. It caught her cheekbone, driving agony through her. Her knees buckled, and she fell at his feet. Stamford kicked her in the stomach, and she curled up on one side, gasping for breath. He began to lift his foot again, and she curled into a tighter ball. A rap on the door made Stamford back away. He stared down at her.
“One bloody sound out of you and you won’t live to regret it,” he warned.
Livvy cowered in the shadows behind the door, and Stamford opened it.
“What are you—”
The scuffle and sounds of a fight made Livvy close her eyes at first. Then she opened them to see Stamford staggering back. A second later Martin, her avenging angel, advanced on Stamford, his fists raised.
“Where is she?” Martin demanded.
“I’m here!” Livvy choked out.
Stamford took advantage of the distraction to lunge at Martin, tackling him to the ground. Stamford seemed ready to drive Martin’s skull into the floor when someone else suddenly knocked Stamford off of him.
“This is for my daughter!” Her father had mounted Stamford and was punching him over and over. Livvy watched in horror while Stamford groaned and writhed, her father attacking him like a wild animal. Martin gripped her father by the shoulders and dragged him off as Martin said something in her father’s ear. Only then did he get off Stamford, though he kicked the man in the ribs and then dusted himself off before he was done with him. He looked up and saw her.
“Livvy!”
“I’m here.” Livvy used the wall to stand up, though her legs were still shaky.
“Thank God.” Her father embraced her. “Did he hurt you?”
“Yes, but not as much as you hurt him, I think.” She winced as her ribs screamed in protest. Fire lit her father’s eyes as Martin put a steady hand on his shoulder.
“Take her to the coach,” Martin said. “I’ll handle this.”
She followed her father outside but turned to see Martin as he stood above Stamford, his hands curled tight at his sides. He looked at her a moment, then, without expression, closed the door. It was for the best. She didn’t want to see whatever he might do, even though Stamford deserved it. The coach swayed as she and her father climbed inside. She sank back against the cushions, breathing hard. Her father watched her anxiously.
“Why did you bring Mr. Banks?” she asked quietly. After everything she’d just gone through, her body felt like it was on fire. She wanted to cry. She wanted to go back in and punch Stamford herself. She wanted Martin to come back and hold her. The conflicting desires were almost too much to bear. She clasped her hands in her lap to conceal their trembling.
“Why? Because it’s obvious the man is in love with you.”
“You are mistaken.”He wouldn’t have sent me away if he was.
“When I told him Stamford took you, he was enraged…”
“He’s a gentleman. I am sure he came to my aid for only that reason.”
Her father stared at her as if she were mad. “Trust me. I know that look. It is the look I carry for you and your mother. That love I have for you both made me do things I now regret to keep you safe and happy. I see the same look in his eyes. That man adores you.”
Martin finally entered the coach and wiped his bloody knuckles on his trousers. He glanced away from Livvy when he caught her watching. For a second it was as though her father wasn’t in the coach with them at all. They were alone, just the two of them, and that was all that mattered.
